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?)

Harrow Weald/Bushey? V quick to Euston if you get a fast train.

London midland are a lot better lately. Last couple of years have been far less fraught. Obviously you have to factor in price of season tickets and parking the further out you go.

What kind of place are you looking for?

I notice St Neots is mentioned above - I used to have to go to work events in St Neots, also dated a guy from there for a while and hated the place - the epitome of modern and souless IMO.

Sorry to anyone who lives there - and please correct me if there's a vibrant, beautiful interesting part I missed!

On Kings X line,you can catch the train at Huntingdon taking about 45 mins and there are nice places closeby such as the small town of Godmanchester or smaller village of Brampton, where you can cycle to the station in about 10 mins. The advantage of this location is its proximity to Cambridge.

Threefeet, I've never lived in St Neots itself, but in a nearby village. Don't know enough about it to defend either way, just used to catch the train from there!

Never lived in St Neots and not sure of current standing but I know the Upper/Secondary school used to be absolutely appalling.

Would advise some sad old train timetable examination before you decide too. 2 trains an hour is often the best you get at rush-hour in some of the places on First Capital Connect - but some stations have 3 or 4 (fast trains added in) which gives a lot more flexibility for the commute. Sorry - that is probably bloody obvious - but we got seriously hacked off with the more limited service after a while and wished we had moved to the next town down which had double the service.

cambridge / saffron walden

Thanks everyone for the ideas. Am not completely sure re budget as haven't had our house valued yet, but would assume 500k ish, maybe a bit more. I think the door to door travel time will be really important which means we are likely to have to be closer but then properties will be more expensive...
I think we would enjoy living in a village, and it would make moving out of London make more sense iyswim but then would need to think about impact on travel time and secondary schools, also whether we would want to move again when DCs are older, which would like to avoid having to...argh, it's a lot to think about, for once I have given myself time. Thanks for all the ideas everyone, I am taking note!

if you have £500K you definitely want Leighton Buzzard and surrounding villages then! You will get more house/better schools at every stage and if you really want to and live on the Bucks side of the border, you can put kids in for 11 plus but have the back up of excellent comps on the Bedfordshire side. Half an hour into Euston, 20 mins to great shopping at MK/loads of things for kids to do.