Commute to London Victoria

[Beasmamma]

Hello all,

Would anyone be able to recommend somewhere with a decent commute to Victoria? We have been looking and really struggling to find somewhere! We are looking for a village, great schools and DH needs to get to Victoria. DH doesn’t really want to be on the train for over an hour.

Kent? Dartford area? Blackheath if budget isn't an issue. Look at the commute from website.

Sole Street? Farningham Road? Oxted? Lingfield? Dorking?
Just a few suggestions

Epsom? Maybe too big but good schools.
Ashtead
Banstead - easy cycle to Sutton which is only 30 mins to Vic.
It’s easy to change at places like East Croydon, so don’t discount places that go into London Bridge.

Horsham has fast trains to Vic too. Not sure how long it takes though as I don’t go that far!

What’s the budget? Somewhere like hurst green is nice. Next stop from oxted.

Or further out - Lingfield/Dormans? There’s also East Grinstead which is an hour.

Thank you for all the suggestions. Budget is about a million, could maybe stretch to 1.1. We want 4 beds, enough reception rooms so can have a playroom downstairs and a big garden, preferably not a new build.

I’ve been looking at the villages around Horsham and Haywards Heath but there doesn’t seem to be much that ticks all the boxes. Maybe there isn’t much on at the moment.

I was a bit worried about the secondary school in Oxted as it says Requires Improvement when I look on RightMove.

@Beasmamma in terms of schools (I'm north east so can't help with houses) don't just go for ofsted rating.

How long ago was the visit? Read the report. One of our schools went from RI to outstanding in the two years between visits. So if the report is over a year old massive changes could have been made.

How many years until your dc start secondary school. If it's many, many years then so much could change anyway, you could buy close to a good or even outstanding school and it goes to RI (happened to one of the good schools near me).

If you are closer ie within 2/3 years at most of sending dc to secondary then visit the school as part of visiting the area you are considering.

Good luck.

Hayward’s Heath always comes up on these threads. Burgess Hill and Hassocks to a lesser extent.

For a mil you could look around Canterbury and those nearby villages with stations: Chartham and Wye in particular are lovely. Kicker is the commute would be 1h20 but the house you'd get for 1.1 would be worth it!

@Pinkprincess1978 that’s a good point. DD is 18 months but we don’t want to move again after this move so needs to be our forever home. I think that’s why I’m feeling the pressure to find something perfect!

@NowWeAreSuckingDiesel thanks for those suggestions, I have not looked anywhere around there yet so will do that.

Wouldham/burham/ other villages around rochester

I think your best bet is to look at a map of the rail network and check out places along the route.

Are you wanting a village with a railway station, or is your dh willing to drive to get to the station? Wouldham/Burham etc have no station; he would have to drive to Rochester, which does have good commuter services - and more than one route, so if the Victoria route is buggered, you have alternatives. Sole Street ha a station, but trains aren't all that frequent.

With your budget, you can do a lot better than Dartford. And the train from Dartford to Vic is quite slow. You could live further out and have the same journey time.

Are you sure you want a village if this is to be a forever home? Very limiting for a teen?

Do you really want to move out of London op. For that budget I would just live in Dulwich (East or West) and your Dh can cycle to work but suburban village life has zero appeal to me.

I know people who are very happy with Oxted school so I wouldn't discount it, especially the age of your lo

Some lovely places around Bexley & Bexleyheath, about 40mins direct to Victoria. A few Outstanding primary schools, secondary choices seem ok, there are grammar schools as well, but I've not really looked much as DD is 3.

I think its a great area. Loads of green spaces and little villages but close to bigger towns, and bluewater if you like to shop.

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/73595798

This is in Faversham, lovely old town with shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants and 1h20 to Victoria direct.

Your budget is huge. You could afford lots of places in London for that- not as big but a house with a garden. Or do you actively want to live in a village, which is my idea of hell, so I find it hard to understand?

All the areas around Coulsdon, Caterham, Warlingham, Woldingham, Sanderstead have an easy commute into Victoria (or London Bridge) and that budget would get a nice house. Some areas are more towny, some more villagey, some good schools. All funnel through East Croydon where its really easy to change train for V/LB if you're on the other train. Its approx 30/40 mins to Victoria, easy access to M25/M23 Gatwick, the downs, south coast. Nice area to live. I like it because you can still go into London easily for a night out and get home pretty easily, but youve got space and a bigger house and contryside walks on the doorstep

What @daisypond said!
Buy an amazing house in SE London and commute from there!

Oxted school had a big fight with parents when it academised 4 years ago, I suspect that is behind the drop. It was good before, I really liked it, but was too far away.

Look at Warlingham/Whyteleafe. Warlingham school (Good) and Riddlesdown Collegiate (outstanding, I think) are both well regarded. Access to East Grinstead and Caterham lines. Zone 6 but lots of open space, farmland and Warlingham is pretty villagey. Woldingham is more villagey but less good for transport links. Whyteleafe (on A22) isn't pretty but is cheaper.

Or Reigate/Redhill. St Bedes is good if you don't mind churchiness.

Coulsdon and Caterham would mean Oasis or de Stafford for secondary, though. Not so good.

An hour on the train is a 3hr commute unless you live/work on top of the station. I just don't get it. Never will. Plenty at my work do though. Brighton seems popular.

You can afford lots in sw London as well - in Wandsworth and Lambeth. Some great schools and lots of green space, though admittedly not countryside.
Or if you want more suburban, Bromley? Wimbledon? Not sure about pricing in Richmond.

Lewes