Moving from London

[ladyfelsham]

Reporting back on the commute by coach - DON'T DO IT!

I know, I know, you all warned me it wouldn't work but I had to try and see for myself.

It's fine for people who aren't concerned about what time they get into the city, and it's very comfortable - but it generally departs late from St Leonards, pops off the A21 all the time to pick up people all the way to Sevenoaks, and arrives late into London - except for today. where a 2hr10min journey took 5 1/2 hours because of bad accidents on the M25 and the A20!

So, it's a no to the coach and driving, and a maybe to the train.

Or I buy an investment property and move down when I have got work. Will think about it over the break.

[roy]

I wouldn't do the commute unless I was on 50 k a year,that's the trouble isn't it with Hastings lovely town terrible links to various places London included.



Enjoy life.you never know when it will end.

[Herring_Gull]

ladyfelsham. Welcome back and thanks for the update.

Coach. Nah. Too many variables.

I have just renewed my annual season ticket an eye watering GBP4200.

I did say last year would be my last spending that much a year.

However, I took a look at the commute and the places to rent and quality of life up in that there nodno_|. I still think the south east holds sway. Although if we do sell up, I think I will move a little further in land somewhere quiet and with hardly any neighbores.

I really cannot comment on investment properties as I am not a big fan of landlords or landlordism. I think Mao had the right idea on them.

[Jaques]

if we get the new faster train in the near future, investing in property here would be a great idea as then prices will no doubt increase, i moved in 2001 from guildford, surrey which has property prices similar to parts of london, had a pokey flat, now for same money, own a 4 bed house with views of sea and castle - there are so many wonderful, quiet beaches around the area, country park with stunning scenery, - this area has a lot going for it - and london, well its great to visit but you dont go out or shop every day esp when youre working all week_ _ __ _ __ _ _..good luck!

[Herring_Gull]

Bon soir Jaques.

Whose near future? Which direction? Via Ashford or via Battle? The moron who designed the Hastings to London built it in such a way that it would be impossible to accomplish a high speed link due to cost. How many tunnels are single access along the route? How many level corssings are there? To think there could be a high speed link (e.g. HS3) between here and London via Battle is just silly.

Via Ashford is again fraught with similar difficulties e.g. level crossings.

The quickest route at the moment is via Battle at around 90 minutes and this is only accomplished by limited stops.

What we could hope for is very limited stop for example Hastings Battle Tunbridge Smells Waterloo East C. Cross. That might cut it down to around an hour ish.

[Pugliese]

My two penneth!

We moved to this area approx 20 years ago, initially Battle (for the schools) as the kids grew up and for the last 2 years in Hastings. Commuted by train for at least 5 years.

Never really found the train journey a chore as the time was always used productively - working or learning a new skill - that I think is the key, so it is not wasted time.

During our time in Battle we looked at moving to St.Leonards on at least 3 occasions. Stunning houses and locations BUT each time there were concerns about the surrounding area. Each time we were told the area is up and coming hence the reason we kept on revisiting the idea of the move. Yes there have been improvements, but just not enough for me to risk buying a house there. I can however see the attraction of living there and that our requirements from an area will be different to others.

What I would recommend is renting somewhere and not just for a couple of weeks but commit to a good six months to get a true feel and a mix of the seasons. We have done this in the Old Town/Clive Vale area and found we really like living in Hastings. A town with a real edge and great community and entertainment. So much so that we are now building a house here.

[Michael]

[quoted]
Pugliese wrote:
My two penneth!

We moved to this area approx 20 years ago, initially Battle (for the schools) as the kids grew up and for the last 2 years in Hastings. Commuted by train for at least 5 years.

Never really found the train journey a chore as the time was always used productively - working or learning a new skill - that I think is the key, so it is not wasted time.

During our time in Battle we looked at moving to St.Leonards on at least 3 occasions. Stunning houses and locations BUT each time there were concerns about the surrounding area. Each time we were told the area is up and coming hence the reason we kept on revisiting the idea of the move. Yes there have been improvements, but just not enough for me to risk buying a house there. I can however see the attraction of living there and that our requirements from an area will be different to others.

What I would recommend is renting somewhere and not just for a couple of weeks but commit to a good six months to get a true feel and a mix of the seasons. We have done this in the Old Town/Clive Vale area and found we really like living in Hastings. A town with a real edge and great community and entertainment. So much so that we are now building a house here.
[/quoted]

Agree with that last bit in particular.

[ladyfelsham]

Thanks all - good comments.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

[Jaques]

[quoted]
Herring_Gull wrote:
Bon soir Jaques.

Whose near future? Which direction? Via Ashford or via Battle? The moron who designed the Hastings to London built it in such a way that it would be impossible to accomplish a high speed link due to cost. How many tunnels are single access along the route? How many level corssings are there? To think there could be a high speed link (e.g. HS3) between here and London via Battle is just silly.

,,,,,,,i said "if" and even if we dont, people are commuting for hours in their working day, much longer than it would take at present from hastings to london - its still, in my view, well worth the move_ _ __ _ __ _ _
.a bientot

Via Ashford is again fraught with similar difficulties e.g. level crossings.

The quickest route at the moment is via Battle at around 90 minutes and this is only accomplished by limited stops.

What we could hope for is very limited stop for example Hastings Battle Tunbridge Smells Waterloo East C. Cross. That might cut it down to around an hour ish.

[/quoted]

[Scootagal]

Hiya Ladyfelsham - any thoughts over the past couple of months? Still thinking about how much I would love to live in Hastings and keen to hear from anyone else too!