Where to move outside of London to commute in

[Fruitandveg3]

Hello,
we are currently living in Richmond/Kew and are thinking of moving out of London for more space but cannot figure out the best area to go.

Checklist:

• husband commutes to London (works near city of London) so ideally not longer than an hour, 1.5 max
• husband travels a lot for work so we can’t be too far from Heathrow airport
• We have two young boys (1 and 3) so need a place with good school options: private and mixed gender
• we have family in north London but we don’t necessarily need to be so close to them, but a huge plus!
• Really want a community-feel but still near a lively high street, things to do such as restaurants, cafes, pubs, library, shops, museum (plus), etc.
• In an ideal world I would love to find a location that has semi-rural feel but also has a big enough town/high street nearby as I don’t know if we are ready for very isolated/rural life but I dream of a house with a lot of green/garden space that isn’t on top of neighbors
• budget is high (range £1.75-2.85)
• area near green space/parks
• family-friendly with lots to do for kids

We love Richmond but struggling to find a place with lots of space in budget. Kew is nice but DH hates the district line as it ALWAYS has issues and he sometimes ends up commuting 1.5-2 hours having to find alternative ways. And he feels like we are living in an awkward in-between life: we are quite outside of central London, living in Kew has a village-y feel but we are not living in a large house with large garden that you can get when you live more out of London and end up having a better commute.

Would love any recommendations! Thank you!!

From my own searches I’ve thought of checking out:
Kingston/Surbiton/Thames Ditton (is this even worth the move as not too far from where we currently live?)
Esher/Claygate
Weybridge
Farnham
Guilford
Marlow
St Albans
Mill Hill (still London)
any towns near Oxford?

@DrPanda from Ham how do they get the tube though? The area seems rather far from any trains. Do they take a bus to Kingston or Surbiton you think?

Someone's already suggested this, but I reckon one of the villages near Tunbridge Wells would have everything you need. Loads of trains to London Bridge, not that far to drive to Heathrow, private Schools and stuff to do in TW itself, while being able to live more rurally.

Out of curiosity OP - here is a 5 bed detached house in a nice location (east molesey) - so kind of surbiton/hampton kind of area. It's massively under your budget too. If you tell me why this wouldn't be right (May be because it's not period or bedrooms too small etc) then I will have a grasp of what you are looking for. I like property searching for folks and know a lot of the areas you are interested in - as we've moved 'a lot'

Oops- missed off the link

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135101168#/?channel=RES_BUY

As I said in my previous post there are options. He jumps on the 65 bus to Richmond (10 minutes). She prefers to cycle along the tow path to Richmond. I actually just asked her how long it takes. 10 minutes. She locks the bike up and jumps on the tube. Ham is like a secret village half way between Kingston and Richmond on the tow path. I'd love to live there. They have peace and quiet and walk everywhere on the towpath. Teddington High Street is where she does most of her shopping. Lots of independent shops and restaurants but I know there are a couple of smaller supermarkets and a deli in Ham itself.

Are you going to split hairs with a local? I’d know the whole area. It’s technically half way between Petersham and Ham Common. It ain’t Richmond that’s for sure, and Petersham is technically nearer Richmond…

OP’s DH is already unimpressed with the district line, why would he want to then live a bus ride away from Richmond tube?

If you’re considering Hampton have you looked East Molesey? Housing stock really good. It’s quieter that Richmond/Kew as not directly under the flight path.

But all these options are making DH’s journey worse rather than better: Hampton, Teddington, Kingston are all some way from Waterloo.

Why not consider a move to North London if you have family there? - for that budget you could have somewhere that backs onto one of the many parks/open spaces - giving you the feel of being private but with the advantage of being in London still (and access to

Like this maybe found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134824451 North London - between the woods

Hi! Thanks for your insight! I had looked at this area actually before and then I got nervous about the independent schools in the area. Seems like only highgate school is close by and I’ve heard that it’s very hard to get into. I don’t really want to travel far everyday dropping kids off the school and would like them to go to a school near where we live as it makes play dates/friends they meet to live closer as well.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135740348

@Fruitandveg3

woking as faster to Waterloo than Weybridge
and better value and lovely houses in many areas

"Apparently " this is the best place to live in the UK

Certainly commutable

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138910856

I would be very careful about moving from your current area. I used to live there but moved to Home Counties and now further out. Have a lovely big house and large garden BUT it’s not Richmond.

