Any great commuter towns in Kent/Sussex?

[langleybabe]

I'm really struggling and could do with help! I've been searching for over a year for somewhere to move to in Kent/Sussex so we can be nearer the coast (currently in Herts) and get more property for our money. It's now the cause of major rows in our house as eldest DS goes into year 5 soon and we wanted to move before big school. We were looking all over the south east but DH has now decided he doesn't want his commute any longer than 45 minutes as it's currently 20 minutes into London where we are. Which means all my research has been a waste of time if he can't stretch to an hour on a train I don't know where to begin. We were looking at Horsham but he now says that commute is too long so I'm despairing as well as not talking to him anymore. Thanks.

[Polonium]

Where in London does he work?

[katcatkat]

Where in london does your dh work as this makes a big difference. Whats your opinion on the 11+ as with a y5 child in kent its a definite issue you need to think about.

[katcatkat]

Where in london does your dh work as this makes a big difference. Whats your opinion on the 11+ as with a y5 child in kent its a definite issue you need to think about.

[langleybabe]

He's a consultant so can be placed anywhere, as long as he gets into a fairly big London station like Victoria or London Bridge that's fine.

[langleybabe]

I guess if we did go to Kent then we'd try for the 11plus but we'd need to know there was a fairly decent back up option available as I don't want to rely on him getting through it!

[katcatkat]

Kent has the high speed link so many towns are within your travel times. the 11 plus is top 20% but backup options can be not too great.

[Polonium]

Lanleybabe I would give Kent a big swerve because of its polarising school system. In any case, the nice towns are just similarly expensive to Herts. And the cheaper bits are cheap for good reason. Ashford has very fast commuting into St Pancras. You would likely get a lot of house for your money there. But ...

I'd personally rather live in a nice place in a smaller house, than a horrible place in a mansion.

[forago]

tell him to get a grip. There's no practical difference between a 45 min commute and a 1 hr commute. And a 1 hr commute on a single train where he starts near the beginning and get a seat and use his laptop is preferable to a 45 min commute on a more crowded train, where you can't sit down or use your laptop, or have to change trains.

I am also a consultant going into Victoria or London bridge and anywhere that goes through east croydon is good as gives you flexibility to go to either station.

[Polonium]

Where in Herts do you live? Is it possible we could tempt you to stay? What is it you don't like about where you live?

Do you want to be near the coast for a particular reason? Do you sail?

I grew up on the Suffolk coast. I find it beautiful but I wouldn't want to raise my children there.

[langleybabe]

We're in St Albans, and we always wanted a bit of land, some chickens etc etc! And there's no way we can get it here, it just doesn't exist. Also it would be great to be able to get to the coast for a day trip which we can't do here, and be nearer some decent countryside like the south/north downs.

[langleybabe]

p.s. I've tried telling him to get a grip but he just won't budge. Basically he's had it too good with the commute here I guess, and is used to it, but I used to commute for 50 minutes when I was younger and it's what you get used to eh.

[forago]

15 minutes!!! it's nothing! does he get a seat at St Albans? I'd trade a seat and being able to use my laptop every time for having to leave the house a measly 15 mins earlier.

[Polonium]

I love St Albans. I know that isn't helpful.

What's your budget? Is your house on the market or are you in rented?

How much land do you want? How many bedrooms? What sort of thing are you looking for and how much do you have to spend? Because that will dictate where you can live.

[langleybabe]

Yep everyone loves St A! Just been here a while now and am a bit bored! Have 3 boys, want them to run free! We looking for 4 bed plus, could sell our house in a weekend due to the dmand here and looking at about a million to spend.

[Polonium]

It's always the case that you can sell quickly in St Albans. Apparently it's always the last place in the UK for prices to fall and the first to rise.

So genuine question, since you've been looking for a while. Are you finding that properties in Kent/Sussex are now relatively more expensive than when you were looking a year ago?

Do you want an old house or a new house? And in a village or town or out on its own? How much land?

