Possibly the million dollar question

[chicca]

Thinking of moving back to UK from Spain this summer or soonish at least and head completely spinning about where the hell to go to. Came over here from London but budget and 2 boys rules that out really. DS1 (5.8) will need school support for some developmental delays he has (language etc)but main prority is a train commute to London of no more than 45/50 mins. Was thinking about Guildford in Surrey but seems too expensive. Not sure of exact budget as am not sure about job yet but I think in the region of £325k. So, anyone found that perfect mix of not bad commute/good schools/not wildly expensive nice houses?? Does it even exist?!

We are in Barnet and we love it, North London. Good schools. It has become pricey but maybe you can get something smaller here or decent size a bit further.

Look at West byfleet and New Haw and Woking you can certainly get property for £325 such as 3 bed semi closish to the station?

DH is currently waxing lyrical about how wonderful the commute from Canterbury to London is, now it has a new faster train link. Kent also has a grammar school system, which some people think is preferable to comprehensives.

thanks for all of those - will take a look and keep searching..

I'm biased as I live here but you could always look to Basingstoke area - Hatch Warren is nice, in catchment for 2 good primary schools, good secondary school (2 secondary schools if you're Catholic)

Basingstoke station is 45 mins to Waterloo - about 4 fast trains an hour.

Another plus is it's not too far to go to South coast/West country for days out, and about an hour from Legoland, Chessington and Thorpe Park so a Merlin pass is great value!

Guildford is lovely (I grew up there a long time ago!) but I'm not sure that £325k would stretch very far now. I imagine that Canterbury would have the charm of Guildford but not such high house prices. Otherwise the Medway towns (Rochester & Chatham) and Ashford will probably be cheaper Kentish options but still have fast trains.

We are moving to W Sussex soon - house prices "reasonable" and 55 mins to Victoria. Lovely place, v close to coast too plus good schools.

What size house do you need? 325 should be enough for a 2 bed terrace in even the most expensive places on the Thameslink line which has a fast service into London from Hertfordshire and bits of Bedfordshire.

2 bed terrace! 4 bed detached here for that price! South East is blardy expensive!

thinking of Newbury area now seems to be good value for money right now...