moving out of london - new area options questions!

sebtomato

The benefit of Surbiton is the fast train to London: 15 minutes to Waterloo station, with many trains each hour. It's also close to Kingston for shopping, cinemas etc

Running_Horse

As far as Kent goes, I like Faversham for its nice shops, market, and cute little cinema, but have heard it called Chaversham. Buy near the centre for good neighbours. Whitstable gives you pebble beaches, and London invaders have brought an artsy feel. Maidstone is more central to the county with loads of good shops, economic advantages, and a party feel at the weekend. For railway villages search Lenham, Headcorn, Staplehurst, and Higham on Rightmove. If you can be more cut off, Deal on the east coast has a real old fashioned feel to it.

marmitequeen

What facilities do you want/need (or are you going to want/need in the next few years?) ie schools? access to family? entertainment? space? worship? Oh, and what is your budget - most places have different areas within them, for example Woking has some of the most expensive areas and least expensive areas - and thus different socio-economic groups. If you only need London a couple of times a week I'd say go further out - the villages around Basingstoke are lovely, or Chichester, Arundel. South of London I'd suggest Reigate or Redhill (once again, both have 'nicer' bits), Horsham. Or if you still want the bar-life what about Kingston, Surbiton? Or look the other way and consider Cambridge.

I'd say list what you need and go from there, for example if you are going to need schools look at where there are clusters of great schools and start there (although remember schools are just like interest rates: their quality can go down as well as up...)

jonewer

It really depends on 1. Your budget and 2. Do you need a commutable train link?

As many have said above, if you dont need to commute to London, then there are a great many places you could move to that will give you more for your money

kaych

what about Watford? There are direct trains - 16mins into Euston, otherwise 20-25mins.

Where we are renting now, it's £700 for a one bedroom and 2 mins from Watford Junction. Watford has lots of shops in the town centre but as soon as we walk out of the town centre, it's a nice area in my opinion. I think you get even better places if you are willing to live a bit further from the station.

We really like it here and have just bought our own place here too. By the way, we only moved in Watford in Feb 2009.

whitstableimp

We moved from London to Whitstable about 3 years ago and have never looked back. There is a real sense of community here, plenty to do for children and adults alike, wonderful sunsets, pebble beaches and some great restaurants. It's only about 60 miles from London and does have a fair number of daily commuters. Canterbury is only about 6 miles away should you need a city 'fix' with the usual collection of department stores and high street chains.

carolt

St Albans is lovely, and interestingly, prices there coming down fast within the lst few weeks; not sure why. Some good local schools, excellent quality of life. I don't live there but my MIL does; we contemplated it at one point.

FTBFun

I'm from Winchester originally.

If you're only commuting to London a couple of times a week, post rush hour, it should be fine. Its about an hour to Waterloo and then however long it takes after that.

It isn't the cheapest, however generally everywhere is safe so any of the 60s estates slightly further out of the city centre should be affordable. Stay away from Highcliffe though, and parts of Stanmore aren't great. You may want to try Abbotts Barton, Weeke, or Harestock. These are all 5-10 min drive from the station, traffic dependent.

The city itself is lovely, and there are plenty of good quality restaurants and pubs in the city centre. No clubs really to speak of mind! All the schools are above average, and the sixth form college is one of the best in the South.

Good luck!

youngcrazedpeeling

wallofbeans wrote: »

I asked about the best and worst areas of oxford in another thread and got some realy helpul replies so thought i should do it for all the areas we are currently considering...

im off to a great start with Oxford but any more thoughts welcome!

Reading - ive heard caversham is the nice bit but should i get more specific than that or condsider any other areas?

St Albans

Winchester

Guildford

Weybridge

Surbiton (probably counts as London but still on the list and advice welcome)

Tunbridge Wells

Canterbury

Or any other areas nearish London that you think I might like!

Thanks all!

Pangbourne/Upper Basildon near Reading is quite nice as are some parts of Tilehurst although if you want to go Caversham then be prepared to pay. Avoid Whitley and the Oxford Road area.

Wokingham, Newbury and Twyford a bit further out are nicer on the whole though.

movilogo

St Albans - if you can afford.

Very good connectivity with central London.

But it is VERY expensive to buy a property there! Remember, it is town which pays highest average income tax in UK.