Ideas for places to live that are commutable to Euston/Kings X

[hoppityhoppity]

We are feeling really uninspired. We need to move, not imminently, to somewhere that is commutable to Euston. We have lived in London and loved it, but can no longer afford that option, we want more space and a garden. Anyone live on or near a train line, where there are good schools, parks, sports facilities, affordable houses and lovely friendly neighbours (cloud cuckoo land?)

Snorbens....it's lovely. Not cheap, but you get more for your money than London. 20 mins to Kings X on a fast train.

Leighton Buzzard and surrounding villages
Much cheaper than St Albans!
35 mins to Euston

Norfolk , cambridgeshire: Ely, Kings Lynn

Look at the stops on the Peterborough/Kings X line. I used to commute from St Neots, which is ok, but lots of lovely villages near by too. St Neots to Kings X was 40 mins.

Thanks, I will have a look at these. We are not living in the UK at the moment so trying to get my head round moving back, having a sense of a place will help I think...

MK

or Watford

Don't laugh, but I know people who commute from around Doncaster to King's Cross. It is a very long way, but about an hour and 20 min on fast train. And a lot of house for your money on that S/E/N Yorks boundary.

Leighton Buzzard and villages - worked for me for years :)
Tring
Berkhamsted
Anywhere on the London Midland line out from euston - have a look on the trainline

My parents live near Newark and know people that commute. 1 hour 20 to Kings Cross. Maybe a bit far and v expensive season ticket I would imagine.
I know a couple of people that commute in from Biggleswade in Bedfordshire. Nice market town afaiaa.

I think over an hour on the train would be too far, an hour each way including travel would be great, so max 40 mins on the train. I know nothing about Leighton Buzzard, why does it sound familiar? Any tips on nice surrounding villages?

Grantham is an hour on the train in to Kings X. It's not a very inspiring little town but it does have decent grammer schools (well the boys has always been good, the girls went through a crap patch but I think is bucking it's ideas up now. When I went there nearly 20 years ago it was very good) There are some good houses though - and some lush villages.

this is lovely in a beautiful location. Note the hills!

awimming pool When I was in Brownies we used to borrow that pool........

this is is a tiny village next to a bigger one with primary school and pubs etc`

this is maybe 10 minutes drive from the station at non rush hour times, maybe 15? It's in a beautiful village.

Baldock? Hitchin? Letchworth?

NorthernLurker I can't believe those properties, I am so used to London prices. I think Grantham is a bit far though to commute every day, my DH works long hours so am loathe to make them too much longer. I love looking at properties at this stage of the process, it's when it's a bit more real it's a pain!

I know - the prices are incredible value aren't they? I think it depends on the speed of the commute tbh - how long getting to the station and how long at the other end. If nothing else hopefully it's shwn you that there is a world beyond London prices

Leighton Buzzard was where the Great Train Robbery took place in 1964 or something - is that why it's familiar?? LB is 40 mins from Euston adn trains are every 15-20 mins. PM me if you'd like to know more :)

NothernLurker it definitely has, we were actually quite excited last night. Also the right moves website is great, it is such a long time (10 years) since we looked for a house that we are really out of date!
pied Thank you, maybe it was the Great Train Robbery connection!! You may well get a random PM at some point!

Doncaster is awful don't go. There is a reason for property to be cheap.

Most important question is what is your budget and what do you expect to get for that?

St Albans if you have lots of money. 20 mins into Kings Cross. Good state schools (both primary and secondary) but very over subscribed so you have to live right by the school you want. We used to live there but when we were looking to upsize the property prices were just crazy.

Watford if you don't have lots of money. 20 mins into Euston. We have a three bed, two reception, nice garden, 5 mins cycle from the station, which would cost probably £150k more in St Albans. Good state schools, again both primary and secondary, and again you need to think very carefully about where you live and what school you might get into. We are about 600m from an outstanding primary but you had to live under 350m away to get in this year.

And remember that even if the train journey seems short, you must must must take into account all the extras either side. We live in Watford and I commute into London, but door to door it's an hour.

Midland mainline goes into St Pancras so stops along that line may be worth looking at.

Remeber what train company you will be travelling with, london midland are rubbish! The is always problems on that line speaking as an exemployee

Watford is great for parks (google Cassiobury Park) and sports facilities - several lovely modern (council run) leisure centres. Generally a really decent place to live with young children. Has two theatres (Watford Palace and the Colosseum), two libraries, a big shopping centre with a John Lewis (!), right by the M25 and M1.

Main downside is that the town centre is a bit uninspiring, and it's not chocka block with loads of culture. No charming historical buildings. Certainly not yummy mummy ville like St Albans. But all this means that house prices are really very decent.

Hitchin is great for families and has excellent schools. Very well served by trains for commuting into King's Cross (two lines go through there). Letchworth and Baldock also good, though only half as many trains as they are only on one line. If you don't mind driving to a station, there are lots of lovely villages in the area.

Actually, I've found commuting on London Midland (Watford-Euston) loads better than when I lived in St Albans and commuted with First Capital Connect. Trains much less crowded, definitely seem to be fewer problems and delays. Trains from St Albans were pretty crowded from 7am to 9:30am - it was horrible.