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Original poster

Where to spend a million?

105 replies

househunters · 16/02/2022 05:59

Hi,

Apologies for the crass title

DH and I have a budget of up to £1m for our next house, but not sure where to buy. Can anyone help?
Our requirements are:
-fast access into north/central London (ideally an hour door to door commute)
-outstanding state school provision at both primary and secondary (our children are 2 and nearly 1 so school applications are a little while off yet, but it's an absolute must for us)
-we like houses with personality. No new builds, and not a fan of 70s houses
-4 beds and a good sized garden
-driveway
-walking distance to good play parks, independent restaurants and shops. A small pretty town would be ideal.

Is this possible?

OP posts:
Original poster
househunters · 21/02/2022 23:55

@thebigpurpleone

South Woodford? Wanstead? Why live so far out and spend a fortune on trains?
Because I used to live in London and I'm really not a fan, and I find the stage school provision too variable (especially for secondary).

Also if I pick carefully then I can have a 35-40 min overground train journey. Much more pleasant than the same length of journey on the underground (although I do appreciate it's more expensive).

OP posts:
Original poster
househunters · 21/02/2022 23:55

*state school

OP posts:
Miserablecat · 21/02/2022 23:59

I used to live in zone 2, 5 min from the tube, and commute on the northern line. I now live in Hertfordshire and the door to door journey time to work (by train) is exactly the same (but way more expensive!)

ElIie · 22/02/2022 00:17

My thoughts:

Brighton (too far perhaps?)
Guildford
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Tonbridge
Horsham

Okeydoky · 22/02/2022 00:17

Just in London
... but you'd get a characterful 4 bed in Chingford within budget. You want North Chingford near the station. Lots of good primaries. Really nice independent restaurants on Station Road. Epping Forest literally on your doorstep, it feels like you've got one foot in the country with all the convenience of London.

25 mins into Liverpool Street, with trains every 15 mins, and cheap to travel because it is still TFL.

Okeydoky · 22/02/2022 00:18

Oh and you always get a seat and the trains are air conditioned.

Bloomsburyreader · 22/02/2022 01:19

I grew up in Hertford and went to school in St Albans. Mum in a village near Welwyn Garden City. DB lives in Harpenden.

I would recommend any of the above. I wouldn't want to go to Hitchin or Potters Bar. Schools in Harpenden are excellent. House prices a little less than St Albans and has more of a smaller town feel and a really lovely community. The common is fabulous. Hertford is similar although I don't think the schools are as good, although I haven't looked in recent years. Welwyn Garden Cjty is lovely although I haven't looked at the schools either.

Original poster
househunters · 22/02/2022 04:41

@Bloomsburyreader

I grew up in Hertford and went to school in St Albans. Mum in a village near Welwyn Garden City. DB lives in Harpenden.

I would recommend any of the above. I wouldn't want to go to Hitchin or Potters Bar. Schools in Harpenden are excellent. House prices a little less than St Albans and has more of a smaller town feel and a really lovely community. The common is fabulous. Hertford is similar although I don't think the schools are as good, although I haven't looked in recent years. Welwyn Garden Cjty is lovely although I haven't looked at the schools either.

Thank you. Can I ask why not Hitchin? The schools at both primary and secondary look fantastic, the town looks beautiful and trains great.
OP posts:
thebigpurpleone · 22/02/2022 06:45

@Okeydoky

Just in London ... but you'd get a characterful 4 bed in Chingford within budget. You want North Chingford near the station. Lots of good primaries. Really nice independent restaurants on Station Road. Epping Forest literally on your doorstep, it feels like you've got one foot in the country with all the convenience of London.

25 mins into Liverpool Street, with trains every 15 mins, and cheap to travel because it is still TFL.

This.
2DogsOnMySofa · 22/02/2022 07:00

Northamptonshire area has some lovely villages and the main stations can get you to London in 40 minutes. Not sure about the schools

My friend has just sold her 5 bed house (plus it has a 1 bed annex), which is in a lovely rural location, overlooking fields for £900k

Or there is Bourne in Lincolnshire which did have an outstanding grammar school.

