Suggestions for towns/villages please!

[Bemusedagain]

We want to move away from London commuter belt but are struggling to find what we want. Can anyone help with suggestions? We really want to live somewhere with a friendly and active community. A place where people walk around. Good pubs. Everyone knows each other. Dog friendly. Good schools. I find London commuter belt too busy and too flakey. I want to live somewhere where people spend their entire lives and somewhere I absolutely love. Views and beauty, full of kind and happy people. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

How far away do you want to be?
If you don't mind further afield you've just described the peak district to a tee! One of my fave places!
Small schools, villages, towns within driving distance! Perfect!

Or perhaps cheshire area, some lovely towns and villages there, plus not far from Manchester! Also right next to peak district! But some lovely walking areas in Cheshire too!

Good schools, particularly senior school is a must and I really want somewhere the kids can walk to school. We’ve checked out norfolk and cornwall. We love cornwall but I feels too far from family and friends in the south east. Norfolk is a few hours which feels not too removed. So I guess I’m looking for places 2/3 hours away max unless anyone knows a decent town/village closer but we don’t want to pay commuter belt prices anymore. We don’t need to commute so doesn’t make sense to pay the increased cost. In my head I want a beautiful village green where I can walk the dog and bump into my neighbours

Maybe try Suffolk villages like Lavenham, Long Melford or Thaxted in Essex. Saffron Walden is nice too but bigger and some commuters via Audley End.

Saffron Walden has an outstanding rated secondary, Thaxted no school, don't know about the others but if look where nearest schools are that might give suitable towns / villages. Melbourn in Cambridge has a good secondary and out of London commuterland, but is in Cambridge commuterland. Housing gets cheaper north of Cambridge. Ely is nice.

We're in south Somerset and the town itself is mixed. People will tell you there's nothing to do here but we moved from Kent and love it - cinema, gorgeous parks, various national trust properties in easy reach, can get to the beach and back at Lyme Regis in a day (my favourite place to visit) but can also get to London and back in a day or go to Bath, Bristol and Exeter. Lots of stunning views and beautiful villages with dog friendly pubs etc. It's far enough from crazy London life without being Cornwall (love Cornwall but it's a relaxing holiday for me rather than a place to live).

Look around Market Harborough, fast trains to London ( just under an hour), good schools, lovely historic villages. Near M1, A1 for road connections.

Meant to add, in Leicestershire.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ll look into those