Basingstoke, Alton, Surrey or Newbury?

[rosesparkleysocks]

My DH and I are trying to figure out where to buy our first home and are struggling!

We've been renting in Whitchurch, Hants, for the last year after moving from West London. We don't really like it. I can imagine it's great to families but for a youngish couple (both in our 30s and no children .. yet!), we want somewhere with restaurants/ pubs etc and a bit more going on.

Our budget is £400,000. We both want somewhere with a few pubs and restaurants by foot but good places to walk the dogs too. We also want to be able to get into London easily for work/ friends.

Does anyone know this part of the world well and want to throw out some recommendations?

Have you nailed anywhere in Surrey down? I would say somewhere close to Guildford. Lots of restaurants, pubs and the most beautiful walks into the Surrey hills and good lines into London but comes at a price at £400k wouldn’t go far.

Guildford and Woking will tick the boxes but v pricey! Woking currently undergoing huge amount of development so everybody is moaning but once complete it will be a decent modern town

Depending on where you need to get to in London living in Newbury could be a complete pain. Basingstoke you could get a house for your £400k but not in one of the "nicer" areas.
One more thing to consider - tight now you want bars and restaurants, if your plan is kids in the not too distant future, then consider at that point you need parks, good schools, mum and baby groups, space!