Where on earth can we live?

[secretbookcase]

DH and I live in a wealthy commuter village. Not our sort of place really and we need to sell up and find somewhere cheaper now DC are grown.
We both work from home but I have meetings in London once, sometimes twice a week, so would like to be within reachable distance (1.5 hours max ideally).

We're looking for somewhere that has a very good cultural life (bookshops, indie cinemas, a theatre etc) and is not obsessed with money and status. Would need a station with reasonably easy access to London. DH wants close access to greenery so not a big city. More a market town perhaps.

We have about £600k and want 4 beds and a big garden which seems increasingly hard to find.

Do you live in a place like this or know of one?

Chichester? Has theatre, countryside, small shops etc and train to London.

Lincoln Green, Chichester, PO19
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112352783

Uckfield is lovely but expensive! I live in the south and the house prices are mad ! I fancy Norfolk when dd goes to uni!

Look for places with Green Party or Liberal Democrat councillors or MPs. Neither party appeals to career politicians so means hands-on local leadership, and the locals who voted for them are usually well informed and moderate in their views.

Canterbury good theatre, shops, high speed to st Pancras, arts festival now on

Lewes in Sussex.

Why did he laugh at the idea of Leamington? It really does seem to fit your criteria perfectly. Apart from the train gets into Marylebone.

I think you will find Malvern too quiet. It's gorgeous and I love it, but it's a small busy market town.

Lewes

There’s something sinister about Stroud.
As if Lewes and its often racist bonfire societies is the picture of normal!

Salisbury? You’ll definitely get the house for that sort of money. I grew up there but left years ago, but on my odd visits back I have noticed it’s good now for cafe culture/the arts etc. Lots of greenery too.

I’d book a few premier inn nights away to the places that are on this thread. By staying in a premier inn it’s consistent accommodation that shouldn’t bias your decision

Then have a good round and explore, without viewing houses but really walk the high street and check out the countryside and hobby places that you partake

Then add yourselves to the local Facebook notice boards to ask questions, you’ll usually find locals will give you the low down on the good and bad

I can’t quite put my finger on it but it chilled me to the bone. I couldn’t wait to leave. There was a strange atmosphere and feel to the place. As we left I remember telling DH to hurry. It may well be a super place to live but not for me.

Winchester to Southampton area, maybe Romsey. Fast train to London in an hour from Southampton, Airport or Winchester stations. Edge of New Forest, lots of theatre, cultural, bookshop type options

How about Newbury?

Very friendly place. Culturally, much further from London than Reading. Friendly. There's a theatre, a cinema, and lots of arts events.

I don't live there anymore but I was working there until recently. I really like it.

Definitely something sinister about **Lewes

Villages in Charnwood area near Loughborough. Can get the train from Loughborough quickly and easily. Or market harborough. Greenery from your doorstep and lovely little shops and pubs in the villages. Cinema in Loughborough itself.

Frome, Warminster, Westbury or the pretty surrounding villages tick your boxes.

@CottonSock

Definitely something sinister about **Lewes

Yes! I lived there and I swear the place is cursed.

If DH likes the look of Frome, there’s plenty of lovely villages around there.
Mells, Nunney, Witham Friary…. Villages with lots going on & near to other ‘going on’ places - Bruton, Castle Cary, Bath, Bristol…
& some v pretty, sleepier villages - Great Elm, Batcombe.

Also Nadder Valley, Salisbury way. Right move Tisbury and a few miles around. Still on 303 to get to Frome / Bruton.
Also Bourton worth a look.

Lewes is....quirky. Actually inside a national park, so ticks the close access to greenery box. Enough perhaps to dispense with the big garden.

Isn’t Frome full on Steiner School lentil weaving?

If you move to the west of Ireland you can get a mansion for that price. Flight from Knock to Luton is less than an hour.

Agree with @SouthernFashionista about Stroud - I don't understand the love for it! Born and brought up there until the age of 17, when I made my escape! For all its 'green' credentials and popularity with luvvies and arty people it is a dump. The whole valley from Chalford to Stonehouse is grim, oppressive, suffocating, gloomy and depressing - hemmed in with ribbon development, grimy light industry and lack of sunlight, although there are plenty of lovely places nearby. Only my subjective opinion, of course, and many people rave about it

Canterbury, oozes history and culture, Marlowe Theatre, high speed to St. Pancras in 52 minutes, where a very easy change on to the underground and a few stops to the West End..

@hotmeatymilk

Lewes

There’s something sinister about Stroud.
As if Lewes and its often racist bonfire societies is the picture of normal!

Oh God, I don't want to go anywhere racist. If it were my choice I'd live in London and I'm very wary of ending up somewhere insular.

Still want to know what is sinister about Stroud. I have been there once and didn't love what I saw of it. But it was a very short visit so I will look again. It sounds right in theory. Apart from being sinister.

@turkishteeth

Look for places with Green Party or Liberal Democrat councillors or MPs. Neither party appeals to career politicians so means hands-on local leadership, and the locals who voted for them are usually well informed and moderate in their views.

That is a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?

I’m also Curie, as the other pp was - what’s laughable about Leamington 😂