Tring, Princes Risborough or somewhere else?

[Pomegranatemum]

We want to move out of London with our 2 preschool DC. Need to still be able to commute in 2 or 3 days per week. Family are in Cambridgeshire and West Mids. With a budget of 950k we’d like a 4 bed detached house with a not tiny garden. Somewhere with cleaner air than London(!), a bit going on, but easy access to nice countryside. I also really want the DC to be able to walk to their primary school.

We’re considering Princes Risborough but need to think if the Bucks grammar system is what we want.

Also considering Tring. I’ve seen it described as “sleepy”- what do people mean?! And I’m concerned about the station being out of Tring. We wouldn’t really want to be driving and parking, but is that the only way? If we lived on the side of Tring closest to the station is that doable without using the car? We’re used to walking lots in London.

We’ve never been to either place! Obviously we’ll go and check them out, but in the meantime where else could we look at? Amersham and Berkhamsted discounted due to budget.

TIA

Tring is nice, not sure you could walk to the station though? It's in a fast country lane. Taxi there and back probably best if you don't want to cycle.

Tring is lovely. It's less of a dormitory town than Berkhamsted IMO, and has some good independent shops and cafes.

There are some houses near to the station that would be walkable for commuting. I have walked into Tring from the station (in summer) but wouldn't want to do it in winter at the crack of dawn- much safer to be in a car unless you live close to the station.

I'd also suggest that as your children get older you'd be better off living closer to the middle of Tring, as that is likely where their friends would be or at least where they could meet, and so they could be a bit independent and go to the shops on their own. You don't want to have to drive them everywhere.

Realistically, everyone who leaves London imagines they'll walk loads and be outside all the time and it simply isn't so. Tring and the surrounding area has some good walks, but truth is most people jump in the car a lot. I moved out a few years ago, not to Tring, and have been really surprised by how little I walk anywhere. In London I probably walked 2-3 miles per day, especially when I worked from home.

If you're looking at that neck of the woods have you thought about Hemel Hempstead? I know it doesn't have the best reputation but set your search with in a mile of the station and you'll be in the 'nice' bit. I live in Boxmoor and I love it here, village feel, easy access to countryside, cows sheep and horses grazing on the moors all around, canal walks, cricket in the summer, 4 trains an hour into London (more at peak times I think), great local shop and independent cafes too.

Kids wise we are walking distance from four good Primaries, the leisure centre for swimming/gymnastics and also the town centre. Yes the town centre is a bit run down but has everything you need including Next/H&M/M&S/Waterstones and lots on for kids too throughout the year. Then theres the old town and splash park about 30 mins walk or short drive. (So contrary to PP we walk LOADS!)

I'd agree Tring is 'Sleepy' I don't think I would want to live there and yep you'd need to drive to the station probably. I'd also love to Live in Berkhamsted but sadly out of budget for us too, I think your budget is healthy enough to find something around here though if you were open to it

Interesting thanks, will definitely check it out.

I love Princes Risborough - but I would probably describe it as ‘sleepy’ too! It is very quiet market town vibe.
I think the primary schools on offer are all pretty good. PR secondary is on the up, I believe, after a slightly dodgy period. The 11+ alternative would be the Aylesbury grammars.
Lord Williams in Thame has a good reputation as a comprehensive secondary (it’s over the border into Oxfordshire), but PR wouldn’t be in the catchment for that, I would think.
We live between High Wycombe and PR, and we are out in the countryside every single day (mainly because we have a dog!). There are lots of beautiful walks in the Chiltern hills.

Oh that’s a shame about the road between Tring and the station. We’d definitely want to be in the centre rather than by the station.
I grew up in villages where you had to drive just to get a pint of milk, so I do understand about living somewhere green but never walking. I suppose we are hoping for a middle ground….

I think you are best off visiting Tring so you can either rule it out or in. The station is a very long walk from the centre of Tring which is very small. I don’t know Princes Risborough. How about Wendover? Although you would need to be wary of HS2.

Maybe I’ve lived in London too long but I just can’t imagine what people mean by ‘sleepy’ 😆Is it a polite word for boring? Or is it a mindset thing?

Yes Wendover came off our list due to HS2 😕

‘Very quiet market town vibe’ sounds like what we might be looking for.

I mean, not buzzy? The high street, while lovely and there generally being everything one might need, is never bustling - at most on a weekend middle of the day it would have people popping in and out. In the evenings it is incredibly quiet (despite a couple of pubs and reasonable restaurants). I personally like that, but it is absolutely a world away from London.
I also like being within easy access of Oxford, though, if I feel the need for some bustle (I don’t often, I like the quiet).

I have lived in both Berkhamsted and Amersham and I would make compromises on the house requirements to be there over living in Tring or Princes Risborough any day.

Tring is actually a really nice little town, but the location of the train station is reflected in the house prices. The station car park is usually full midweek and lots of people get folding bikes to get between the town centre (where you want to be) and the station as a result. Schools are excellent though.

We lived in a four bed terrace two mins to Berkhamsted High Street. Location was EVERYTHING. It made our lives so easy. As the kids got older they weren’t reliant on us to be taxi drivers. Full of young families and lots going on. We debated moving slightly out of town to get the detached house but it honestly wasn’t worth it. You could get a nice semi with parking for your money.

Wendover is worth a look. Much smaller but enough going on. The Amersham side of Chesham is also worth considering. Chesham as a town isn’t that great though.

How about Chesham? A bit less 'bougie' than Amersham and Berko but still a decent enough area, some nice villagey bits and cheaper than Amersham.

Thank you, this is helpful.

You’re all being so helpful, thank you everyone!

I’m a bit scared of dropping the detached requirement because we once had nightmare neighbours and I’m still traumatised! But I think I’ll do as @RatherBeOnVacation suggested and at least look at semis on Rightmove.

We’re not wedded to Bucks/Bucks borders, so any suggestions a bit further afield but still commutable to London would be welcome.

Wendover really is sleepy though, it's got very little going on although it's a lovely town. HS2 is the blight yes

Try Thame, Oxfordshire? Lovely market town. Comprehensive schools. Short drive to mainline train station at Haddenham.

I’ve heard good things about Thame, but we were hoping to avoid the hassle and expense of driving to and parking at a station.

Leighton Buzzard? The station is two stops further out than Tring, but with non-stopping trains to Euston it’s faster. Easy access the other way to Coventry and Birmingham if you have family out that way. The Linslade side of town is where the station is and has great schools. Market twice a week and the library doubles as a cinema and theatre.

So my first thoughts were Amersham, Berkhamsted and Beaconsfield. I thought you might get something for your budget.

Other thoughts Hitchin. Kings Langley?

I am assuming St Alban's and Harpenden might be out of budget or too big in terms of towns

Look at Haddenham. You could walk to the station. You will be in the grammar school catchment . Great for young family . Thame is easily accessed on a bus or bike and is a nice little market town.

Leighton buzzard has a great direct train but the town is…not nice… there are some nice villages around there but the town itself is a far cry from the other places mentioned here.

Oh I have just see someone else was thinking along the same lines . I think if walking to the station is important to you, I would buy in Haddenham rather than Thame

I would take it over Tring, Wendover or Princes Risborough any day. All have their less desirable parts, just like LB, but they are really very sleepy and dominated by estate agents and charity shops. Berkhamsted has everything going for it, but much less friendly and less of a community.

LB is really not on a par with Tring, Wendover, Princes R, Thame or Haddenham though. It's pretty depressing, although I'd say Berkhamsted is full of awful pretentious overly competitive parents - not quite sure which is worse tbh but both have a Waitrose!