Moving out of London

[Gg5092]

Hello!
We are currently selling our 2 bed flat in London and DH and I can’t agree on where to move to. I really want to leave London and move out to Surrey (DH will commute to London once lockdown is over). He wants to stay in the area so that he can be home for our 4 month old DS. What areas are nice in Surrey? Are there any with 30 minute or less commutes into London? We are trying to find a compromise so any advice welcome! Thanks

Woking and surrounding towns, villages.

What’s your budget and what are you looking for? Nice towns and villages in Surrey with excellent facilities and schools with a short commute into London are the dream, and will cost accordingly.

Where in London does he have to get to for work as depending which part will depend on the commute time.

What they all said! All depends on budget and location of work.

Also remember when looking at commute time to factor in how long it takes to get to and from the station too, not just that the train (if its running on time) takes 38 mins or whatever. When DP commuted in to central (from within London) it always took longer on the way back as he had to get the tube and the train and sometimes the timing of each wouldn't align.

In your situation we moved to Epsom (20 odd years ago now!) I loved it.

You have breathtaking countryside on your doorstep, but it's only 38 minutes on the train into Waterloo.

There is very much a town side ( not so nice, cheaper) and a country (close to Downs) side. I lived in the College Area which still feels very villagey although Epsom town centre has a much more urban feel these days.

It is a real best of both worlds place. House prices are lower than London so you would get a bit more for your money too.

Sanderstead, Orpington?

A lot depends upon budget and how much of a commute your DH is prepared to have, including travel to and from stations. When I were thinking of moving a few years back I used commutefrom.com as a starting point to whittle down the options, although we didn't ultimately get around to moving.

Are you wanting to move for a bigger property? If not then I think your dh is right ... more time spent at home with the children is always preferable to commuting (which is expensive and the trains can be so unreliable).

My older children have loved living in London, even though we could have had a much nicer house elsewhere.

Examplesof nice houses
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73739733#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/76962153#/

And of course it depends on your budget.

Wimbledon is a good compromise but probably more expensive than where you are now!

Sorry me again.

This house is AMAZING if you are willing to do a bit of work. It is on one of the best roads in Epsom.

We we’re in a similar position last year. We settled on an outer London borough. When we thought about the cost of season tickets plus the time commuting it didn’t seem worth it.

Thanks everyone. We are currently in Southfields near Wimbledon. DH would need to get to the city (bank area) depending on his current job (works in construction). Our budget is max £800k. Are south west trains reliable? DH is adamant the commute would break him and mean he wouldn’t get to see his son before/after work. Trying to get him to see my side of the problem! Epsom seems a good solution.

@Dragon11 that’s interesting. What area, if you don’t mind me asking? DH has found a nice house in Wimbledon Park.

@Movinghouseatlast thank you for the suggestions. You said this house is amazing, which one did you mean sorry? DH loves doing work on a house and would prefer a property that needs doing up.

How about New Malden/ Worcester Park - best of both - lots of green spaces and great schools but a bit more garden and house for your money. Still a good commute.

We decided on Beckenham. Good schools and easy and quick to get to central London.

Do listen to your husbands concerns, commuting is hard long term, it sucks up so much time and when the trains go wrong it’s a shit show. We moved out of London, DH was WFH but after 2 years got pulled back into london, his train was 48 mins but by the time you added drive to station and tube other end it was 1.20, so almost 3 hours a day and a season ticket was over £5000 a year. He did it for 4 years, never complained but I know he hated it. He was gone from 7am till 7.30pm most days. He’s so glad to not do it anymore.

So sorry, I forgot the link!

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/57462280?search_identifier=dd2cff98b64b235a01180d710d0e9f0e

I think that the commute from many places would be really hard on him if he has to do it every day. We have moved out of London (1hour)... but my DH only needs to go in the odd day, and I don't at all. With construction, couldn't he work anywhere though? Or is he linked to London? What about somewhere in London that feels more village-like like Barnes?

You asked about Surrey. Redhill has trains that get to LOndon Bridge in 31 minutes, last time I looked at the times. You’d get a good family house for that budget in Redhill or one of its suburbs which have their own station like Earlswood. Reigate will be naicer, and you could still get a good family house for that money and one which is walking distance to Redhill station, which is preferable to Reigate station.

So yes, there are 30 minute train journeys.

Depends if you want Surrey proper or somewhere which is a London Borough and suburbia more than the towns and villages of Surrey.

@Gg5092

Thanks everyone. We are currently in Southfields near Wimbledon. DH would need to get to the city (bank area) depending on his current job (works in construction). Our budget is max £800k. Are south west trains reliable? DH is adamant the commute would break him and mean he wouldn’t get to see his son before/after work. Trying to get him to see my side of the problem! Epsom seems a good solution.

What is your side of the problem exactly? You sound a bit selfish tbh.

While I don't agree with a pp that this is 'selfish' necessarily, I don't think you should underestimate how tiring a daily commute is either. If your DH is coming home drained and knackered and unable to spend quality time with your DS, would a move really be a worthwhile thing to do?

What do you think you will gain from moving further out? Woking, for instance, which was mentioned may well be 30 mins from London but that's to Waterloo, then your DH will have to get to the City and unless you live very close to the station you have to get to and from each day. We lived in Woking for a number of years, then West Byfleet (one stop further in) and the commute was an hour each way all in. The trains were relatively good but after the franchise changed from South West Trains to South Western Railway the delays and problems definitely increased. Both DH and I had frequent problems getting home (or to work) on time. Don't underestimate the effect on your DH of commuting, surely there are houses for £800k in your current area.

This is interesting to me as I am in the position of your DH. I wouldn't even consider leaving central London because if I had a commute I wouldn't see my DD and that is not an option for me. As it is I do school run and home by 5. I take it your DH work can't be done remotely? I was wondering if remote working really does stick if I might be prepared to move out but I don't think it will and moving out would be a risk.

Commuting is very very tough and I'm not sure it's reasonable for you to ask your DH to do it.