Johno's leaving London and needs advise ....

[johno]

Right, the time has come once more to get out of the capital.

I knew it would happen once again. As much as I love the place I just get fed up with all the dickheads it contains, the cretinous governing we have and the down right ludicrous cost of even farting outside my front door.

I am now having to travel by every method known to man to get to work in Greendford from Surrey Quays and I've had enough !

Add to that some dickhead on a motorbike glanced the Griffiths passenger door at the Tower on Wednesday and very nearly killed him on the spot, if the lights hadn't changed I'd have caught hold of him and god knows what I would have done to him !

So dear PH friends, unknown friends, colleagues and all knowing bunch that you are I need the following advice ...

Going to need to move West of London, want to get outside of the M25 and somewhere along the M40 corridor. Will buy a cheap diesel to commute in to Greenford in everyday and wondered where would be a nice area....

Needs ...

To be a small town preferably
Good Pubs
Train Station preferable
Access to good roads
Access to more good roads
Access to outstanding roads
Good shopping
Good restaurants

etc etc etc

Cheers

Mark

[johnmckenzie]

Henley - on - Thames sounds like it would fit the bill, or maybe Marlow

Regards

John

[plotloss]

Anything around J6 is lovely, but still expensive-ish.

J7 prices are creeping down but still quite high, same with J8.

J9 prices come down substantially, but then it is Bicester - loads of lovely villages around there though, try The Heyfords and out towards Buckingham.

J10 cheaper still, Brackley and Syresham both nice and sleepy.

J11 - Banbury, I wont comment.

Matt.

[madcop]

Try looking at Thame or Chinnor. Fantastic roads all around especially Thame to Bicester through Long Crendon. Thame is relatively OK on prices still and is a lovely old country market town 10 minutes drive to the M40 at either Junction 7 or Junction 6. Good pubs too.

[alunr]

Thame is quite nice - thats why I live there

[alunr]

madcop said: Try looking at Thame or Chinnor. Fantastic roads all around especially Thame to Bicester through Long Crendon. Thame is relatively OK on prices still and is a lovely old country market town 10 minutes drive to the M40 at either Junction 7 or Junction 6. Good pubs too.

Beat me to it.

The only problem with Chinnor is the total lack of good pubs and the public transport, if you want to venture out of Chinnor it is appauling. Taxi's are difficult to get out to there as well.

Theres lots of small villages around Thame but they get quite pricy. I believe Tiddington is'nt too bad price wise.

Thame boasts about 9 pubs ranging from "local people only" (you MUST have a limp at least to get in) to a hideous sports bar to a New World Wines & Sausages pub to the usual fullers type affairs.

We also have a really good Gym/sports centre/Swimming pool. Oh and the Kebab van is Excellent.

There seems to be plenty of TVR's, Lotus and Porsche in the area an I've not had any probs with my car here.

>> Edited by alunr on Monday 17th February 14:36

[dubaiguy]

Perth, Western Australia ..... fits the bill !

[mr_tony]

Johno, thame is nice (I have an office there) but it's a fair old drive up the M40 / round the M25. I'd aim for somewhere closer to the M40 / M25 interchange.

Perhaps Beaconsfield (j3) or even over my way chertsey/egham/staines/virginia water/englefield green?

[Podie]

How about one of the towns / villages around Guildford?

[s2ooz]

Lincoln. check the house prices!! there is a rumour in 6 months there opening a direct london train line - 1 hour trip, will boost house prices while your at it. profit too!!

[smifffy]

Johno,

Brighton fits the bill on most counts. I live in Hove which is 1 hour away on the train, has Brighton and all the nightlife you'd want close by, whilst Hove has reasonable pubs, quality South downs roads and is quite affordable in parts.

If you fancy living by the sea this is the place.

Thame is also nice, parents in law lived there for some time - but it is a bit "retirement belt" (sorry guys).

[roy c]

Wherever you move to, it will still take you ages to get to Greenford.
If I have to drive to work (Greenford) in the rush hour(s), it takes ages and I only live 5 miles away.

[alunr]

mr_tony said: Johno, thame is nice (I have an office there) but it's a fair old drive up the M40 / round the M25. I'd aim for somewhere closer to the M40 / M25 interchange.

I get to the Greenford turn off in less than an hour when I go into London at rush hour.

Mr Tony: Who do you work for/What company do you own?

[alunr]

smifffy said: Thame is also nice, parents in law lived there for some time - but it is a bit "retirement belt" (sorry guys).

I prefer to think of it as relaxed. I've always been a country lad though...

[whoozit]

madcop said: Try looking at Thame or Chinnor. Fantastic roads all around especially Thame to Bicester through Long Crendon.

Obviously that last one is a famous road. When I did a day of advanced bike training a couple of months ago, the trainer warned us as we came up to it that it was challenging

[robkola]

Beware Bicester is due for the Refugee centre . .

then again, if like me you lived in Bicester for a few years - Beirut during the 70's was more welcoming!



Bicester - the death knell for motorsport!

[chim_knee]

Johno,

I live near Beaconsfield (though not been here all that long) and have lived in Thame. If you want to mail me through my profile, I'll get my better half (who grew up around here) to have a think of places. Are you looking to rent or buy etc? Let me know - she's bound to have ideas!

Cheers,
Phil

[LisaG]

Windsor! Nice and handy for Virginia Water

Smallish town, loads of pubs, bars, restaurants, shops.

Two rail stations, one at the end of Waterloo line (45 mins)one connecting in to Paddington (30 mins).

By M4, 10 mins from M25, 15 from M40.

[MikeyT]

Windsor? Hope you're loaded then, you could buy my whole street for what you'd pay for a pad in Windsor!

Peterborough, in the middle of bloody nowhere - and on the road to Norwich, no less.

(and Kings Lynn)

[alisonh]

What about Iver (Bucks) or Denham (but avoid most of Uxbridge). Nearer A40 and although expensive, there are some affordable areas. I used to rent a great cottage (with a garage) in Iver backing on to fields, along a country lane with a pub at the end of the road. Shopping not so great though.