Need to escape the smoke but where do normal people live??

dander

Yeah, the Hitchin, Letchworth part of the world is great. It's an expensive commute though, so you'd have to factor that cost in. House prices are pretty reasonable though.

Have you had a good look around those other places you mention though, cos there are places round and about all of them that are more original. What about the older bits of Hatfield?

My tip for anyone moving out of London and planning to commute is to consider distance from home to your local station as well as actual travelling time - we all get so used to being right in the midst of the transport system it's easy to forget how much difference just getting to the station in the first place can make

newmy

I know it's a little bit further out than you've suggested, but seriously have you considered Reading? I've lived here now for 4 years, admittedly 3 of those as a student. However, it has an abundance of the type of property you mentioned, and has some really nice areas. I think it gets a weird public perception, but it's actually not a bad place to live at all.
The commute isn't too bad either I don't think, I live with someone who commutes to London and back every day.

LouBlue

ohyespleasethankyou wrote: »

Thanks for replies. Needs to be commutable to London for the time being and no more east than A10 or west than m40. i'd love to go to kent but too far from childcare, I mean in-laws.

You didn't say how far South....I live near Brighton, I don't commute now, but did. 50 mins fast train to London. And you have all that seaside rock.

neverdespairgirl

hethmar wrote: »

Dont any "normal people" live in London now then

I live in London. I'm pretty normal, I think.

GDB2222

most places seem to be full of toytown houses in grim soul-less newtowns (Hemel, Welwyn, Stevenage)

I don't get it. I've always had a soft spot for Welwyn Garden City, although I have never lived there. It's hardly a new town. New 80 years ago, I guess, but surely the newness has worn off by now?

LadyIndecisive

GDB2222 wrote: »

I don't get it. I've always had a soft spot for Welwyn Garden City, although I have never lived there. It's hardly a new town. New 80 years ago, I guess, but surely the newness has worn off by now?

I completely agree - you can't lump Welwyn in with Hemel and Stevenage, Ebenezer Howard would turn in his grave! And where there's a John Lewis you can never go far wrong

Norma_Desmond

I live in the wilds of north Pembrokeshire, a few hundred yards from the sea, but I don't think most folk are 'normal' around here (in the nicest possible way!)
You've got to like isolation, accept that there are no motorways, Starbucks, designer shops or rat-race - and revel in the fact that crime rates are very low and people extremely laid back.
I know it's miles from where you're looking, but we moved from a crowded Cotswold town on the edge of the Midlands and it's the best thing we ever did; the biggest excitement here is if someone's late back with their library books!
Good luck!

huntersc

Hold on, what's wrong with 'posh' areas? You'll get better state schools, access to good private schools, you'll be less likely to be robbed, probably be healthier because you won't find as many KFCs around, you'll have more places to go for entertainment such as theaters and nice restaurants, if it were me I'd go for a nice 'posh' area any day of the week. If you want commutable to London then Henley is lovely, about 50 minutes into Paddington, good schools, river, theater, restaurants, lovely shops, everything you need.

GDB2222

Norma_Desmond wrote: »

the biggest excitement here is if someone's late back with their library books!

Thanks for the reminder. :cool:

Edit: Job done, but 30p fine.

Hillfly

rsootarsing wrote: »

Not Kent please we already have too many london commuters ramping property prices and turning our towns and villages into Ghost Towns.

I was born and bred in Kent but am a commuter.
I must confess the majority of the commuters I meet are a darn site more pleasant than the locals.

If it's Ghost Towns you're interested in try 'Pluckley'.

Kent will become even more commuter orientated over the next few years when the High Speed Rail link opens in Dec '09. 60 minutes from Folkestone to Kings Cross. 34 minutes from Ashford to Kings Cross. Sweeeet!