A Great Railway Journey – Head West From London
The South West of England is fortunate to be served by two mainline rail links to the capital.
The swift Great Western Railway service to Paddington takes just 2 hours 15 minutes from Exeter St Davids and is the route of choice for those needing to make early meetings in the city. Its sheer speed makes it, generally at least, an efficient if somewhat joyless experience that ‘does what it says on the tin’.
Perhaps less well known is the more southerly offering from South Western Railways which is a more leisurely affair altogether. The journey from Exeter adopts a slower pace, taking time to check out a host of towns and villages on its way to the hustle and bustle of Waterloo Station. This trip offers a range of journey times but 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes is typical and trundles rather than races through some of southern England’s most beautiful countryside. Above all, it provides relatively rural locations with a direct link to the capital and, for all the convenience of Paddington, there is something very gratifying in being able to walk out of Waterloo and onto the South Bank and be greeted by that iconic Westminster view across the river.
The significance of this southern route to London to the property markets that it traverses should not be underestimated. For those living in small villages like Whimple in East Devon or picturesque historic towns like Sherborne in Dorset the novelty of walking to the local station (you can still actually park for free at Feniton Station in Devon!) and then strolling to the London Eye or the Royal Festival Hall must take some time to wear off.
For home buyers requiring regular reliable access to the city this relatively sedate connection unlocks access to a host of appealing locations which offer an alternative commute to motorway tailbacks and congestion charges. Axminster in Devon is close to the spectacular Jurassic coastline, Crewkerne is close to the wonderfully named and rather lovely village of Haselbury Plucknett, Sherborne offers around 400 listed buildings, an Abbey, castles, ham stone houses, and a raft of notable private and grammar schools. Gillingham is 4 miles from Shaftesbury with its stunning Gold Hill (remember that Hovis advert?) and National Trust splendour at Kingston Lacy. The medieval cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire accesses the beautiful Avon valley and sought-after villages like Alderbury, Wilton and Downton.
At Recoco Property Search we have explored these often overlooked areas with their myriad old rectorys and country houses and are well placed to advise on those locations with the best amenities. While we cannot guarantee that your train arrives on time we can at least help you to navigate the local property market when you get there!
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