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?

I realise that Leicester as a city might not be what you are looking for, but the area around Stoneygate/ Clarendon Park and Knighton ticks a lot of your boxes and you can get a massive house and garden within your budget.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124664765#/?channel=RES_BUY

It has Knighton Park and Victoria Park which are both large, shops and places you can get coffee and food on the Queens Road and swimming/cinema/supermarket a short bus ride away. There are buses running around every 10-15 minutes down the main roads on either side of the area, so not being able to drive wouldn't be a problem. There is a big outside fruit and veg market in the city centre and St Pancreas is just over an hour on the train. There is also the New Walk Museum, botanic gardens and De Montfort hall, where they do children's and adults shows. Some of these might be outside walking distance depending where you are, but all easily reachable by bus. Leicester is also a very multicultural city which is in my opinion a bonus.

On the downside everything might feel very small and limited compared to living in London and you would need to drive/ catch the bus to get to certain things, but I think that will be the case outside capital cities.

Bishops Stortford?
Epping?

I’m amazed you have Norwich on your list as it is a long way from everywhere else you mention - plus it is not in the south. I love Norwich but it takes two hours by train to Liverpool Street. A pp mentioned Birmingham, which is a similar distance to London as Norwich is. If you want the urban vibe and good transport, Birmingham would fit your bill better. It also only takes an hour and a half to Euston.

I would suggest Bristol or Cambridge.

We have just left Brighton and I wouldn’t recommend it. It is very touristy and you have to deal with a lot of stag/hen parades. The marathons, bike rides, pride, fringe festival etc is fun but depending on where you live you can easily get blocked in when roads close.
The schools are terribly underfunded and oversubscribed. There is a big knife and drug problem here too. My teen who avoids any drama whatsoever has been caught up in some nasty stuff just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. After the 3rd incident we decided to move.

Cambridge is where I would ideally live or Winchester. Bristol has a big of grit but being close to beautiful countryside makes it worthwhile.

Would vote Norwich or Folkestone. I lived in Faversham for a long time and it feels very small and villagey, you will also struggle to get any house with a garden near town centre so would end up driving everywhere if the garden is a must. Folkestone very creative and you will get excellent value for money. Husband used to live in Norwich and loved it, feels like a real hub. Don't know Tonbridge well. Would also suggest Canterbury- I think that would tick your boxes and I'm sure you'd get what you want from a house for your budget.

I’m in SW London, I work in NM.

Not sure if another poster has already said this, but if you're looking at Cambridge I'd give Green End Road a swerve - doesn't have a good reputation. The other house linked to here is on a main road.

Cambridge is a great place to live, and a very easy commute to central London. But most houses in walking distance to the city centre have gardens that are either short or narrow (or both), and the rare houses that do have long, wide gardens will be well outside the OP's budget. The fact that almost all houses are on small plots of land is part of what makes the city walkable. There are alternatives, though, like this house in Highsett - a listed 60s development right by the station that has small gardens but the most beautiful communal grounds. It's 5 mins walk from the station, 10 from the city centre and the arts cinema, 15 from the Fitzwilliam museum, maybe 10 from the swimming pool and 20 from the lido.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125823881#/?channel=RES_BUY

It will take you hours and hours to get anywhere from Norwich. You would still be ok with your budget in Cambridge and it is gorgeous. Guiildford is great .

Hi OP - do you need to be in the south still? There are so many lovely places in the North East that would fit all of your criteria and then some. I would definitely recommend relocating especially if your family are young. My first thought if Gosforth (lovely family area with amenities) which is just outside of Newcastle where you could get a great house for this price, and be 10 mins metro ride from the city centre. Drop me a PM if you are interested and I can recommend more places/give more detail.

@IrisVersicolor thanks, we may potentially move that way in a few yrs. We are in Wandsworth

Honestly I think you just chose the wrong bit of the suburbs.

This is £850k, 150ft (!) garden, 3 bed end of terrace, overlooks woodland, minutes from parks, shops, great schools, great local community:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-85313916.html

Sorry, just realised you said 30s house or older, so ignore above. In Cambridge, you can have the amenities and cultural life you want within easy walking or cycling distance, plus a period home, but for £850K or below you won't get a big garden and privacy anywhere near the centre.

