£350-400k, 3 beds with garden within 2 hrs direct train to London

[breadwidow]

Inspired by another thread where the OP got lots of suggestions, I need some suggestions for towns for relocation options. Quite typical story, moving out of London to free up some £, and to a place where DH could afford to set up longed for bakery. I will keep my job in civil service (which I love) so need to get to London fairly easily, for travel at least twice a week but likely not every day (hence happy with 2 hour journey)

So looking for locations:
Within about 2 hours train journey to London (I would stretch over that for the right place)
With decent schools (the biggest wrench will be leaving my sons outstanding primary)
Where houses with 3-4 bedrooms and decent size gardens, ideally within walking distance to the station, cost £350-400k

Even better if it's a location where you can see an artisan bakery doing well and extra marks for being near some wild / dramatic country side (this may be asking for the moon on a stick but I miss the landscapes of mid wales near to where I grew up)

[MummaGiles]

2 hours direct train to Euston could see you as far north as south manchester - Stockport, Wilmslow. Or you could look around Crewe.

[Stpancras]

Solihull

[breadwidow]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We now have a long list of places to do some research on. Aiming to narrow down the list a bit and then get out to visit a short places. As I said, we already have done a recky of Stroud and to be honest I'm a bit at a loss of what to look at when visiting. It's really hard to get an impression of whether you want to live somewhere from a couple of visits so any advice from people who have moved somewhere new on what they looked out for would be much appreciated!

[breadwidow]

Sorry that should read short list of places

[Daffydil]

@FraterculaArctica a new bakery would have to compete with Days though, which would be tricky!

[applesandpears56]

Overton, Hampshire
Amazing schools
50 min train journey to Waterloo
Pretty village in need of a bakery
In your price range for houses

[applesandpears56]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69946304.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69912596.html

[applesandpears56]

An outstanding primary and secondary that you are in catchment for and an excellent sixth form college nearby - what more could you want

[BarryTheKestrel]

We live in Exeter and DH works in London quite frequently. The fastest train is just over 2 hours and starts very early.

We are surrounded by countryside and very close to the seaside, an artisan bakery would fit right in, and we have some great schools.

[CMOTDibbler]

Having relocated a couple of times, I advise buying all the local papers, and then imagining your normal week living in a town. So, where would you go swimming (obv substitute your interests here), could you walk to some nice shops, where would you go to see a film, can you join a transition group/cycle club/food co-op etc.

On our last relocation, we wanted a small town which had enough facilities to let ds get to things by himself, but small enough to have a feeling of community. We love proper independent shops and local food - so after going to see a few towns, we knew when we came here that it was right.

[SueGeneris]

Chippenham is good for London and close to Wiltshire countryside. I can walk to the station from my house. V good secondaries and our dcs are at an outstanding village primary. Local bakers:
www.lacockbakery.com

[SueGeneris]

New build within walking distance of station and great park with tennis courts, playground, splashpad, bandstand and open space/trees
www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/52977924

[Etymology23]

m.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/46892056#dp-description-expand

Ipswich is approx 1hr (just less on the fast train) into London. Decent 3 bed town house, good school catchment, nice part of town, right near a lovely park, less than a mile from the station. No garden pics but I think it looks okay out the window. £315k and independent cafes etc are starting to pop up here now.

[theunsure]

Rutland/Leics (I live here)

Beautiful countryside - easy commute to London and a lot of people with more money than sense

But there is already an outstanding artisan bakery www.hambletonbakery.co.uk/

[CatherineMaitland]

Someone else has probably already said this but Winchester does have some good chalkland landscapes - not quite wild, but good walking on uplands with great views.

[TheJoyOfSox]

I agree with Newark. It’s a wonderful market town with a proper market square an indoor market, Waitrose and some lovely restaurants.
We love it there, (we live in Birmingham but regularly visit Newark as have family there)

It’s convenient for Nottingham and Lincoln if you need some city living, two train stations and villages around the outskirts of Newark if you want a more rural vibe.

I may be biased as I have told my DH that Newark is where I plan to retire to.

[MrsPatmore]

I would say Faversham too. Fast rail link to London, quite an arty vibe and close to Whitstable and the lovely Oare Marshes for bird spotting, seal watching and sailing. Also Lewes, but you'd have to compromise on the house and there is already a fantastic artisan bakers there (Flint Owl).

[AgnesSkinner]

Petersfield - just over an hour into Waterloo, good schools, on the South Downs, the Coast is in easy distance and plenty of residents with disposable income to spend on artisan bread.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62594011.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64173316.html

[legfaced]

Winchester would be out of your budget unless you’re prepared to live quite far out. A 3 bed within walking distance to the station is £600-£800k.

[mrsm43s]

Have you considered Margate?

It's a bit gritty still, but its in that up-and-coming phase, and I think an artisan bakery would fit in nicely in the area. If you didn't fancy living in Margate itself, there's plenty of other towns/villages around which you could live in - but have the bakery in Margate itself.

Otherwise - Whitstable?

I think your budget isn't huge,and Kent offers really good value for money for housing, and good commuting to London.

[applesandpears56]

Overton is a 15 min drive to Winchester yet half the price and a faster commuter train

[Fizzyknickers]

I live on the chester/north wales border. Train from Chester to Euston take 2 hours direct with virgin trains :) it’s a beautiful place to live, loads to do and see and significantly cheaper to buy than down south :)

[stopbeingabloodyvictim]

Malton, great annual food fair, monthly food market, although already artisan baker and gelato shops and amazing delis

[stopbeingabloodyvictim]

York 1 hr 58 into kings cross and then 20 minutes to Malton

[Oblomov18]

I actually think the artisan bakery bit might be a more difficult criteria than we are giving it credit.

Where would this thrive? Would the outskirts of London be better for this?

Many of people he smaller places near Surrey, wouldn't be big enough, I don't think.

In a very small town or village would there be enough custom?

Wouldn't you need quite a big town? Bath-like or similar?