Help me escape Surrey and find a property

[Briony32]

We have lived in Surrey for far too long and need to escape but where to??? It has its lovely parts but it's just not for us and I'm feeling trapped. We moved to London for work, then moved here for more space to start a family, and I now feel fed up that we're still here by default. We are not city people so don't need to be sooo close to London really and need better access to real countryside. We are tied to London at the moment for work approx 2 days a week (well, will be when the pandemic is over!).

Do you know somewhere that...

Is about 1 hour 45 mins from London?
Has a friendly community/welcoming?
Has a great secondary school (state but will consider private) that is not super competitive and pushy?
Would not be too isolating for teenage children?
Where we can buy a 4 bed house for up to £1.25 million? (Can be much less)
Has an outdoorsy culture or arty vibe?
Is not hugely status driven/money orientated?

Any specific house recommendations or places to look would be gratefully received.
Thanks

Parts of Hampshire would fit the bill, but the really countryside bits would be pushing the commute.

I live in Oxfordshire, moved from London 11 years ago. 15 min drive to Bicester Village station then 45 mins to Marylebone. 15 min drive into Oxford, with all the museums and colleges. We have a lovely 4 bed detached house in a cute village with great primary and secondary. Fantastic long, country walks in lockdown. I love it here, would recommend!

I don't know Hampshire well at all TheLetterz, wish I did!! Whereabouts in Oxfordshire Moody Marshall if you don't mind me asking? And which secondaries would you recommend? I love North Oxfordshire but only know the areas nearer to Banbury and can't think which secondary school would work for us.

@Briony32 I've sent you a message

Cranbrook area in Kent?

Which mainline train station in London would be best for work?

I'll take a look at Cranbrook, thanks rillette. Hi Random Mess, Waterloo works well for us, but often need to travel to see clients all over London so not too fixed on which part of London.

Salisbury.

Hampshire would be ideal. Do you want village lifestyle or market towns. Where are you currently in Surrey to get an idea of what you are wanting to move from?

Not particularly arty but Salisbury and Winchester are nice. Commute wouldn't be too bad and you're close to countryside around both.

I was going to suggest Winchester too.

The Midlands. Leicester and Nottingham (when not in lockdown) both have strong independent music, art and cultural scenes, I know Leicester better but it has craft fairs, independent festivals, little galleries and a nice cosmopolitan street of coffee shops and eateries near a big park in the Clarendon Park area. Nice houses there too. It’s also v cheap! Further south of Leicester are some very picturesque villages and market towns, and London from Leicester (or Market Harborough, Rugby, Northampton) is about an hour on the train. Housing is so much cheaper there too

Frome would be ideal for you

I grew up in Bath - it’s incredibly status driven and money oriented.

Frome is a small arty town fairly close to Bath with its own train station. Not sure about the schools but it’s definitely grown in popularity in the past few years, with people moving from larger cities like Bristol and London. There’s loads of small independent shops, markets, cafes and a really good music venue. On the doorstep of the Mendips too for walks and country pubs.

You’d get lots for your money too!

Welshmill Road, Frome, Somerset, BA11
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-97703126.html

Esher area currently. I don't mind a market town or a village, just somewhere with a bit more soul I guess.

I'll check out Salisbury, Winchester and Bath, thanks so I go round in circles on Rightmove though so specific places or even streets/houses/areas would be ideal if possible.

How about the south coast, around Brighton? There are the south downs and the sea.

If you can stretch to 2 hours that opens up Manchester / Leeds / york and you could get a very very nice house for your money.

Wilmslow would also fit the bill - direct train to London, under 2 hours, look at fulshaw park / pownall park.

@LilyE1234 that house is stunning!! I love the style.

That house is beautiful LilyE.
The South coast is tempting too.
Anywhere North could possibly be right for us as I grew up in NW. I'm shocked at how accessible some parts of the North are (not the part where I grew up) and it would be nice to be closer to family. I've felt very dismayed at the North/South divide when I visit and can't believe how much my home town has changed. I appreciate it's not the same in the whole of the North though, and I'm always on a flying visit with family.

Midlands also interesting but I only know the Oxfordshire/Northamptonshire borders.

Too many choices I guess. I feel very out of touch with anything outside the SE, and feel like my horizons have been very limited since having children.

Winchester is big but could fit the bill.
Petersfield a Hampshire market.
Tunbridge Wells Kent
Or even further south in Surrey somewhere like Haslemere though it is very Surrey!
Chichester

Have you considered Leamington Spa? North Leamington School is a lovely state school and it's got so many lovely places on the doorstep as well as being a very nice town. 1hr 15 into Marylebone and you'd get a lovely house with a nice garden for your budget.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E3711&minBedrooms=4&maxPrice=1250000&minPrice=700000&radius=1.0&propertyTypes=&includeSSTC=true&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Oh and I used to live where you are now and have never regretted the move out here.

I’d recommend around north Buckinghamshire/ Bedfordshire. Not pushy, not all bits full of down from Londoners. Buckinghamshire has the grammar school system (which isn’t for everyone) but some very good comprehensives too, Bedfordshire has the three tier system in some parts which the locals love. The countryside is beautiful, parts feel quite remote but it is also very well connected. Some very nice small towns like Woburn, Leighton Buzzard etc. All in all a nice and relaxing lifestyle.

Too many lovelies sorry!! It really is though and the countryside on your doorstep is beautiful. Feels like it could fit your bill - happy if you wanted to PM me.