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

[sageandrosemary]

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.

Winchester is another one that had cropped up a few times already in our initial research but we'd discounted it based on budget. Seems like there might not be much available to us in a central-ish location?

We've looked at Bedford but seems like we might be struggling budget-wise...

Folkestone is just over an hour into St Pancras and you would definitely find a house within budget.

For example, this one is in a good location, close to the station and within budget:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122141924#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122834525#/?channel=RES_BUY

I’d look at Bishops Stortford in East Hertfordshire or nearby areas like Stansted Mountfitchet. There are other lovely villages and small towns nearby as per @AmbushedByCake ’s suggestion but worth checking whether they have a station if that matters to you or whether you’re happy to drive and park for infrequent visits.

Cambridge. Great school. Very family friendly. Educated area. Its rarely you see riff raff people over here. Its 50mins straight to kings cross.

Bicester has a good train link thanks to Bicester Village also only 10 mins by train into Oxford.

Aylesbury or Milton Keynes have good links.

Its rarely you see riff raff people over here

Oh my god!! This is exactly why you should not live in Cambridge. Unless you want your children brought up as snobby wankers too

Leigh on sea hadleigh or Benfleet.

Cambridge house prices are almost as expensive as London. Rugby is 45 minutes away from London Euston by train and you would be able to afford a much better house there than in the Home Counties.

I live in Alton, Hampshire which a PP mentioned. It's lovely to be honest! Good transport links, great schools, loads of green space and nice community feel.

I believe Cambridge is out of our budget, which I fear may make us part of the riff raff

Leigh on sea is lovely. Quaint shops, great for families, quick commute into London

😁

Yes, I agree Bishop Stortford is a lovely town and the new builds in Takeley and Great Dunmow are lovely. I have lots of family there and I always enjoy visiting the area.

But is there any riff raff??

@monso yeah probably my family 🙈 only joking sure there is ‘riff raff’ everywhere, including Cambridge.

Rochester, Upnor. Maidstone also a good shout - depends where though!

Sorry to be so mean about Canterbury. DS who still lives and works in the town would back me up. In fairness, there have been a number of big shops which have gone bust, so the loss of Debenhams, Monsoon, Topshop, an independent department store, Jigsaw and the others has a disproportionate effect on the feel of the centre of town.

The three universities have an effect as well. There are a lot of students and they are (ahem) noisy.

East Kent is lovely though, and close to London. People have mentioned Margate, Broadstairs, Folkestone and Deal. All have a lot going for them. Also Faversham.

Seconding @Mum2jenny in saying Peterborough, or Yaxley/Stilton (easy to access PB station). We moved to PB from London last year and enjoy the quiet, the green spaces and the friendly neighbours. You'd easily get 4 bed detached for 400-420k.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125811152 - here's one in Yaxley begging for some colour and character to be added!

Shefford Bedford. X

How is Caversham not a good suggestion seeing as the fast train into London takes 25 minutes, it has lovely Edwardian & Victorian housing, a nice community vibe, excellent schools, by the river etc?

Agreed- Caversham is great and definitely fits the brief. I suspect that those lovely Victorian and Edwardian houses (mainly Caversham Heights) might be over budget though.

Wivenhoe, Essex

Mersea Island is lovely too although slightly less accessible...