Need to find a good area 1 hour from London

[Samara26]

Hey.
Does anyone have any suggestions on a nice but affordable area around one hours train commute from London?

I work remotely but may have to travel in occasionally for meetings and would like to be around 15 -20 minutes drive max from a decent town with bars and shopping etc.

Will be buying a 3 bed semi or end of terrace, ideally not too old.

I've ticked Berkshire off the list now for personal reasons. Am originally from Crawley but not much there and it's not near any decent towns.

I like the Camberley, Woking area but it's a bit out of my price range but interested in suggestions nearby or even Essex.

Thanks!

Rugby is an hour by train

Most places in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire

What is your budget? That would be the most helpful information.

Kent is 1 hour from Victoria, places like bear stead, Allington and Penenden Heath near Maidstone are all lovely, with train stations nearby and have villages feel whilst being near a town with cinema, small theatre, library, gyms and shops. Penenden Heath is esp lovely.

*Bearstead

Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells - 45-50min from London Bridge/Charing Cross

You've loads of choices! I'd ask myself what setting do I want to be near, sea then Kent or Sussex coast, hills, Derbyshire, Hampshire, Surrey. Cheaper but nice areas on London fast track trainline Grantham surrounding villages or Newark

Have a look around Huntingdon/St Neots.

Vale of Belvoir villages are both close to Leicester, Notts and Lincoln and 1 hr on the east coast from Grantham train station which is about 10 mins away. Really pretty, lots of countryside, more outstanding schools than you can shake a stick at and not as pricey as further south.

I remember going shopping in Crawley on Saturdays and spending £3 on jewellery from river island just to get the bag to use for my pe kit. Would never live there with family though…. Can see why you’re looking elsewhere!!
You could look at villages outside Guildford, it’s a good town and has good trains in when needed. Not cheap though

St Albans is a nice town with a market and good schools. Train straight into Kings Cross St Pancras.

Depends on your budget. I'd recommend Upminster. Nice commuter town with shops, bars, good schools etc. 25 mins into Fenchurch Street on the C2C plus end of the District Line as well as an alternative. Bit of a pricey area though with 3 bed semis around the £650K +++ mark. Upminster Bridge, Hornchurch and Romford slightly cheaper and Romford is on the main Liverpool Street line with good access to Stratford and the City.

@GoodnessTruthBeauty

What is your budget? That would be the most helpful information.

It's 375k max. I left this off as previously ppl told me I couldn't afford Reading and other areas, which I can, u just have to look a bit harder. Areas like Upminster, Camberley, Ascot etc would obviously be out of the equation though :)

@DomusAurea

Kent is 1 hour from Victoria, places like bear stead, Allington and Penenden Heath near Maidstone are all lovely, with train stations nearby and have villages feel whilst being near a town with cinema, small theatre, library, gyms and shops. Penenden Heath is esp lovely.

What is maidstone like itself? I've been there a few times shopping but wasn't sure what to make of it?

Good morning,
Folkestone, Kent is good: 50 min from Kings X St Pancras, though house prices are creeping up due to regeneration and popularity.
Seafront is beautiful

@Samara26, it's ok, quite conservative and not a lot culturally (cinema, small theatre, museum), very safe. Nice parks. Good schools. Not hugely stimulating because a lot of emphasis on shopping rather than thinking activities. Not very diverse, although this is changing. Penenden heath is walking distance from town centre and it may have things on your budget range - winters park also nice/near town. Avoid tovil and park wood (but even then, they are nor dangerous places) - pm if you need more info! :)

(375k for Folkestone may be a ship that has sailed, sadly.) - just about making it for Maidstone.

Where in London do you need to get to in an hour? That’s a big question which will have an inky on where you look at

[quote DomusAurea]@Samara26, it's ok, quite conservative and not a lot culturally (cinema, small theatre, museum), very safe. Nice parks. Good schools. Not hugely stimulating because a lot of emphasis on shopping rather than thinking activities. Not very diverse, although this is changing. Penenden heath is walking distance from town centre and it may have things on your budget range - winters park also nice/near town. Avoid tovil and park wood (but even then, they are nor dangerous places) - pm if you need more info! :)[/quote]
Thank you. Is it modern and car friendly or more old-worldly or industrial?

Centre modern and car friendly, but town centre pedestrianised, some areas medieval (main church from 1395 I believe) - all the nices areas are a combination of modern (new built), 1960s and 1970s houses, and some late 1800s-victorian and 1930s - definitely not industrial. Agricultural outskirts - a lot of countryside on your doorstep. And shops, shops, shops.

Maidstone would work with the budget I agree.

Colchester

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120618401?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

This is under 10 mins walk to the main train station where its 45 mins to london liverpool street, and right by the park, quick walk into town, and near the leisure centre

@Ohshitiveturnedintomymother

Where in London do you need to get to in an hour? That’s a big question which will have an inky on where you look at

I'm a contractor so could end up anywhere- I know Victoria wasn't super convenient when I came in to there as it always took ages and was really packed but I guess everywhere is a bit like that. It's just a safety net basically in case I do end up having to be in London 2 days max a week.