[langleybabe]

Yep, prices have gone up but still not so much that we can't make the break for a bigger place with an acre or two. Not really into new houses, and don't want to be completely isolated as I want the boys to still be able to access a town when they are older for their own needs.

[Floralnomad]

There are lots of lovely properties with land in the villages around Maidstone and Faversham - don't think the commute is too bad from either .

[Polonium]

You can't really get to near the coast with a 45 min door to door commute.

Tunbridge Wells (but is basically St Albans in Kent, no?), Tonbridge, Sevenoaks? As soon as you go to a village outside of those places you are adding 20 minutes to your commute though.

I like Tenterden but the commute is too long for MrLangleybabe innit?

[Polonium]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47502995.html?premiumA=true

You could keep chickens in this house. Next to one of the best primary schools and best secondary schools in the country. It's also right next to the Nickey Line which is a footpath/cycle path that you can cycle or walk on that takes you directly to the open countryside or into town. It's a 15 min walk to the station. And a lovely lovely town with masses going on.

And it could be a gorgeous house with lots of extension potential.

Everyone who leaves St Albans for more space goes to Harpenden.

PS the house is nothing to do with me or anyone I know. But I know the area v well.

[Polonium]

Faversham appears to be 69 minutes into Victoria. Which seems very long.

www.commuterguide.co.uk/counties/kent/faversham#.VAJDS1xOd69

[enriquetheringbearinglizard]

To meet with your dreams langley I think DH has to be a bit less rigid.

For examples, an hour - hour ten on the train could yield something with this much space and land, maybe tennis and swimming, plus not too far to nip down to the coast for even half a day. Running free/spacious properties would be like
LINK
LINK
LINK Examples not known to me personally just as a guide for price.

It's all about the scenic area/coast/space and size -v- commute ration for your £££ really.

My DD lives and works in London and at the moment because of the tube situation it's taking her two hours door to door. It takes my DH an hour twenty five minutes from here but that includes a brisk walk that means he doesn't need to go to the gym so that's win/win and time saved in our book.

We used to live within a five mile drive of work for both of us so it was quite a change, but well worth it and we never want to move.
The secret is to find out what's really going to work for both of you as well as your family.

[Polonium]

enrique - some of those properties are gorgeous. The countryside round there is very pretty. I particularly like the Mayfield one but the commute would be horrendous and actually it only has 0.4 acre of land. I live in town and have 0.35 acres. And the garden is terraced which makes it less useable.

I would imagine you have to be scrupulously disciplined about the reasons you are moving and actually fulfil them. I would just get seduced by a pretty Georgian house and hang the practicalities.

Langley - does your other half want to move? Is he going to keep throwing grenades as to why this and that can't work?

[enriquetheringbearinglizard]

That's all very true Polonium, I threw in the Mayfield one because of the village facilities, outstanding beauty of the area and the views, plus it's detached with a top floor bedroom suite and games room above the garage.

I don't think the commute's bad at all, but as I said that's compared to my zone 2 DD who works in London and has much less space and no chance of nipping to the coast on a lunchtime whim. It's often not about the mileage, but the reality of the journey. I suppose that's true of travelling into any city really and it really does depend on the person making the journey, if they can use that time or if they resent it.

You're right, you really do need to know not only yourself, but your whole family and the realities of where you choose to live.
If I had a pound for everyone on Escape to the Country who wanted a bit of land to grow their own veggies/keep chickens, goats, alpacas whatever, I could have homes in the town and country My reality is produce stolen by wildlife and chickens at risk from marauding foxes at any given time
As they say one (wo)man's pain is another's pleasure

Have to admit, that I'm slightly obsessed about houses being on higher ground than the garden since all the floods That's something else to keep in mind.

[langleybabe]

Thanks for all your comments. A few people I know have moved to Harpenden from here and have regretted it. I'm not too keen on just moving up the road.
DH is happy to move so long as he isn't spending hours travelling to/from work, but... he's equally happy to stay where we are. The onus is on me to find the right town and property to persuade him there are other lovely places to live!
We are going to look at some of the places that run along the top of the South Downs, starting with Horsham and Haywards Heath this weekend.
Here's hoping......