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Where should we live?

10 replies

starstar84 · 31/08/2026 18:19

Please make some suggestions, we have tricky criteria!!

budget 550k
commutable to London Bridge x 2 a week (tho I am considering a remote only job to free us up from this….)

  • want a walkable village or town ideally not dominated by cars and roads with space for our child to play out safely
  • we like cute villages but also are city people so I think we probably need to be very close to a proper high street
  • period properties preferable
  • access to nice walks and nature from our door ideally
  • we lean left / green and probably don’t want to be surrounded by tories (no offence)
  • both originally working class but v good education, one teacher one consultant, we like people who are down to earth but intellectually curious and community minded
  • good schools and ideally lots of nature based activities for our one year old
  • bonus if there is an artsy vibe / creative people around
  • ideally easy access to nice coast

on list as potentials so far are

  • Tunbridge wells / surrounding villages
  • faversham, Kent
  • Villages around Exeter

thank you!

OP posts:
Buscobel · 31/08/2026 19:37

West Sussex

Dillydollydingdong · 31/08/2026 19:39

Clacton's the place for you! You'd love it there! 😀

Mediumred · 31/08/2026 20:01

Ooh! Have good friends in Faversham and they are left-leaning, creative, art/nature lovers and really like it there. Good luck

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 31/08/2026 20:37

Buscobel · 31/08/2026 19:37

West Sussex

Agree. Haywards Heath, Lindfield, Lewes, Horsham. Look along the Thames link line from London Bridge to Brighton.

XVGN · 01/09/2026 14:45

Since you mentioned Exeter, then I'd consider Sherborne (train, lovely high street, proximity to Exeter and Salisbury). And then Salisbury itself (and consider Romsey with access to salisbury and Southampton). A left field in this direction would be Marlborough.

Federica1864 · 01/09/2026 14:50

Beckenham?

bababamama · 01/09/2026 14:53

@XVGN GrinGrin

you do have to watch for the mobility scooters though! Best gelato shop I know and a little cinema, but way too grey for my tastes, my parents live near there

bababamama · 01/09/2026 14:57

If you decide to be fully remote or can reduce days in office, n Somerset coast is an option, but you might struggle to get a period place for that budget. We have everything else on your list including that to get to the local primary school from my house involves no roads, just 5 minutes along the marina. I’m currently watching the squirrels opposite my balcony!

GiveMeWordGames · 01/09/2026 21:12

Forest Row, East Sussex

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