My partner and I are both 30 and live in North London (Crouch End). We've rented here for 6 years and love it but are looking to buy with the view of starting a family in the next couple of years. We can't afford even a barely liveable 1/2 bed flat anywhere within the M25 so looking to go further afield.
My partner works in Old Street and will likely be commuting in every day, even post-pandemic. I work near Regent Street and will likely only be needing to commute max 3 days per week post-pandemic, maybe less.
We visited Bedford to view some houses recently, as it's really the only place we can afford a decent size (3 bed) house within our budget. I have family in the North, so easy access to the M1 and A1 is a plus for me! Having looked at the classic commuter towns north of London, we can't afford much better properties than inner London and then there's the train tickets on top, so Bedford is coming out as the best option.
I know it has a bit of a reputation but is it really that bad? The Castle Quarter seems nice and with a car, and spending much of the week in London - would it matter so much? Also wondered what the commute is like e.g. is the line known for delays and are you likely to get a seat?!
Any advice appreciated! Thank you