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Original poster

450k, an hour from London - where would would you choose?

110 replies

sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 09:07

Me and DH considering moving to the south and I’d be grateful for any suggestions for areas to consider as feeling a little overwhelmed right now.

Budget is 450k for a three bed (or two with scope to extent in the future) and we’d like:

  • Within an hour of London but there wouldn’t be any regular commuting so doesn’t need to be a particularly easy/reliable connection
  • Amenities all within walking distance from our doorstep as that's the main thing we like about our current house - restaurants, cafes, community centre, library, doctor etc are all within a five minute walk
  • Have two toddlers so safe area, community feel and good (state) schools

Both wfh permanently and no family connections so while that gives us a lot of freedom, it also makes it difficult to narrow down our search. Would prefer somewhere that doesn't feel too 'sleepy'.

Aware that our budget might not stretch as far as we’d like!

Would be hugely grateful for any help! TIA. Smile

OP posts:
EachandEveryone · 29/08/2022 14:13

Ware plenty to do really up and coming

Original poster
sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 16:37

StillSmallVoice · 29/08/2022 12:56

Canterbury is awful these days. Shut up shops and lots of graffiti and broken glass everywhere.

Ah, Canterbury had been on our list of areas to explore but might be worth crossing off then...

OP posts:
Designhelp · 29/08/2022 16:44

Can still get 2-3 beds in Winchester on the less upmarket parts but still very safe and access to decent schools.

Original poster
sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 16:45

Twizbe · 29/08/2022 14:07

St ives in Cambridgeshire.

It just over an hour on the train from Huntingdon which goes into London Bridge and I think Blackfriars now too.

Lovely market town with lots going on.

Just had a quick look on rightmove and I've fell in love with a slightly over-budget house!

Will definitely be trying to research the area a little more. Smile

OP posts:
starpatch · 29/08/2022 17:59

"Canterbury is awful these days. Shut up shops and lots of graffiti and broken glass everywhere."

I am stunned by this comment, Canterbury is absolutely thriving with 2 universities and an art school.

KnickerlessParsons · 29/08/2022 18:05

Marlborough is v nice.

Ionacat · 29/08/2022 18:06

Alton Hampshire. Lovely town, all the schools are all great, on the train line to London - around 1 hour 15ish and you could get a 3/4 bed house for 450k.

MamaPriory · 29/08/2022 18:09

I love Canterbury. If work would allow I'd be right there in a heartbeat. Closer to caversham now- also nice but not the same. Also probably not your budget!

mosel · 29/08/2022 18:09

Brighton, maybe too far? But great community if you don't live in the tourist bit and so much going on for kids

Knowivedonewrong · 29/08/2022 18:11

Horndean in Hampshire. Good schools, lovely countryside. 15 min drive to Portsmouth. Nice pubs & restaurants locally.
Our house has gone on for £425k 4 bed detached with an office/ annex in the garden.

mosel · 29/08/2022 18:13

Actually you wouldn't get a 3 bed in Brighton for that amount

UnnecessaryFennel · 29/08/2022 18:15

Canterbury is lovely, no idea what the PP is talking about. But not cheap!

Plenty of lovely towns / villages on the Kent high-speed into St Pancras, including the seaside towns of Ramsgate / Broadstairs / Margate, where you will definitely get something decent within your budget.

Firty · 29/08/2022 18:18

I’d choose a village in the commuter belt where prices are held down by a slow train link, but it’s a short drive to a town with a fast train link.

Maybe something like Wrotham (near Borough Green) or the outskirts of Maidstone. West Malling perhaps. Or Hever, Cowden etc.

Google london connections map network south east, look at the train map. The weat will be posh but too expensive, the east increasingly grotty, but there are loads of lovely places. Pick a few places in the middle and do a rightmove search for houses within 5 miles of each station.

PyjamaDuddlejuck · 29/08/2022 18:31

Milton Keynes (but choose your area carefully). Considerably less than an hour into Euston, and cheap offpeak.

PyjamaDuddlejuck · 29/08/2022 18:33

Designhelp · 29/08/2022 16:44

Can still get 2-3 beds in Winchester on the less upmarket parts but still very safe and access to decent schools.

I was just going to say Winchester, Fleet and other towns/large villages around that part of Hampshire.

Mum2jenny · 29/08/2022 18:36

Peterborough?

ChloeR81 · 29/08/2022 18:42

I’d second Chelmsford, fantastic place for a family and great investment too. Lovely smaller towns and villages around Chelmsford area too if you want somewhere quieter (Coggeshall is particularly lovely). Could also stretch as far as Colchester as great trains from there into London too if not doing it every day. Think you’d be able to get what you need within budget in all those areas.

Original poster
sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 19:44

Firty · 29/08/2022 18:18

I’d choose a village in the commuter belt where prices are held down by a slow train link, but it’s a short drive to a town with a fast train link.

Maybe something like Wrotham (near Borough Green) or the outskirts of Maidstone. West Malling perhaps. Or Hever, Cowden etc.

Google london connections map network south east, look at the train map. The weat will be posh but too expensive, the east increasingly grotty, but there are loads of lovely places. Pick a few places in the middle and do a rightmove search for houses within 5 miles of each station.

Yes this exactly what we're thinking with the train...

Thank you for the map and suggestions... will take a look!

OP posts:
Original poster
sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 19:46

UnnecessaryFennel · 29/08/2022 18:15

Canterbury is lovely, no idea what the PP is talking about. But not cheap!

Plenty of lovely towns / villages on the Kent high-speed into St Pancras, including the seaside towns of Ramsgate / Broadstairs / Margate, where you will definitely get something decent within your budget.

Sounds like it's still worth considering then! Nice to hear different opinions about a place Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 20:09

Ionacat · 29/08/2022 18:06

Alton Hampshire. Lovely town, all the schools are all great, on the train line to London - around 1 hour 15ish and you could get a 3/4 bed house for 450k.

Oh this is one we haven't come across at all in our search so far, just had a look and it looks really promising and a bit more affordable for us too. Thank you!

Also fell head over heels for a house I spotted on rightmove before realising that it seems to be wedged right in between a funeral home and a Wetherspoons!

OP posts:
Original poster
sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 20:10

mosel · 29/08/2022 18:13

Actually you wouldn't get a 3 bed in Brighton for that amount

Ah yes, had already ruled Brighton out based on price.

OP posts:
Original poster
sageandrosemary · 29/08/2022 20:14

ChloeR81 · 29/08/2022 18:42

I’d second Chelmsford, fantastic place for a family and great investment too. Lovely smaller towns and villages around Chelmsford area too if you want somewhere quieter (Coggeshall is particularly lovely). Could also stretch as far as Colchester as great trains from there into London too if not doing it every day. Think you’d be able to get what you need within budget in all those areas.

Chelmsford has been coming up again and again for us in our searches so it's reassuring to see it mentioned a few times on this thread.

Think it will be the first place we take a trip to for a look around!

Thanks for the info Smile

OP posts:
mememe30 · 29/08/2022 20:30

Thame in Oxfordshire

NoFitStateMum · 29/08/2022 20:36

What about Bedfordshire?

MrsMitford3 · 29/08/2022 20:39

Winchester a brilliant shout. Great vibe-I'd love to live there.

I am shocked that Caversham has 2 votes... wouldn't have thought it fit your criteria at all

Windsor closer in but worth a look...