Relocating out of London - but where?

[goldenpeach]

I thought I had the answer but the place in Bedforshire I had my eyes on recently experienced rocketing house prices (unlike everywhere else) and now I'm stumped.
My partner wants to be somewhere family-friendly but up to one hour to London by train (he might have to commute).
Have any of you found such a place (we are thinking of going up north)? As I'm an active NCT volunteer, I'd like to find a friendly branch too... So far he is looking at Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire but maybe we are missing some good places by only considering the obvious ones. Thanks for your help.

interested in what anyone has to say on this one. still looking...

We are moving to the Woking area. House prices have been dropping 10-15% in the last few months. Woking only 25 mins to Waterloo. Nice countryside around.

We live in a small village in North Essex that is lovely, good schools, local grammers and trains take 45 minutes into Liverpool St.

Prices aren't dropping at national average but are slowing down apparently.

There is a local NCT and we have local Mumsnet meets about once a week/fortnight too.

New houses sell for about £400k for a 4/5 bed and you can get some lovely listed houses and cottages around Kelvedon & Colchester.