Recommendations on areas in London to buy a house

[Bunk]

Why would you want to live in London and still have an hour commute to the City or 90 minutes to Paddington?

The way I see it you either live outside of London, get more house for your money and have a long commute (1hr+), or you live in London, pay more for less, but you have a short commute (about 30 mins or less).

[OwlHoot]

The way I see it you either live outside of London, get more house for your money and have a long commute (1hr+), or you live in London, pay more for less, but you have a short commute (about 30 mins or less).

That's pretty much where I was coming from suggesting somewhere like Amersham (although no doubt there are places closer).

But it's rapidly getting to the point where there will be no flats in centralish London for under half a million. So for first time buyers, without a big handout or legacy from mater and pater, the hour long commute will soon be the only option.

[scooterscot]

But it's rapidly getting to the point where there will be no flats in centralish London for under half a million. So for first time buyers, without a big handout or legacy from mater and pater, the hour long commute will soon be the only option.

I don't think first time buyers have any business looking to purchase property in central London.

If businesses are looking young professionals they should set up shop on the on the other side of the M25.

[tpsman]

Why would you want to live in London and still have an hour commute to the City or 90 minutes to Paddington?

The way I see it you either live outside of London, get more house for your money and have a long commute (1hr+), or you live in London, pay more for less, but you have a short commute (about 30 mins or less).

Those were upper limits for commuting times.

[Paddy]

Why would you want to live in London and still have an hour commute to the City or 90 minutes to Paddington?

The way I see it you either live outside of London, get more house for your money and have a long commute (1hr+), or you live in London, pay more for less, but you have a short commute (about 30 mins or less).

It takes 25 minutes Reading to Paddington, train every 10-15 minutes time to read a newspaper and have a coffee.

It takes 45 minutes (if lucky) to cross London by tube from Osterley with Romanian beggars playing the accordion

[scooterscot]

It takes 25 minutes Reading to Paddington, train every 10-15 minutes time to read a newspaper and have a coffee.

It takes 45 minutes (if lucky) to cross London by tube from Osterley with Romanian beggars playing the accordion

Yes but Reading is rather depressing.

[doodab]

Yes but Reading is rather depressing.

Depends what you read. I stick to the cartoons and horoscopes.

[Bunk]

It takes 25 minutes Reading to Paddington, train every 10-15 minutes time to read a newspaper and have a coffee.

It takes 45 minutes (if lucky) to cross London by tube from Osterley with Romanian beggars playing the accordion

That's my point. He said he wants to buy in London but within an hour of the City. That's pretty much all of it. If you're going to live in London, at least limit your commute length otherwise you could live further out and have about the same length commute.

Oh, and Reading to Paddington in 25 mins is all very well but what about travel either side of the journey?

[SunnyInHades]

It takes 25 minutes Reading to Paddington, train every 10-15 minutes time to read a newspaper and have a coffee.

Good luck getting a standard class seat on that if travelling popular times.

N.B. With HS2 (a few years off), many are predicting 'Birmingham' as the new London commuter hot spot -

"could cut Birmingham to London (Euston) journey time to just 30 minutes" - quicker than driving from Earls Court to Euston at rush hour.

[mudskipper]

Yes but Reading is rather depressing.

I quite like Reading.

Decent shops, pubs and restaurants. Nice river and canal walks/cycles. Very short distance to stunning countryside. Nice mix of old and new bits. Some very nice areas to live that are still walkable to the station.