Where's nice to live in the UK?

[Olly]

Had heard good things about St Albans from a colleague living there.
Looking at the property sites, even £300K doesn't get much there so looks like a no go.

W.T.F. happened to this property crash, I could really use it.

[DiscoStu]

Had heard good things about St Albans from a colleague living there.
Looking at the property sites, even £300K doesn't get much there so looks like a no go.

W.T.F. happened to this property crash, I could really use it.

Welwyn Garden City's quite nice, and more affordable if you're looking at that part of the world.

[SueEllen]

W.T.F. happened to this property crash, I could really use it.

The type of property you want and the areas you want to live in haven't really had a property crash.

It's the studio flats and small new build properties in city centres that no one wants.

[mudskipper]

Ah ..yes I remember that too, locals favouring Reading for a night out or at least saying they did. Hmm, well I'd need £300K in Reading and it's a longer journey to London isn't it?

One big plus about B'stoke is a house inside the ring road is walking distance to the station. There's little in Reading that close. Did a day's house hunting there and walking around last year. The centre really didn't light my fire and I'm guessing it's a battle ground at night. I had some romantic notion there'd be a tinge of Winchester to it....there isn't.

I think Reading to Paddington is only 20 mins if you get the right train.

[Lockhouse]

Not read the whole thread, but Winchester is very nice - much nicer than Basingstoke IMVHO.

[Gibbon]

The best place in the country is in the Yorkshire golden triangle, basically North Leeds, Harrogate and York.

HTH

[Wilmslow]

What about Wilmslow?

I am selling a 2 bed semi for around £200K

That aside - it is jut less than 2 hours from London be a direct non stop train, ideal for contracting mid-week and loafing around with the Cheshire set at the weekends.

Close to Manchester airport, also extremely commutable for a shed load of contracts from Carlisle to midlands, Liverpool / Chester over to Leeds, all daily commutes.

You will get a nice place for your £250K in a good area, no re-selling problems.

Just avoid any local mafia spots / neighbours with a fettish over tree leaves......

[ChimpMaster]

Towards Kent, some nice areas just outside of Gravesend with a fast (new) train service from Ebbsfleet to Kings Cross in 20 minutes. Or from Greenhithe (Blue Water) to Cannon St in 45 minutes.

Not sure about social life around there though, but what I have experienced is more 'local' pubbing and restaurants and not the glammed up poor quality London / outer London ones that I put up with regularly.

[norrahe]

What about Wilmslow?

I am selling a 2 bed semi for around £200K

You can get a 4 bed detached (and not one of those shoebox types) with a nice garden for that where I am.

[DodgyAgent]

Right, I've got a house deposit saved up and want to buy ....preferably under the 250K stamp duty limit but I can go to perhaps 280.
Perhaps you esteemed chaps/esses could help me figure some places in the UK to live?

Ok what am I after?

1. spacious place with 2 double beds and a box room
2. semi is ok, not terraced
3. sizeable garage (preferably double detached) or space to build one since my hobbies are motorbikes and making stuff.
4. close to civilisation, being able to walk to lively pubs with late opening a bonus but ideallly no further than an affordable taxi or night bus.
5. now the crunch. Commutable to contract employment! This probably means accessible for London doesn't it? Other big cities definitely considered.

Ok so where have I looked so far?

Basingstoke: ticks a lot of boxes but right at top of budget or beyond to escape the chav areas (of which there are many).

Maidenhead: Had a nasty vibe to it, great links to London but just a bit spread out...on paper a clear winner, in reality there's a reason you can get a place for 250K there.

Reading: Long commute but doable(ish), will have to search to get something in budget but a strong contender.

Southampton: Budget sufficient, coast close, long commute.

Bournemouth: Friends there, lovely place, pricey to be close the sea/centre, huge commute, but at least a small chance of local jobs. Damn I wish I had financial or insurance experience.

That's about it so far...I like Winchester but need another 50 or 100K. Frimley is a possibility too but I guess price a barrier also.

So, any ideas? Wildcards welcome, Chester was an option, especially as I had an interview at Shell there a few months ago.

Thanks

Are you conforming to the Geek stereotype of having no friends, no family and no roots?