Leaving London...but where?

momstheword

I would recommend Cirencester in Gloucestershire, the train to Paddington from Kemble is an hour and a half journey. It's a great area, very safe and a great place to bring up children. There's a great stock of edwardian/victorian/georgian homes and brill schools! It's about 90 miles from London though but I'd highly recommend the Cirencester/Tetbury area.

Bennifred

motherofstudents wrote: »

I drove through East Grinstead once and it was nice. Sorry I can't be any real help, just felt left out up here in Bury, Lancs, home of the black pudding.

Bless!:rotfl:

You are spoilt for choice, OP!
Although Kent/Surrey have some very lovely towns, do consider further West/North, if only for access to the rest of the country.......

hazyjo

lynzpower wrote: »

I was going to say Ware, I have only really been in the high street bit though and thought it really nice, whats up with it ?

Nothing up with it as such, it's a nice place. Just cheaper than other nearby nice places like Bishops Stortford/parts of Hertford. I suppose it has some less attractive houses and estates around it - there's probably a 'better side of town'. My friend lives at the end of the High Street, and, a few years back, I looked at houses in Gladstone Road (loved it), Station Road (tiny) and another two I can't remember.

It's quaint and attractive and I think it'll be in high demand in several years' time if the market improves - if the shops can survive the recession. Some lovely little independent shops would work well. Unfortunately in this market, they probably won't last long! There's just not enough pull in Ware for people to go there and, from what I've heard, it's been suffering. People tend to go to other nearby places for shopping.

Not sure what the schools are like, but know B's Stortford has some great ones.

Went to a nice Thai restaurant in Ware in Feb!

Jx

ruggedtoast

motherofstudents wrote: »

I drove through East Grinstead once and it was nice. Sorry I can't be any real help, just felt left out up here in Bury, Lancs, home of the black pudding.

I can recommend East Grinstead. Its a really nice little town thats good for families, convenient for London, but still relatively affordable both for a season ticket and house prices.

Most importantly for me it didnt feel like you were anywhere near London; it would probably be too quiet if you still want bars and restaurants.

BBriton

I know you fancy out of London but how about that out of London feel but actually with a London postcode. Have you ever visited Wanstead in East London? Great community, victorian properties, your traditional highstreets, excellent schools, safe and loads of green. It's on the central line so you can have the best of both worlds. Check it out. Wanstead the secret gem of East London

VfM4meplse

BBriton wrote: »

I know you fancy out of London but how about that out of London feel but actually with a London postcode. Have you ever visited Wanstead in East London? Great community, victorian properties, your traditional highstreets, excellent schools, safe and loads of green. It's on the central line so you can have the best of both worlds. Check it out. Wanstead the secret gem of East London

I completely agree, not living a million miles away! Snaresbrook and Sth Woodford are also great areas but realistically you're not going to get a good family home with lots of outside space, which your budget would buy you in the country. The other downside is that you wouldn't want young kids to be exposed to some of the going-ons in Leyton/ Leytonstone, parts of which are very deprived.

grey_lady wrote: »

Essex is worth a look, constable country is less than an hour by train from the city. Chelmsford and colchester grammar schools are in the state sector but in the top 15 secondary schools in the country.

In your position, I would be heading towards Southend / Brentwood / Chelmsford / Colchester simply for the grammar schools and fast access to London, 3 times a week can still add up to a lot of time spent travelling. The popular reputation of Essex is quite different from the reality of the nicest parts. Stay away from Pitsea, Laindon and Basildon though.

Bucks is also great but just too expensive.

ruggedtoast

Essex is not my cup of tea, and I know colchester pretty well. It really isn't a very friendly county even in the nice bits.

hazyjo

ruggedtoast wrote: »

Essex is not my cup of tea, and I know colchester pretty well. It really isn't a very friendly county even in the nice bits.

LOL one of the funniest posts I've read. Not really sure how you can judge the whole county, but there you go, each to their own

In defence, I've lived and stayed in quite a few different areas and am finding Essex (Brentwood/Warley) to be one of the friendliest! Went to our old local in East London for around four years - no staff knew our name. We've been here four months and feel like part of the community already! And, no, they don't just drink more and talk to anyone, and, to clarify, I'm not some ol' lush who's in the pub every night

I've found people to be far more courteous and helpful than elsewhere. Even the EA we bought through was wonderful!

Jx

greenmoneysaver_2

North Kent Coast - you'd get loads for £500k and ts about 1.5. hrs into London. Was thinking Whitstable/Broadstairs? Even Canterbury?

VfM4meplse

hazyjo wrote: »

In defence, I've lived and stayed in quite a few different areas and am finding Essex (Brentwood/Warley) to be one of the friendliest!

Warley / Hutton are amazing but highly aspirational...again perhaps out of the £500k price bracket?