Relocation Advice

[ThePlanner]

Hi looking for some advice on relocation/buying property

I have been working in the middle east for 5-6 years and am looking to return to the UK. I am looking for a 4/5 bed house within a reasonable commute to London. The commute can be anything up to 1hr on the train, so the house will be within a reasonable distance to the station.

Which places would be nice commuter towns within a 1-hour train ride to London. Reading/High Wycombe are obvious choices but my budget doesn't stretch to a 5 bed house, so now widened my search to be within 1-hour of London.

I already have a house in Knaphill (Woking), but my ex-wife lives there with kids, I am trying to avoid Woking/Guildford Camberley area as a place to live, but will need easy travel to the area to see kids. Primary and Secondary schools are also important as I would like my kids to move back in with me.

Thanks for any pointers

[ThePlanner]

Dizeee said:

How near to the station would you need to live - we are in Frimley so 2.3 miles from Farnborough station, keeps us out of Farnborough but near enough to use the station. Also near to Woking and Guildford without being in them.

I just want to be any near my Ex-Wife! so want to be a good 30minutes away.

[ThePlanner]

ALawson said:

Website such as these can visually show you what you want to know.

https://www.locrating.com/commutingmap.aspx

There are a few others.

Thanks for the Link Very useful!

[ThePlanner]

Mr Tidy said:

Shame OP - Woking is a good place to base a rail commute to London.

But it may depend on which part of London you commute to - when I lived in Sutton, Victoria worked well for me but other London stations may have been less convenient.

Woking would be ideal, but the exclusion list that I have at the moment is

Woking, Guildford, Farnborough, Camberley.


The best bit is I have not accepted an offer yet. But the job I a looking to accept is around Fitzroy Street.

[ThePlanner]

Welshbeef said:

Op what is the 5 bed house budget as these areas can be notably different.

My Budget is 600k-650k. It could be higher but I don't want to expose myself to risk as I have to pay the mortgage on my ex-wife's house.

To be honest I am happy with a 90-minute door to door commute. My previous door to door commute from Woking was 60 minutes, I am happy with the increase to get a better location.

Welshbeef said:

Op where in London do you work?
Reason for asking being is it quicker arriving in Paddington or Waterloo?

That’s a starter to narrow it down - no one likes commuting time so it should register as being important.

My preferred offer is around Fitzroy street.

Edited by ThePlanner on Sunday 18th February 05:14

[ThePlanner]

Dizeee said:

Your exclusion area is huge - suerely your ex can't be at all the places at once?

No, she cant but want to avoid any conflict or potential revenge etc

[ThePlanner]

liner33 said:

Most people from here tend to use the train from Didcot-Paddington rather than Newbury, but not good links for where the OP's kids are

Kids will be staying with me at weekends (Friday evening to Sunday Evening).

[ThePlanner]

Thanks all for the input, I am back in the UK in 3 weeks time for house hunting.

I can up the budget, I want a realistic mortgage. I will get an end of service allowance when I leave my current job, but this can take upwards of 6 months to be paid, so I don't want to overstretch the budget!

My short list is

• High Wycombe
• Twyford
• Bicester (But stretching the commute a bit too far)

[ThePlanner]

Welshbeef said:

Given your looking at Twyford what about

Wargrave
Hurst
Chervil
Sonning
Playhatch

Thanks my relocation is currently on hold, ex wife is delaying the consent order. So I am not buying a property until this has been approved by court!