Help us decide which place fits our lifestyle best in England (Richmond, St Albans, Bath, Reading, Oxford)?

[mrszusi]

Hi everyone,

We're currently residing in Richmond upon Thames and working in Soho. We're considering relocating because, while we adore the natural beauty surrounding us, Richmond is crowded, everything feels quite distant, and there's a transient vibe to the community. Our ideal location would offer safety, abundant access to nature, a river nearby, a sense of community, and fewer crowds. However, one of us needs to continue working in London.

Could you suggest which place might best suit our needs? Any tips or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Rickmansworth or Chorleywood?

@mrszusi I would personally say Bath is just about doable at 1-2 times a week but no more- financially though it's really expensive to do that- be cheaper to do 2 days together if you could and airbnb it one night!

However depends what you rent ? You can get a really nice 2 bed flat here for £1400 or a small 2 or 3 bed house. - not grotty either!!

Here's a couple of examples

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147152270#/?channel=RES_LET

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146202149

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146828672

Agree with a pp: Winchester

@BaleOfHay yes that's a good suggestion too .

Have you factored in the cost of commuting? We used to live in zone 8, Herts, and commuted in daily to Soho/central London. It cost over £800 for 2 of us, and that was 7 years ago.
Also we were on that train line from St Albans into Euston and there were very often delays and cancelled trains. It wasn't the end of the world as we could also get the Overground (although that took 45min instead of 20min from Euston); I wouldn't want to rely on that trainline only to be honest. Certainly not daily.

Another one to check out IMO is Rickmansworth.

Lived in both Ricky and Maidenhead….both transient

I would not suggest Bath with a need to go into Soho 2 x per week. That’s a minimum of 1.5 hours each way (realistically more given need to use the tube and getting to the station in Bath itself), and you’re looking at likely £150 a pop.
You’ll get something within your rental budget but factor in that commute cost and time, and that you’d need a car if you were intent on anything nature based as the public transport can be really limited.

Wallingford? I've only ever driven through it but it looks nice. Train station nearby and the Thames goes right through it.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147026312?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=lettings&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_LET

Being from Reading, Born and bred, I concur with the ‘shithole’ comments. There are some nice suburbs tbh but the town itself is shite.
That said, the people of Reading look down their noses at Slough and Swindon.

Personally I’d stay put and enjoy London and that easy commute. You have a lot going on there with the parks, river, Kew Gardens etc on your doorstep. Never ending entertainment if you want it. As previously mentioned up thread, maybe look at Teddington, Ham, Twickers. Before you move anywhere, spend a long weekend there first, and experience that commute in during the rush hour.

Not really. I know the DC of friends of ours have learned to sail on Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn and there's cold water swimming in the lakes at Moor Park, but apart from that I'm afraid I don't really know anything. Hertfordshire isn't known for it's water sports though - that I can tell you!

@mrszusi I would also as previous poster said have a good look closer to where you are in Teddington, surbiton, - even places like Hampton and Thames Ditton that aren't quite so well connected - they will still seem mega commutable compared to other places you are looking at , at far less cost for the commute and maybe feel a bit more 'local' for you- a little less transient.

Here's a couple of nice places - there's nothing on in Thames Ditton - but go and have a look- pretty and villagey and flats are in same ball park as you want to pay -

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146671793#/?channel=RES_LET

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146616788#/?channel=RES_LET

Have a day out ot Marlow or Henley on Thames.

Actually - I take it back: https://nomadkayakclub.co.uk/river-gade-trip-report/

The Grand Union Canal runs through southwest Herts and if you have a licence you can kayak on that. See also the River Gade and Rickmansworth Aquadrome. So maybe take a look at the area around Moor Park/Rickmansworth.

@TheNoonBell actually Marlow or Henley are a great call- both a bit shit for commuting as not on great lines but ok once or twice a week -

This was my thought. You might prefer teddington(bushy park is like richmond park but less touristy) or st Margaret’s over the river in richmond. Or even Twickenham/ strawberry hill.

Sssh! Don't tell anyone! It's got crowded enough as it is.

Haha! You’re not wrong 😁

I liked Teddington when I was walking next to the Thames, but isn't it a pain to reach the city center from those places? Also, is there a noticeable difference in the sense of people coming and going?

Teddington has a train station. Or you bus to Twickers and get the train there. Strawberry Vale also nice.

Ds2 goes to St Mary's university which is on the Tedddington/Twickenham border. It's lovely but a right pain to get to other parts of London (unless you share an Uber with four mates!).

The problem is, for urban / green / riverside / pleasant living with easy access to London… you’ve probably peaked with Richmond.

I don’t know where else would be as convenient to get into central affordably / quickly, while having the nice surrounding and water access.

That’s why it’s so popular / expensive there.

You might feel a bit less overwhelmed by the people moving away from the riverside, as that is where people tend to congregate.

The commute from Bath to London is pretty dire.
Reading is horrid

It's about 1hr 15 minutes from Bath to Paddington and if you're travelling during commuting hours expect to spend that stood in the carriage in close proximity to someone else's armpit.

Seconded! You have Rickmansworth aquadrome with kayak clubs as well as other watersports, plus the canal. Also it's in the TFL zone so communiting is so much cheaper than coming on the train network.