Best place for commuting to London?

[ArtfulDawn]

Hi - I'm researching a move out of London.

I get that this is a huge question but where do you love that's in easy commuting distance to London?

Ideally we would love:

• accessible to Waterloo / Victoria or kings Cross
• great schools (and grammars for secondary)
• laid back and friendly community
• easy access to decent shops, gym, coffee shops, restaurants
• family friendly and lots of families in area

Would love to hear your recommendations - thanks!

How long a journey is your definition of ‘easy commuting distance’?

And are you sure your child will get into a Grammar? Counties with excellent comprehensive ok?

Hampshire’s schools have a great reputation.

How long do you want to commute, what sort of house do you want, and what is your budget?

What's your budget?

Those three stations cover trains coming from completely different parts of the south east. Essentially, do you want to live north or south of London? And where are you commuting to - the less tube/bus/walk you have to do after arriving at the main line station, the better. Nail this down before you go any further.

Do you mean state grammars? That limits you to Bucks and Kent doesn't it?

Hitchin

@AutumnCrow I think there are grammar schools in Essex as well.

Wiltshire. Around Salisbury area is only about 1hr15 mins direct train to Waterloo. Nice community and small city. Two grammar schools in town.

Do you really want the 11 plus exam to cast a dark shadow over you child's last couple of years in primary school? I didn't, and specifically moved to a home counties town with the comprehensive system. You pay more for the decent house in the catchment, but at least then you don't have the worry and stress of if the DC will get into the coveted grammar...

Entirely depends on your budget.

I think up to 1 hour is commute is ok but the shorter the better!

And yes comprehensive would be fine too. Would love the option for grammar if DC is that way inclined (she's still very young so we will see!)

I didn't know that (not a native so I'm learning all of this!). Thanks.

Budget: 800k

Preference is for a detached 3 bedroom with decent garden...

Indeed.

The reasoning is we have family to see in France so access to Eurostar (that's an occasional thing)

Victoria / Waterloo best stations for both current work places.

So that's helped me to get clarity thanks for asking. Probably prefer south then for regular travel and we can connect on the tube to Eurostar when family arrives from Europe.

Thanks for the info. I did know that once! Brain fog these days ... So that makes Waterloo as a preferred station a bit redundant really, is what I was thinking, if all the grammar counties are on those sides of London?

There are 'grammars' in the counties served by Waterloo, but they are private schools, e.g. Portsmouth Grammar School in Hampshire.

Sorry, OP - I have cross-posted with you lots!

Fleet. Good schools and general area and feel. Easily doable on that budget.
Under an hour to Waterloo.

Canterbury or Faversham .

So I’d go for Kent. Villages like Meopham, Sole Street are very nice, but not expensive like say Sevenoaks. The grammars are good (and some like, say, Gravesend Grammar really not that hard to get into (not “super” selective)). You’d have ebbsfleet for Eurostar too.

Fleet has 2 good secondaries and Hampshire post 16 is excellent. Andover secondaries are good and villages surrounding are lovely.

No worries thanks for your info - I am so new to the English school system so I'm learning a lot here in the locations for types of schools!

For kings x look at North Herts - Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Royston etc.

If you moved to Salisbury, not only would you get the Grammar schools, you’d get way more than a 3 bed detached for that budget!

You’d also have a direct commute into Waterloo.

I was going to say Faversham too. Possibly the stops either side of it. Villages outside Maidstone: Bearsted, Smarden?

Thanks for all the suggestions - lots of great stuff to research here!