Can anyone advice me on the best locations for commuting into London?

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I'd be really grateful if anyone could advise me on good Home Counties options for commuting into London (office near Bank tube)? Ideally the train journey into London would be 45 minutes at the very most. Thanks in advance.

Bexleyheath? It's nice around there and about 45 mins into charring cross or London bridge.

Upminster/Hornchurch on distict line
or brentwood on BR in to Liverpool st

Central line goes straight in to Bank, so that gives you plenty of options - Epping, Ongar, Loughton at one end (my old neck of the woods) is all very nice, and would take about 30 min.

Woking. 25 minutes to Waterloo then the Waterloo & City line to Bank. The walk to the tube is short too so quite an easy commute.

kingston. 20-30 mins to waterloo station. nice shopping district. nice school catchment.

St albans - half an hour train to city Thameslink and 15 min walk from there. No need to catch a tube!

Billericay to Liverpool Street 30 mins. 10 min walk to Bank. (Central line one stop to Bank if feeling lazy!)

What sort of a neighbourhood are you looking for, OP?

I must say that I would avoid Bank if you possibly can. It is on lots of lines but seventh circle of hell in the pm (particularly with tourists bumbling about). Liverpool st, London Bridge, Charing Cross all much better options. And a 10 min walk is preferable to a 3 min tube journey, even in the height of winter, so think creatively and work out exactly how far from bank your office is (and which side).

Thanks so much for the replies. I'll look into all of those options. I'm looking for a family friendly area, ideally with decent state primary schools. I'd love to live somewhere where it's not too difficult to meet other mums etc. thanks again.

Medway - Kings X under 30 mins by Javelin

Anywhere coming into London Bridge is a very good bet. I live on edges of zone 6 south Croydon ish way and its 35 mins into London Bridge - quick walk to Bank or train to Cannon St. I can be from home to sitting at desk or vice versa in exactly an hour if I leg it.

Thanks Forago, I'll look into that.

Look at places like Caterham, Warlingham, Woldingham - all Surrey and fast line to London Bridge. Sanderstead as well, but actuallyin London borough of Croydon (if that bothers you)

Berkhamsted, lovely little town too!

Beckhamsted does look lovely. Places near Woking and Epping look really nice too...

Thanks Jadedangel, that's good to know.

Is Epping a good place to live with young children?

Thanks v much for that Jadedangel. That's really helpful. I think I need to arrange some viewings in Epping and take it from there.

How many bedrooms do you need and how much have you to spend?

My recommendation would be to buy near a Crossrail station now (will open in 2017). The house prices are reasonable now but will jump when the line opens.

I live in Burnham. House prices very reasonable, Taplow/ Burnham has nice village feel and good schools. Pick the right area of Burnham and you are in grammar school catchment.

We are moving to Dorset but keeping the house to rent out because projection is that houses in walking distance of Crossrail stations are going to go up 25%.

Madamecastafiore - 4 bedrooms ideally and due to crazy central London prices, we'll have a budget of £950,000 when we sell up and move.

Charlesryder - thanks v much for the recommendation. I'll take a look. It's great to know that about grimmer schools.

Berkhamsted is indeed lovely, but very expensive. A lot of development threatened as well, which the infrastructure can't really cope with