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!

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.

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.

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.

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

The towers in Didcot are no more.

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

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.

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!

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

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

Oh good intell thanks. I better get looking!

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

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

Plenty like this or cheaper.

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.

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

Lots of properties with huge gardens in Chislehurst too.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Cambridge

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.

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?

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.

@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.