Experience of Living in Rickmansworth or End of the Central Line?

theGrinch

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

I live in Chesham, at the end of the Metropolitan Line. Not a tube commuter but the area is nice and quite a bit cheaper than Chorleywood, Rickmansworth & Amersham. There are recently announced plans for the Chesham Masterplan which can only increase the values of properties there.

We did look at this, but at first glance the tube service is both an advantage (keeping it quaint and rural), but also a disadvantage for commuting into Liverpool Street though its a maximum of twice a week now.

Any thoughts?

theGrinch

bowlhead99 wrote: »

You mention no car at present. If the budget is £1m you could always change the budget to £995k and then during the couple of months it takes you to close the property transaction you could buy a car for £4k and if necessary take 40 hours of driving lessons for £1k (most people can pass in less)

That is an excellent idea that's slipped my mind having spent so many years in London without the need for a car.

I can make a real life change and gain a life skill

Love it!

theGrinch

The posts are very helping to have a different and objective perspective

Feel feel to critique our criteria. What do you think we should budget for the purchase given our main considerations and in no particular order:

Detached and at least 2,000 sq ft

Scope to have 5 Beds would be ideal (even if we have to extend into the loft to get it) as we have the inlaws, nieces and nephews visit often.

1/2 mile to a tube station.

Again scope to extend either ground floor and/or loft as we intend to be there for many years and we need to create a home office, library and gym. I guess it mustn't be listed.

A large garden (we love gardening), so a 100 ft garden would be good. Our current London one is 90ft and we cultivated it over 15 years.

If its unmodernised, maybe we can get a little more for our money. We did a lot of improvement and extending to our current place over the years.

Walking distance (<10 mins) to newsagent, cafe, baker, convenience store.


Is there anything else we should add / remove / amend to our list for local EAs?

AdrianC

theGrinch wrote: »

That is an excellent idea that's slipped my mind having spent so many years in London without the need for a car.

I can make a real life change and gain a life skill

Love it!

While it IS an excellent idea, and one that you'll find very useful in general - don't rely on driving to the station... The car parks tend to be inadequate for the demand, and expensive, while the roads around are either resident-permit or parked solid. You could get the missus to drop you - but everybody else has that idea, so the drop-off bits of road tend to be similarly chaotic to school drop-off time...

M.E.

Our house in Loughton sounds your ideal. Not yet on the market, but thinking of moving within the next year as both retired and daughters both live in the south west.
Walkable to the station (most do round here) Loughton or Debden, £3 taxi fare home if you don't want to walk. Buses too. All amenities nearby. High Road has many restaurants and coffee shops. Sainsbury, Morrisons and M&S. The soil is clay so a challenge fo green fingers. Forest and River meadows a stroll away. 1982 detached house ideal for extensions. Already has a home office.
IG10 3HS
Central Line commuting can be a pain, but you can usually get a seat in the mornings. I used to cycle to work in London. My husband used the M11 to Docklands.
Our relatives will miss having a convenient place to stay, especially for trips to London and car parking for Stansted"
Worth looking at Loughton.

theGrinch

AdrianC wrote: »

While it IS an excellent idea, and one that you'll find very useful in general - don't rely on driving to the station... The car parks tend to be inadequate for the demand, and expensive, while the roads around are either resident-permit or parked solid. You could get the missus to drop you - but everybody else has that idea, so the drop-off bits of road tend to be similarly chaotic to school drop-off time...

I currently walk a minimum of 60 minutes a day and with the move I can't see that going down.

The car would be more for trips to the surpermarket, visiting family in Enfield (not far by road but hours by PT) and getting away into the country. Can't really see buying too far away from a station.

AdrianC

theGrinch wrote: »

I currently walk a minimum of 60 minutes a day and with the move I can't see that going down.

Ah, OK! So you'd be happy with a chunk further than the half a mile radius, then?

Daniel54

The Central Line is very convenient for the City .Liverpool St is 25 minutes and trains every 4 -5 minutes at peak times from Buckhurst Hill. ,where I have commuted from for over 30 years ( two minutes walk from the station) .Every now and again the line falls over,but I don’t think it is any worse than the alternatives.Having Epping Forest so near is a big bonus if you like walking or cycling.

South Woodford has more of a buzz in terms of shops,bars and restaurants so is worth considering if that takes your fancy,although it is more expensive.

Personally I would avoid the Woodford to Hainault loop as trains are much less frequent.

theGrinch

AdrianC wrote: »

Ah, OK! So you'd be happy with a chunk further than the half a mile radius, then?

My 60 mins includes to and from the station for both ends of the journey so no more than 15 minute

Cakeguts

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50730552.html A different area.