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?

Just to be clear, I'm not looking for posh MC (hence the desire for a proper fruit and veg market and normal, useful shops). I'm from London and moved from zone 2-3-4 SE London and then to zone 6 Croydon but not the busy part (where I would probably be a lot happier!) Well done to all of you that live on the outskirts and have found parks, non-bleak playgrounds, a sense of community. Instead there just feels like a real lack of community here as everyone just gets in their car to go somewhere else.

You really need to drive if you are leaving Londonshire, then you can live near a town, drive to the station and have the big garden in a lower density area.

I think St Albans too. Lots of good schools and open green spaces and the Abbey. Also a lib dem mp! Plenty of live theatre and music and really easy and quick to get into King's Cross. Other bits of Herts are good too with lots of good communities but yes it is quite Conservative in places. You will notice that moving out of London.

Wherever you move to next, do some research and visit lots before taking the plunge.

It's Croydon. Anyone with any sense gets in their cars to go somewhere else.

Edinburgh and fly to London.

OP
it’s not my bag but I have a friend in East Croydon. Her connections to central London are really fast and we’ve seen some good shows at Fairfield Hall. You could probably do another zone 6 area for prices and get what you want.

for those wondering about zone 6, it’s places on the London Transport map which fall into zone 6, so a big circle of outer London and border areas.

Also, re sense of community, I usually hear this complaint about any place from people who haven’t tried to find a local community. What sort of things have you joined?

Disagree with argument that Tonbridge/ Tunbridge Wells/ Sevenoaks area is a cultural wasteland! There’s a great community in the area with lots of events happening throughout the year (like food and drink festivals, theatre etc) and feels like a place in its own right like you are looking for. Great cafes with vegan options including a brilliant vegan restaurant in Tunbridge Wells. Good schools, loads of activities for kids and countryside to explore. Definitely more of a community than many zone 6 London suburbs. Also a big move in all the councils away from being Tory controlled.

I would say St Albans, however, if your are not liking your current location then maybe moving outside London isn't suitable for you. Perhaps consider moving to somewhere like Bromley or Barnet would be more suitable. All the best.

Although I think Bristol and Birmingham are good suggestions, I don't think you definitely need a city as others have suggested. I think what you're describing is community spirit, which you can get from village/Town or city, however I would avoid 'commuter towns'.

I love this house, and it meets all your needs, although is in a grammar area which may or may not appeal. Station is a walk away, and an hour and 30 (I think) to London.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126232322#/?channel=RES_BUY

Exeter

You need Chelmsford or Colchester, there's grammar schools and plenty of green spaces.

Wondering where you're describing, can't be Sanderstead/Purley, maybe Selsdon in which case don't blame you misses the point completely

I grew up in the Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells area. Thirty years ago they were boring dormitories but there's a lot more going on nowadays, particularly if you want great access to beautiful countryside.

As adults though, we chose Edinburgh. A truly 15 minute city with all the culture and life of a European capital. So many people commute for a day or few in London during the week, v normal.

I live 10 minutes from Folkestone right on the beach - I absolutely love it and I commute, the rail links are excellent. Folkestone is really buzy with lovely little shops/delis. They are building a development on the Leas with some really swanky apartments (rumour has it a google big wig has bought a penthouse) so talking to someone last weekend who owns a restaurant there are big plans for swanky champagne/oysters bars etc.

It's the last ring on the old Transport for London zones, before they expanded to go even further out. It varies a lot. Out east you've got places like Romford, Upminster, or Epping and Loughton. In the northwest it's Hillingdon, Ruislip. South it's Heathrow, Epsom, Orpington. All very definitely commuter towns rather than what people would traditionally think of as suburbs (which would be more around Zone 3-4).

Such an odd thread. Op hates zone 6 and has 850k budget. Why are people suggesting some of these dreary places. If the op hates zone six, she'll probably be even more unhappy further out.

Honestly, sounds like location is the main thing. Just move back to London. You can get a nice house in zone 3...you won't get a 100ft garden but you can't get absolutely everything you want

Haven't RTFT but I'd recommend Westgate on Sea over Margate. Margate is a bit of a dive still, though up and coming, whereas Westgate is very family friendly with a gorgeous beach that never gets the amount of people on it that Margate does, just up the road.

The train to London isn't too bad (but you might have to change or drive somewhere to get a quicker route) and it has a gorgeous little, very cheap, cinema that is excellent.

Not too far from Canterbury either.

Can’t you just forgo the big garden and look at the nicer parts of SE London? Hither Green maybe. Definitely in budget for a 3 bed house, lots of playgrounds, doesn’t feel like a wasteland and easy into the centre of London.

I just choked on my tea at the very idea that it is possible to commute from Exeter.

I'm not sure you'll get the 100ft garden in combination with the other things? We've moved from London outskirts to NE England and now have great quality of life with multiple parks, museums, galleries, libraries, theatre, excellent schools etc within a 15 min walk. There's even a Pret. In fact, probably more than one!

But we had to compromise on size of garden. We did view some houses with 100ft garden but they were a LOT further out from the city centre so you'd have had to cycle or get the bus to get to all the culture. We went for the convenience of living closer to the centre.

Ah. Croydon. That probably explains a lot. (Sorry Croydonites!)

somehere in Essex might suit. Chelmsford / Leigh on Sea?

I'd stay in London. I'd move to Crystal Palace.

Have you considered Hertford? It's a town. It has good transport links, restaurants, bars and nice parks. The schools are good.

I suggested Hove upthread but want to suggest Tooting now! Agree with pp - just move back into London

Bristol has SO many London refugees it’s now leapt in price , but friendly and even “poorer “parts are becoming desirable now.

New Towns are grim- so soulless.