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Original poster

Leaving London for East Anglia - where to go?

72 replies

AveEldon · 01/03/2016 11:13

With secondary school decisions looming it may be time for us to leave London. But where to go?
OH needs to commute into the City.

We have previously looked at Buckhurst Hill but it was a bit too TOWIE
St Albans seems so expensive
Saffron Walden lovely but very little for sale

Any suggestions welcomed

OP posts:
Original poster
AveEldon · 03/03/2016 13:15

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams - on street parking and overall too small for us I think

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut - the sold STC one is fabulous. Unsure about St Neots but not been there in years

Definitely want state schools. 3 kids and possibly a 4th is just too much money.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 03/03/2016 13:16

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39656487.html

Why don't you like the one above?

You've got a great budget, why bother moving so far away?

Central St Albans is lovely. Great schools, state and private. Everything in walking distance, short commute.

Original poster
AveEldon · 03/03/2016 13:29

LaurieFairyCake - yes I saw that one online. It's roughly the same size as our existing house which we have outgrown and a similar price

OP posts:
EssexCat · 03/03/2016 13:33

AveEldon I'm not sure you'll get better in SW really, we have the same problem which is why we're looking at villages now.

LaurieFairyCake · 03/03/2016 13:37

4 receptions, 5 bedrooms, 2 cellars Confused

You've got 3 kids and are planning a 4th - are they all Hagrid ? Grin

Come on, that house is enormous.

Original poster
AveEldon · 03/03/2016 13:47

Bedroom 5 is a very small single. You'd struggle to get anything beyond a single bed and a bedside chest in there

Bedroom 4 we would use as a office
Then I'm back to only 3 useful bedrooms and the garden is too small

Basically I'm one of those nightmare people on Location Location Location who refuses to compromise. Grin Hence why we are still in London in the same house

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 03/03/2016 13:48

Seaside house, excellent commuting links with planning permission to extend upwards.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53044570.html?premiumA=true

LaurieFairyCake · 03/03/2016 13:53

You're right, you're a fucking nightmare Grin

It's honestly going to come down to what you want to compromise on - size or location.

I have no doubt you're going to find a great big mansion in the middle of nowhere that is uncommutable or:

You have a 2000 sq feet property in an incredibly useful town centre with all amenities on your doorstep

The second bedroom is 16 foot long - you could easily have two sharing?

St Albans is really brilliant for everything - pubs, restaurants, children's activities, the park, the shopping. You are barely going to get in your car. You will become part of the community there easily. The commute is easiest.

Lancelottie · 03/03/2016 14:27

Put the office in the small room. If it's big enough for a single bed, it's big enough for an office. Unless by office you mean 'studio for my life-size junk metal sculptures of elephants.'

shovetheholly · 03/03/2016 14:46

Jesus, my neighbours raised 3 lovely kids in a tiny (and I mean tiny) 3 bed semi!

There are very, very few families I look at and think 'I envy what you have'. Most of the time I think 'Jesus, I'm glad I don't have your life'. But I do envy them. They are the happiest, most cohesive, most loving family you'll ever meet. And super clever too. Eldest is about to get his PhD any day now.

AlbusPercival · 03/03/2016 14:59

Have you thought about Castor?

It is a 10 min drive to Peterborough, then 40 mins to Kings Cross.

Local primary school was in Tatler as one of top primaroes in country. Locall secondary Arthur Mellows has great reputation.

Beautiful village and your money would buy something really lovely

AlbusPercival · 03/03/2016 15:03

The decor is horrible, but a lovely house

BlimeyCrikey · 03/03/2016 15:36

Wow Albus beautiful house but I agree on the decor!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 03/03/2016 16:01

Do you really need an office if no-one can work from home? Grin

Catchment for Ofsted Outstanding Secondary, decent commute into the City and some of the top grammar schools in the country a bus ride away.
Big enough to literally lose the kids but right at the top of your budget with decor a bit dated.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49228552.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51867854.html?premiumA=true

Completely the other side of London in Kent
Catchment for top grammar schools for boys and girls secondary.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49815707.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54560027.html

Ditto but only a patio garden/small garden, both on the doorstep of parks though. Ready to walk into though. Outstanding primary and secondary state catchments
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39370938.html?premiumA=true
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-38350662.html

Lancelottie · 03/03/2016 16:15

So a mahoosive house, with a half-mile walk to Cambridge station, practically bordering the Botanic Gardens, doesn't meet the bill?

You could buy it for me and I'll look after it for you if you like?

(I do like the casual attitude of the sellers in those pictures, TreadSoftly. Not only have they left a load of fridge magnets up, they haven't even shut the fridge door!)

Original poster
AveEldon · 03/03/2016 17:35

No to Southend
No to Kent although the first two houses are lovely
Definitely no to swimming pools

Lancelottie - I really don't want to be in Cambridge itself.

We run another business from home separate from weekly work so the office has 3 computer screens, servers, printers, 6 full height bookcases, filing cabinets etc. It's not just one desk and a laptop
Although if somewhere had a purpose built library that could work Wink

OP posts:
mrsmortis · 03/03/2016 19:52

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-58092668.html

Less than a mile to Colchester station and then 50ish mins to Liverpool Street.

Belleende · 03/03/2016 22:20

Right now, I like an akward customer
i am going to stick with the hitchin theme as all the secondaries are good/outstanding and I have not heard any issues about getting in.

The decor may look like someones idea of what a grown up house should look like and it is a tad over budget but this is a beaut
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53222224.html

Stunning barn conversion with annex for home office
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39627567.html

Amazing chapel conversion
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39684120.html?premiumA=true

grumpysquash3 · 03/03/2016 22:27

Belle the lady who works for me lives in Hitchin and she would fully agree with you if she were here..... :)

Belleende · 04/03/2016 07:34

I am a recent blow in and a bit of a fan...

Original poster
AveEldon · 08/03/2016 13:25

London Road, St. Ippolyts - looks interesting but you only get 1/4 of the house.

The Barn conversion - not keen on barns or anything listed
The Chapel conversion - too open plan

mrsmortis - interesting location but not sure I fancy Colchester

OP posts:
Belleende · 08/03/2016 20:31

Right love, you are own your own
(but please come back and let us know what you go to view as I love a bit of vicarious property purchasing)

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