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Best place near London for an American to try living?
I'm getting near retirement and want a place for 2-3 in Great Britain, not in the city, but with some geography like that of New England (hills, woods), and with reasonable rents, with probable eye on buying there. Any ideas? I'm thinking of Surrey, or Devon. I'm REALLY open to ideas, including places like Wales.
David S. - Thanks for the VERY detailed response! I'm just waiting for more options but so far, yours seems the best. What if I I told you that I'm HEAVILY influenced by the description of Surrey by James Galsworthy, in his 3-part epic, "The Forstyte Saga? Is that still even a possibility (as far as living in a place like the characters of Young Jolyon, Irene and their son, in a country house in Surrey, about 1/2 hrs. from Richmond Park?). Or is it all too built up?
Thanks, RR and Peter the Wise. Very Informative! I had NO idea England was so expensive! I thought the rents & house prices were bad in Massachusetts, but they're nowhere near what you describe, even though this state is much more expensive than say, the South or Midwest.
I can't choose a best answer!
3 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Most rural counties would suit you. They all have their share of small market towns and pretty villages. Most of the land area of UK is rural and most of it is farmland. In the north and west there is more mountains and moorland.
David S has nicely described Surrey. A very nice but expensive county. In general, the further from London you go, the cheaper it gets.
Devon is lovely. It's very green. There are beautiful villages. The seaside is never far away. It's place for cream teas. It's a long trip to London.
Dorset is nice (Thomas Hardy country). It's very like Devon but not as well known. It includes the Isle of Purbeck (Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle etc). It's nearer to London than Devon. London is about 2.5 hours away.
Wiltshire is not known as a tourist county but it's wonderful. It offers classic English lush countryside. There are villages that look as if they haven't changed since 1930. It's a hidden gem. It has lovely towns, like Marlborough. It's about 1.5 hours from London.
Good luck!
- David SLv 71 decade ago
Rural Surrey is beautiful and has good train services to London Waterloo/Victoria. Take a look at these places: Haslemere, Witley, Abinger Hammer, Holmbury St Mary, Shamley Green, Ewhurst and surrounding areas.
West Sussex is gorgeous too and has the beautiful South Downs National Park. Take a look at Petworth, Midhurst, Amberley, Arundel, Balcombe, South Harting and surrounding area
Much Cheaper is Wiltshire - places like Pewsey,Marlborough,Great Bedwyn and the countryside
is gorgeous - Martinsell Hill, Savernake Forest, the Kennett and Avon Canal etc
Further away near the Welsh Border in Shropshire are the wonderful towns of Ludlow and Church Stretton surrounded by some of the wildest and little known countryside in England - the Long Mynd,
Stiperstones, Wenlock Edge, Mortimer Forest etc
- Peter H.Lv 41 decade ago
Reasonable rents? You have to be joking. Britain is very expensive for property. A decent house or flat (2 bedrooms) in a decent area will cost you £1,500 to £3,000 per month in rent alone. On top of that there's Council Tax. A decent house or flat in a decent area will cost you £300,000 minimum and a good house in a good area will cost you a minimum of £500,000.
The South and SW are roughly twice as expensive as the North.
