Left London for the suburbs - hate it

[Whereishome22]

Feeling miserable about this situation so want to at least have hope on the horizon! Moved from a part of London I loved to zone 6 suburbs end of last year and absolutely loathe it. It's a cultural wasteland, nothing to do, need to drive everywhere (which I can't yet), takes ages to get into work, and no local parks or playgrounds (two small kids). Suffering serious buyers remorse but anywhere I'd live in London has shot up in price Vs here, which has stayed steady.

So I want to leave and start anew in a town/ small city and want your help!

Budget is £850k, need at least 3 bedrooms but ideally more/annexe. Want a house with period features (not cottage more Victorian/Edwardian/1930s), at least 100 foot garden, good schools (this doesn't necessarily mean grammar schools) within walking distance, things to do, cinema, swimming pool, fruit and veg market, actually useful shops rather than gift shops and to be able to get a nice coffee, vegan food every now and then. Family in the South so don't want to be too far from them (i.e. Wales, Scotland, NE/SW England) and will need to commute to London one day a week (but don't mind it being a long one)

Places on the shortlist are:
Folkestone
Norwich
Tonbridge
Faversham

Any other ideas?

If you moved out to colchester, ipswich or norwich, you could get something really nice for well under your budget, and for once a week commute,its very doable. Colchester is only 45 mins on the train to liverpool street. Norwich is probably 1hr 45 or 2 hrs and a great city. I think any of them would feel much more happening than the suburbs if you tried to stay round the centre

My AC and their friends all love Bristol - they wouldn't touch Bath, very beautiful but nothing to do.

St Albans has everything you need and you'll get a very nice 3/4 bed for £850k.

@blondiepigtails Depends what you mean on nothing to do and what your friends are like. I found way more to do in bath than Bristol (only 10 mins away on train) and I've lived in both

I love in Norwich, it is a brilliant city. Lots do do for a county-side City. Trains to London are also very regular and it does not take too long.
Cobbles roads, and very old building make for brilliant scenery and the centre holds its own again some of the more commercial cities.

However living anywhere in Norfolk, it is beneficial to have a car as public transport can be very long and slow.

How about St Albans? Direct train to Blackfriars takes 30 mins, markets, actual high street shopping, leisure centres, parks, good schools and in your budget.

Unfortunately for me, each time I've visited Bristol I've had racist remarks thrown at me so whilst there is a yearly event I was going to in Bristol, I no longer go because of what I have to put up just for walking down a street

Sadky Brighton is a complete and utter dump nowadays. A very expensive one too .

I agree, do NOT move to Gosport!

Southsea is nice and ticks many of the boxes. But Gosport? Nope!

When did 850k equate to North t being rich?

Did I misread that?

Some people have zero idea of the value of money.

Bristol or Cambridge.

Berkhamsted
Tring

I had this idea when my dd was small, and researched Folkestone, Hastings, Whitstable and Rye, and then decided on staying in Lewisham. It's not particularly swanky, but we live in a nice friendly quiet street, and my network of 'parent' friends are all close by. I can get to Lewisham town centre if I want a market, or we're half an hour from Charing Cross.
I love gardening too, but our budget wasn't as big as yours, so I content myself to going to visit National Trust properties on the train.
If I had to move out, I loved Hastings, so have my eye on a Fairlight, or Rye, and would spend my time at the De leWarr Pavilion, Sissinghurst, and Rye. There is loads to do down there.
A friend of mine lived in Frome and loved it - close to lots of nice places pretty countryside and very community-minded. her kids really liked the schools too.
I think you need to find something in an area that will keep you busy even when your kids have grown up, and then work out from there. Seaside towns can be very deprived and depressing, so I wouldn't move just based on the beach - unless you work for the coastguard.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E70380&maxPrice=900000&minPrice=700000&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Birmingham for sure ;) south brum specifically.
You could get a nice version of what you want in a lovely area with all those amenities for £600k or for 850k you could do much better

Moved to Folkestone from overseas four years ago with 3 children after researching whole of South East. Best thing we ever did, always a plethora of things to do for the family (much if it free), beautiful architecture , stunning scenery (both countryside and seaside within five minutes), you can literally see France on a clear day and it’s so easy to hop over to Europe for a long weekend. Great selection of independent bars, cafes and restaurants (Dr Legumes on the Harbour does the best vegan food I’ve ever tasted). It honestly feels like we are on holiday much of the time. We pop up to London occasionally for museums, etc with the kids (it only costs £1 for u16s), but honestly there is so much going on here year round that we don’t venture back nearly as much as we thought we might. Link is to my neighbour’s house which is walking distance to everything you desire (and more!) to illustrate what your budget might get you. As someone who lives in the area I would wholeheartedly recommend.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123888992#/?channel=RES_BUY

Goodness, what a fabulous house. Bet it was sold the second it went on the market.

Wow that house is amazing!

quick let’s all move to Folkestone!

100ft garden really big. You don’t say which bit of South you have family. None of your proposed destinations would be easy commute to South as I see it ie Hampshire Dorset

If I were you, I’d move back and get an allotment. London isn’t for everyone, but if you love it, it’s very hard to leave.

But if you’re determinedly out, sounds like you’d enjoy Bristol?

Agree, Alverstoke/Gosport is dire! I spent my teens in Alverstoke and would never dream of going back.

Southsea might suit you except no gardens!

I immediately thought of Folkestone before I even saw your shortlist!

Personally I wouldn't go for Tonbridge, but Tunbridge Wells is lovely!

Berkhamsted. Has a cinema (film society too), sports centre, tennis club, castle (local history society of course), excellent schools, numerous play parks, skate park, canal walks, regular markets and more coffee shops and restaurants than you can shake a stick at.

Have you looked at Harrogate or York in North Yorkshire? Both beautiful with lots to do for kids, loads of cafes and bars and shops. Plus with your budget you would get a decent size house and garden. Direct trains to London from both - 2 hours from York and about 2.5 from harrogate

Winchester is lovely (came for uni and never left, ans until 3 yesrs ago i didnt drive). Semi rural but have a cinema, leisure centre and plenty of parks. Easy commute to London but also direct routes to Southampton or Basingstoke if you want to go shopping. Also Newbury is similar again with easy links to Basingstoke and reading and direct line to london