Where to buy up north (commutable to London)

[goldenpeach]

Any idea? I did a lot of research and we ended up in Rugby but here properties we like (detached ones) have shot up alarmingly (while attached ones have crashed) and sellers are not budging (they are downsizers so they are sitting on their properties, some for several months). We looked at Leamington Spa and then tried Kettering but again there is a huge premium for four bed detached (up to 100% more than semis). Can I pick your brain for any suitable town? We don't mind which county it is in, but we'd like a nice town with good schools.

Which bit of London - Lincolnshire has grammar schools and Stamford is a lovely toen. Grantham is nothing special but the schools are good and the housing is decent and the train link is excellent.

Where do you want to be in London?

Central London/City, my DP works in financial field

Sorry, didn't explain that we moved out of London, so we don't want to end up too close to it.

Looked in Winchester? easily commutable and good schools.

Duh... North... sorry

Isn't it more of how long a commute do you want to do? There's Essex and East Anglia which are all good for getting into the city.

Cardiff is doable to London and might be cheaper, Rugby is awful you've had a lucky escape there.

I have a friend who lives Barrowby, just west of Grantham. Her DH commutes daily to London on the excellent train link that Northernlurker mentions.

I live in Lincolnshire near to grantham in small village with excellent schools and good fast train to London.

In fact if you look at Billingborough (village near to me), at right move there are some bargains on there at moment.

3 excellent primaries and good grammar schools in sleaford.

Hello ladies, thanks for suggestions so far. I went to Grantham today on a recce as I was quite surprised the commute to London is so quick. There isn't much for sale at the moment near station/town centre but prices are more reasonable than in Rugby. I liked the look of Grantham. The other day we went to visit Kettering and I was disappointed. SueW and mumwhereareyou, do you mean, live in the village and use Grantham's train station?
We're aiming for 4 bed detached and hoping to be under 300K.

Hi Goldenpeach

the village i mentioned is 15-20min drive from grantham train station and quite a few people commute from there.

You would def get a 4 bed detached for that in Billingborough, also look at Ropsley, Folkingham, Threekingham all nice villages and v commutable to grantham train station.

Hope that helps you a bit.

Thanks for those links, herbie. We prefer older properties (period to 1980s). I checked Oakham online but my partner prefers Grantham because you get a direct train to London (unless he got it wrong), although Oakham looks quite appealing from online pics. It's really hard because we want to buy a house for keeps and stay there, not have to move in two- three years' time.