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?

Also Stamford (Lincs)

Marlborough
Tetbury

Like llareggub, I like Leamington. Leamington is also v. close (touching, pretty much) Kenilworth and Warwick. Its rail links are very good.

... and thank you for the name-compliment! +

Kent? Plenty of beautiful countryside without being too cut off and a relatively short commute to London.

Montpellier in Cheltenham is full of independent shops, cafes etc, plus nice community, architecture etc. Expensive mind... Sounds like you want somewhere like Brighton, lots of independent cafes etc.

My husband suggests you just live in a nice part of London as that is clearly what you are actually looking for.

I think you can either have the price, or the station.

I'd look at Chipping Norton if the town is the key bit; I know you say you're not ready for a village, but I'd have a look at Kingham if the station is the key bit (there's currently one house for sale in Kingham at 200000 but it's an auction and I bet it will go for more) - as villages go it's absolutely top of the range and with that mainline station.

If you're willing to go a bit further north, for me it would have to be Beverley.

I haven't been to Salisbury yet - what aer hte prices like, lowe than Bath?
Wells and Bradford are too small for me after living in London for yons.
Winchester is very snooty, isn't it? and I think more expensive than better Bristol areas.
Sorry LittleMilla I did mean Central Bristol rather than some suburbs/outskirts, do you really like it? Ime most people don't, too many ugly buildings there, too much trafiic, not very green, Centre of London much much better due to parks and shops. The centre is fine to come to the office of course. But the centre of town is its face. Also I'm just tired of big cities with lots of pollution/noise/traffic jams. I'm a Londoner, which I love but it grates on me on daily basis, and trying to move in search of more space.

I grew up in Salisbury. Presence of the only two grammars in Wiltshire makes it v expensive. It's a lovely lovely city town and I miss it.

Leamington is an hour and twenty minutes train to London - Marylebone and it is in Warwickshire, the town is situated right next to Warwick which is another option, train takes one hour and twenty five minutes again to marylebone and 5 minutes to leamington.

You can get a 3/4 bed for under 300k and within 0.5 miles to the station

Chubfuddler I think you've missed my point about the budget , of course I'd live in a nice part of London if I could afford more than a one bed flat! I used to live there when i was married but can't afford anymore..Bristol is affordable more or less, even if not middle of Clifton but nearby/borders, but for that price you can only buy a studio in Kensington!

Cheltenham has loads of independent shops, they are mostly in Montpellier, not the town centre. Also lovely architecture, parks etc, loads going on (literature festival, science festival etc), and you can walk to the station from Montpellier in about 20 mins.
There are lots of very snooty old ladies about though, which is where it falls down in comparison to Clifton I think!

I don't think the kinds of places you would like are much cheaper than London though. Property in most of these lovely places, particularly in south is very very expensive. Add in commuting costs and easily as much as London.

Sound interesting, ivykaty, thank you! never been to that neck of the woods, will definitely travel there, over the next weekend hopefully. 1h20 is great as it's 2.10 to Cilfton (with connection). I had a very quick look at rightmove - suprprised at the prices, they seem almost too low for that distance from London, is there a catch ?
I will also look at Warwick, do you prefer it to Leamington? is it green? are people nice/activities goign on? Also Marylebone is very useful, I was going to say that I don't do anything in NE London so Stratford is not useful.

joanofarchitrave, I've heard nice thing about Chipping Norton - as a village what amenities has it got? a bit scared of villages as I'm used to be able to go in early evening with shops/cafes still open, whereas in villages it's just the pub? what is the nearest station to C.N.?
How far is Beverley from london?
hazelnutlatte, how do you get to Montpelier? I thought it was adjecant to the centre but couldn't find it. Are these old ladies tell everyonme off?

adjacent

'do these old ladies...'

I was born in Bristol and know exactly what you mean. I second Marlborough - Swindon nearest mainline station, one hour to paddington and v close to m4. Fab place to live :)

And agree, Montpelier in Cheltenham is lovely...

Hmmm.. Just re-read your comments. Marlborough mybe too small. What about Cirencester?

franticallyjugglinglife thank you, nice to hear this from a native as some people got upset about the criticisms, as if London's perfect where i live - I can point out lots of negatives about London too (plus I'd still obviously consider Bristol, and if not, then will miss Cilfton village, the seagulls, the Bridge etc - and Park street is full of character), I could live with the centre if the journey from clifton to london was under 1h30 or so, direct.
I never realised that Marlborough near Swindon! Been to M. before a few times, the only thing is everything closes so early, or has it got 'younger' recently? how far is it to the rail and is there a bus (or taxi cheap enough)?

Shrewsbury might suit although no direct train to London and some parts of the town are really spoilt by ugly new buildings.

I was in Rye, East Sussex recently and it was very sweet.

Never been to Totnes but it's staging a fight back against chain shops, it's currently trying to stop Costa moving in.

Winchester is lovely but pricy.

St Ives? Too remote for you?

nah the people are horrid lots going on if you want to join in

sports clubs, running track, two swimming pools, ladies running groups mixed running groups, park run, community allotments, book clubs, boxing club and strip club

a lot of influx in week so decent places to eat in all three towns
cinema in leamington and three night clubs

two large parks along the river and Warwick has a great castle, kenilworth had a castle and now the ruins stand as they were always on the wrong side

farmers market and activities of that kind, Warwick has a few things going on folk fest and street parties with stalls etc leamington has a peace fest every year and food fest

no sorry don't like Ciren, not eough there. I will look into Warwick/Leamington, and Salisbury if prices are not as high as Bath's.