Where's commutable to kings cross, affordable and good place to live?

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If you worked in Kings Cross but couldn't afford London prices, where would you go?

If we wait a couple of years I reckon we'll be able to look at places for about £250k.

But if we do it sooner it'd be more like £160k.

We'd need at least 3 beds, what do you reckon, does such a place exist? (either £160k or £250k)

Royston?

Fast trains are 35 min to London. Surrounding countryside lovely.

example property

Have you looked at Letchworth? It's still a bit cheaper than Hitchin etc but it's still nice.

All those little villages in Herts are lovely. Just avoid Stevenage and Luton.

Got to be Bedford... Gets a slamming on here but 37 mins to st pancras and some lovely areas in town or villages. Will dig out some houses later...

m.taylorsestateagents.co.uk/pages/property/details.aspx?propertyinstructionid=2734126&searchType=buy

This sort of thing in Prime Ministers area of Bedford. Quite up And coming. Lovely pub, Burnaby arms, fancy cake shop, swimming pool and gorge Befford Park 2 mins away.

This one sold but that is the price point for 3 beds.

10 min walk to station.

If you are interested I will PM you a link to a website I building to show Bedford's nicer side... Not live yet but you may be surprised how nice it is.

Sorry for typos my phone screen is shattered grrrr

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44322377.html another a few roads along from the last one...

I was going to suggest Royston too. Its where we lived when DH and I first got married and he commuted to London.

Wing is near Leighton a Buzzard but just in Bucks so you get the chance of grammar schools or the local secondary is well regarded and walkable as it is in the village. Stewkley, just up the road is a very big village and pretty in places. You might find a doer uppper for your budget. Letchworth is also a possibility. There will not be much to choose from but I think Leighton Buzzard is a good place to live and Wing has lovely countryside all around. Shopping is MK but you are within easy reach of canal side pubs.

What about Letchworth or Baldock?

Peterborough is fine, despite the bad reputation it often has. I live in the south of the city in a lovely 'village' lots of facilities here and a 45 minute fast service to Kings X or an hour on the slow.

Milton Keynes is on the same line as Leighton Buzzard, but despite being further away from London, actually takes less time to get to as the fast trains go direct from MK to London without stopping at Leighton Buzzard. Only the slower trains stop at Leighton Buzzard. I've commuted from MK to Kings X for years now and it is definitely the best of both worlds (fastest train is 29mins to Euston, then a 4-5min walk to Kings X).

Sandy is cheaper than Biggleswade, as a pp said, but the fast trains didn't used to stop there as often - don't know if the same is still true though.

And it used to be grottier.

Rugby ... under an hour to Euston, you could be next to the station for £160k or out in the villages for more. Grammar schools and lots of good Primary schools too.

Anywhere but Royston. It's horrible, I lived there for. 4 years. Full of kebab houses and undertakers.

We live near Huntingdon, v easy commute, 45-50 minutes to kings X and there are some nice villages.

I would very strongly not advise commuting from Cambridge as that would also require commuting into Cambridge.... To Be Avoided At All Costs IMO.

Royston is not horrible. Like any place, there are good bits, and not so good bits. The whole area (north herts/south Cambs) is growing and I think property is good value for money here.

Baldock is also a good option.

I didn't like Royston when dh and I lived there for 4 years in our early - mid twenties. It may be nicer for a family though.....

V good time to buy in Biggleswade as prices will definitely go up next year - new shops including M&S opening up and town about to get a re-vamp. 35mins direct to Kings X mainline.

Biggleswade itself is patchy, but surrounding villages are inexpensive and some are very lovely.

Ely? It's an 1hr 15, but you can live within walking distance of the station easily. Nice town, good schools. I echo the advice about not Cambridge, house prices round the station are extortionate and the station is really badly placed for the City

Leicester is not 90 mins on train it is 66! You could easily find a nice house within your budget within 15 min walk of the station.
My dp commutes some days no problem. Train arrives into kings x st panc.

Have you considered market harborough? A bit down the road, but shaves off a few mins from the journey. House prices are slightly higher because of this though. Do you have kids? MH would be a really nice place to raise a family.

I lived in Royston for four years and continue to own a house there. It's not the most exciting place on earth but I don't know how it could be considered horrible. It's got some nice property and the town centre area is totally inoffensive. Cambridge on your doorstep as well.

East Kent - somewhere like this ?

Ah, just saw downstairs bathroom on that one though. Does need a bit of work but loads of space.