Commutes to North London
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 111
Commutes to North London
Had a telephone interview on Friday evening which went very well and resulted in me being offered the job starting in early September.
The job will be based in North Finchley. I was wondering if anybody had any experience of areas that are within a reasonable commuting distance to Finchley. I would be prepared to drive up to 1 - 1.5 hours as this is what I do now. My initial research has led me to look no further north than areas such as Milton Keynes, Bedford, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
Anybody know much about these areas i.e. housing, schools, lifestyle, transport, amenities etc.
Thanks
The job will be based in North Finchley. I was wondering if anybody had any experience of areas that are within a reasonable commuting distance to Finchley. I would be prepared to drive up to 1 - 1.5 hours as this is what I do now. My initial research has led me to look no further north than areas such as Milton Keynes, Bedford, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
Anybody know much about these areas i.e. housing, schools, lifestyle, transport, amenities etc.
Thanks
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Commutes to North London
Congratulations. We used to live in High Barnet and I really liked it there but we did leave in 1994. Milton Keynes sounds a really long way?
#4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 111
Re: Commutes to North London
Thanks.
Milton Keynes to North Finchley 43 - 49 mile drive depending on which route you take.
To be fair I'd drive a 200 mile commute if it meant returning to the UK.
Milton Keynes to North Finchley 43 - 49 mile drive depending on which route you take.
To be fair I'd drive a 200 mile commute if it meant returning to the UK.
#5
Re: Commutes to North London
I used to live in Finchley and Whetstone...driving into North London is chocka block along the High Street from Barnet.it would take a good 30 or 40 mins.
The better route I would take is along the A1 and cut through Totteridge ' easy from the turn off a South Mimms.
To there from Milton Keynes would take about another 40mins depending on traffic.
So I would look at places along the A1 or M1.
I wouldn´t be keen to live in Milton Keynes myself..but there are lots of other nicer towns nearby. I have only visited Aylesbury but it looked very nice when I been. So don´t know much about it.
Have you considered other places like Potters Bar or Barnet very easy to get into North London with good schools. Or areas around St Albans although property is expensive.
You can check also check upmystreet.com for info about areas such as schools etc.
PS Congratulations on getting a job...
The better route I would take is along the A1 and cut through Totteridge ' easy from the turn off a South Mimms.
To there from Milton Keynes would take about another 40mins depending on traffic.
So I would look at places along the A1 or M1.
I wouldn´t be keen to live in Milton Keynes myself..but there are lots of other nicer towns nearby. I have only visited Aylesbury but it looked very nice when I been. So don´t know much about it.
Have you considered other places like Potters Bar or Barnet very easy to get into North London with good schools. Or areas around St Albans although property is expensive.
You can check also check upmystreet.com for info about areas such as schools etc.
PS Congratulations on getting a job...
#6
Re: Commutes to North London
Congrats on the job, I was going to also suggest St Albans only because it is the only north london area I know, my sister lived there and i thought it was very nice area, her children went to school there and were very happy.
Where are you moiving home from?
Where are you moiving home from?
#7
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 111
Re: Commutes to North London
Lestagirl,
We're going back to the UK from Brisbane.
We're going back to the UK from Brisbane.
#8
Re: Commutes to North London
We live in Pinner which is between Finchly and Watford.
Commuting from MK into Finch would take you a bit longer then 1 1/2 because of the motorway building site. I would recommend Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Watford, Bushey, Rickmansworth..but all not cheap..but any further then Hemel I would not go. Hemel is actually not bad in house prices...Boxmoor in Hemel is very nice and has a really village feel to it..right at the canal and close to town center and has a very good school also good for getting quik onto the A41.
Saying all that..I would look into hemel/Boxmoor.. It has it all, modern city centre, good school, nice area, taking bike tours along the canal, good for commuting..
We did all this research our self couple of years ago when we wanted to move out...and came to the conclusion that this was perfect...but plans changed and we will move to Somerset now.
Commuting from MK into Finch would take you a bit longer then 1 1/2 because of the motorway building site. I would recommend Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Watford, Bushey, Rickmansworth..but all not cheap..but any further then Hemel I would not go. Hemel is actually not bad in house prices...Boxmoor in Hemel is very nice and has a really village feel to it..right at the canal and close to town center and has a very good school also good for getting quik onto the A41.
Saying all that..I would look into hemel/Boxmoor.. It has it all, modern city centre, good school, nice area, taking bike tours along the canal, good for commuting..
We did all this research our self couple of years ago when we wanted to move out...and came to the conclusion that this was perfect...but plans changed and we will move to Somerset now.
Last edited by eurotramp; Jun 23rd 2010 at 11:27 am.
