is there a town equivalent to Cilfton Village in Bristol but without the rest of Bristol attached?!

[pinkredandpurple]

I love Clifton village: lots of green spaces around, a view over the river, warm atmosphere, period architecture, lots of delis, cafes and small shops. BUT the connection to main Bristol station not great, having to take connecting train or PITA buses, so travelling to London or anywhere is a bother and adds a lot to the trip what with connections etc.
I wish there was a similar place, well ok, minus the views maybe, without the rough part of Bristol attached and much more compact with easy access to a rail station, or with a quick bus to a station with many connections.
It has to be ideally SW or SE and not too far from London (i.e. not as far as the coastal towns). But if it's somewhere towards Derbyshire it's still doable. I don't like Norfolk, sorry, too flat a landscape.
Property prices not too crazy, sort of like Bristol prices would be ok.That is, you can get a good large 2/3 bed flat (or house!) for under 300K. But if lower, than even better!
It doesn't have to have lots of theatres/shops /chains/big megastores on the doorstep. But must have a good few cafes, I've been a Londoner so far!
I would like a simpler, more compact life, but not ready for rural/village, I don't like driving and not having people around.
Is this a silly utopia?
Any ideas, please?

I grew up in Amesbury, 8 miles outside Salisbury, and went to secondary school in Salisbury (hi chub!) and now live in Ealing!

I have never been to Clifton, but from your description I'm not sure Salisbury will suit. IMO its a bit of a strange mix of country people, army people and Goths OK that's probably not entirely fair...The centre is quite pretty, the cathedral is stunning but for me it always feels a bit provincial, small townish? But it's probably big enough to be friendly without knowing everyone, not sure how it rates on cafés and delis, I'll ask my Mum.

I'm not sure I could live there again and I like Ealing a lot more, but when I think about what I could get for what my house here is worth it does get a lot more tempting!

exexpat, I meant redland proper further out from whiteladies. It's big! Where i stay (and you are) you can definitely get a good size 2 bed for 285ish - I looked at many flats already through agents. I think prices aer down a bit from last year. I saw a maisonette by Clifton village by the little park for 350 which was above budget, and it sold for 320 this spring - big place with huge kit/diner and 2 beds, top two floors, though needing updateing), but in Redland or clifton Apskey rd you can easily get a 3 bed one on good condition for 290-300 depending on decor.

Mothership - Goths? very strange combo! well I'm going there on Monday so will report my impression. Country people are nice though. Ealing is VERY patchy, if you are in good patch then maybe worth sticking to. Not so good - I'd be also tempted bu nigger house then.

OK maybe I misinterpreted, apologies.

The area I have linked to is probably originally not that fancy but has become nice ie middle class people have moved in and done up. It is near town but that doesn't suit some people.

Prices are low (lower than the suburb I live in where a 4-bed for £250 would not be ideal eg no garden - but then that's all of Strutts Park!) because of the garden/parking issue. I would hate having to park there every day. No not very green, ie no trees on the street. It's inner-city, anywhere called Street in Derby is, so narrow roads and no trees. Park is in your back garden tho eh!

Not on a flood plain, river is down a big 'ill as we say up here

Not that near the Peaks either, you need Sheffield for that

Clary to clarify once more, it was a refusal to believe that Derby is 'not nice at all' as someone said, not sure how could you see it in different light (quite upset). I meant 'it must be quite nice', without bluntly negating what they said.

Two-bed flats for under £300k maybe (I'm at the Cotham end of Redland) but not a 3-bed house.

Yes cool, I've got you now, my misreading!

I need to argue with whoever said it wasn't nice at all! (not really going to tho

Clary so how far is strutts park to the station? almost feel like goingto see that house to get interior ideas!

and if suburbs aer much nicer then how far are they from station?

