Good commuter towns north of London
Discussion
Hello,
I expect this gets asked a lot, but really struggling on picking a location to live. I currently rent down in Kent and own a house in Redditch, Worcs. The sale of my house is about to go through and I'm then looking for somewhere to buy that meets the following requirements:
Reasonably close to a main line station with less than 1hr commute into London (for work)
Good access to either M40 or M1 (to visit family/friends in Midlands/North)
Not too worried about shopping/busy night life as long as there is a supermarket within driving distance
Ideally a new build property, so perhaps a new development in a growing area and max price £250K
So far I have looked at places in Hitchin and Aylesbury. Hitchin seems okay for the commute, but the new builds are a bit pricey. Aylesbury has good property, but the commute is 1hr 5 mins + time to get across London to London Bridge where I work.
I'm starting to think about Milton Keynes and Bedford, but see a lot of mixed reports.
Any thoughts or recommendations? it feels like I'm staring at a huge range of options and don't know where to start....
Rich
I expect this gets asked a lot, but really struggling on picking a location to live. I currently rent down in Kent and own a house in Redditch, Worcs. The sale of my house is about to go through and I'm then looking for somewhere to buy that meets the following requirements:
Reasonably close to a main line station with less than 1hr commute into London (for work)
Good access to either M40 or M1 (to visit family/friends in Midlands/North)
Not too worried about shopping/busy night life as long as there is a supermarket within driving distance
Ideally a new build property, so perhaps a new development in a growing area and max price £250K
So far I have looked at places in Hitchin and Aylesbury. Hitchin seems okay for the commute, but the new builds are a bit pricey. Aylesbury has good property, but the commute is 1hr 5 mins + time to get across London to London Bridge where I work.
I'm starting to think about Milton Keynes and Bedford, but see a lot of mixed reports.
Any thoughts or recommendations? it feels like I'm staring at a huge range of options and don't know where to start....
Rich
Interesting feedback on Milton Keynes. Whenever I have been there to visit our office there, I liked it. I've spent time living in New York so appreciate a good grid system!!
I have no kids so not worried about schools or kid focused amenities.
Am a typical bloke in that if I need to go shopping and havent already bought it off the net, I want somewhere that houses everything I need, so I can go in at 9am on a Saturday and execute a well planned raid on all the shops I need to visit and get out by 9:30am.
Somewhere that has restaurants/bars would be nice.
Some outdoor activities in close proximity is handy - cycling, mountain biking, etc..
MK seems to tick a lot of those boxes. What areas of MK do I need to avoid and which are nice? There are some developments up near Wolverton that look like possibilities.
I have no kids so not worried about schools or kid focused amenities.
Am a typical bloke in that if I need to go shopping and havent already bought it off the net, I want somewhere that houses everything I need, so I can go in at 9am on a Saturday and execute a well planned raid on all the shops I need to visit and get out by 9:30am.
Somewhere that has restaurants/bars would be nice.
Some outdoor activities in close proximity is handy - cycling, mountain biking, etc..
MK seems to tick a lot of those boxes. What areas of MK do I need to avoid and which are nice? There are some developments up near Wolverton that look like possibilities.
Thanks all for the posts and comments.
I'm warming to MK - just got to get my house sold and then spend a Saturday in the area getting a feel for it and visiting the new builds and possible some pre-loved homes too!
When I lived in Birmingham I'd head down to London fairly often, so am aware of how crowded the train can get and also the journey from Euston to London Bridge and the crowded Northern Line. Will be a factor to consider definitely.
I'm warming to MK - just got to get my house sold and then spend a Saturday in the area getting a feel for it and visiting the new builds and possible some pre-loved homes too!
When I lived in Birmingham I'd head down to London fairly often, so am aware of how crowded the train can get and also the journey from Euston to London Bridge and the crowded Northern Line. Will be a factor to consider definitely.
Wow - thanks for all the replies. Seems a friendly corner of PH compared to some!
My house sale is going through next week, hopefully, so the search is gaining pace. I'm heading up to MK tomorrow to view some new builds in Westcroft and Wolverton. Then going to head over to St Neots and to Biggleswade and see what happens.
All seem to be around the 40-45 minute commute time into Euston/Kings Cross. Then thinking of getting a folding bike so I can do the cycle across to London Bridge.
My house sale is going through next week, hopefully, so the search is gaining pace. I'm heading up to MK tomorrow to view some new builds in Westcroft and Wolverton. Then going to head over to St Neots and to Biggleswade and see what happens.
All seem to be around the 40-45 minute commute time into Euston/Kings Cross. Then thinking of getting a folding bike so I can do the cycle across to London Bridge.
Think I am going to opt for St Neots. I've found a property I like, its just outside the town and close enough to the station to be viable. Plenty of space and a good price.
I thought that St Neots had a nice feel to it as I drove through - but am well aware that there is more to a town than driving down the high street!
Any major reasons to avoid St Neots or is it like most towns in that it has it's good areas and it's bad?
The trains seem to be quite good with 4 trains an hour into London - 41 or 55 mins. Anyone have any experience of this commute? Are the trains packed, often delayed, etc?
