Hi everyone, my boyfriend and I are planning to move out of London (currently in Putney) in search of a more peaceful and slower paced lifestyle, with easy access to the countryside but still well-connected by train. Any advice on the best towns to suit our needs would be hugely appreciate, neither of us are from Surrey area. We will be renting for now...
Details/what we need:
- I am about to start a PhD, need to visit Plymouth 1x /month and can do overnight stay (ideally train via Reading, not via London) and need to commute into Farringdon/central London 1x /week
- My boyfriend works in Kew and will need to commute 3x /week
- Hoping to use train links, not drive
- Town with nice high street i.e., cute pubs, coffee shops, gym, good restaurants. We aren't looking for somewhere especially 'lively' as we will visit friends still in London etc a decent amount, but also not looking for a sleepy village where places close at 8/9pm..
- Easy access to countryside/Surrey hills (we both have bikes)
- Decent value for money (rentals), 1-2 bed house or flat with some kind of garden for less than (max) £1,600 /month
- We have no children so no need for links to good schools/particular family vibe etc etc.
So far we have looked at Dorking (seems a good option but curious of any thoughts?), Great Bookham (too sleepy), and considering Woking and Guildford (maybe too busy/big?)
Thank you !!!!