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!

[Lightsabre]

Humber Road London SE3
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-97277183.html

Plenty like this or cheaper.

[Lightsabre]

If the budget is 1.2m then Blackheath and Greenwich might be within grasp.

[800msprint]

Oh good intell thanks. I better get looking!

[romatheroamer]

IDS' majority wasn't much last time and Chingford is a lot more multicultural these days.

[KoalasandRabbits]

Actually Chingford was 50-50 on Brexit but it does vote IDS in.

Epping Forest which covers Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Loughton etc (central line by forest) very conservative and pro Brexit.

democraticdashboard.com/constituency/epping-forest

[PragmaticWench]

Definitely Berkhamsted. Independent cinema/restaurants/shops plus you can be in the countryside in a few minutes. Schools are great.

If you can afford private you can afford Berkhamsted house prices!

[KoalasandRabbits]

I'm not keen on Chingford, that's on the train line rather than tube but maybe I missed the nice part. The whole area around there and central line places like Chigwell etc is very conservative / Brexit so not right if you are trying to avoid that. I was in Chigwell day of Brexit result and there were lots of parties celebrating, was a complete contrast to work where everyone was devastated. Think Chingford is Iain Duncan Smith. Walthamstow is where it changes into Labour guardian reading territory.

[Tulipvase]

The towers in Didcot are no more.

I can’t imagine recommending Didcot as a buzzy place........or for anything really.

[JoJoSM2]

Or you could even try Beckenham in SE London. Feels more ‘London’ (zone 3/4 I think) with lots of parks. Schools are very good, the town centre has a pleasant vibe and you’d get a lot of house for 1.2M

[JoJoSM2]

From what I’ve heard, you could try Chislehurst or Petts Wood in SE London, in NW Pinner and Northwood. Going towards Essex, you’ll get some nice areas further out on the Central line - I think Chingford is one of them. Loughton is on the tube but in Essex already - has a Gail’s etc but I don’t think state secondaries are the best (?). In N London, Barnet is on the edge of the countryside.

[800msprint]

Ooh lovely thanks all. Never heard of Cheam. Is there anywhere else in London that would fit the bill? I’ve heard Chingford might be worth seeing too.

[JoJoSM2]

Actually, Reigate might appeal too. It’s just on the edge of the Surrey Hills with v pretty countryside. The town itself is cute and the high street has more independents and a more upmarket feel that most commuter towns. It wouldn’t take too long to drive into SW London but it’s pretty pricey.

[JoJoSM2]

I’ve got family and friends near Folkestone (Hythe and villages) and don’t find it UKIPy (I’m foreign so sth I’d notice if I felt a bit uncomfortable). Lovely countryside and coast. More down to earth as there are no private schools around but the grammar schools are v good and there are nice restaurants to eat out etc.

If you’d rather stay in London, have you checked out Cheam Village/South Cheam? Edge of London/countryside, 1.2M gets a decent detached with a large garden. There’s a villagey centre with some independent shops and eateries, a Henry VIII’s old park that’s similar in vibe to Richmond Park. A lot less plane noise than Richmond and surrounds. Fantastic state schools and a choice of indies. Loads to do for families (David Lloyd, rugby, cricket and tennis clubs and lots of different activities). Trains go into Victoria and London Bridge.
If you’ve lived in SW London for ages, it’s a very convenient spot and only 15 mins away from Wim Village too if you’re feeling spendy.

[horrayforharoldlloyd]

Saffron Walden, Lewes, Canterbury, Whitstable, Tunbridge Wells, Beaconsfield

[ClaudiaWankleman]

Leigh on Sea, Ingatestone, Wanstead, Epping, St Albans

[PETRONELLAS]

St Albans is a great place to live. This house is attractive. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/76692346#/
Not 100% sure about secondary schools - good single sex. Beaumont is seen as best.

[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!

[MrsJamin]

Reading fits the bill, two rivers and countryside all around too. It has a lot more buzz than other smaller Berkshire towns and is on the crossrail line now. Loads of arts going on, history, thriving independent shops alongside a large chain based shopping centre. Hoardes of londoners moving here! The reading east MP is labour and west reading is predominantly labour (I think) its just the people west of Reading that swing the seat to the tory mp, unfortunately.

[Nitw1t]

Godalming/Guildford
Oxford
Whitstable
Folkestone
Canterbury

[SheridansSmyth]

Folkestone. Fifty minutes to St Pancras and such a fantastic please to live. Always so much to do and heaps of beautiful locations to visit...

[KoalaRabbit]

Closer in Kew and Richmond have lots of green space though would imagine very pricey.

[KoalaRabbit]

Cambridge is lovely if you have a high budget and can live in a nice house in the centre / nicer parts, maybe £800k plus. Saffron Walden is really nice, very friendly, lots of independent shops, cafes, lots of local events, beautiful old cottages in the centre, near Audley End NT and gardens in town and surrounded by countryside. Cheaper than Cambridge, roughly £400k plus for a nice house in the centre there but they often aren't huge. Sometimes a bigger, old house comes up for more like £600k. Hertford is also nice - between Saffron Walden and Cambridge on pricing and quicker into London, has a castle and independent shops and a river and countryside around.

Might be too far out but know someone who moved to Lewes and loves it. Tunbridge Wells always looked nice to me though don't know it well. I've had Berkhamstead recommended to me but never been as its wrong area for DH.

[elp30]

@Catycity

Oxford or Didcot Parkway

Catycity, are the power stations still there?
It's been years since I've been there...

[Guymere]

I love Oxford and know Berko well. Both pretty expensive. But Oxford is different politically from Berko! Oxford, being a lot bigger has more going on and more choice of housing but the buzzy bits are pricier!

[Catycity]

Oxford or Didcot Parkway