Thinking of leaving London. Does this place exist? Where is it?

[Speaknowfearlessreputation]

London has gotten so expensive and I am finding that the community I once loved is disappearing too.

If this is on our wish list, where would suit us?

-strong community: friendly, easy to integrate, lots to do
-liberal minded people
-creative people around (I work in a creative industry)
-access to London (doesn’t have to be commutable as I work from home, but DH and I do need to get back once every fortnight or so)
-a charming high street full of independent shops
-not too polluted
-good schools, preferably progressive schools
-great place to be a kid

Where would this place be?

Are you discounting anywhere in London? Reading that description my first thought was Walthamstow

Beaconsfield.

Chorlton, or Sale in South Manchester - not the cheapest by Manchester standards but will probably seem cheap compared to London

East Grinstead

Or lewes

Lewes, Hove, parts of Bristol, maybe Bath. Lewes first came to mind though. Definitely not Beaconsfield!

Salisbury, Winchester, Bath

Malmesbury

Bridport. A friend lives near there, loves its quirkiness and her husband travels to London often leaving his car at wherever the nearest station is.

Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.

It’s near Winchfield or Fleet for trains to London Waterloo and ticks all your criteria!

Lewes or East Grinstead

Holmfirth, West Yorkshire ☺️

I mean, you've just described St Albans, but it's not really much cheaper than London.

South Manchester, Chorlton, etc

Brighton & Hove is an obvious suggestion, but is the cost of living sufficiently different from to London to make the move worthwhile?

Lewes. But property isn’t much cheaper than London.

Brighton

Letchworth Garden City if you want a progressive school. It's quite hippy and alternative. High street isn't what it was but you can get a craft beer.

Woodbridge in Suffolk

Came on to say exactly this 😂

Lewes

Yes, I came on here to say Altrincham but you could also try Wilmslow or Macclesfield for an easy commute to London.

Saltaire. Head north.

Frome
Bradford on Avon

Frome not good for trains but Bradford on Avon (or villages nearby) has fast train to London. I wfh and go into London every few weeks and it’s SO worth the cheaper cost of living. Was in London for 17 hrs and wouldn’t go back now!

Totnes in South Devon. Has a mainline train station which is well served. Quite an alternative town and liberal (for Devon).

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/devon/the-south-devon-town-thats-twinned-with-narnia/