When they got married, Amanda and Hugo Snell were keen to get out of the rental trap and buy a house of their own.
asserted
Snell → marry → own
The couple were paying £1,800 a month for a one-bedroom flat in Putney and it didn’t take much research for them to realise that if they wanted more space — and a garden — they weren’t going to be able to stay local.
asserted
they → pay → space
“It was the perfect move for us,” says Hugo, 32.
asserted
Hugo → say → us
“There is nothing we miss about London because we are so close we don’t have to miss out on anything.”
asserted
we → be → anything
New research by estate agent Savills highlights the best towns and villages which have their own train stations and are an easy commute from London — Soho within an hour, plus no train changes to navigate after a night out — and also offer access to beautiful open countryside.
asserted
which → highlight → countryside
, these sweet-spot locations could be the perfect solution for buyers who love London but are struggling with affordability and a yearning for more open space:
uncertain
who → love → space
From 37 minutes to Euston
Season ticket: £5,544pa
Average price: £923,000
Encircled by the 324 square miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, and with the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate on the doorstep, the market town of Tring offers as much open space as you could wish for.
uncertain
you → encircle → space
The College Lake Nature Reserve is a tranquil wildlife haven, and if you are feeling more active you can tackle the 173-mile Chilterns Cycleway.
asserted
you → feel → Cycleway
Back in town, the high street is filled with independent shops, cafés, bars and restaurants.
asserted
street → fill → shops
There is a good regular farmers’ market, where you can sample apple juice from local orchards, or local honey.
asserted
you → be → orchards
Before the pandemic around a quarter of those looking for a home to buy who came to Paul Swindlehurst, a partner at Michael Anthony estate agents, were moving out of London.
asserted
who → look → London
During the race for space this accelerated to 95 per cent.
asserted
this → accelerate → cent
“That has settled down now but still 60 to 65 per cent of buyers are moving out of London,” he says.
asserted
he → settle → London
These buyers are mostly young couples and families drawn by value for money and great schools — there is a choice of primary schools and a local senior school, all rated “good” by Ofsted.
asserted
all → draw → Ofsted
The good thing about Tring, says Swindlehurst, is how compact it is.
asserted
it → say → Tring
“If you walk 15 minutes from the high street in any direction you are out of town.
asserted
you → walk → town
In town you could head to Silk Mill, an enclave of spacious 1970s council houses where a three-bedroom property would cost you about £375,000.
uncertain
property → head → 375,000
If you have a bit more to spend you could head to the posher east side of town where a similar-sized period house would cost around £400,000 to £450,000.
uncertain
house → have → 450,000
This is a big, busy village, with two pubs, a choice of three primary schools and a highly regarded senior school.
asserted
This → regard → schools
The conservation area high street is filled with pubs, restaurants, cafés and bakeries.
asserted
street → fill → pubs
There are more than 40 different clubs to join to embed yourself in the local community, whether you fancy honing your gardening skills with the horticultural society or playing tennis.
asserted
you → be → tennis
The town puts on a New Year’s firework display and for a bit of culture, Ingatestone Hall, a fabulous Tudor mansion, has a summer outdoor theatre (heavy on Shakespeare).
asserted
Hall → put → Shakespeare
The village is surrounded by farmland and you can walk along the river Widd, explore Mill Green Common, or take a longer hike to the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre to admire the birdlife.
asserted
you → surround → birdlife
Proximity to the Essex coast means you could also enjoy the golden sands of Southend-on-Sea or the quieter charm of Mersea Island.
uncertain
you → mean → Island
Claire Jones and her husband Paul were on the fringes of London and Essex when they took the plunge and moved right out.
asserted
they → take → plunge
With their two teenagers in tow, they exchanged a four-bedroom semi in Gidea Park for a four-bedroom, detached modern house with a huge wraparound garden in October 2020.
asserted
they → exchange → October
“We wanted a break from the hustle and bustle of London,” explains Claire, 49.
asserted
Claire → want → London
“We were also attracted by the schools.
asserted
We → attract → schools
you can walk in countryside as far as the eye can see.
asserted
eye → walk → countryside
There’s also so much to do, it’s very active in terms of clubs, sports, and arts.
asserted
it → ’ → clubs
The move was less about affordability — the Ingatestone house cost £ 1million and the London house sold for around £600,000 — but about lifestyle.
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house → cost → lifestyle
And from that perspective Claire is delighted.
asserted
Claire → delight → perspective
She commutes to work in Canary Wharf, where she works in the environmental and climate fields.
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she → commute → fields
Paul, 51, is an environmental scientist based in Romford.
asserted
Paul → base → Romford
In her spare time Claire runs a gardening education business running workshops and talks (@BeneaththeMaples), loves open-water swimming at nearby Luxborough Lakes, and is a member of the village ladies’ cricket team.
asserted
Claire → run → team
Paul volunteers as a scout leader and has joined the local cycling club.
asserted
Paul → volunteer → club
“It has had a massive positive impact on our wellbeing,” says Claire.
asserted
Claire → have → wellbeing
“Our children have so much more freedom growing up in a village environment.
asserted
children → have → environment
The phrase it takes a village to raise a child has never been more true.”
asserted
it → take → child
Witley
Key stats
From 56 minutes to Waterloo.
Season ticket: £5,096.
Average price: £776,220.
With the Surrey Hills on one side and the South Downs on the other, the Surrey village of Witley is sandwiched by quality countryside.
asserted
village → sandwich → countryside
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
