Move to the Country...where?

[OzzieinLondon]

Hello,

We are thinking of a move to the country. It needs to be a communiting distance from west london (W4) maybe maximum 1 - 1/2 hours as the communte will only happen once/twice a week. My partner will stay working in west london and we as a family will live apart. He plans to travel back for long weekends.

We have two small children(2 & 3 Years) so the move is mainly for them. Good schools is an absolute priority. Primary into secondary schools - the options where we currently live are not great unless we go private. So we are looking at alternatives.

I don't think I want to be too isolated but I could live in a village. Sports facilities is a must. Being near or within communte of an athletics track would be an added bonus.

In terms of house, we want to just be able to afford a 3 bedroom house for around £400k (the price of a flat here!)

When would you suggest a move? before starting primary? after - before secondary?

So do you have any suggestions??

You could do worse than start by buying a copy of Commuterland

villages around Maidenhead (j8/9 M4)? Bray, Cookham etc although £400k won't buy you much.

Thanks,
What sort of budget do we need for a three bedroom house with a garden in a nice area?

Why not have a look on www.primelocation.com?

How about this one:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27831209.html

Three bed house, commuting distance of London, excellent primary and secondary school, sports facilities in walking distance.

Sorted!

OH MY GOSH! that property is so amazing. I've forwarded straight onto my partner. We paid more for our three bedroom maisonette with a shared garden and bus stop outside!

Seriously, once i stop drooling! Do you know much about the area?

Thanks for the tip about commuterland. I noticed a few editions, does anyone know which is current? can you buy from a bookstore or is it only online?

That area is in the country but very near Cambridge. It is a bit flat around there - big barley fields but nice villages. The schools are good though and the local secondary in the village has good sports facilities that it shares with the community.
I would look west of London beyond Reading - e.g. Newbury where there is an all weather athletics track or even further west than that.

Yes, some friends live on the other end of that lane, and it's very nice indeed.

You can either commute from Royston - Kings Cross or Cambridge - Kings Cross or Cambridge - Liverpool St.

This is the secondary school, about 5 mins from the house :
www.combertonvc.org/

This is the sports centre, at the school
www.combertonleisure.com/

This is the primary school
www.meridian-school.com/

This is in the next village
www.burwashmanor.net/01_shops.asp

And the local Baptist church has a very lively group for children and young people.

Actually, drop that house from the list! I think that it isn't actually 3 bedrooms, despite what the EA says. I thought it was a bit cheap for the location.

a few more questions - do you really want to be away from your husband for the whole week? do you want to work again?

Partner would cope. He is currently working til 10 - 11pm at night anyway and then when home will do a few more hours work. So weekly I think we would be absolutely fine. Forcing him to come and do long weekends would actualy give us more time together.

I am not really sure about work, I do teach and it's fairly flexibile and easy to get back into. Mostly a confidence thing.

A friend recommneded the winchester area. So I was doing a little research last night and found Andover - athletics club, village location & good schools. House prices seemed reasonable. Anyone with thoughts on this area?

Andover is alright. some rough areas BUT there are lots of lovely areas around this part of the world. Winchester is lovely, although not cheap, but 400k would def get you a house but it may not be in the centre of winchester (which is v expensive due to people daily commuting into london). the schools are very good. From W london about a hour. other areas to consider are currently being bandied about in another post for someone looking to live in/around eastleigh.

Do you know what sort of house you want? If you are ok with modern then perhaps try elvetham heath/fleet. for 400k you may get 5 beds! not really my cup of tea personally, but i know a lot of people who live there and love it.

meant to say that alot of our friends who moved out of london went to elvetham heath and found it very easy to make friends, settle down there.

Wow - loving that Cambridge house!

Think carefully about which county you chose because you could end up in the 11+ grammar nightmare which many people forget still exists! It's really important here in Bucks as the secondary schools aren't great compared to the Grammar so it's a real two-tired system - so please take that into account when hunting.

Plenty of lovely places in Berkshire though

can i give you one piece of advice....rent first. i moved to rural somerset from w4 and hated it!
around winchester is lovely. also oxford cambridge brighton guildford.

I have been told to rent and that does seem like what might happen.

Have just been reading about elevetham heath and must say the idea of this doesn't scare me at all (I lived in something similiar in America when I was younger and loved the community feel) concered about the problems they have with primary school and catchment areas within the heath though.
I couldn't find any property for sale information on that area - can't imagine that nothing is for sale. Might have to contact 'fleet' real estates to get an idea.

i would avoid the 'army-linked' locations tbh; just a personal dislike though

where are army linked locations? just out of interest?

please not hook its dull. there is no coffee shop! hartley witney is nice but expensive

I live in Cambridge - Comberton VC and Meridian Primary get very good reviews and Cambridge is just about cyclable from there.

needanamefast - Can I ask why you didn't like the move from W4? has that changed? what was your motivation in moving in the first place?

will post answer later when Dh home!