Please help me fix a location mistake......

[fancyfence]

My husband and I moved out of London during Covid to a part of East Anglia near to where I grew up. I was pregnant at the time and we were really worried about the effect of Covid/lockdown on me and the baby and wanted to be near my family. First we rented, then we bought.

It's been over 2 years and I just haven't adapted to our new life. We now have 2 adorable kids, one of which goes to a great nursery, our local dr's are excellent and we have a great house. I know we have so much to be grateful for, but this life just isn't me. We have to drive for everything and commuting to London for me to go back to work just won't be possible (even 2/3 days a week) as its far too far. I feel like I've lost access to my career, my social life and that my kids will grow up in a bit of a bubble when I want them to see a bit of the world, and understand people of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

I also find the countryside around us a bit depressing, everything is so flat and often quite industrial. We live in a "nothing village" as in there is nothing here, just a post office. We can't even walk to have a coffee - there is literally nowhere to go to when I leave the house with the kids in the pushchair. While DH would stay put rather than move, he accepts that I am not happy and we should move before the kids start school.

I don't think that going back to London would be right for us now, although I think maybe when the kids leave home, DH and I will go back! We love the South Downs and what we have seen of the Kent Downs. I love Brighton and Hove but they are far too liberal for DH. Friends have recommended Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead but I don't know them at all.

I'd love recommendations for places south of London, approx an hour to the coast, in a town or largeish village location with things going on, and pretty or at least accessible to pretty countryside - and no more than an hour into London on the train. I've got one chance to fix this mistake and the stakes are really high...

I think this is going to depend greatly on your budget. Can we ask approx what it is Op?

Do you have a particular station you need to get to in London?

Ideally London Bridge

Hopefully around £1.2/1.3m

London Bridge, ideally. Sorry - replied to the wrong comment.

Could you move to your current nearest city to get the buzz you want?

Look at places on the London - Brighton line:

Horsham
Redhill (& Reigate)
Crawley (some bits)
Epsom
Horley
Sevenoaks
Oxted

Could you try north Essex/South Suffolk? Anywhere near the greater Anglia line will connect to shenfield and the Elizabeth line

Also relative proximity to your family

Or Norwich? Not a bad little city and that budget will buy something lovely

With that budget why not London? You can afford to be in a nice area

With £1.2m and a commute to London Bridge I'd be looking at towns and villages on the BRighton Mainline.

If you want to be short walking distance to the station then Hassocks or Haywards Heath. Both around 45minutes into London Bridge.

If you're happy with a longer walk or drive to the station then Lindfield, Cuckfield, and Hurstpierpoint are lovely. And give easy access to Hassocks or Haywards Heath station.

Tunbridge Wells is also nice and takes a similar time to get to London Bridge. But you'll get a lot less for your money near the station and driving to the station (or anywhere else for that matter) is a nightmare.

East Grinstead is a bit nothing-y in my opinion, a lot of towns around this way have started to get a bit more of a 'hip' feel about them. But East Grinstead hasn't. It also doesn't have direct links to London Bridge.

If you're near family now, could you consider somewhere nearby but a town or city? I can't claim to know the area.
But honestly with that budget why not London? There are some lovely areas you'd get a decent house.

Another poster mentioned Horsham, which isn't a bad shout.

Longer commute and less frequent trains than the Brighton line. But it's a really nice town with lots going on.

Definitely look at Tunbridge Wells. That will get you a decent 4/5 bed in the town with an ok garden. Train takes 45-50min to get to LB from there. You shan’t get much in Sevenoaks for that amount unfortunately.

I'd just move back to London with that budget.

Why not move back to London? You could afford to with that budget. Then you could have good schools and fun things for the kids to do and coffee shops for you.

What exactly are your concerns about children and London?

I too would move back to London with that budget.

However, if you feel London is not for you again I would look at
West Malling - just outside the M25
Tunbridge Wells
Reigate
It depends how much further out you are prepared to go.

I grew up in East Anglia and now live in London. The village I grew up in is just like the one you describe.

I'd either move to a busier town. Huntingdon or Peterborough have train lines that are easy for a commute to London Bridge. Cambridge can be quite a vibrant city as well due to the universities.

Or come back to London. We're in SE London with a direct train to LB. You'd get a decent house here for that budget.

There are some lovely places around there but it doesn't look that quick from Shenfield on the Elizabeth line - 43 minutes to Liverpool st (sorry if I've got this wrong) so then by the time you factor in another train, a change and potentially driving to the first station I think it would be a heavy commute. Is there somewhere in particular you would recommend so I could work through a specific example of commute time?

Just as an aside, you're not the only one facing this.

At one point it felt like all our friends were leaving London. WFH, Covid and having families seemed to fuel this exodus.

A good chunk are now regretting the move or decided not to go in the end.

In need to be able to get into London for work so Norwich would be too far I'm afraid

Guildford

No particular concerns re children and London. I suppose I feel like we have ripped that plaster off and I wouldn't want to do it again - for example if in future we decide we need more space and want to move further out for a bigger garden etc (which a lot of friends have done). Was hoping to find somewhere where we could put roots down long term with easy access to London but also countryside and coast.

Why can’t you put down roots long term in London though? With that budget you will get a house with a garden.

If it’s coast you want then what exactly is your DH’s issue with Brighton being “too liberal?” You won’t catch the gay by moving there.