Henley-On-Thames as a potential move from SW19

[user1496555930]

Hi, would be keen to hear your thoughts on Henley as a place to live and to commute to London from.
We are thinking of a move out of London but honestly have no idea where we would like to go!
We have been to Henley and loved it, hence why I'm curious.
We have 2 x DS, 2.5 and 3.5 so thinking if schools too.
Thanks!

I think we are hoping to look at £800k-£950k, there's not much available for that anywhere at the moment though!
Near a train station would mean for us within a 20 minute walk, anything to avoid a drive!
Has anyone done the move out of London but rented somewhere first? Might be the safest option?

Waves to Rachie1986.

Op we moved out of London and bought straight away). I actually wished we'd rented out flat in London and rented in Maidenhead for a year or two. Love the town, but don't think we made best purchase (probably overpriced). We knew no one in area and so had no insight where to live. Even after a year would have been position. Still glad we made move and made lots of friends, but we had to move after 4 years and we could probably have avoided that.

Op if you can afford a home in Cookham your laughing. Cookham has best of all worlds, packed with restaurants and pubs, gorgeous on the river, lots of access in and out and the train. Loads of people commute from there. It's one of the most desirable places to live in the UK and has loads of b, c and other few a lister living there.

It's also a short drive to Marlow, very nice drive and near maidenhead

I live in Henley and I love it. It's a pretty and friendly town and it has a lot going on. However, I think Marlow would be equally as nice place to live. I can't quite decide which town Centre I prefer but I think Marlow wins. I find a lot of people in a Henley have lived here forever. It's got a bit of an old fashioned but arty/cultured feel. I find all the festivals and the regatta etc adds a lot to the town even if you don't participate in them. If you live in Henley then the traffic isn't a problem unless you are returning during evening rush hour.

You should check and double check the details for the through train. They have recently cut some of the Henley through trains and are cutting more later in the year.

Henley has beautiful countryside right on its doorstep although Marlow does too.

Schooling is much the same. Lots of kids from Henley go to the grammar in Marlow and lots of kids from marlow come to Henley sixth form college.

When we went to view a house in Henley some years back, the owner was moving to marlow.

out of curiosity we then looked at Marlow and ended up buying there instead!

Love the town. We both commute to London few times week and go via High Wycombe to Marylebone

Plenty of ex city dwellers here and in Henley/Cookham.

Good luck with the move

Has anyone done the move out of London but rented somewhere first? Might be the safest option?

Definitely. I advised a friend of mine to do so when moving to Devon. She didn't, doesn't like where she is, but has bought a house and it will be a massive faff to move.

BTW Marlow bottom is closer to high Wycombe with with a large uninspiring housing estate. Cookham has three parts, the old lovely village, close to river, with all the pubs and restaurants. The middle area where the station is, modern 70s not attractive and then further up is the Dean. The Dean is less convenient for station than village and modern part. There are some nice houses however in modern part. Walk from village to station is ten ish minutes.

Sorry one more thing, Marlow and henley can seem a little joules, boden brigades... Conservative professionals a long time ago a friend was looking round area and preferred Tunbridge Wells area she said she got more of a creative vibe..

What about Surbiton, Claygate, Esher, Cobham? All straight into Waterloo

Prefer Marlow to Henley.

When the regatta is on prepare to move out for two weeks as it's a dreadful place to be if you're not joining in the fun

Are Hanley and Marlow affected by airline noise?

I've never noticed it terribly in Marlow.

I'm not in Henley enough to have experienced it

Yes to a certain extent but not particularly.

What's lovely about Marlow and the villages is tgst they are a place in their own right and not just overspill from London.

OP what's important to you in s town?

Henley isn't really affected by the airline noise but I'd say that Marlow is. I live 4 miles out and when I moved there I found the noise to be far worse than I expected and I've lived in the area for most of my life. You do get used to it though, it isn't as bad as Windsor at least!

Also agree Henley is a nightmare at regatta time (and we're usually joining in the fun as DH was a rower but it's still awful for two weeks). It's a lovely place to live though.

I love living in Henley. Traffic and parking can be an issue especially during Regatta time (which I avoid by going away and renting my house out to towers) but it is a beautiful place to live with lots going on. The primary schools are good but can be oversubscribed.

Commute's not quick enough from Henley, imho. Suggest Gerrards Cross/Beaconsfield instead.

I love being in Henley over regatta. It's great fun. I'm not particularly into rowing but I love how lively the town is. I enter into the spirit of things by getting drunk on the riverbank with friends. It's part of our heritage
Regatta traffic isnt that much of a problem if you live in the town.

Which train station do you need to come into in central London? That makes a big difference to the commute (and your sanity...)

Walton-on-Thames or Weybridge maybe. Good transport links to Waterloo and London Bridge.

Thanks all for the replies!! Lots of food for thought.
We are definitely set on "that" side of London, for the access to the West Country. I work in Warren St and husband in Tott Crt Rd, so if we can get there door to door in 1hr 20 then I'm happy. Still epic but to be fair I often spend over an hour commuting from zone 4 😬

My parents have been living there a year and like it a lot

I'd say realistically it will be more like 1 hr 30 for you and perhaps more for your husband.

5-10 mins to the station, unless you live next door. Just under 1 hr 10 - Henley to Paddington. Paddington - Gt Portland St on the circle 10 mins - then walk round down to Warren St. Or get a bus from Paddington which will still take 10 mins.

We're looking in Wargrave and Twyford. Both are Berks and Wokingham BC. You can walk/cycle to Henley easily from Wargrave.

Cheaper than Henley, but Twyford has a direct train to Paddington and to Reading. It's a nice little town IMO, although parts of it are flood prone. We want to stay South of Henley and not have to use the bridge as we work in Reading area but DP has to commute to the city once or twice a week.

You're prepared to spend 2hr 40 a day commuting????