Please help me find somewhere to live? Hertfordshire or West Essex

[Nix01]

Hello All,

I've been frantically searching Rightmove for months now, but I still haven't narrowed down our search area beyond Hertfordshire and some of Essex!

We arrive in England next week and need to set up estate agent appointments but I really, really, really need to narrow down my search criteria drastically.

We have 2 little boys so schools are important, but ideally I'd like a village location (commutable to mainline station) with a minimum of 3 bedrooms and big garden, preferably countryside views. I'm happy with a fixer upper and our budget is max 400k.

My Rightmove folder is getting ridiculous now, and I don't seem to have made any real progress. Please share those amazing village gems with me?

My previous post can be found below.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1481168-Village-Lifestyle-within-commuting-distance-to-London

Wivenhoe, near colchester is lovely. Thriving community village. Lower wivenhoe is nicest and has a train station, which can take you into london in an hour

Thanks Dinah, I'll look at that area again, last I checked it was 75 minutes to Liverpool Street?

I forgot to mention that ideally I'd like a really big kitchen (or space to extend kitchen) to include a table or diner area (and I'd still like a separate formal dining room).

Ashwell in Hertfordshire - lovely, lovely village, great schools. KX within about 45 mins

Have you looked at Nazeing? I don't know much about the actual area but it seems ok when I've driven through.