I don't know if it's just that they stand out more but I always seem to see a lot more when I go back to visit my folks than I do up here Got nothing against Goths, not Gothist, used to aspire to be one in my youth

Just been looking at house prices, my little Ealing terrace could get me a lot of house back home, see you Monday!

exex, I saw 3beds promise in Apsley rd for asking 310 but accepting 295, and also in Westfiekd park (v.nice) - house i mean far end of redland, long walk to station and not in best condition but you couldget something), or definetely a 3 bed for 270ish in westbury park.

Derby has two very nice auction houses - Hanson and Bamfords, both run by very nice but non-pompous men! love to see both in antiques programmes. definitely the people element is right over there!

ooh if you have a little HOUSE in Ealing you can get an amazing place in Sals! and a decent place in clifton. ask your Mum though re places to eat!
goths aer amusing, but how do they mix with military types?! do they ineract or dislike each other intensely?

bournville?

exex I meant of course 3bed flats in Apsley/westfield

NPPF - where is that, sorry? any other info?

I know you've already discounted York, but it's not really like 'The North' at all. 2 hours on the train from London, bustling with different culture festivals and full of independent shops. And it hardly ever rains. What's not to like?

You can also get some lovely houses, conversions and new builds with great views.

We're very friendly up North, honestly!

strutts Park prob about 20 min walk to station.
Not far from town but station a bit further.

I like the suburb I live in but there aren't lots of cafes and stylish boutiques; just nice biggish houses with gardens and pleasant people. Good community feel tho - things like footie clubs, Scouts, churches, cricket etc. Those are more for peeps with children tho.

We are about 3m from station. DH and DS2 (9yo) regularly walk back from there after going to footy but I don't suppose many people would consider it a reasonable daily walk!

views of (different) park

nice garden

rezzle the reason I discounted York is only because i couldn't find houses on rightmove for the budget last year (when i was considering it, and also sheffield and Harrogate). I'm surprised to see a nice house you linked too (not big but nice and many rooms!) within budget! maybe the prices gone down. Do you know the area it's in? new builds are really NOT for me urgh, not the flats anyway. Not 'warm'! And by conversions I meant victorian/edw houses, warehouses not my thing. BUT I must look again at houses. I did say i liked the feel/look of York, been there in July but IRONICALLY it was a downpour! quick tour around the Minster and then sat in a cafe for an hour. I know people are friendly there! another thing about York - best houses seem to be away from the centre, or is there an area/streets where you could get to station quickly (max 20min or less by bus)and is still residential rather than touristy?
Clary so allestree is a suburb? yes. too far for me especially as I don't have kids now, Id rather not be far out. sounds like strutts park is the only option within the centre?

Those are within 0.5 miles of the station, so that's mostly not residential. Depending on your walking speed you can get to the station in 20 minutes from most areas within 0.75/1.0 miles of the station.

Re the rain - technically it's not meant to rain as much as other areas, but it still gets here! I imagine it's probably a bit drier than Bristol.

rezzle, yes, I realised that the house is within easy walk. What's it like to live in the centre? is it quiet/noisy, and is it safe to walk in the evenings by yourself? how does it compare with living out of the centre, re near the racecourse (a few good houses and bigger there, Tadcaster rd etc). what are the supermarkets and how far are they. thanks! 2 hrs is a bit longer than ideal but would still consider york if could find the right actual area there for me with quick walk/bus to station. Any shopping street worth looking at with google or is it all concentrated around the Minster?

Bournville is a garden village in Birmingham. It was developed by George Cadbury for the chocolate factory workers. There is a video about it here bournvillevillage.com/about-2/

NPPF, very unusual! it looks nice, but no pubs or takeaways allowed (still in modern day?), a bit artificial I'd say and a bit oldie, not for me, but thank you.
I was looking at nearby Dorset thread, and Dorchester does sound good also, has good train links everywhere apparently and houses within budget within half a mile from the trains. It's been mentioned already but without any detail, so if anyone knows it, more detail would be welcome!

There are pubs and takeaways on the perimeter of the estate as it is really close to the student area in Birmingham but I know what you mean by oldie.