Advice on areas to live in/around London

[Kirsten0610]

Hey,

My boyfriend and I are looking to buy a property somewhere within ideally an hours commute to city of London (bank, monument, Fenchurch, Liverpool Street). We are looking to rent in an area initially to see how we like it but are unsure on good areas within a decent commute. My stepson also lives in Oxford so we need to be ideally on West/North. Any help would be mich appreciated!!

Reading or Slough would fit the bill. Both should be commutable and an easy train ride to Oxford.

Or if you want to stay in London area, come to Enfield! Property prices aren't too high, there are two different train lines, taking you straight into either Moorgate or Liverpool St in around half an hour, and very easy access to the M25 for trips to Oxford (around 60 miles / 1hr20m). I genuinely feel I have the best of both worlds here: quick and easy access to central London but also gorgeous countryside on my doorstep for weekend walks.

Find Barbican on the street map. Draw a rectangle upwards covering Islington, west Hackney (but not Clapton - thats a pleasant exception), Stamford Hill, Tottenham, to Enfield, extend the box east to the river lee (is it?) and over to cover everywhere to Stratford (but not Leytonstone or Walthamstow, both have improved past 10 yrs).

Once drawn: Do not live in that box under any circumstances.

It might help to specify budget, type of property as well as what you’re after: city, suburb, country etc.

Nice, @WalmartMom

Blimey @walmartmom, that comment makes me feel you don't know London very well! You've excluded some very nice areas in your rectangle. How far west do I need to go before north London becomes acceptable again?

@Kirsten0610 - As you’re flexible on location, you might want to give a tool like SearchSmartly a go? Drop in your budget, pick a commute location e.g. Liverpool Street and your max commute time, and select factors that matters the most to you (e.g. green space, public transport, etc) and then let the tool do the work for you. It’ll suggest the properties that best match your needs and is rather handy!

I second Enfield. It’s a bit of a diamond in the rough in parts but so much of it is lovely!

Thank you all so much!