Where to buy - commute to St Pancras

movinghelp

Unfortunately due to neighbours we may have to consider moving. Main priority is commute to St Pancras / Kings X. I'm from W.Sussex so familiar with areas like Guildford, Haslemere etc which are more suitable for Waterloo and also very expensive. Similarly partner is from Kent so again we know Orpington, Bromley etc but more suitable for London Bridge/ Charing X.

Need to consider season ticket costs. Ideally want a 3 bed with garden, detached.. I know. Price range of about up to 400k.

[Deleted User]

I live in Gravesend, easily buy a 3 bed for that. 16 minute commute to St Pancras.

bouicca21

Anywhere on the Orpington/Bromley line to Victoria, swap platforms at Herne hill for St Pancras. Though 3 bed detached for that budget similar to pigs flying.

oystercatcher

Stevanage/Hitchin/Letchworth 30-40 mins to Kings X .

Should be able to find a nice house for that.

Annual season is roughly £300-£350 / month (v. rough, didn't check )

danslenoir

oystercatcher wrote: »

Stevanage/Hitchin/Letchworth 30-40 mins to Kings X .

Should be able to find a nice house for that.

Annual season is roughly £300-£350 / month (v. rough, didn't check )

I second Hitchin.

I lived there for a couple of years (commuting into London) and enjoyed it very much. Sufficiently large and historic market town with lots of shops, bars and restaurants, and lots of green space not far away. Would have no qualms about living there again. Very straightforward commute direct into Kings X too - regular trains and it only takes about 30 mins or so.

Would give Stevenage a wide berth, though!

Thanetia

How much time do you want to spend commuting and how much are you willing to pay? The High Speed line opens up a lot of potential areas, some highlighted above. Further out includes Ashford - only 40 mins into St P, Canterbury - under an hour, Folkestone - around the hour mark, but the cost starts escalating. Reliability on the HS line isn't quite what it was but is still pretty good compared with South Eastern Mainline and most other operators.

ognum

Cambridge 45 mins - expensive
Bedford 30 mins - less expensive

Gordon_Hose

Any town serviced by HS1 in Kent will get you to St Pancras. Faversham is a smidge over an hour via the High Speed service.

JP08

If you're looking north as well as south (not clear from the original post), there are a few towns on the Peterborough branch that might be worth a look. Certainly cheaper than the Cambridge branch.

The season ticket gets a little steeper, but the time doesn't. Eg 30-40-50 mins to Kings Cross from Biggleswade, St Neots, Huntingdon. Would describe most of them as typical market towns, some good areas, some bad. Pays your money, takes your choice ! But your £400k will easily stretch to the size of house you want in a "good" location.

9ja4life

We lived in St Neots and commuted to KGX. 45 minutes and 3 trains every hour.

lincroft1710

Are the neighbours that bad that you have to consider moving miles away.

Bedford is reasonably priced KX, Harpenden and St Albans pricier but nearer and nicer