Moneypennysfreedomfund · 22/02/2022 07:22

Not sure if you’d get a 4 bed, St. Albans ticks all the boxes about schools, the commute into London ( from memory 20 mins into Kings Cross) I think it’s very safe and a very pleasant place to bring up children, plus it has the fabulous Abbey Theatre… and lots of green spaces … not sure about sporting facilities though.

Grew up there and the only place I would live if I returned to the UK. Would thoroughly recommend St Albans as a place to settle and bring up a family. Good luck with your search.

sonare · 22/02/2022 07:41

I moved to Hitchin a couple of years ago with kids then aged 2.5 and newborn, and really like it. It's a lovely friendly town and lots of young families. Easy commute into London via the Thameslink or mainline to King X. Schools can be competitive so factor that into where you buy but lots of good ones to choose from. Prices have gone up a lot since the pandemic but you'd def still get a decent 4 bed with your budget.

sonare · 22/02/2022 07:43

As a PP says, St Albans is also really lovely, we looked there too before settling on Hitchin. It's more expensive, so we couldn't get the type of house we wanted there. But your budget is bigger than ours was so might be worth a look. I LOVE Cambridge but it's also pricy and the commute is a bit longer.

lboogy · 22/02/2022 20:43

@OrcharD14

Hi Op, I’m also a teacher, but unfortunately, don’t have anywhere near your budget! The issue with lots of the areas suggested such as St. Albans, Harpenden etc. is the cost of the commute. I’m surprised that no one has suggested the northwest London suburbs. I’d recommend, Ickenham, Ruislip,Eastcote & Pinner , from personal experience. They’re all zone 5/6 , on the tube, & family-friendly areas, with a much cheaper commute. There’s plenty of open spaces, a community feel & great schools. However, there aren’t many period properties , but there’ll always be a compromise, whatever the budget! I currently live in Ruislip & there’s the Met. Piccadilly, Central & Chiltern lines into London. I’m sure you’ll find something lovely here, at your budget. Good luck.X
I was going to suggest all these places, plus moor park , hatch end and Northwood. Though you'd need more that a million for Northwood
ISeeTheLight · 22/02/2022 20:46

Ruislip, Bushey, Rickmansworth, Northwood et al are lovely but you'll need a much bigger budget for a character/period 4 bed detached.

Prayinforabetterlifex · 02/09/2022 05:17

wow this is amazing I hope you find a lovley home meanwhile I’m here homeless with 2 kids fleeing dv looking for a home to afford private / council 🏡 would dream to buy one. Good luck with your location n home x

ShortKipper · 02/09/2022 05:31

Village south of Ashford, commute into St Pancras

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85520823

ThickCutSteakChips · 02/09/2022 07:48

Hitchin is great, but I don't know how much is on the market there at the moment which isn't Victorian terrace with no off street parking. I know a friend of mine has been looking there for a while with a similar budget and nothing was really coming up.

ThickCutSteakChips · 02/09/2022 07:50

St Albans is definitely the best option in that area, but I'm not sure what you would get for a million, especially near the station.

Prettybubblesintheair · 02/09/2022 07:51

I’ve lived in Tring and it’s just gorgeous. I’d give anything to be able to move back there but we just can’t afford it.

irisetta · 02/09/2022 15:03

Heads up this thread is quite a few months old, I imagine the OP has found somewhere by now...!

romatheroamer · 02/09/2022 17:51

Love to know where OP went!
A few years since we left SW London and obviously prices have gone up in other places too but still quite shocked to see £1m doesn't get you much in all these places outside London.

Original poster
househunters · 02/09/2022 18:00

Thanks all- as an update- we have since completed on a detached 4 bed in Hitchin. Much preferred it to St Albans. Not much has been on the market at all so we leafleted and did a private purchase. Think we got very lucky!

Hitchin is beautiful- the restaurants are great, loads of community events like the street food markets etc and even has its own nature reserve which is beautiful!

OP posts:
Original poster
househunters · 02/09/2022 18:01

I should add that our house needs loads of work doing, a 'done up' house of the same size etc would be more like 1.2 I think. Hitchin seems worth it though!

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romatheroamer · 02/09/2022 18:58

Oh pleased for you. Don't know Hitchin at all but often seen it praised.