Buzzy places to live within hour commute London

[800msprint]

Ideally with some culture, different independent restaurants and cafes, plus nice countryside on doorstep or something to do nature wise like a river, coast, big park or woodland nearby....
And also somewhere that isn’t overly tory/brexit. 😬 I don’t mind which way people lean but I would also like to be living somewhere where there are other people who have similar values to me too. I’m unsure at the moment what size place I’m after. I love cities but I also see the appeal of smaller places for ease. But I do like animosity and obviously you get more choice of stuff to do in bigger places. Kid-friendly. Schools are important but we can go private if state options not great/full. Basically somewhere with access to nature for when kids young but then also enough for them to do when teens too. Thanks!

[Gothamgirl1970]

Wanstead the upmaket Hackney Stokey

[CatAndHisKit]

I wouldn't call Lewes or Sevenoaks 'buzzy'! you can find your bubbles / groups where you fit in which takes time and effort, but they aer not buzzy in vibe just as they are.

Bristol is good, more chilled out kind of buzz, in the right places. Brighton too buzzy for many , I like Hove to retreat to somewhat when I stay.
Cambridge is nice but coutryside quite flat around, depends wht you like. good for cyclists!

[vizlsapup]

rife

[vizlsapup]

@FurierTransform Yes and in all the Tory towns like Horsham you will find cocaine is ride behind closed doors.

[Niceproblemtohave]

How about Windsor? River Thames, Dorney Lake and Windsor Great Park all on your doorstep.

[dalrympy]

You don't get much more "buzzy" than Brighton and there are plenty of houses for your budget and decent-ish schools.

With the buzz does come some slightly less attractive traits but I actually don't see how you can have one without the other.

The very fact that it's accepting and hippy means homelessness and street issues can be high.

That said, I've never felt unsafe.

[Lobsterquadrille2]

Tunbridge Wells is less Tory than it used to be, and we voted Remain (55% I think). I grew up here, worked abroad for many years and came back. Lovely countryside, good schools, less than an hour to London.

[Fizbosshoes]

Laughing at the idea that Berkhampstead could be considered buzzy

I was thinking the same!

[Guymere]

“Buzzy” really equals Oxford, Cambridge or Bristol. It’s the universities that make it this way. Brighton would be worth a look. In normal times Southern Rail is dire though.

I like Berko, St Albans and Harpenden but agree they are not buzzy in a cosmopolitan way. Essex doesn’t really have that feel either. I agree though that you don’t want to be getting a train to Paddington or Liverpool St if your job is the opposite end of town!

[TriSarahTops]

(Bedford has a Labour MP and a LibDem Mayor)

[TriSarahTops]

You’d get a lot of house for your budget in Bedford - which has a number of private schools. There are 2 main parks (Bedford Park and Russell Park) and the Embankment near the town centre. Plus a country park a little further out. You have 2 lines running into London (Thameslink and East Midlands). It’s perfectly possible to go in for an evening out and still get back home.

If you want to be in town, the look around Castle Road or in the area bounded by De Parys Avenue, Kimbolton Road and Park Avenue. If you prefer a village, then maybe look at Biddenham (still close to the station).

[blackice]

Laughing at the idea that Berkhampstead could be considered buzzy

[SheridansSmyth]

@800msprint

Thanks everyone. Will investigate. *@SheridansSmyth* is Folkestone typically ukip being where it is? We have around £1.2 ish maybe a bit more. In an ideal world I’d probably want to stay in villagey London somewhere like Richmond (though the planes!) but I also want a normal sized home with a decent garden!

Not at all...quite the opposite in fact - it’s pretty artsy and bohemian. I love the mix of people. Both my husband and I have lived In other countries and are thrilled we chose here to settle as it is perfect for an outdoorsy family lifestyle, but we can still be in London pretty quickly when we want/need to be...though we are less and less inclined these days as there is so much on offer here.

[LilyE1234]

Would you consider somewhere a bit further out? Bristol is fab and some of the suburbs have a village feel to them. I’m in the middle of trying to persuade my OH that moving back to Bristol is the way to go instead of a commuter town in the Home Counties.

You only have to be in London 1 day a week, there’s now a fast train that takes an hour. Plenty to do, great bars/restaurants, museums, galleries. The Cotswolds, South Wales and Devon are on your doorstep and Bath is only a 15 min train away.

[FurierTransform]

Reading is too scummy. I used to have to use the train station a fair bit. Saw someone literally injecting heroin without shame in the station carpark stairwell. Lots of beggars. Just not very nice.

That's the problem you'll have in every possible location that fits your criteria but votes Labour now I think about it - may I suggest a review of your criteria?

[Movinghouseatlast]

Epsom is much more diverse than it used to be. It is the perfect 'best of both worlds' place as there is glorious countryside yet it's 37 minutes to Waterloo.

It is a safe Tory seat though! Voted Remain though I think.

[JoanApple]

Cambridge

[MyCatReallyIsAGit]

I wouldn’t go for Chingford based on what you’ve said you’re looking for. It would tick some of your boxes, including access to Epping Forest, but I think you could do much better on that budget.

If you’d consider a city, I’d echo previous suggestions of Cambridge or Brighton. For towns, I’d look at Lewes. For countryside and coast access, the South Downs area is lovely, as is around Sevenoaks (though Kent has the grammar system).

You might also like Hitchin, Harpenden or St Albans, though none tick all your boxes.

[Thecazelets]

Also Teddington, if no one's mentioned it yet.

[FinallyHere]

It would be helpful to know where in London you need to be. Trace along the transport routes from there, to avoid a long commute at the London end of your journey.

[peach1234]

Surbiton is lovely, on the river thames, village-y with lovely pubs and decent high street and restaurants, fast train into London, good schools and walk along the river to Kingston and not too far from Richmond and Richmond Park. Thames Ditton is lovely too.

[Lightsabre]

Kevington Drive, Chislehurst
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72961791.html

[reefedsail]

Berkhamstead makes me want to rip my own soul out and burn it on a funerary pyre for some mild entertainment. It's the epitome of banality, you will have to step over 400 Boden drones to get to the doorway of M&S.

Oxford, much better choice.

[Lightsabre]

Yester Road, Chislehurst
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77709253.html

Lots of properties with huge gardens in Chislehurst too.

[AhNowTed]

I second Reading.
Multicultural, university town, a hive of political activity, the only Labour seat for miles, something for everyone, arts and culture galore. And surrounded by fabulous countryside. Excellent transport links, practically zero unemployment and high GDP and earnings.