Recommended towns outside of London

Here's a nice one in Leigh on sea. Good rail links to London, the beach, lovely park, airport, good schools.https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86560255#/media?id=media1

Lewes in Sussex is lovely

If they are not used to UK life, they will need to be aware of how dense the traffic can be. I know that we may never go back to the daily commute, but I am aware that people from outside the UK used to be (pre-C19) astounded at our routine traffic jams.
So they may like to look at properties within walking distance of a train station, good bus services (ha!) or factor in a car journey to a train station and expensive parking.
I have only visited the US once. I had always assumed that those large and spacious houses were just on TV shows, but found lots of ordinary people do live in properties that we would think of as huge!
I'd also definitely recommend renting to begin with.

My brother lives in Kings Langley in Hertfordshire. It’s lovely, but not sure I’d call it a town, more a big village. Not cheap. My brother went into London daily for years, by train to Euston.

We live near Bury St Edmunds. Lovely place to live but no direct trains

Cambridge

You know how it is, when you fiddle around the towns and villages on rightmove and put in a particular sum? Well, I guess I sort of knew this but £800,000 doesn't really buy you an awful lot these days. Yes, of course there are nice houses but if you want good transport links, good schools, leisure pursuits, kerb appeal etc you have to pay a premium. Just like the people on Escape to the Country who come along with their £1 million plus.
When you think back to property prices only 30 or 40 years ago, it's mind boggling. I have no idea how young people do it and many older people must be rich on paper but poorer in everyday life.

I know, Ellianne! I haven't lived in the UK for decades and I am completely shocked at prices. When they told me 800k was their budget I thought they were planning to buy a mansion!!
Shows how out of touch I am!

Philippa do think that they should try to avoid going anywhere which will involve them in having to use a car to get to a station in order to get a train in order to get to a station in London where they could then get the tube to Oxford Circus. Really would advise them to look for places near to a direct tube line to Oxford Circus - will save them a lot of money and travelling time, and a good number in North/NorthWest/North East London fit this criteria.

Thanks, Franbern, I am collecting all the advice to pass on!

Ampthill in Bedfordshire is a lovely small town, and only 5 miles from the M1. A regular train service runs from Flitwick
(about a mile away) to London.

Train prices are horrendous- there are nice properties within their price range at the end of tube lines such as Uxbridge, Amersham, Chesham. Coming closer, Northwood and Pinner are really pleasant and the commuting cost is not so horrific. Harrow has a lot of greenery and commuting into London is easy with the overground as well as the underground. Bushey is another nice area.

Letchworth Garden City is lovely. 35mins on the train to Kings Cross and near to the motorway as well. Some of the older style houses are amazing with huge gardens hence the towns name of garden city. There is common for walking or park runs and we are not far from Hitchin which is a lovely town too. Prior to lock down we had lots of community events take place, in the town and at different locations. There is a FB club, cricket and bowls , and lots of different social activities to join if you are that way inclined.

Philippa60

Thank you all for the great advice so far.
North West is best because any family we have all live in NW London so would be easier for meeting up with them.
St Albans is definitely an option but I am amazed at how prices are there!
They want a biggish house and garden, 4 bed and 2 bath.
Nightlife in London would not be of interest to them, they love the idea of being in the country but with access to some nice restaurants and shops as well as good health care and schools (no kids yet but I am hoping one day!)

Another Phillippa60.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/72372940#/

It looks like they would need around £1m+ for their ideal house. Redbourn is a little cheaper than St Albans.

Schools are mainly good there. My granddaughter is at the secondary school in Harpenden.

I think they would have to be further north for cheaper property of that size. Northamptonshire has some lovely villages.

Thanks - they do like St Albans and are seeing if they can go up a little with the budget....
Amersham is another good option for them.
Really appreciate all the insights, thank you!

Franbern you definitely have a point and if it were me I'd move even further into London.
For those who aren't born and bred there though I'm guessing that that is often a step too far, and I can understand that.
Mind you these days where does the London sprawl actually end?

Berkhamsted Lovely town but expensive .

Please make sure there is a decent hospital within easy reach. A friend of mine moved 6 years ago and her nearest with an A&E is about 80 miles away. Not exactly a taxi ride!

Amersham is lovely.

Thanks everyone for the advice.
Looks like St. Albans and Amersham are top of the list for a "country-like" feel but good accessibility into London (they won't need to commute every day).

Aylesbury? It’s in the area of convenience travel wise.

Go for towns that do not always spring to mind. Letchworth Garden City, Hitchin area have lovely houses in the right price range. Both have stations with trains coming into Liverpool Street.

Harpenden. Nice town with shops and a green, plus you can get seats on the train as it’s before St Albans! Good schools too. Popular and expensive, 4 wheel drive territory.

Ware is awful. Choose Bishop’s Stortford, my home town, and you can be in London, Liverpool Street in 30 minutes with a very good train service. Lots of lovely little villages in the surrounding Essex andEast Herts countryside. Stanstead Airport is close for air travel.

Is Pearsons still there 25Avalon?