Westgate on Sea Kent

Ramsgate and Margate still very much deprived, despite house prices skyrocketing post Covid. Folkestone less though but still has reasonable chunks of town I'd prefer to avoid (although nowhere is really that dire- especially if you're coming from Croydon!) Broadstairs is fab, creative and has a kitchy vibe but a very busy in summer and full of old people in winter!

For seaside towns:
Whitstable?
Hastings?
St Leonard's?

Sittingbourne is also a bit crap in my opinion no culture or independent shops etc. but a decent high Street and neighbouring villages lovely. Less than an hour to London.

I maintain my stance on canterbury- lots to do, exceptionally pretty and lots of character properties, creative vibe (art university, Gulbenkian theatre for more off the wall productions, Marlowe theatre) cinemas, independent shops, lots of restaurants- chain and independent, very well connected to London and easy to drive/train to rest of Kent, 15 mins drive from seaside, very walkable, excellent schools (I went to one!), not to rammed by DFLs. For your budget you would be able to live in one of the really premium areas.

Downsides- lots of French tourists as it's the first (nice) town out of Dover, can feel a bit studenty (ok if you want a happy hour), a few dodgy estates but your budget is more than sufficient and you wouldn't have to live in one.

Bristol expensive but you're used to London prices so sure that would be fine. Family member recently bought a 3 bed plus box mid terrace that's already refurbished for just over 400 so sure you could get something lovely for 850.

Defo the same kind of 'buzz' as London & loads of eg vegan restaurants, gigs, lots going on etc. Plus good trains to London for work.

I'd also shout for Cambridge, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff. Not sure you will get that 100 foot garden in any of those though, unless in suburbs again.

As pp said why don't you move to zone 3 (Forest Hill or Hither Green) and get an allotment?

It seems like a huge compromise to leave London for a big garden

That's interesting - what a difference a postcode makes! My MILs house is very similar to that, but has just sold for £500K! A few miles down the road into a scruffier part of town. Has a big if narrow garden at the back though.

Hastings is a very good suggestion too I had forgotten that!! I know a few in entertainment industry who have moved there - how about this OP- it's a bit 'brown' inside but massive land for you and a really big detached house!!! Could be really beautiful too

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122240852#/?channel=RES_BUY

Another vote for Bristol here. Also Reading is good, only 25 mins train from Paddington and thriving town centre with lots of shops, a market etc. A bit heavy on the chain restaurants and shops but does have a few indies dotted around. Both Bristol and Reading have a posh lido and an independent cinema.

@Whereishome22 you'd get everything on your list in Faversham and for less than your budget if that matters!

Want a house with period features (not cottage more Victorian/Edwardian/1930s), at least 100 foot garden,

Would you like the moon on a stick as well OP?! 😂

Lewes has a really strong community, outdoor pool for the kids and the South Downs in walking distance.
This one has a garden for a gardener!
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124922759#/?channel=RES_BUY

@AliceS1994 we lived in Canterbury for 8 years- I agree - very suitable. We moved in the end for a few reasons- but not because it was awful- it wasn't-

Hi @Whereishome22. Folkestone has;
Sports Centre
Cinema
Coastal park - outdoor massive park, climbing equipment, zip wires right by a shingle beach.
Newly opened skate park
Main sandy beach and harbour
Secluded beach called The Warren for rock pooling etc
Radnor park has two play parks and yearly events like funfairs, donkey derby and circus.
Kidz planet - soft play, lazer shooting, birthday parties.
The town has many coffee shops/eateries and a weekly market.
Old High Street, quaint bespoke shops, arty.
Under an hour by train to London.
You would get a very decent house for your budget.
Good primary schools.
Surrounding areas Dymchurch amusement fun fair for small children, Port Lympne animal Park, Wildwood animal Park. Lots of countryside walks.
We brought our DD up here who's now 18 and she's had a fantastic childhood here. I know many people have negative views of seaside towns but that isn't our experience.