London suburbs? Herts, Surrey, Kent, etc

Hi all. After 7 yrs in London and 5 in Hampstead we've decided it's time to buy. However since we can't afford our dream pad in there, we have come to the realization we will probably need to move to the burbs. We're fine with that, but we really have no idea on areas outside of London or even outer London. We really would like somewhere similar to Hampstead or even a bit busier (love Richmond too). In my dream place we would have a fast link to London via train (maybe 1/2 hour?) and be able to walk the high street without relying on the car for day-to-day things like going for coffee or to the pub.

Some areas we've had recommended include Weybridge, Virginia Water, Surbiton, Epsom, Welwyn Garden City, and Bromley. I know nothing about those areas and are planning some wkends being spent in them, but I was hoping to get some advice from an American point of view. Any other recs would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

wow, no one has any advice for me? Did I post this in the wrong spot?

I have British friends that live in Barnes and New Malden, both are very nice areas.

We're in South Buckinghamshire - about a 35 min train ride to Marylebone. I absolutely hate it as our village over the past five years has just become a rich, snobby bedroom community for London workers, but if you're willing to go a bit further out than we are there are some gorgeous villages on our train line (Chiltern Railways). I like Princes Risborough and Haddenham/Thame in particular.

FWIW, Virginia Water and Surbiton are 2 completely different kettles of fish.  Virginia Water is about 25-30 min out from Waterloo and has trains TWICE an hour.  Surbiton is about 15 min about and has trains like every 10 minutes.

I've lived in Surbiton and lived in the next town over from Virginia Water.  Both nice places, but not really comparable in the way you're doing.

Umn...not really a Americans perspective ( Brit ) but my brother and his wife both work in the London area and they have owned a few properties away from the hustle and bustle.  Currently they live in West Byfleet, Surrey..which has a train which takes about 30/40 minutes to get into London.  Also have had family live in Ware, Wimbledon and Richmond....all very commutable and nice areas.  If I had a choice..I would live in Surrey or Ware...only because I find them sleepier towns..

No advice, but I'm pretty sure a suburban pad with a half-hour link to London is likely to be MORE expensive than buying in many parts of the city. I don't know this for a fact, but driving out of London, my other half is always saying, "you wouldn't believe how expensive these houses are" while we drive through drab little suburbs with good transportation connections.

Still, it's undoubtedly a buyer's market. You could get lucky.

FWIW, Virginia Water and Surbiton are 2 completely different kettles of fish.  Virginia Water is about 25-30 min out from Waterloo and has trains TWICE an hour.  Surbiton is about 15 min about and has trains like every 10 minutes.

I've lived in Surbiton and lived in the next town over from Virginia Water.  Both nice places, but not really comparable in the way you're doing.

yes, from my research it seems Surbiton is busier. I know they aren't really alike just trying to get some perspectives on different places from people who have actually lived there. Like do the people seem friendly, good restaurants and pubs, etc. An area not overrun by chavs would be nice too

We've lived in Hampstead for the past 5 yrs and really love it there, but can't afford anything more than a studio or crappy 1 bed there. We really are moving out so we could get something with at least 2 bds and we will rent in an area for 6 months or so first to make sure we actually could live there.

We're in South Buckinghamshire - about a 35 min train ride to Marylebone. I absolutely hate it as our village over the past five years has just become a rich, snobby bedroom community for London workers, but if you're willing to go a bit further out than we are there are some gorgeous villages on our train line (Chiltern Railways). I like Princes Risborough and Haddenham/Thame in particular.

I've read great things about South Bucks but never really known anyone who lives out there. Is that where Windsor is? Not really familiar with west of London burbs, but we did look into properties out there.

No advice, but I'm pretty sure a suburban pad with a half-hour link to London is likely to be MORE expensive than buying in many parts of the city. I don't know this for a fact, but driving out of London, my other half is always saying, "you wouldn't believe how expensive these houses are" while we drive through drab little suburbs with good transportation connections.

Still, it's undoubtedly a buyer's market. You could get lucky.

yes, but my dh is a born and bred londoner and is so picky on areas in London- like he thinks Wimbeldon is a dump, but I know people who live out there and love it. I think growing up in London, he became jaded with certain areas.


and to the above pp yes, I posted this one a few days ago and got no response so tried a new thread in the regular expat forum.

We just moved from a 1-bed flat in Finsbury Park to a 3-bed semi-detached house in a village outside Hitchin (Herts - 25 minutes to King's Cross) and so far we really like it.  People have been friendly, we haven't explored enough to say too much about pubs & restaurants, but the ones we've been to have been good, and the area seems to be pretty chav free. 

We've lived in Hampstead for the past 5 yrs and really love it there, but can't afford anything more than a studio or crappy 1 bed there. We really are moving out so we could get something with at least 2 bds and we will rent in an area for 6 months or so first to make sure we actually could live there.

If you love Hampstead, then move North, up to Finchley, Barnet or Southgate, so that you can still get easy access to the Heath in the summer.

Vicky

If you love Hampstead, then move North, up to Finchley, Barnet or Southgate, so that you can still get easy access to the Heath in the summer.

Vicky

Our only concern with staying in London on a tube line is commute times. It seems like the overgrounds are so much faster like Welwyn Garden City into Kings Cross taking 20 mins. Whereas moving further up the Northern Line it could take longer.

Would any of those areas be similar to Hampstead village? We always lived within a 5 min walk of the high street and heath street so we liked having the shops and restaurants right there.

Hampstead is pretty unique!  But I like Finchley lots.  It takes me 30 mins to get from East Finchley to St James' Park by tube, but if you are up by North Finchley you can also get a short bus ride to new Southgate and get the train into Moorgate in about 20 mins.

Vicky

Well him saying Wimbledon is a dump is like others saying Hempstead is full of gay people!  Thats a example of huge generalizations!.  I suppose it depends on individual taste on where you live.  All areas of London have good and bad areas..infact all areas and towns across the country have good and bad areas...just the way it goes. 

Renting in a nice area..has nothing to do with having good taste..when in reality..you can't afford to own your own home in that area....same as everyone else...reality has to hit at some point I am afraid.  He will have to compromise some areas.  I rent in a extremely nice area and get called a snob for living there....but could I afford to buy a house there?..answer..no...Do I want to pay dead money for years to come? No.....Will I have to move to a area thats not so trendy and fashionable? yes.

Also commutable distance adds expense in train and tube fairs so its swings and roundabouts sometimes.  You will have to investigate throughly.

Hope you find something you both like soon..