Buying near High Wycombe - where to set up our young family?

[curiousparent2]

I am new to posting on mumsnet, so here goes..

DH and I plan to sell our Clapham flat and buy near High Wycombe. Basically, to get for the same price a decent sized place with garden that is more suitiable for kids but still in commuting distance to London for us both.

I've followed a few mumsnet posts on areas of High Wycombe and gather the centre is to be avoided and the surrounding sub-urbs and villages to the north are recommended locations. I'm not sure about the West. We have one DS aged 21 mo who is currently in a nannyshare and hope for a couple more DCs in the coming few years. We want to set up in a house where we'll stay for a while, so good for primary and secondary schools.

Recommendations for good areas in catchment of good schools? We have a reasonable budget (due to silly London escalation of prices)

And - for childcare of younger kids, do others around High Wycombe use/recommend nurseries or are nannies/nanny-shares the norm for working parents?

Many thanks in advance!

[paulapantsdown]

Come to Uxbridge!

[CharlesRyder]

I would throw in Taplow/ Dorney/ parts of Burnham. The house prices are currently much better than Marlow but will be on crossrail so good transport prospects. St Nics and Dorney primaries have a nice village feel or Priory/ Lynch Hill for more progressive outlook and if you choose a house carefully you will be in catchment for grammars.

[MillyMollyMama]

Great Missenden has top class primary, very good secondary and the grammar schools. You could also add Little Kingshill into the mix. Marlow adds quite a bit of travelling time into London. However I like Marlow a lot but sec school not great. All the grammars are good but it is not a given children get a place. Holmer Green sec is ok but others in HW are not. Chalfonts school is also good.

[MillyMollyMama]

I know Penn Road, Hazlemere, pretty well. It is quite a busy road and is mostly ribbon development particularly after the golf club. Are you looking at the 4 bed modern house for sale there?

[CaipirinhasAllRound]

I love Marlow but you wouldn't want to have to get a train from there, you'd end up driving to maidenhead or high Wycombe which would add loads to the journey to London.
I live in Maidenhead and am amazed at how much house prices have gone up in the last 6 months, probably due to crossrail. A 2 bed mid terrace down our road would go for 350k now.
I'd look at Princes Risborough or Thame

[Scrabble123]

MillyMollyMama We're considering Hazlemere and the surrounding area too... Are there any areas/streets you would recommend avoiding?

[ShoeWhore]

How about Flackwell Heath?

[OhNoYouExpedidnt]

Flackwell is a good shout Shoe.

[Bert2e]

Slough is grammar school area too ;-)
Also South Bucks but not Windsor / M.head which are both Royal Borough.

[ColouringInQueen]

Have you looked at Amersham? Good trains into London, good facilities and community. Bucks so v good grammar schools.

[ColouringInQueen]

Have you looked at Amersham? Good trains into London, good facilities and community. Bucks so v good grammar schools.

[CharlesRyder]

If you are prepared to put your faith in free schools then Bray.

Braywick Court School and Holyport College both due to open in September. Close to Maidenhead station for the fast trains.

[CharlesRyder]

Bray also has a great Montessori nursery (Patchwork) if you wanted to go down that route.

[NomDeClavier]

Foxes Piece is on the up. I know that for Marlow it's not a great school but compared to most of the rest of the country, even the county, it's very, very good. And because it's 'deprived' - for Marlow so not at all - it gets a lot of extra funding and support. Ten to one you'll tutor for the 11+ wether you're at Spinfield or Foxes Piece so I wouldn't be worried. You can always go for Gillets in Henley if you don't like Great Marlow but the new head has apparently done wonders there.

[curiousparent2]

Amazing advice- thanks- my head is spinning! Have seen some nice houses recently come on the market in Walters Ash, Speen and Prestwood. I guess it is a bit longer commute via either HW or Great Missenden but looks like primary schools near Walters Ash might be good? And still within reach of the grammars and secondaries in HW? Does anyone know whether there is a nice community feel in these villages for kids to grow up in?

[OhNoYouExpedidnt]

Deprived in Marlow is the same as deprived in Wycombe. There are plenty of families living in deprived families in Marlow.

[OhNoYouExpedidnt]

plenty of children living in deprived...

[PerhapsNot]

I understand if you don't want to give anymore info out but an idea of budget and desired house type might help? Also, where do you need to commute to in london, is Marlybone better than Paddington?

[CharlesRyder]

Have you seen that Kirstie's Best of Both Worlds is Bucks tonight? Might be helpful, she understands commuting.

[plus3]

Flackwell Heath has a lovely village feel, is close to beaconsfield & Marlow and is commutable into London

[curiousparent2]

Thanks CharlesRuder I shall watch that show tonight!
Perhapsnot- house type: 4+ bed house with good sized garden and floor space (1600sq ft+); budget up to £750; commuting to Bloomsbury (me), Liverpool St (DH). Because of commute we gave set on being within 20min cycle/strive from a High Wycombe station which seems fastest way in.
Do you know Green Road, by RGS? Good location? Seen a nice looking house there

[curiousparent2]

Ryder sorry

[cestlavielife]

if you both commuting into London who will go home when there is a problem eg child falls over and is en route to hospital? and how long will it take? what if you both stuck in London due to snow or whatever? or does one of you have flexible working/ working from home option?

have you looked into how many hours you will realistically need nanny/childcare for, given both parents commuting into london?