I am nearing retirement so maybe one day I will move back?

Of all areas you mentioned Marlow is probably nearest to Richmond in vibe

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138447311

Thame , near Oxford.

Harpenden is very quiet, St Albans is a bit more lively and diverse. Both have good schools and lots going on for young children. (Harpenden probably quite boring for teens but they can get the train to London or more nearby to Luton if they want the cinema etc)
The trainline to London is quick 30-35 min but expensive, and both have good motorway links. Harpenden is convenient for the airport but much quieter for plane noise than Richmond or Kew.

Thame is nice but the commute is a pain as you have to drive or get a bus to the station and with the ongoing decline of Chiltern services, stand for 40 minutes and pay a fortune for the privilege.

You could try Wiltshire or Cambridgeshire. The train from Peterborough is 47mins to Kings Cross (Peterborough is a dump but areas outside are nice). I've just bought in Wiltshire and is close to Heathrow and you can get a quick train to Paddington.

How much appetite do you have for renovation? This house needs a tonne, but is at the lower end of your price budget and a superb location.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138413399

I don't live in Oxford but I work there. I have lived in both Richmond and Kew (briefly) and I promise you that if your husband can suck up the commute (as thousands do every day) that you will find everything you currently have and more in Central N Oxford. Wild swimming on Port Meadow, ten minute walk into town, 50 mins to Paddington, vast choice of good schools, both more and less selective, very safe but also a stimulating and diverse environment for children (unlike the various commuter towns mentioned, Goring, Marlow etc). Would live there myself if we could afford it!

You obviously love the Richmond vibe but just want more space? So options could be:

• Wimbledon village - lovely vibe, more soace
• surbiton (south borough for some amazing houses, long Dutton or berrylands): close enough in location to Richmond and kingdron but massive houses and massive gardens. Surbiton maple road has a lovely vibe and is near river. Loads of great private’s and schools nearby. On the cusp of the countryside so good for that too. Great links to Waterloo - can have 1 stop trains to Waterloo or via Wimbledon
• Thames ditton - near the green. Quintessentially English - stunning stunning and can get spacious house eg 2.5-3k sq ft
• Kingston - too urban, not naice, smaller houses and longer train links. Wouldn’t consider this
• petersham and ham gorgeous. But it’s halfway between Richmond and Kingston on Richmond road so you need to drive
• Epsom/ashtead/Banstead: some huge houses. But slow transport links and not that close to Heathrow. So different to Richmond and further away!
• Esher: a nice house wouod be over £2m. It’s naice
• Weybridge : where the oligarchs are. Some house may be in budget. Close enough to Kingston
• claygate: beautiful and should be able to find something
• walton: a couple of private estates have huge houses within your budget
• or look beyond ti the depths of Surrey: Guildford (pricey), Reigate, bookham, Farnham (pricey). Could get huge square footage here but they are so different to Richmond and far away

my favourite is surbiton

@Namechangedforthis25 I agree with you on all this- we lived in st Margaret's at one point- that was nice too . (Although on flight path )

I do however like North kingston (don't live there now) so would have to disagree on that and I like kingston town centre.

I also think you could get something good in Teddington or Hampton Hill too for that money with good space

@Crikeyalmighty -

• hi yes: north Kingston/Coombe has some stunning places and is green. Kingston is a great shopping centre but just don’t fancy living right in the centre of it as the houses tend to be pricey but smaller
• teddington - stunning as near the canals. But is it much bigger than Richmond in terms of house and garden size.
• Hampton hill - some huge houses and can buy near the river. Only downside is they may be a walk from the station and trains are less frequent and take longer

@Namechangedforthis25 wow thank you this is all very helpful. I feel like you have some really really valid points about different areas. Thank you!

@Fruitandveg3 something like this might fit the bill as it's blinkin enormous and handy for bus into Twickenham or Richmond for the quicker train- I'm not sure exactly how much space you need but this is totally in budget and just short of 3000 sq ft

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137058791#/?channel=RES_BUY