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Where could we move for London trains, coast and space within budget?

52 replies

poostinkywink · 10/07/2026 21:32

Pls can I ask for help/ ideas. We want to move out of London to somewhere where we can get a train into London (ideally within 2 hours but could be a little longer). We were looking south east and towards Wales. I have family in Pembrokeshire but I think it’s too far. We ideally want a detached house in walking distance of shops/amenities BUT our daughter plays a very loud instrument and so we need ideally an annexe away from other properties 🫤 We have max £750k. We are going round in circles trying to find the ‘golden location’. I would love to be on the coast and move closer to my family. I’m not sure my wants are possible. Any ideas of locations which could work/ ideas I’ve not thought of? If not coastal then that’s good too 🙏 Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
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EducatingArti · 11/07/2026 11:45

The op said it would be ok to also suggest non coastal places

DeeNiall · 11/07/2026 11:45

ginasevern · 11/07/2026 11:41

Exeter, Chippenham or the Newport area in Wales. Bristol is a good option but possibly out of your budget for what you want. None of them are coastal but Newport and Exeter aren't far from beautiful coastlines. To be honest I don't think you're going to achieve all of your wish list. You'd definitely get the dream property in Pembs or Carmarthenshire but it's way too far from London. How essential is the "London" bit?

I agree. Carmarthen to London is something like a 4 or 5 hour journey on the train. Would somewhere like Chepstow or Nailsea be options.
Swindon would and you'd get a lot for your money.

elastamum · 11/07/2026 12:04

Poole if your DC are likely to pass 11+. Look at Lilliput area.

persilasper · 11/07/2026 12:05

EducatingArti · 11/07/2026 11:45

The op said it would be ok to also suggest non coastal places

You're right - I'd missed that bit!

Lupinhere37 · 11/07/2026 12:29

Severn Tunnel station is approx 2 hours to Paddington with plenty of (pretty sure it’s free) parking. This will all be five or ten minutes drive from some of the villages like Magor, Undy, Rogiet in South Wales but close driving distance (or train) to Cardiff and Bristol. The same train station has trains run through from Paddington to West Wales.

Forget Chepstow itself; the trains are not on the London line and the traffic very bad in the mornings. You’d have to drive to Bristol or back to Severn Tunnel to get trains to London and you’d have to allow minimum one hour drive to do that, possibly more for Bristol.

I’d suggest looking in the small towns and villages mentioned above; around the Chepstow/Magor/Caldicot/ Portskewett areas. You’ll get more for you money; I’d be amazed if you couldn’t pick up a decent sized property for that budget. As your daughter is musical, there are school buses from those areas to Wyedean School which is an excellent local Academy with a fantastic reputation for its music department.

Other option could be Thornbury with quick access to Parkway station. Again, lots of villages and small towns in South Glos, or even Cam or Dursley could work for you.
Expect prices to be slightly higher than South Wales if you do look at South Glos/ Stroud/Dursley. You can also get some good house prices around Gloucester; Cheltenham is more like London prices so steer clear.

I know all of these areas well and do sometimes commute to London with ease from this area.

Final thought; we put a purpose built standalone and soundproofed “pod” in our garden - originally intended for loud instrument practice. No planning required; consider that scenario as part of your options, as this could hugely widen your net.

sakura06 · 11/07/2026 12:50

I absolutely love Swansea but obviously it’s 3 hours on the train. Cardiff might be better but no beaches as such. I stayed in Portishead once which I loved but may be expensive as it’s so close to Bristol.

DeeNiall · 11/07/2026 12:53

sakura06 · 11/07/2026 12:50

I absolutely love Swansea but obviously it’s 3 hours on the train. Cardiff might be better but no beaches as such. I stayed in Portishead once which I loved but may be expensive as it’s so close to Bristol.

Plenty of beaches a short drive away from Cardiff.

In2mindsss · 11/07/2026 13:40

Hastings

Thistooshallpsss · 11/07/2026 13:42

Teignmouth

TidyRose · 11/07/2026 13:51

Trains from Bournemouth or Poole are very expensive. No discounted fares when I was there. and you end in Waterloo.

FinallyHere · 11/07/2026 14:05

Where in London makes a big different to travelling in. Is Paddington the most convenient terminus?

Notmytelescope · 11/07/2026 14:47

Somewhere on the line between Poole and Weymouth perhaps?

coronafiona · 11/07/2026 14:48

Midlands

FreyaLovesTheatre · 11/07/2026 15:13

poostinkywink · 10/07/2026 22:02

Thank you. Stroud going on the list. I know nothing of Stroud.

Stroud ime is a depressing place. I’ve a few friends who went there for the Steiner school, it’s very lentil soup and a nice brown bread roll type place, with Fat Face and White stuff look, and the youth arent well catered for there at all. Both families I know left out of claustrophobia and their teens begging to go to Bristol all the time.

Rockfrock · 11/07/2026 15:26

Did you see this thread?

South & South West Search 2.5 hrs to London

Might be of interest

poostinkywink · 11/07/2026 15:58

Woah! Just come back to the thread and there are masses of great thoughts and suggestions - thanks all!

OP posts:
PermanentTemporary · 11/07/2026 16:07

As an inveterate window shopper for houses I’d be tempted by this 5-bed terrace (how much space do you need?). By all accounts this is a nice area in Cardiff.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87794841?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

EducatingArti · 11/07/2026 16:11

FreyaLovesTheatre · 11/07/2026 15:13

Stroud ime is a depressing place. I’ve a few friends who went there for the Steiner school, it’s very lentil soup and a nice brown bread roll type place, with Fat Face and White stuff look, and the youth arent well catered for there at all. Both families I know left out of claustrophobia and their teens begging to go to Bristol all the time.

Depends what you want of course. It has a more lively arts scene than many towns of a similar size and a great farmers market and if you are an outdoor type of person the countryside is amazing. It also still has state grammar schools if that is of interest to the Op. It is obviously not nightlife central.

poostinkywink · 11/07/2026 16:12

Ok so we need to get to London fairly frequently for a family member - any terminus but Paddington is preferable. I’ve taken note of the pod in the garden idea. Access to London is the non-negotiable. From the replies here I’m thinking I need to check out areas around the Cardiff area. And possibly Gloucestershire and the Severn estuary eg magor (I’ve only ever been to the service station there). Would have loved a sea view but this may not be possible because of the London bind. I’m so grateful for all of the posts - it really is very helpful.

OP posts:
allthegoodusernameshavegone · 11/07/2026 16:18

New forest area, on the coast just over an hour into Waterloo, not a cheap cheap area but that’s because it’s sort after.

FreyaLovesTheatre · 11/07/2026 18:30

EducatingArti · 11/07/2026 16:11

Depends what you want of course. It has a more lively arts scene than many towns of a similar size and a great farmers market and if you are an outdoor type of person the countryside is amazing. It also still has state grammar schools if that is of interest to the Op. It is obviously not nightlife central.

You’re right of course, horses for courses. I have to say though, that if a weekly farmers market is regularly advertised as an attraction, and it is… it is no wonder the kids wanted to move to Bristol… everything is relative, of course, but with so many other options open to op… as teachers used to say on the bottom of reports: Could Do Better.

Violinorbanjo · Yesterday 22:44

Norfolk, Suffolk