Kent or Essex

Flairy

Hi,

I am hoping for a little bit of advice. My husband may soon be changing jobs and working in London (Stratford) this means we will need to relocate and are trying to get an idea of where would work best for commuting and also providing a nice safe area with good schools etc for our little boy.

We would ideally be wanting the commute time to be under an hour.

I had been looking into Kent and Essex as both have good transport links into London but still seem far enough out of the busy city life. I could be completely wrong though as we are not from around here!

Our budget would be 250,000 min 3 bedroom or we can rent for 1500pcm

Can anyone advise if I am on the right track with areas and if there is anywhere in particular to look at or avoid, or if there is somewhere else completely I've not thought of?

Thanks

leveller2911

In Kent the Ashford area has some nice places and excellant rail links to London. There are plenty of villages around Ashford and some decent housing developments around.


Example:http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39230422.html


http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39886819.html?premiumA=true

Flairy

Thanks, we looked at Ashford as the train times seem brilliant, season ticket for train is a lot though (5700) which was putting us off a little. Might be worth the extra though if it means he can get less time commuting and more family time.

outofmoney

I live the seaside end of Kent. A high speed train from here to Stratford is just over an hour. A 3 bed semi on average around £230 - £240,000. Renting would be around £850.

There are some pretty grotty areas here, but also some really nice ones.

Schools are as you would find elsewhere really but the better areas tend to have the better schools.

gazzabboi

I'm moving to colchester. Its only me that needs to commute and my wife loves the area. £5490 season ticket though and a hour away, so if you want to cut it down maybe look at chelmsford.

Annabee

You know they still have the 11+ in Kent? Something to bear in mind for your son's future, whether you agree with it or not.

Kynthia

If you want to keep the commuting costs down the look at Upminster, Hornchurch and Gidea Park in Essex. They are decent areas to live and within your budget. In Kent you could consider further north like Greenhithe and change to the DLR at Greenwich when commuting.

pawpurrs

I know greenhithe is kent, but its more like london!
The paddock wood line is good, and surrounding villages like brenchly are nice, tunbridge wells is a nice town.
Otherwise although slightly longer look out to the sussex villages on the train line.

DTDfanBoy

Kent every time, have you never seen The Only Way is Essex

I live in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, great place to live with good links too London 36 minutes to Waterloo.

You won't get much of a 3 bed for £250,000 though, you'll get more house for your money in Tonbridge, which is just down the road, but it's nowhere near as nice as Tunbridge Wells;)

hazyjo

Brentwood (although I didn't like it, but it is popular, plus the trains are rubbish), Shenfield (fab train line!), South Woodford, Woodford Green, or other areas further out on central line (renting, not buying as pricey).

Good luck

Jx

JimmyTheWig

Have you considered the Greater Anglia line that goes straight into Stratford through Hertfordshire?
Some of it (e.g. Broxbourne) is very expensive as it is prime commuter territory for the City, but even as far out as Bishops Stortford gets you into Stratford in under an hour.