Nice Areas Around London

BobProperty

zag2me wrote:

I live near slough, and its the armpit of the UK, truely horrible place.

I haven't got my Betjemen book around so I had to google it:

"Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough
It isn't fit for humans now,...."
http://www.pmms.cam.ac.uk/~gjm11/poems/slough

lynzpower

I was quite surprised at windsor house prices when I had a lil nose in the estate agents when we were there for a wedding earlier in the year. Prices were much cheaper than I anticipated they would be. Only 55 mins on the bus from london, loads of resturaunts, nice parks, clean living. A bit middle class for lil me , but I could definatley see the appeal if I was raising kids.

Dummie_2

Thanks so much for all your replies. My head is going round in circles with all the names flying around LOL.

I had a quick look at hubby's business invoices and notice that 9 out of 10 of his clients are either in London or in the surrounding counties.

We feel that we don't actually NEED to be in London and pay the high property prices there. So we're thinking outside the M25. Hubby's work also takes him to other parts of the country so easy access to the M4, M40, M11 and M1 would be good. Looking at my road map I think this points to Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

OK, so we're now narrowed it down to 2 counties. Now we need to work on the city/town. We would like someplace near to the motorway (ie, no hours of travelling on the A roads to get home!) and like I mentioned earlier, somewhere where there are mainly professional working families with young children where they are actually encouraged to work hard at school and to achieve good grades and to have goals in life! (Sorry, but please don't take this the wrong way but honestly, where I grew up it was the complete opposite).

We do also like Surrey but know the property prices there are high. Don't feel we'll be able to afford there.

My hubby visited a place called Bishop's Stortford in Herfordshire and said he thought the people there were quite nice. Any thoughts on this town?

Again, many thanks. You're all great! :T

whambamboo

LizEstelle wrote:

Have you ever even been to Windsor???

I didn't think so.

It's nothing like Virginia Water, with the cheapest house £1m. There is quite a social mix there, and it's not as rarified and royal as ignorant outsiders like yourself might assume

I guess you think Prince William will be moving in here:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetai...a_n=1&tr_t=buy

1. Yes
2. So tell me again where Eton is?

Ah silly me, of course only posh people live in Windsor.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23369687-details/Race+clashes+hit+Windsor/article.do

Extra police are being drafted into the Windsor area today after three nights of violent clashes between white and Asian youths.

Gangs have fought battles in the streets using baseball bats and pitchforks. A Muslim-run dairy which wants to build a mosque was petrol bombed.

Dozens of officers have been deployed to stop and search youths and mounted police are being brought in.

The Queen usually spends weekends at Windsor Castle and no decision has yet been taken over whether she would change her plans. A senior source said: "We are aware of what is happening and all appropriate security measures are in place."

Up to 50 young people clashed on Tuesday night.

Residents said gangs of Asian youths travelled from Slough to fight the white gang. One youth was reportedly arrested for carrying a 12-inch knife.

"On Monday three young lads, about 15 or so, were in Shirley Avenue when the men came out of prayers and attacked them with pitchforks, baseball bats and iron bars," she said. "Whether they were provoked or not I don't know.

Yep, definitely only posh people going to school at Eton live in Windsor.

This happened er, last night.

SmartGirl_2

Most of Hertfordshire is nice, but I would avoid Stevenage/ Welvyn Garden City/ Cheshunt though. It really depends on what you like - whether you would like to live in a small village or a town and whether good schools are within the catchment area. And most important, how big is your budget?

Essex has good schools and it is much cheaper than Herts/ Bucks, but I do not know it well, so I can't comment on whether it is niceor not.
You can check out school league tables in http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/919_alevel_lea.stm.

izoomzoom

We live in Hitchin and it is a lovely place.

Pity we have to move 20 miles away into Bedfordshire to be able to afford to buy.

Dummie_2

SmartGirl wrote:

Most of Hertfordshire is nice, but I would avoid Stevenage/ Welvyn Garden City/ Cheshunt though. It really depends on what you like - whether you would like to live in a small village or a town and whether good schools are within the catchment area. And most important, how big is your budget?

Thanks for that information :beer:

Would prefer a town. We're going to be renting for a while and have budgeted around 700pounds for the rent. We need a 2bed. Does this sound reasonable? Pls don't tell me it'll cost more :eek: I suppose we can stretch to 800pounds if needed to ensure we get into a good catchment area.

The website you gave is very very good. Thanks for that as well. It made me laugh though. The best secondary school in the town I live in now where a lot of the working professionals are fighting to get their children into is BELOW the national average:o

Horasio

LizEstelle wrote:

1. Yes
2. So tell me again where Eton is?

Eton Wick is a hole

Horasio

whambamboo wrote:

Ah silly me, of course only posh people live in Windsor.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23369687-details/Race+clashes+hit+Windsor/article.do



Yep, definitely only posh people going to school at Eton live in Windsor.

This happened er, last night.

I was shocked:eek: - it is such a nice town

Entertainer

Just to confuse you even more, Kent has some superb grammar schools, some of the best in the country, if your kids are bright enough to get in- I'm sure they are. Prices get higher the further west you go and the county has lost alot of its rural charm but it's still a nice place to grow up. You can commute on the M20- M25 or by train to London.