Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

£250k commutable to London

91 replies

GothicRainbow · 03/02/2016 18:48

We're looking to buy a 3 bed house within commutable distance to London - ideally no more than an hour and a half each way on the train.

Our budget is £250k so we are struggling to find anything suitable in the current area we live in (Hampshire/Surrey border) and we are starting to consider looking further afield.

We have one DS (2.5) and one more on the way so schools, community etc is important.

Can anyone recommend good areas for us to begin searching??

OP posts:
ParsnipSoup · 03/02/2016 22:32

Ashford in Kent has a 36 minute high speed train into St Pancras and you can get a 3-4 bed house for £250k. Lots of grammar schools and pretty places nearby.

WhatTheActualFugg · 03/02/2016 22:32

My vote is still with Downham Market... anyone else??

www.downhamweb.co.uk

23 mins to Waitrose (essential!)
30 mins on the train to Cambridge for nice shopping
45 mins drive to amazing beaches
40 mins to Thetford Forest for family cycling, picnics, concerts and tree-top adventure

What is there not to like?

£250k commutable to London
£250k commutable to London
£250k commutable to London
Owllady · 03/02/2016 22:36

Norfolk radio? Aha!

WhatTheActualFugg · 03/02/2016 22:38

Well, yes, the added comedy factor too. For free!!

dottyaboutstripes · 03/02/2016 22:38

I used to live in Downham Market. Note "used to", there's a reason for that. Dull and really crap secondary school. Cheap houses though that's true.

WhatTheActualFugg · 03/02/2016 22:39

And only 20 minutes from Sandringham if you wanted to go Queen spotting on Christmas Day whilst she's still alive

WhatTheActualFugg · 03/02/2016 22:42

Oh no Dotty, that's not good news. How long ago? Could the school have got better?

Any chance dull is subjective??

Caravanoflove · 03/02/2016 22:46

Look at grantham, direct train to kings cross takes 1 hour, excellent local grammar schools, beautiful surrounding villages, £250k would buy something lovely.

WhatTheActualFugg · 03/02/2016 22:51

Wow, really only 1 hour? I hadn't realised it was quite so north (just looked at map). Half way between the hills and the beach.

Isoldeonetwo · 03/02/2016 22:54

Rugby to London Euston ?
Market Harborough to St Pancras ? All doable in an hour and a half .

VelvetSpoon · 03/02/2016 23:03

Ashford (the Kent one) is a good shout, forgot the highspeed trains stop there too Blush

lots like this under £250k, within reasonable distance of the station.

ConesOfDunshire · 04/02/2016 01:15

A three-bed in High Wycombe for £250k or under is unlikely to be in a salubrious location...

LaurieFairyCake · 04/02/2016 06:24

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36037164.html

This is the Grove Park/Bromley one I was thinking of - it's gone under offer unfortunately. I literally look every day online in this area but I've not got my place on the market yet so I haven't registered with the agents.

The biggest problem with Luton (where I work) is that it can be difficult to re sell, the market isn't as buoyant and there's quite a lot of properties.

Would you consider a flat OP ? I'm downsizing to one (old Grin) and they're sometimes bigger than the houses if it's those big Edwardian conversions or ex council blocks.

MrsSparkles · 04/02/2016 06:26

Another vote for ashford (or surrounding villages). 38 mins to kings cross. Ticket is quite expensive though - i think about £5.5k + a year.

Personally i don't rate the medway much, it felt a bit souless when we lived there.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 04/02/2016 06:35

Oh god, don't move to Luton!

Try Leighton Buzzard. 28 mins to Euston, good schools, lovely countryside, good community.

There's a waitrose in the smallish town centre and Milton Keynes 15 mins up the road for shopping etc.

You'll get 3 beds in a decent area for your money.

sparkly72 · 04/02/2016 06:52

Eastleigh Hampshire ... 3 beds under £250k... 20 mins drive to coast and forest... Train in from Eastleigh, parkway or shawford...I know lots of people who work in London and commute from here

slebmum1 · 04/02/2016 08:42

The commute from Chippenham and other places suggested will be extortionately expensive.

orangina01 · 04/02/2016 09:16

St Neots is a lovely place to live. Fast train is 40 min in rush hour to Kings X and crucially, you get a seat! Any further down the line and that is unlikely or impossible. You can get a 3 bed for £250K but a little more would mean a much better house. It isn't cheap but it is far nicer than Bedford or Huntingdon which are cheaper and nearby. Good luck with your search.

TiaTheTulipFairy · 04/02/2016 09:34

Try Tonbridge in Kent. 40 mins train to waterloo or charing x, plenty of houses in budget (sorry can't link on phone) excellent grammar schools. And a Waitrose! Lots of young families, lots going on, great place to be in with young children.

orangina01 · 04/02/2016 09:45

Not sure what the obsession is with Waitrose, haven't read all previous posts, but St Neots has one right in the town centre if it helps?!?

Owllady · 04/02/2016 09:53

It also has an Iceland :o I quite like St Neots. The children like to go bowling there!

My closest supermarket is waitrose. I drive to shop in either lidl or aldi :)

WhatTheActualFugg · 04/02/2016 10:10

Oh Tonbridge is lively!! Surely not within budget though? (£250k for 3 bed)