Best places and areas to live in your early 40s_South England

[Lizzy155]

My partner of 9 years just left me and I need to move out asap. I am looking to buy a 1 bedroom place somewhere. Not too expensive (I've got an OK job but not earning a fortune). It needs to be a commutable distance to London (work), with reasonable choice of things to do and ideally with people my age so I can make new friends (late 30s, early 40s).

Any recommendations?

I've been looking at Milton Keynes but not too sure if I like that town panorama (I'm used to lots of woodland, lakes, canals). Looks like it's a quick commute to London but expensive tickets to travel each day (I don't necessarily need to go to the office every day for now). Is that a nice place to live and if so, which areas in MK to go for?

If not MK, where else could I look?

Thanks! :)

What's your budget? And which London main line/s do you need to commute to?

It will always be a bit of a trade off between mortgage and transport - I'd always go as close in as I could afford.

Impossible to say without a (rough) budget, and also which main station in London you need to commute into.

Sorry @JassyRadlett I'm being thick this morning, you asked the exact same questions.

Ha, they're good questions! Mainline stations are so important, I've declined interviews for amazing jobs because their offices were a pain from Waterloo/Clapham Junction/Vauxhall.

Where are you at the moment OP, ie where will you be moving from?

Haha, same! SWR representing <fistbump>

Chelmsford goes to Liverpool Street and is a busy town

My current budget is around 200K and I need to go to Waterloo station.

M k is no good for Waterloo look on lines out of Waterloo

Winchester is great but i don't think you'd get a flat for 200k. Maybe slightly further down the line in Southampton? Lovely outdoor spaces, New Forest, lots of gigs and theatre in Southampton and other arts stuff.

My current budget is around 200K and I need to go to Waterloo station.

I live in Amersham now. North West of London, still on tube line. But that areas is too expensive for me to buy a place on my own.

Basingstoke maybe

Fleet has a lot of green spaces, it’s surrounded by lovely countryside and is generally pretty pleasant. Waterloo is around 55 mins although there are faster trains I think in peak hours. Seems to be quite a bit on the market around the 200k mark.

I think you could get a bit closer in - around the Leatherhead/Dorking/Epsom areas. Dorking seems to be a nice community and lots of green space nearby, and definitely options at your budget.

Woking always surprises me as I am poised to loathe it but it has the canal and brilliant trains.

South West Trains last trains are quite early - so if you are planning on going out in London factor that in as a consideration. I think the trains from Charing Cross and London Bridge run later. I don't like Croydon but the trains run all night through there for Gatwick.

As a single person in their early forties focus on activities you enjoy and live where that is good. Theatre, galleries, walking, sailing etc can give a good social scene. What do you like doing?

Dorking has a great community but at that price you would be looking at a flat above a shop.

Guildford has lots going on and quick trains to Waterloo so could be a good choice? There are some things within your budget eg this which is small but nicely done and in a good central position:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111543701#/?channel=RES_BUY

A bit further out in Guildford but good size:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117165800#/?channel=RES_BUY

shared ownership option
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122445866#/?channel=RES_BUY

I don't go clubbing any more but I do enjoy theatre, galleries, concerts, cinema, eating out, places where I can meet up with friends for coffee and shopping. I run a lot too.

Definitely look at the Charing Cross trains too if it's Waterloo that you need.

Thank you, they look quite nice, will have a proper look.

I forgot to add that, having just split up with my long time partner, I don't want to end up somewhere where I would be totally on my own with no people to talk to.
That would be depressing and I would spend too much time asking myself why it happened. That's the last thing I need right now :(

Thanks, will do.
I might try to change a job soon too, so won't necessarily need to commute to waterloo but it would be still somewhere in London. Most likely.

Another vote for Guildford as it would certainly tick the boxes for the things you enjoy. Also nice parks and a lovely canal tow path for running and the surrounding countryside (Surrey Hills) are beautiful too.

This one has a huge area of woodland on the doorstep and lots of amenities near by: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122615645#/?channel=RES_BUY

It can be a dash after a theatre or concert to get a late or last train from Waterloo so do check the timetables for places you look at. e.g the last train to Guildford is 11:35 and Esher is 11:22. Miss those and you are looking at 4 am for the next one!

Where do your friends live?

Thanks. Will check that out.