Posts with tag: commuter towns for raising a family

The Top 20 Streets for Raising a Family Near London

If you’re looking for an investment property, to buy a home, or to rent, new research has highlighted the best streets to raise a family within commuting distance of London.

Property research website PropertyDetective.com has released the Family Friendly Index, studying areas based on the quality and availability of schools, nurseries and childcare providers, National Childbirth Trust (NCT) groups, crime rates, population density and green spaces.

Birch Lane in Flaunden, Hertfordshire, came out on top, due to its good local schools, open spaces, easy access to large town centres and a range of childcare options.

Residents of Streatley Road in Sundon, Bedfordshire also benefit from good schools, ranking it second.

Position

Area Road Best for Average house price

Average journey time to London

1 Flaunden, Hertfordshire Birch Lane Schools £404,544 35 minutes
2 Sundon, Bedfordshire Streatley Road Schools £210,404 55 minutes
3 Harpenden, Hertfordshire Lower Harpenden Road Childcare £770,402 40 minutes
4 Ascot, Berkshire Swinley Road Schools £801,355 54 minutes
5 Windlesham, Surrey Chertsey Road Schools £661,165 71 minutes
6 Redbourn, Hertfordshire Flamsteadbury Lane Schools £548,932 40 minutes
7 Bracknell, Berkshire Long Hill Road Childcare £362,794 60 minutes
8 Amersham, Buckinghamshire The Common Childcare £631,777 39 minutes
9 Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire Dagnall Road NCT community £353,340 30 minutes
10 Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire Tebworth Road Schools £303,242 34 minutes
11 Windsor, Berkshire Hatchet Lane Schools £543,249 29 minutes
12 Horsham, West Sussex Hammerpond Road Childcare £410,835 57 minutes
13 Kempston, Bedfordshire Box End Road Childcare £202,623 40 minutes
14 Tring, Hertfordshire Cheddington Road NCT community £503,862 36 minutes
15 Bramley, Hampshire Silchester Road Other mums £828,745 50 minutes
16 Sevenoaks, Kent Long Mill Lane Childcare £606,276 35 minutes
17 Basingstoke, Hampshire Turnworth Road Childcare £290,769 45 minutes
18 Farnham, Surrey Priory Lane NCT community £442,794 54 minutes
19 Hatfield Heath, Essex Downhall Road Schools £481,101 41 minutes
20 Twickenham, Middlesex Bryanston Avenue Childcare £690,611 23 minutes

Lower Harpenden Road in Herfordshire is in third place, thanks to its childcare facilities.

Head of estate agent Savills in Harpenden, Nick Ingle, says: “The area is very family-oriented with a thriving community spirit and the surrounding countryside is ideal for outdoor pursuits.

“Harpenden is characterised by its numerous parks and commons but with fantastic commuter links.”1

Founder of PropertyDetective.com, Barry Bridges, comments on the study: “What our research shows is that family friendliness differs at a very granular level. One street can offer everything a family might need, but just down the road the picture’s very different.

“What is reassuring is that every town has outstanding locations for families, so there’s no bad place to move to if you want children, or if your family is growing. But it pays to do your research as location is everything, even down to the street.”1 

For parents-to-be, three streets are perfect for NCT groups – Dagnall Road in Great Gaddesden and Cheddington Lane in Tring, both in Hertfordshire, and Priory Lane in Farnham, Surrey.

Farnham is a popular area with families of all ages.

Head of Savills in Farnham, Rory McKenzie, says: “The area attracts many families because of the enormous choice of private and state schools, and easy commuting makes Farnham a huge draw.”1

1 http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/uk-areas/top-20-streets-find-family-home-within-commuting-distance-london