£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)

[Toddlerteaplease]

Nottingham definitely needs an artisan bakery. There isn't one that actually seeks bread!

[breadwidow]

thanks for the input

in terms of where a bakery could thrive, its hard to to predict I think and depends a lot on getting the business delivery right as much as the place . . .

A recent venture my husband almost got deeply involved in Bristol recently failed because it tried to do deliver too much, meaning customers were confused by the offer and staff overworked (despite being in a prime location).

On the flip side there are some examples of relatively successful (I say relative because they have not massively expanded over the years, but they have proved sustainable over a long period of time) bakeries in quite small places , e.g. www.famoushedgehogbakery.co.uk/
www.twomagpiesbakery.co.uk/
leakersbakery.co.uk/
thehandmadebakery.coop/

You also have to balance number of potential customers with the costs of the venue. The prices of London retail spaces makes house price inflation look relatively modest.

[Etymology23]

The pump street bakery has been going for at least 7 years in orford which has a total population of 700. So it’s not necessarily population size you need, specifically.

[Etymology23]

Sorry there was meant to be a second half to that post which referred to also who the population is made up of - is it low earners etc, will people go out of their way to come to you - eg in a small town there’s only one high street so if you’re there you’ll get all passing trade - whereas in a larger town you may have to get specific trade instead which may be harder.

[PokemonWanker]

Agree the East Dorset/Hants border fits your budget. Christchurch has outstanding primaries and a couple of well regarded secondaries.

Southbourne could work bakery wise. But not sure £350k would get you the house you want there.

[OutyMcOutface]

You won’t get anything pleasant within walking distance of a train station for that price. I would strongly suggest you get a car and buy in a village. However, if you cannot drive or something then I would suggest something in Lincoln (if you like Victorian aesthetic) or Stamford (for the Georgian look). Both in Lincolnshire. Oakham in Rutland may also be of interest to you (near Rutland water if you like sailing). All three are a bit decrepit but you would be able to buy a decent house for your price range and they all have a variety of different schooling options. And they are all fairly touristy/popular with retired people so you Husband could probably keep his artisanal bakery afloat.

[OutyMcOutface]

Also worth noting on the long if artisanal bakeries. The most successful usually supply shops. There is one near to where I live which is fantastic but very out of the way (maybe 10 customers worth of passing trade in a week). But lots of people but their bread because they supply village shops, cafes, specialty shops and, markets for a twenty mile radius.

[breadwidow]

We'll def be getting a car (we are car free at the mo) but I'd rather avoid driving to the station when en route to london. Seems like an extra leg of hassle plus it will likely mean we'll need 2 cars. Overall, I think we want a town over a village for where we live. We were stuck living in my parents village (with them) between house moves previously and I realised I could not live in one. I want more life in walking distance.

[notyummy]

On Newark just beware of the secondary school options. It’s pretty mixed around there.... Quite a few of dds friends commute a quite long distance to her Lincs grammar because parents felt none of the Newark secondaries were a palatable option.

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

You won’t get anything pleasant within walking distance of a train station for that price

Surely that depends entirely on where you’re looking?

These are all walking distance to station:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60171208.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62034253.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66746753.html

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Pressed post too soon. Another one close to a station with mainline access to London: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64351114.html

If HS2 ever arrives I expect house prices will go up as these location so become even more commutable but right now it’s very affordable

[OkyDoke]

Another vote for Stamford here. Friends just bought a new build there, 4 bed for about 350. Very nice.

[eljay2]

Problem with Stamford/Oakham for OP is that the artisan bakery space is well covered already by Hambleton Bakery.

[BetterEatCheese]

Barton Le Clay - within that range, nature reserve nearby, and 10 minutes drive to Harlington train station

[Notanotherottenotter]

As a bit of a model, look at BH24 bakery in Ringwood. And maybe get in touch with the owners. They moved from London to start the business, and might have some thoughts that would help you.
I agree with previous posters that Winchester is out of your budget, but what it doesn’t have is a decent bakery. Might be worth considering living just outside, but I guess a baker needs to be near his trade.
Good luck, OP!

[MultiGrey]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E14092&insId=1&radius=0.0&minPrice=&maxPrice=400000&minBedrooms=3&maxBedrooms=&displayPropertyType=&maxDaysSinceAdded=&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

Kings Sutton, nice Oxfordshire village with a station on the mainline into London in 1h 15ish so no need for a car, few miles from the M40, close to Banbury, Bicester, Brackley - market towns that a nice bakery could do well in.

[Needmoresleep]

Poole/Bournemouth.

Mark Bennett seems to be doing a roaring trade in the more affluent bits of Poole artisanmark.com but there is room for an artisan baker in Westbourne, or perhaps to the north or east of Bournemouth. (Rightmove will indicate the expensive bits. There are an awful lot of million pound houses in the area. Ladies who lunch, dog walkers, affluent pensioners and work-from-home types seem to be staples of up-market cafes. ) A good 2 hour train service, or a cheaper coach, good schools and a range of cheaper property away from the sea. Plus a nice family lifestyle.

[Equimum]

You could get a three bed (albeit, not the most amazing) in Hassocks, West sussx for that budget. Both infant and secondary schools are Ofsted outstanding, and there are direct trains to Victoria, Bridge & St. Pancras. It’s also less than a twenty minute train journey to Brighton, and right at the foot of the South Downs.

[CinnamonTwist]

My house fits this description OP and we will be putting it on the market in just over a month 😂 we love it here but need to move for my job