What area/town close to London with a 30-40 minutes commute to Victoria / Waterloo stations?

[atashi]

Dear All,

We are looking to upsize with 2 DCs soon to go to Primary school, and are all looking for a 3 bedrooms house in a nice location. Can you please recommend a good area/town for a quick (30-40 minutes max) commute into Victoria Station or Waterloo station? Ideally south west London.

We would like to have a nice and safe area , with good transport connections and green spaces (as we don't have a car). Excellent state primary schools is an absolute priority so is the safety proximity to parks/playgrounds.

Budget is 550k-575k.
Thank you for your help!

I'd look around Staines/Ashford/Feltham. Trains into waterloo, houses in your price range, a few outstanding primaries dotted about.

If you say either Victoria or Waterloo, where are you going on to? Does the new Elizabeth line help you at all eg if you're commuting to Mayfair/Fitzrovia/the west end?

worcester park/new malden is about 30 mins to waterloo. May get a 3 bed terrace in budget

Thank you @Xiaoxiong commuting to central London (Soho) so Elizabeth line could be used to Tottenham Court Road. Thank you!

The problem is the further you move out, you'll get the green spaces and 3 bed house, but the more you'll need a car. But the closer you are, the bigger your budget needs to be. Is a car absolutely not an option?

Thanks again for the replies. Yes driving is not an option as we do not have a car and no driving license, hence need the proximity to schools and green spaces. We can compromise on size of the house and size of the garden though

Woking is pretty quick into Waterloo with lots of trains.

Yes - agree this is a good shout. Trains are frequent and quick, and there are great schools to choose from. It might be a bit annoying living here in general without a car though - you can arrange to be near schools and train station, but for overall life, it’s not nearly as easy to be without a car here as in eg SW London where there are billions of buses all the time.

I was going to say Woking is your best option for affordable in that distance. You’d get more bang for your buck in Basingstoke, but that’s 50 minutes to Waterloo generally.

I agree with @Talipesmum that it might be hard to be car-free there...I used to work there for a while and a car was an absolute necessity - I didn't have one at the time and had to either take the company shuttle bus from the station, or cycle along the Chertsey Road with no cycle or footpaths.

That was quite some years ago though.

Thank you so much for all the suggestions. So Woking seems like a good option but challenging without a car then. What outstanding schools would you recommend in these areas? Thanks

Worcester Park could work and it would be easier to be car free there (as still London) than further out. I don’t know the area well but have read it has good schools.

Look around Malden Manor station - it's not a well-known area but it's affordable and it's 30 minutes to Waterloo.

Look at Cardinal Road School Feltham which is a brilliant school, outstanding in fact. I lived in Cardinal Road and it is lovely, a couple of minutes from the station in zone 6 so with Oyster 35 mins to Waterloo. There is a community garden with an orchard at the end of the road. A diverse area. Very convenient if you don't drive and lots of easy access to parks in Twickenham, Richmond and a great sense of community. There are also secondaries with outstanding teaching and pastoral care.

I was going to suggest Woking but it was recently voted the most depressing place to live 😬 Guildford and surrounds would do it but may be too pricey.

I'm in Staines-upon-Thames and it's 35 minutes to Waterloo. Egham would be the limit for a 40 minute commute on the Reading line, and Wraysbury on the Windsor line.

Old Feltham

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85374654#/?channel=RES_BUY

Ach these “most xxxx place to live” vote things are generally all meaningless and there are usually opposite results ones too - e.g. -

www.woking.gov.uk/news/woking-named-one-uk’s-happiest-places

www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/times-names-woking-one-uks-21529230.amp

Clearly this is local news fluff and excitement, but like many places it’s a mix. But as I said, not nearly as handy as much of SW London for local public transport options, despite main train lines being great.

Would you consider Penge or Sydenham? Easy train links to where you need. Accessible without a car. Lots of green spaces and good primaries.

Not cheap though. You might need to go for a doer upper or stretch a bit.

I live in West Byfleet. Approx 35 mins into Waterloo, 5 mins to Woking. Outstanding infants, good juniors. I don't drive (although DH does) and I find it easy to get around by train and bus. Non-drivers seem to think it is impossible but it really is quite simple(!)

I think Victoria is the south east trains

Depends whether you want state or private schools in Woking. Your budget might not stretch to Hook Heath, which is a good area. Slightly cheaper in the villages on the outskirts, but without a car, you’re a bit stuck. You might find something in Horsell within walking distance of the town centre and station.

Some really good suggestions here. Thank you all. We are only considering state schools for the moment (with cost of living crisis can't afford private). I think for our budget we can get more space in Penge that SW... at least it seem from a quick glance at RM

Sutton might work although might be slightly out of your 30-40 minute commute. Mainline trains to Victoria. Also the Thameslink via West Sutton/Sutton Common which go to Blackfriars/St Pancras. Can easily get a bus to pick up the tube at Morden. Still London so well connected with buses etc but a bit cheaper than other areas although that does seem to be changing.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126326330?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Try towns on the line from Dorking to Waterloo - Leatherhead, Ashtead, Epsom, Ewell, Stoneleigh, Worcester Park.