Where to live to commute to London -£750k

[Justsayno123]

Where would you live if you essentially had a huge choice of areas but wanted a decent quality of family life?

Backstory - lived in London for about 7 years when establishing our careers, moved up north a couple of years pre-pandemic, had babies. Timed perfectly for COVID and the WFH change of lifestyle. However, if either of us want to progress in our careers, it would be so much easier if we could regularly be in London (at least 2-3 days per week) so we are considering the move back to the South East.

Household income now is £180k plus bonuses, which are not guaranteed, hopefully this would increase shortly after a move. Budget for a family home (ideally 4 beds) is 750-800k ideally, maybe could stretch a little. Good schools necessary. I would like easy access to Kings x for trains back up north if possible. I'm working on the basis that we probably can't afford London itself so curious if anyone has any suggestions for other ideas, please?!

Are you near Doncaster by any chance?

Another vote for St Alban's. It's beautiful but great links to London. I'd recommend going for a day - you'll either fall in love with it or it won't be for you

We live in a village close to St Albans and Harpenden, which you could buy somewhere with your budget.

Or there is Welwyn Garden City or the area near North Welwyn station. Am also a fan of Hertford and Hitchin.

Personally in your circumstances I'd be looking at the commuter towns on that LNER line back up north. Why go into kings cross for trains "home" if you could just pick up the train more locally.

I've got a colleague with a young (pre-primary) family who speaks well of Stevenage Old Town.

As @Tupster says you wouldn't need to go to Kings Cross to head up north. Just looked and on some trains it's a couple of hours to York eg. Depending on trains it could be as little as half an hour to get into London.

Don't know about schools but my colleague says there's a great community where she lives. When I visited her when she was on mat leave I have to admit I wasn't taken with the town centre but what I saw of the old part was appealing.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162464378?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164001374?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Brentwood or Shenfield in Essex? Fast service into Liverpool Street, couple of stops round to Kings X on the tube. Great primary schools, grammar catchment for Chelmsford and Southend schools. That budget would buy you a large 4 bed semi in walking distance of Shenfield, or a detached in walking distance of Brentwood. Plenty of outer village options for that budget too (although check school catchments).

Berkhamsted.

ware, Hertford, Bishops Stortford

I’d be looking at places running on the line North from the station you want. Bedford is 40 mins from Kings Cross.
This is a lovely house on one of the best roads in Bedford and walkable to station.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161942555

Oh! That house is amazing! I will look into it, thank you!

Cambridge - has got to be one of the best places to live in the UK.

Currently in process of moving from east London to Cambridge and you could do both. Cambridge looks like it has better secondary options though by far!

@Justsayno123 The places people live going north from Kings Cross are in Hertfordshire or you could look around Luton in Bedfordshire and get train to St Pancras. However Hitchin would probably be better. There’s also Ampthill in Beds. Or Bedford.

If you Look at house prices closer to London, they are pretty expensive if the station goes into Kings Cross.

If you would consider Euston (not far from KX) you could consider Leighton Buzzard. Further south Tring is lovely but you might need to look at house prices. You might need to stretch to £850,000 but Tring is near the Chilterns and is great!

What about Billericay in Essex? 35 mins into Liverpool st, great high street, outstanding primary schools. You could easily get a 4 bed for your budget.

Cambridge is great but it can be tricky or expensive to get the train north. Have a look at the train route you’d need first.

I have never been there but always loved the look of it when passing by on the train (from EUSTON) - seeing the canal wind through the town. Prices seem to be of the order to OP's liking.

Those particular houses in Old Stevenage and Bedford are nice but you definitely need to check out the surrounding areas.
Though the Bedford one will soon have a Universal Studios on its doorstep (hopefully) and this will potentially bring more money to the town.

Though I suppose the Bedford one might benefit from the proposed Universal studios down the road, with associated transport upgrades and investment to the town?
Sorry - I thought my edit of the earlier post didn't "take" so duplicate information

Beckenham/Bromley, not proper London, but good access via Thameslink to St Pancras (about 30 mins). Schools are ok, lots of choice via Grammars and private too.

Agree, love Cambridge and went to uni there. Presumed we would be priced out but will take a look.

You won’t get much for 750k in either of these places … more like 1.75m!!

Bedford has a lot going for it with the river etc

St Albans is expensive and you won’t be near the station or town centre for 750

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159969767?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

this is walkable to train station and town centre in St Albans in a nice quiet location.

Others you might see on Rightmove for the price are in areas like chiswell green and bricket wood which are a good 10 min drive from St Albans city station. They are fine if you drive to work in Watford or St Albans but not an easy London commute.

Compare to what you can get in Bedford (check out the river festival for peak Bedford experience)

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158682449?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY