Hoping you can help me with this quandary!
We are currently in Norfolk but looking to move closer to my parents who are based in Cardiff. We are currently a 6 hour drive from my parents, so even something like a 3.5 hour drive would be a huge improvement. I think 3.5 hours would be the maximum though.
The top of our budget is 625k.
Our other priorities are:
- ideally less than an hour on the train to London (just over would be ok for the right place).
- easily commutable to Cambridge, Oxford or Birmingham.
- well-regarded state secondary school (We have a young child but ideally wouldn't move again after this.I know schools can change a lot in a few years but I'm willing to bet on a school that's had a great reputation for a long time).
- walkable to a town/city centre with a good supply of shops, a library, parks, a leisure centre if possible (i.e. not a village). A cinema, theatre or arts centre would be wonderful but not a deal breaker if there's a big city within easy reach. Anything cultural is a huge plus.
- has green spaces, feels safe, inclusive, friendly and is a good place for families.
- ideally located near to a university, but that's not a deal breaker.
- ideally under 2 hours to the coast, but again not a deal breaker.
I appreciate we may have to compromise somewhere.
We are currently spoilt by Norwich, which has everything we love but it is just too far from Wales. We also love Cambridge but I suspect it is not in our budget.
Newbury is looking like somewhere that could tick a lot of boxes for us. But I'm keen to get some other opinions in case we've missed somewhere that might be perfect.
Thanks very much!