As always advice and recommendations greatly appreciated.
Rich
I thought that St Neots had a nice feel to it as I drove through - but am well aware that there is more to a town than driving down the high street!
Any major reasons to avoid St Neots or is it like most towns in that it has it's good areas and it's bad?
The trains seem to be quite good with 4 trains an hour into London - 41 or 55 mins. Anyone have any experience of this commute? Are the trains packed, often delayed, etc?
As always advice and recommendations greatly appreciated.
Rich
great - I'm considering the new Taylor Wimpey homes as you first head into Little Paxton from St Neots - on the left hand side after the second small bridge. Seems quite nice and not too far from the station.
Good to hear that the train isnt too crazy - I was probably going to opt for the earlier train (7:19) as it's quicker and I then have to get across the city to my office - but it sounds like even then, there are seats if you stay towards the back end of the train.
It's funny that you can get yourself in circles looking on line at reviews. Some sites saying there is a youth/drug issues, others saying the town centre is a dive, etc.. Seemed nice enough to me and I suppose as long as my car doesnt get keyed on my drive or my house doesnt get broken into, then it's not really an issue!
Some good driving roads nearby would be nice too.
Good to hear that the train isnt too crazy - I was probably going to opt for the earlier train (7:19) as it's quicker and I then have to get across the city to my office - but it sounds like even then, there are seats if you stay towards the back end of the train.
It's funny that you can get yourself in circles looking on line at reviews. Some sites saying there is a youth/drug issues, others saying the town centre is a dive, etc.. Seemed nice enough to me and I suppose as long as my car doesnt get keyed on my drive or my house doesnt get broken into, then it's not really an issue!
Some good driving roads nearby would be nice too.
Sooooo many options.
I think that I've knocked the St Neots idea on the head. I've heard some pretty damning things from trusted sources about the development I was looking at and the "calibre" of the occupants in the housing association allocated properties - something about overflow from oxmoor in Huntingdon and lots of police incidents already.
While I know that there are bad elements in any town and a bad estate in Huntingdon or similar are likely to pale in comparison to Moss Side and the like, it's not a risk I'm willing to take. I dont want to be stuck with a property that will be hard to resell and have my car targeted my mindless thugs for no other reason than their purile enjoyment.
Trying not to get into too much of a rant about the frankly ridiculous policy of the government forcing house builders to allocate a certain percentage of their houses to HA. Whilst I know that there are lots of people in HA that are perfectly fine, it only takes a few bad apples...
Anyway - change in criteria - pre-owned houses only - still with max ceiling of 250K. Locations under consideration are now Milton Keynes (West - areas like Loughton, Shenley, etc.. ) and Biggleswade. Also going to start looking at Baldock and Leighton Buzzard - any thoughts on those?
I think that I've knocked the St Neots idea on the head. I've heard some pretty damning things from trusted sources about the development I was looking at and the "calibre" of the occupants in the housing association allocated properties - something about overflow from oxmoor in Huntingdon and lots of police incidents already.
While I know that there are bad elements in any town and a bad estate in Huntingdon or similar are likely to pale in comparison to Moss Side and the like, it's not a risk I'm willing to take. I dont want to be stuck with a property that will be hard to resell and have my car targeted my mindless thugs for no other reason than their purile enjoyment.
Trying not to get into too much of a rant about the frankly ridiculous policy of the government forcing house builders to allocate a certain percentage of their houses to HA. Whilst I know that there are lots of people in HA that are perfectly fine, it only takes a few bad apples...
Anyway - change in criteria - pre-owned houses only - still with max ceiling of 250K. Locations under consideration are now Milton Keynes (West - areas like Loughton, Shenley, etc.. ) and Biggleswade. Also going to start looking at Baldock and Leighton Buzzard - any thoughts on those?
A quick update for anyone interested, I've just put in a final offer on a place on the Love's Farm development in St Neots. Think that it will be accepted and really like the property.
While the development I mentioned in an earlier post had put me off that particular place, I still think St Neots represents a good option for me with fast trains into London, close enough to other transport links (A1, A14) for visiting family and friends and I just got a good vibe from the town.
Zippee - your enthusiasm for your town is infectious. Once I'm in you'll have to show me the good driving roads around the area.
While the development I mentioned in an earlier post had put me off that particular place, I still think St Neots represents a good option for me with fast trains into London, close enough to other transport links (A1, A14) for visiting family and friends and I just got a good vibe from the town.
Zippee - your enthusiasm for your town is infectious. Once I'm in you'll have to show me the good driving roads around the area.
My new place is on the SE corner of Love Farm - The Runnells. I was a little nervous about the development, but there seems to be a very active community group with nothing but positive vibes and comments coming from it. Given that the footbridge into the station is also due to be completed soon, it was just too convenient to pass up.
I've exchanged contracts and due to complete next Wednesday, moving in on Thursday. Very excited and cannot wait to get back into my own house again after 5 years of renting.
I've exchanged contracts and due to complete next Wednesday, moving in on Thursday. Very excited and cannot wait to get back into my own house again after 5 years of renting.
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