Where to live - suggestions and comments

Mayflower10cat

having relocated from the S.East some years ago to a very rural area, I found I really missed living close (walking distance) to a busy town centre. Public transport existed - but you had to drive 10 miles to the nearest mainline station. Buses were about every hour and taxis cost a small fortune. We moved again after much research and this is my point; do your 'background checks' thoroughly before you decide. Any town that has great transport links is going to be more desirable/expensive than one that hasn't. Having moved about the country several times now, like you I favour being on the edge of a decent market town or in the middle of a proper bustling, nosy neighbour village with people who've lived there all their lives and a decent shop/Pub/school/church to provide some focus and potential to meet new friends.

I grew up in a small town, busy, with a great market twice a week, equidistant between Liverpool and Southport. You could hop on a regular train or a bus to either shopping destination. Looking back it was a lovely place to live. Safe, friendly and yet still a bit rural.

One place I didn't know at all until my outlaws followed their elder daughter & family there, is Shrewsbury. I've been several times on family visits and I think it's lovely. It's not unlike Chester in architecture. Lovely shops and great transport links. Just a thought for you!

dizziblonde

If money/work were no object - I'd go back to Somerset, particularly the Wells area in a heartbeat.

As it is - I'll settle for where we are - which is the Midlands.

MrsManda

shegar wrote: »

I love living here East O f England, we are 1 mile from the beach, 2 miles from minsmere the RSPB , beaches all along the coast line for lovely walks and fresh air.....:D

Things have changed in the country now as theres so many super markets popped up everywhere, so you dont have to travel too far.......we are 1 mile from a town which sells everything etc etc...yet in the countryside peace and quiet, but like others posts say it depends what you are looking for .........the above doesnt suit everyone does it.? ........

My son and GF have a 2 bed cabin in the woods, so peaceful . :Djust birds and animals for company, :Duhmm thats the ideal way to live.....:D

Whereabouts in the EoE are you? Sounds lovely

mandragora_2

Exmouth. Train to Exeter; cycle routes in Exeter once you're there. Not cheap, but by the sea, Devon and thriving.

shegar

MrsManda wrote: »

Whereabouts in the EoE are you? Sounds lovely

We are 3 miles from Aldeburgh Suffolk.

MrsManda

Thanks for all your comments
I have another question along the same lines if you don't mind.

Does anyone know of any websites which use train time data so you can search by time taken to reach somewhere by train?

I know it sounds like a bit of an odd request but I'd like to see where we could live if we restricted our choices to places where we can get to Euston or St Pancras train stations within 1.5hrs by train.

I've drawn a blank so far so if you have any ideas I'd be grateful

BitterAndTwisted

Have you tried this one?

http://www.commutefrom.com/

It's pity your criteria doesn't include a 2 hour train-ride from Charing Cross or Walmer/Kingsdown/Deal in Kent would have fitted in nicely. It's lovely down there!

I'm not sure but I think Whitstable or Ramsgate might fit

jcbl

Sounds like he's a doctor applying for foundation or specialist training (these sound like foundation schools). As a fellow OH of a medic I know your pain.

If it is, it's worth bearing in mind the geographic spread of each school. EoE is tough because though you might get an easy F1, F2 could be a hellish commute and you might end up moving again. KSS (ie SE) isn't much better for this - not many trains go from mid-Surrey or mid-Sussex, to Kent, for example. WM and Wessex would be the next two choices based on this.

MrsManda

jcbl wrote: »

Sounds like he's a doctor applying for foundation or specialist training (these sound like foundation schools). As a fellow OH of a medic I know your pain.

If it is, it's worth bearing in mind the geographic spread of each school. EoE is tough because though you might get an easy F1, F2 could be a hellish commute and you might end up moving again. KSS (ie SE) isn't much better for this - not many trains go from mid-Surrey or mid-Sussex, to Kent, for example. WM and Wessex would be the next two choices based on this.

Not a medic but applying for specialist training. Wessex has announced it no longer is providing a post for PH so that's out. We've got a breakdown of the locations which he may be expected to work it's just that the area is so vast and we want the best possible chance of him getting a place.
Of course, the specifics of each programme are likely to take presidence over the order but I'm trying to sort out my geographical preferences so we can take that into consideration as well.

Thanks for all your help

MrsManda

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Have you tried this one?

http://www.commutefrom.com/

It's pity your criteria doesn't include a 2 hour train-ride from Charing Cross or Walmer/Kingsdown/Deal in Kent would have fitted in nicely. It's lovely down there!

I'm not sure but I think Whitstable or Ramsgate might fit

Thanks that's great
It's Euston/St Pancras because I've been attending UCL but had to drop out during the exams at the end of my second year due to illness. It'd be nice to live somewhere I could go back and finish my degree though as no one knows when/if I'm going to get better this isn't a main consideration when choosing where to live, just a 'it would be nice'