Anyone commute to London from Saffron Walden?

[bowbluebell]

Hello

We are (still!) trying to find a lovely spot to move to with our toddler and a twinkle in our eye...

DP has to get into Liverpool Street, mum has to come from just south of Norwich (bless her, she does a day of childcare each week) and I have to get to work in East London (by car).

Saffron Walden is seeming like a good spot and one that we can actually afford.

Can any of you share your experiences of what the commute from Audley End is like? Can you get a seat? What's parking like? Also, what areas/roads in SW are worth considering? Are there any nearby villages also worth a look?

Many thanks

BBB

{aw} at twinkle in your eye (!) I have one of those, though it is fast becoming muffin top!!

I'm a bit further down the line nr Bishops Stortford

As for commuting - I think it depends what time you get the train. DH is on the ohsixtwentysomething so usually gets one on the way there and on the way home get the 1840 but advantage of starting at Liv St is that you can often get a seat.

Hopefully this will bump - but you should do a search - I remembered this thread which I see has been active recently
Moving to SW
HTH and best of luck with the move and the twinkle (!)
supernova

I used to live in that area the commute isn't so bad really. You'll always get a seat getting on at Audley End or the next stations down which are Newport and then Elsenham, it only starts getting tight on the train when everyone gets on at Stortford. All the trains coming back from Liverpool Street to Cambridge have to stop at Audley End (there's some ancient law or something silly). Even if you don't get a seat going home at Liverpool Street, you probably will after the train stops at Broxbourne.

It's a beautiful area, have you looked at villages like Debden, which is where I used to live, Thaxted etc.

It's a great place to live and bring up children my best friend is in Thaxted and she and her DC's are so happy with the life they have there.

We were out in safrron walden last night. we are moving to stansted mountfitchet, 3 min walk to a station which has the fast stansted express stop at! maybe take a look.

Saffron walden is lovely, nice shops and park for kids. not sure about commute as one of the reasons we are moving from a small village to somewhere with a station is for convenience for my DH getting to work.

xx

Thanks for the thoughts.
Stortford or thereabouts would be our first choice, but it's just too far to expect mum to get to for childcare, which is a major consideration.
Nice to know there are a few MNers in the local area and that you are positive about brining up kids in SW!

I will look up that other thread now...

Thanks again