Relocation Advice

Author
Discussion

ThePlanner

Original Poster:

5,252 posts

274 months

Monday 12th February 2018
quotequote all
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

davek_964

9,301 posts

182 months

Monday 12th February 2018
quotequote all
Camberley wouldn't be ideal for you anyway since it doesn't have a direct line to London.

Farnborough does, although I wouldn't choose to live there.

How about Fleet? Direct line - although you might find prices are not too far behind places like Guildford.

ALawson

7,857 posts

258 months

Monday 12th February 2018
quotequote all
I am Fleet, prices are high but then again its the best place in the whole country don't you know......

If you are thinking about using Winchfield or Hook then there is a SWT consultation at the moment about reducing trains in the morning and evenings. You may want to see what that means before committing to those locations.

Farnham is nice but the service a little slower.

Someone from work travels from Winchester which is quite a fast service.

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

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

There are a few others.

ThePlanner

Original Poster:

5,252 posts

274 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I just want to be any near my Ex-Wife! so want to be a good 30minutes away.


ThePlanner

Original Poster:

5,252 posts

274 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
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!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

205 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
How about Cholsey it’s on the mainline and an Oxfordshire postcode. Village life etc.
5 beds seem to be £750+

Frimley111R

15,989 posts

241 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
quotequote all
You may be near a station but aim for the main ones. If you're near a smaller one like Frimley for example (yes, I know its not the commuter route) the only trains will be the all stop ones.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

205 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
You may be near a station but aim for the main ones. If you're near a smaller one like Frimley for example (yes, I know its not the commuter route) the only trains will be the all stop ones.
Good point.
If you want to like in Henley on Thames it’s a stop at Twyford then a change to Henley.

But live in / around Reading EVERY train stops there so you have so much choice

Mr Tidy

24,348 posts

134 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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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. laugh

edc

9,315 posts

258 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
I lived in Knaphill, then Woking, then Frimley Green now Farnborough. If you need quick ish trains to Waterloo and accessible to Woking at best value then Farnborough is ok. The town itself is a bit basic but there are plenty of nicer housing parts around. If you want to be walkable to the station then your choices are limited obviously but I'm around a 20-25 min walk away so of course used that as an excuse to buy a moped. Quicker than a car to and from the station and free parking. Cost covered in less than one years car park charges.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

205 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
Op what is the 5 bed house budget as these areas can be notably different.

Frimley111R

15,989 posts

241 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
edc said:
I lived in Knaphill, then Woking, then Frimley Green now Farnborough.
As someone who is also moving this year, I'd be interested in how you felt these areas compared.

edc

9,315 posts

258 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
As someone who is also moving this year, I'd be interested in how you felt these areas compared.
Ross give me a call or we can meet for a beer if you want.

F355GTS

3,745 posts

262 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
Some fast trains to and from Newbury to Paddington, around 55 mins and prices in this area are somewhat cheaper than Reading.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

205 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
F355GTS said:
Some fast trains to and from Newbury to Paddington, around 55 mins and prices in this area are somewhat cheaper than Reading.
Newbury to Reading is getting electrified next phase.

However the frequency of non stop to Paddington isn’t that great so it’s a slow train to reading then change so a fair amount of time door to door.
Newbury race course guarentees traffic hell fairly often

Compton or Hamsted Norris’s are good.

edc

9,315 posts

258 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
Pros and cons for all places depending on your age and needs.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

205 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
quotequote all
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.

ThePlanner

Original Poster:

5,252 posts

274 months

Sunday 18th February 2018
quotequote all
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. laugh
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

Original Poster:

5,252 posts

274 months

Sunday 18th February 2018
quotequote all
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

Frimley111R

15,989 posts

241 months

Monday 19th February 2018
quotequote all
edc said:
Frimley111R said:
As someone who is also moving this year, I'd be interested in how you felt these areas compared.
Ross give me a call or we can meet for a beer if you want.
Hi Ed. Sorry missed you user name there! Will PM you