Right. Single. Nearly 40. Need a fresh start. Where shall I live?

[GuyIncognito000]

Hi everyone. Does anyone have any suggestions where would be a nice area to live?

The deal:

• Nearly 40
• Single (so be nice to have an easy area to meet people in, and accessible for people)
• Extremely unlikely to have kids (or certainly any time soon)
• Like a village/peaceful kind of vibe (Herne Hill, Dulwich, Richmond etc). Cafes, farmers markets, parks etc
• WFH 4 times a week, needing accees to central London once a week (but out and about on weekends)
• No car but could get one
• Budget around £450-£500k. A second bedroom would be ideal for an office.

Any ideas would be great to help kickstart my life :)

Thank you!

How about Lewes? You’d get a good flat for your budget, village/small time vibe, plenty going on and near Brighton.

Come to Whyteleafe CR3, lovely area, lots of green, amazing country walks but 30min to Victoria (still Zone 6) and 2 stations to choose from (different lines)

How about a gorgeous seafront flat? 70 mins into St Pancras, easily manageable once a week. Really lovely arty, sociable community and loads to do.

(btw I lived near Whyteleafe for years and years. Dull as ditchwater suburban hell. Don't do it!)

Bath. I'm 61 but got quite a few friends your age. Very sociable city- tons of meet ups.

Train is quite pricey though into London - even once a week would be around £300 a month

You would get a lovely big flat either modern or period for that or a pretty 2 bed cottage or even a 3 bed semi in some slightly less pretty bits and you could go lower to factor in the train

Thanks for the input so far! Really helpful. I should have mentioned I'd like to be in London because of my friends and family! Bit of an oversight.

Hither Green SE13?

Crystal Palace / Penge, in that case.

Greenwich/Blackheath

St Albans or St Neots. Both cool, artsy vibes, on major train lines. Lots going on locally but near the countryside. Top of my hit parade if i was single and unencumbered.

Though without having visited it, Bath sounds like a win, too. Plus near the sea.

Crystal Palace has a lovely village vibe. Here's a 2-bed flat in your price range.

@GuyIncognito000 can I ask where you are now, so we don't suggest where you are already!!

Shame, Bath would I think have fitted your criteria really well

Thank you! I'm in Herne Hill at the moment.

These would be my picks for you OP- I've lived in all these areas - all are nice leafy areas and hold their money too

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141065195

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140699489

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136897211

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86685855

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114553649

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141899222

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140468591

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137693816

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126330008

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134947706

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86546115

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138046208

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141462491

SE27. Fab area, this is on one of the best streets too:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142164260

Wow. Thanks so much for the effort! I've not heard much about Teddington, but will definitely look into these.

Looks lovely! Out the budget, but definitely one to keep an eye on (and a new area to look into). Thanks!

That’s possibly one of the most beautifully decorated flags I’ve ever seen 😍

Have you considered Beckenham? Plenty available in your budget. Good connections into Central London. Very green, self-contained. Great community vibe. If you currently have connections into SE London anyway you wouldn't be too far from it..

@GuyIncognito000 Teddington is lovely- handy for a quick 10 minute pop on bus or train into both Richmond and kingston and on the river. Often voted best pace in London area to live- also one of the priciest. Nice bars and cafes and pubs but lots of practical stuff too - even got old fashioned greasy spoons

Hither Green for a flat or you can get a little house in Lee

Great community

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135918416

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86622141

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137326085

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139648964

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141133163

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86669433

Few examples!

Isn't it lovely? I'm tempted by it even if the OP isn't

Ha. It really is a lovely place.

Thank you!

I was about to recommend Teddington too :)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141472499#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141051629#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140770193#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132849455#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141472499#/media?channel=RES_BUY&id=media0&ref=photoCollage