Affordable and commutable to Kings Cross/Euston/st Pancras?

[Handsfulloflavender]

Hello Mums! I am Mela, a mother of three living in the USA. My husband just accepted a position in London near the British Museum. We have never been to England before (!) and won't be able to visit in advance, so I am desperately researching towns on the train lines from Kings Cross and Euston so we will be ready upon arrival in December. I have read the older threads but thought it might be worth it to put our situation out here in hopes of some current information. We hope to pay around £1,100 or less and we are prepared to squeeze into a two bedroom flat if necessary, and we love to walk. We live in a small mountain town now and don't mind small villages but we need to be commutable to London. Of course I dream of a tiny garden but I think this may be impossible? I've read a lot about St. Albans but I worry we won't be able to afford it.

Thank you, thank you for any suggestions!
Mela (who will probably be posting many more questions)

Cambridge is super expensive, particularly near the station.

Another suggestion for Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Royston, or surrounding villages.

Hitchin is probably nicest, but also priciest. Has best schools.

Welwyn Garden City and Hertford also worth a look.

Northwest Kent is pretty cheap and 20 mins to kings cross on high speed train from Ebbsfleet

Can I suggest greenhithe, Rochester, cuxton or Strood, all in the garden of Kent, lots of lovely walks and pretty villages. Rents are much cheaper than near Cambridge I think. I rented a gorgeous three bedroom townhouse in greenhithe for £1000 a month. Equally right now I live on the coast and I can still get into St Pancras in under a hour. On the high speed. You could get a really pretty village around Folkestone, Dover or ashford for much less than your budget and then you walk straight out of St P and into the British museum.

Or I have a colleague who lives North of London, trying to remember where and will ask next time I see them who can get the metropolitan line straight in.

Canterbury in Kent - under an hour to st pancreas which is 5 min walk to British museum. £1000 can get you a 3 bed house that's within walking distance to canterbury west station. State schools around that side of Canterbury are pretty decent (rated good in ofsted and highly regarded by locals). Also 20 min to the coast/beach.

Train fares are roughly £6000 yearly. If he has to travel daily, from Canterbury he can get a seat. Anywhere nearer to London and he'll be standing.

Bedford/Flitwick worth considering as well. Bedford is start of train line so more chance of seat.

Commuting is balancing act between rent and season ticket.

High Barnet could be a good place to look for a two bed flat though you would probably looking at around £1200 pcm. Living in High Barnet would be cheaper travel wise than Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire.

the OP has three kids and a 2 bed flat is completely unrealistic.

Radlett is a pleasant spot - but for their £1100 they would only get a 2 bed flat with a tiny second bedroom. For the 3 beds they need the rent is double that. There are cheaper 3 beds in Watford (about £1300) but the third 'bedroom' may only just be big enough to sleep in.

I'm originally from St. Albans and it's lovely but very expensive. Nearby Hemel and Watford cheaper, but if you prefer something a bit more rural try Kings Langley / Abbots Langley / Berkhamstead / Wheathanpstead

Further out in Essex will be much cheaper and bigger housing but longer commute Chelmsford Southend etc

I agree that 3 kids in a two bed flat will be very difficult but £1100 is a small budget.
OP how much have you budgeted for travel?

Season ticket for the whole year from Canterbury is £6700. It does mean however that he can take the kids along on the train for free and possibly the OP as well.

Definitely can get a 3 bed house near enough to the train station 5-10 min walk for £1100.

We live in Gravesend, North Kent, it's a 23 min train journey on the high speed into St Pancras and a lot cheaper than lots of the surrounding areas. It's not the prettiest bit of Kent at all, but it's near lots of pretty areas and worth the balance of commute/property prices/local amenities for us. Good local schools too.

[[http://tuckergardner.com/Rent/Wheelers-Great-Shelford-5774 Near Cambridge, near mainline station in village (get train into Cambridge and then out to London King's Cross, walk to work from there), excellent local schools, local shops and restaurants within walking distance. Season ticket £5916.

Wheelers in Great Shelford

Trying the link again.

Another one in Great Shelford

Easier commute - can walk to Cambridge station

Cycling distance to Cambridge station and near one of the best primary schools

While Great Shelford is lovely, I think you'd be crazy to live on the wrong train line and have to go into Cambridge and out again. I'd also be concerned about getting school places (if you need them).

The Alpha Terrace, Trumpington one would get you straight into Fawcett School on distance as it's on the same road. It's near shops, parks and a branch of Waitrose as well.

Hatfield? Only about 20 mins into kings cross.
This looks a bit grotty but is in budget.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/fullscreen/image-gallery.html?propertyId=36041709

Isn't Watford station quite far from the town?

Luton? I think you'd get more for your money, goes into st Pancras

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/fullscreen/image-gallery.html?propertyId=36041709

Wrong link www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-36241794.html