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?

Bradford on Avon. Near Bath. Train service to Bristol (25 mins ish). Lots of arty stuff, beautiful town, lots of lovely people. Downside: some nimbys (but they'll die soon ) and bad traffic (working on it).

House prices in the right ballpark. PM me if you want more local info.

ivykaty ! if local humour is same as yours, I already like the place.
so it in Midlands officially or still SW?
which of the three do you prefer?
I do plan to join a jogging group and a book club!
boxing club and strip club -no thanks , is it like Albert Square?!
I've been to Warwick Catsle but can't remember the town (very long ago)

'so is it'

Sorry, missed second page of thread! See you have already ruled out Bradford

thanks fresh, will pm. briefly, we went through it once and the traffic was bad and rushing right through the little centre!

ruled it out based on bad traffic but wanted to ask about improvements.

Well, I'd call it the midlands personally but I know people in Banbury (20 miles away) regard themselves as southeriners. When I said it was close to Stratford I meant Stratford-upon-Avon!

Marlborough
Ciren
Leamington

They do tick your boxes I think. Ciren does have loads going on - worth researching properly.

Ludlow? Railway station is easily accessible but no direct line to London.

My first reaction was:

Stamford, Lincs
Ludlow
Cirencester
Salisbury
All already mentioned!

Or how about (in Derbyshire/Notts, near where I live) West Bridgford, very lovely and rather expensive but not in south terms, or Ashbourne, lovely small town, ditto Wirksworth, both quite active communities, property pretty cheap. Maybe a bit too small tho?

Llageggub, I thought you meant a train to Stratford as it was in same sentence as London, and thought that was a bit random lol. Is Stratford-on-Avon nice btw? you prob meant more choices there and easy to get to fr L.Spa. So which do you prefer Warwick or leamington?

York, Knaresborough, Harrogate, Durham

It's not at all grim up North.

Ciren is out also as no train station though!
Ludlow same thing..
SAlisbury wil lgo to but is it as expensive as Bath? it does sound good though.
Is Derby any good, Clary?
Horsham in the South? has it got any character, like Clifton?

BikeRun - I looked at propertied in Harrogate but it's jst too far from London where i will want to go regularly. York would be nice but it's again expensive and seems to have lack of period conversion flats (houses too expensive if not far from the centre). I agree though the countryside is amazing around there! not grim, just too far (and colder).

Chichester
Horsham
Arundel

For your Sussex towns....

Blimey, time I slept. I read Oundle as Dundee!! Nothing useful to contribute though i like Dundee and dh and I had dirty weekend in Keynsham before we got married. He was working in Bristol which i also liked - incase anyone knows me and wonders why someone who posts from Scotland was in them parts, so far from Dundee ..... zzzzzzzz.

LEamington would be my first choice to be honest. What sort of house do you like? Leamington has some beautiful properties. Schools are good here too.

Derby I like actually tho too far from the sea...

Not for you tho, it's not small enough, nor cute enough in a Clifton village way, it's a big big town or a small city if you prefer.

Pinkredandpurple - can I (politely) suggest a map.

Thinking about it, there is a pretty bit of Derby, central enough to be 20 mins walk from city centre stuff (pool, shops, cafes), 30 mins walk to station but with a villagey atmosphere, very near a lovely park.

this kind of thingStrutts Park, Victorian houses for £250k but don't expect a garden or anywhere to park.

No offence to Derby, but it doesn't have anywhere like Clifton.

I think you've competing priorities OP. Many of your requirements (e.g. shops open late, cultural events, good train links to London) will only be satisfied be somewhere larger (e.g. size >> more shops and longer opening hours; good train links >> size) and therefore will naturally contain a mix of areas - new build/older properties, eclectic suburbs and dull estates, wealthy communities and poorer communities... etc.

Oxford? Henley?

Though both might be a bit too expensive.

Seven Dials in Brighton always reminds me of Clifton in fact there is a whole area called clifton Lovely bars and cafes and houses and flats. V londony

Ciren not many miles away from train at Kemble though.