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?

High Wycombe

Canterbury? Oxford?

Am also curious about the downsides of seaside living, which was alluded to by a PP. I wouldn't want to live in a really touristy seaside place as it would just get crammed in the summer, but thought Folkestone was less like this. What else should I be thinking of?

Compared to London? No downsides of seaside living.

Come to Devon, you can get an amazing home for that sort of money and Exeter is a fantastic city. You can easily commute on the train from Exeter to London too.

I think Cambridge or Norwich might meet your requirements. You'd get more for your money in Norwich. I really like both cities but obviously Cambridge is over an hour closer on the train.

Hitchin? I moved from London. Great little town (I don't drive and walk everywhere). Great for kids and fab schools too. Easy trains in London.

I shouldn't say it because I don't need more competition for the houses I'm after, but Bristol feels like it'd be a great fit. If you buy to the north of the city its 1hr 10mins on the train to Paddington from Bristol Parkway so doable if only commuting one day a week (in the past I've been through about that often for business). Absolutely loads going on and there are tons of independent businesses, cafes, restaurants etc. I live near Horfield Common and there are half a dozen great independent cafes within a five minute walk from my front door, two greengrocers, several bakeries, two or three butchers, multiple supermarkets/wholefood stores...Leisure centre with pool is a 15 minute walk away, along with a couple of play parks. Loads of properties with period features - we are in a 1930s terrace at the moment and have just offered on a Victorian semi.

Can't speak for the schools yet as we are a way off that (although I know they can be a bit mixed at secondary level) and you'll probably struggle to get a 100 foot plus garden, but I feel like a lot of your boxes are ticked.

The other thing to think about is holidays - almost noone flies out of Norwich airport and it's probably 2 hours to Stansted from Norwich by car, and 90 mins on the train with a change. Might not make any difference but ultimately the reason Norwich has quite a lot going on is partly because it's so far from everything else and has a big catchment area of people coming into it for shopping and entertainment - probably 40 miles.

Oxted could work

Bristol

This one looks like it has a big garden and central. Trains to Waterloo and Victoria. It is under offer though and needs more than £50k spent on it unless you are DIYers!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125835362

Horsham

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124625906#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124958792#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123039872#/?channel=RES_BUY

If you need to be in London Blackfriars one day a week I would NOT move to Norwich. The train line is quite unreliable and it takes almost 2 hours to get to Liverpool Street, plus you've got commuting to the station and onward travel to your office - so it would be a very long commute.

I'd stay in the home counties, if I were you. Look along the train lines going into London and scrutinise those towns for what you want, but yes, St Albans, Harpenden, Hitchin, Bishop's Stortford, High Wycombe and many others all have the sort of local life, good schools and well-rounded community you're looking for along with homes in budget with decent-sized gardens.

What about Leigh on Sea? You'd need to choose carefully to avoid living on a road that's a rat run in summer but parts of the Marine Estate, Highlands Estate and Chalkwell Park area are lovely.

IMO, you’ll probably have to compromise on the garden in Bristol. Also, I think you want a city rather than a town.

I'm really interested that people are so rude about Tonbridge! It has great schools, wonderful parks, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and London within easy reach. Great cafes with more opening all the time, a castle venue with regular concerts, a swimming pool, two theatres and, in my opinion, loads to offer families.
House prices have gone up heaps so I guess lots of others agree. Maybe have a look?
Heaps of other wonderful cities around of course. I also know and like Folkestone.

I live in London and looking to move to either Brentwood or Leigh on Sea in a couple of years. I think either of them might suit you.

I’m wondering where in zone 6 can be thought of as a cultural wasteland. Are you wanting somewhere you can walk to museums, galleries, theatre? That’s a big ask and I am guessing you wouldn’t be happier in Chichester or Bath etc. Just concerned in case you are going from one wrong situation to another.

I’m wondering where in zone 6 can be thought of as a cultural wasteland

I’m wondering where zone 6 actually is.

We live in Central Sevenoaks and whilst we can walk to most amenities, we don't as we are lazy and sometimes you need a quick in and out.

Anyway loads of kids activities and diverse community although mainly white eg European/ South African/ Australian/ American

Not sure about state schools but it's a grammar area so no true comprehensives

Do you actually have time for loads of non kid related activities? My kids are older but I still don't have oodles of spare time

If you need theater/ shows there are local theatres but London is only half an hour away by train

Tonbridge looks lovely @CautiousOptimist! What a gorgeous castle and a lovely outdoor pool too, river, park, etc.

Leigh on Sea looks very naff by comparison and is basically a suburb of Southend.

Where in zone 6 are you? If your looking for museums, galleries etc I'm not sure Margate is for you 🤔

Also interested in the part of London you loved and moved from

I was wondering that as well. I'm currently sitting in a zone 6 suburb and it's neither a cultural wasteland nor miles from parks - there are three big green spaces within a couple of miles and very easy to get to on public transport. We even have a Pret.