So it has become apparent I am never going to get the money together for a mortgage living in London (Zone 4 - I know, how dare I?)
Where is good out of London that would see my rent drop to something reasonable that I could ride in to Zone 1 within, lets say, an hour?
Who is making it work at the moment?
Do you want South, North, East or West?
I rented for a while in Epsom… I was going to buy there but ended up moving to Sussex for a job and bought there. A bit dead and ‘old’ but nice enough, close to the surrey roads, and the green lanes and close enough to drive and train into London.
For a bit ‘younger’ could try Kingston, if prices haven’t skyrocketed.
I’m now living in Haywards Heath but that is not a commute (into London) I could do every day…
Ah man. I’m sick of London.
I looked out into Kent and Surrey. Some lovely houses for the money. You have to factor commuting costs though.
I think shopping and infustracture is great out of London nowadays and the quality of life is ten times better.
If it we’re me I’d look around (but not actually) Maidstone. Epsom is a good call to.
Horses for courses though.
Honestly, I don’t mind that much. I grew up around Kingston so not crazy to move there as it has taken a bit of a dive in recent years…I suspect its not much cheaper either.
Epsom could be worth looking at - I could deal with somewhere a bit ‘old’ right now. Partying is no longer a priority.
Why couldn’t you commute from Haywards - distance? Or just a sh*tty route?
Yep really traps you.
I’ve bought in zone 2 and paid my mortgage off now. Got two kids in secondary, if I didn’t I’d really be pressuring the missus to move.
I’m at Addlestone near chertsey/woking/weybridge. Relatively affordable and commute ranges from 1hr to 1:20hr on average. Was able to commute on a 125, which cost me £6 in petrol for 4 days commuting…
Everywhere seems pretty expensive 
If public transport isn’t needed ever, you could look around Biggin Hill. Quite a nice area (houses are fairly cheap so I imagine rent will be) and country-side on the doorstep, but you will rely on bike/car/walking a lot.
Try using the search by travel time function on zoopla. If you really have no idea where you want to start looking, then using the filters and max travel time to your place of work will give you an idea of the differences in areas and what you get for your quids.
I moved out of London (tooting) to just the other side of Epsom about 14 months ago and haven’t looked back - partying isn’t a consideration for me because I have a 2 year old daughter and another on the way.
As Nich mentioned, if you don’t need to be on the train you can get a bargain - I looked at a few places around Biggin Hill before choosing Ashtead but the public transport situation wouldn’t have worked for my wife.
A few places around wharlingham/woldingham were cheaper but the areas didn’t really appeal - there didn’t seem to be anything in the way of shops etc near the stations. Oxted was nice and we nearly moved there before realising that there was no childcare available.
I used to live in Whyteleafe (near Warlingham) and there wasn’t much of a high street, but then I worked near Oxford St so had plenty of shops available during the week! <35 mins by train to Victoria or London Bridge and the rent was cheap (this was a few years back mind).
“Why couldn’t you commute from Haywards - distance? Or just a sh*tty route?”
both really… would take quite a long time and it’s all in the a23 which is a right ball ache… but I goy a job in Hove so it all worked out
what bothered me with Epsom wasn’t the lack of clubbing, it was the lack of anything remotely interesting. The pepole living there just seem to have given up… it’s not that different to Haywards heath but there’s a couple of nice bars here and Brighton is close
Check the insurance postcode inter webby wotsit and work from there http://www.motorcarinsuranceuk.co.uk/post-code-ratings.php
When we looked it was apparent that anything commutable to London in that time would nett out about the same once you factor in a slightly cheaper mortgage but add in more travel costs.
We ended up 20 miles the other side of Oxford.
It isn’t quite commutable to London, although people still do it.
High Wycombe or Bracknell Not bad.
I’ve heard of people commuting by bike from coventry to London
I have a mate that commutes from Ipswich. He moved from Essex because of the house prices. However the commute is proving too much and he’s leaving his job and finding one up there instead.
A guy I used to work with came in from Luton. He said that wasn’t too bad at all.
The only thing that would worry me living far out is if you don’t ride and and your train line goes down it would be a buggar getting home.
I have a mate that commutes from Ipswich. He moved from Essex because of the house prices. However the commute is proving too much and he's leaving his job and finding one up there instead.Ipswich is in SuffolkA guy I used to work with came in from Luton. He said that wasn’t too bad at all.
The only thing that would worry me living far out is if you don’t ride and and your train line goes down it would be a buggar getting home.
DrWhooligan
Luton’s quite a good shout as long as you can deal with the extremists. the M1 is 4 lanes most of the way into London.
