Recommended towns outside of London

Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, has a lovely market-town feel and also the benefit of two train stations. One goes into Liverpool Street and the other to Moorgate. About 40 minutes on the Moorgate line.

I used to live in Cambridgeshire. The A14 and M11 start to get busy about 4.30am! I suspect that other commuter motorways are similar.

Franbern, thanks, Buckhurst Hill is lovely. I'm moving away next year, though, as my children have settled further out!

will run which will run! That'll teach me to chat to DH while I'm typing!

A thing to watch out for near Aylesbury is where the route of HS2 will run which will run.

The countryside to the west of Aylesbury is glorious with lots of lovely walks. And Waddeston Manor.

My DD1 lives west of Aylesbury and my DGDs are doing well at their schools and they still take the 11+ in Buckinghamshire, although its optional. DGD1 decided not to put herself through it as she wasn't likely to pass (she thought).

Thame is over the border in Oxfordshire and is really lovely and in a good school catchment area. Haddenham Primary school is much desired I believe,. I think, like most country schools, most of the village primary schools are Church of England voluntary aided. There's also a very good riding stables (Hartwell stables, at Westlington)!

North and West are both fine, thanks

I’ve always liked the look of Thame when I’ve driven through - lovely town centre. Also nearby Wendover seems very nice and has its own railway station. I thought we were originally looking to the North of London.

Regarding Thame, it's also probably worth mentioning it has a very good commuting station in Great Haddenham nearby, which is on the Chiltern Line running between Birmingham and London, my son tells me, from there you can be in Marylebone in less than 40 minutes. Although not so important right now!

Thanks for the advice on checking schools, Ellianne!

Thame in Oxfordshire or around Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. I lived near Thame some years ago and commuting to London was fairly easy. Lots of lovely places, Kent is a beautiful county too.

If they go on rightmove and see a property they like Philippa they can then press the local schools button and it gives a list. I think it says whether they are outstanding, good, or worse!

Wow! I am SO out of touch with life in the UK!
I think my son and DiL would prefer good quality state schools but haven't discussed it with them

It goes very quickly! Just giving you the heads up. You have to register for good private schools the day you conceive or the places have gone!

I don't think they have thought that far ahead!
Berkhamsted also looks interesting - any thoughts on there?

Hoping to have kids.
That's a consideration for schools. Can I ask private or state? The area where the cousins live is slap bang around some very good independent schools.

Aylesbury is looking like an interesting option which we had not considered before - prices seem significantly lower than St Albans or Amersham so they'd get more for their budget.
Does anyone have input on that location?
Good for a young couple hoping to have kids?
The commute is clearly going to be longer than from St. Albans but we are weighing up all the pros and cons.
Thanks for any thoughts

Thanks Juliet - they are hoping to settle somewhere in the north/west side of London because of accessibility to all of our family who live on that side (Finchley, Mill Hill, Stanmore, Bushey) - they don't want to be in the city and prefer a country-feel, but they do want to be able to drive in to meet up with cousins etc. in a reasonable time-frame (at weekends mostly I imagine)

Although that’s probably too far south

Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells

geekesse, that's absolutely right and they do plan to rent first, but it probably makes sense to have an idea of areas so they'd look to rent in an area they might want to buy... allowing themselves time to check it out of course.
Thanks!

They would be wise to rent for a while so that they have time to look around possible areas. Each of the locations suggested has its own pros and cons, and although on paper certain places look like a good idea, they may not suit your son and DiL and their family. £800k is a lot to spend on a big mistake!

Hampton is lovely but I'm not sure what you'd get for C£800,000 there now.
It had a village-like feel but near enough for commuting and there is good shopping in Kingston. Lots of open spaces in Bushy Park and Hampton Court Park.

Savills not Davila

Sorry not Savilles but Sparrows. I remember wooden floorboards and the smell of paraffin. Davila’s was the green grocery.

Savilles