#9
Re: Commutes to North London
Maybe a little to far but we moved from Biggleswade along the A1, its a lovely little market town (or it was) with a train link into Kings Cross which may or may not be handy. Although think, Baldock, Letchworth and Royston all with direct trains into London.
#10
Re: Commutes to North London
Had a telephone interview on Friday evening which went very well and resulted in me being offered the job starting in early September.
The job will be based in North Finchley. I was wondering if anybody had any experience of areas that are within a reasonable commuting distance to Finchley. I would be prepared to drive up to 1 - 1.5 hours as this is what I do now. My initial research has led me to look no further north than areas such as Milton Keynes, Bedford, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
Anybody know much about these areas i.e. housing, schools, lifestyle, transport, amenities etc.
Thanks
The job will be based in North Finchley. I was wondering if anybody had any experience of areas that are within a reasonable commuting distance to Finchley. I would be prepared to drive up to 1 - 1.5 hours as this is what I do now. My initial research has led me to look no further north than areas such as Milton Keynes, Bedford, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
Anybody know much about these areas i.e. housing, schools, lifestyle, transport, amenities etc.
Thanks
Well done mate, and wish u all the best in the new job.
Ok, I can understand why you want to stay close to the Finchly area, but maybe someone here will contradict me with valid reasonings, have you looked at options like Maidenhead or Slough...I don't think the journey would be an issue and from family point of view (assuming you have a family), the locality to windsor great park, legoland etc.. is so great for summer outings etc..
Also, Reading isn't too far and seems always to enjoy good job market (though haven;t been to UK in the last 2 years so don;t take my words with a pinch of salt)
Hope this helps.
#11
Re: Commutes to North London
We live in Pinner which is between Finchly and Watford.
Commuting from MK into Finch would take you a bit longer then 1 1/2 because of the motorway building site. I would recommend Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Watford, Bushey, Rickmansworth..but all not cheap..but any further then Hemel I would not go. Hemel is actually not bad in house prices...Boxmoor in Hemel is very nice and has a really village feel to it..right at the canal and close to town center and has a very good school also good for getting quik onto the A41.
Saying all that..I would look into hemel/Boxmoor.. It has it all, modern city centre, good school, nice area, taking bike tours along the canal, good for commuting..
We did all this research our self couple of years ago when we wanted to move out...and came to the conclusion that this was perfect...but plans changed and we will move to Somerset now.
Commuting from MK into Finch would take you a bit longer then 1 1/2 because of the motorway building site. I would recommend Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Watford, Bushey, Rickmansworth..but all not cheap..but any further then Hemel I would not go. Hemel is actually not bad in house prices...Boxmoor in Hemel is very nice and has a really village feel to it..right at the canal and close to town center and has a very good school also good for getting quik onto the A41.
Saying all that..I would look into hemel/Boxmoor.. It has it all, modern city centre, good school, nice area, taking bike tours along the canal, good for commuting..
We did all this research our self couple of years ago when we wanted to move out...and came to the conclusion that this was perfect...but plans changed and we will move to Somerset now.
but plans changed and we will move to Somerset now.
That must have been an easy decision?
#12
Re: Commutes to North London
We had a choice between Belgium near Brussels, Virginia Beach/USA or Somerset and I did choose Somerset..even Hubby was pushing towards the USA..but that was a to big move for me...I had enough of all this moving between country's. We also have two teenagers.
So in that way it was a difficult decision.
#13
Re: Commutes to North London
We had a choice between Belgium near Brussels, Virginia Beach/USA or Somerset and I did choose Somerset..even Hubby was pushing towards the USA..but that was a to big move for me...I had enough of all this moving between country's. We also have two teenagers.
So in that way it was a difficult decision.
So in that way it was a difficult decision.
I guess it comes to a point when getting back to the roots makes more sense than any other adventure...
Though you may have missed out there: Belgium chocolates!
#14
Re: Commutes to North London
The US just has nothing for we to offer, except the big houses, the nice weather and the beach...but that can mean nothing if you don't feel home.
#15
Re: Commutes to North London
Had a telephone interview on Friday evening which went very well and resulted in me being offered the job starting in early September.
The job will be based in North Finchley. I was wondering if anybody had any experience of areas that are within a reasonable commuting distance to Finchley. I would be prepared to drive up to 1 - 1.5 hours as this is what I do now. My initial research has led me to look no further north than areas such as Milton Keynes, Bedford, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
Anybody know much about these areas i.e. housing, schools, lifestyle, transport, amenities etc.
Thanks
The job will be based in North Finchley. I was wondering if anybody had any experience of areas that are within a reasonable commuting distance to Finchley. I would be prepared to drive up to 1 - 1.5 hours as this is what I do now. My initial research has led me to look no further north than areas such as Milton Keynes, Bedford, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
Anybody know much about these areas i.e. housing, schools, lifestyle, transport, amenities etc.
Thanks