Mumsnet Talk

30 mins to south coast - anywhere
Nearish to a theatre or place we can see a comedian (within 30mins)
20 mins to a motorway
Cheaper house prices that London suburbs

Thinking of a village within 15 minutes drive of the town above, whatever its name is!

Does it exist? Thanks

How about Winchester and surrounding villages? There are theatres in Southampton. The Bournemouth convention center is close by as well. It's definitely closer than 20min to the M3. Only thing is it might be too close to the coast for you? (ie too far from London)

Ok, none of the above as we're in Kent, although very close to the Sussex border! Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas - though not sure about being cheaper than London suburbs....but the rest of the boxes are ticked. Half way between the coast and London - two theatres, but only 55 mins to the West End, 15-20 mins to the M25, easy access to the Channel Ports etc.....beautiful countryside, great schools and lovely people!

Chichester or Petersfield?

not southampton no beach there and not really much in the way of comedians either - maybe bournemouth or somewhere nearby

winchester no coast that near and house prices same as london

chichester sounds good not sure how much property is there though

villages around prtsmouth maybe ? near theatres and coast and motorways

30 mins to coast :
Southampton (the whole of Southampton Water and down to the New Forest)
Chichester (the whole harbour complex)
Portsmouth if schooling not an issue
Bournemouth/Poole - less fuddy duddy than many think ...
Villages thereabouts - lots and lots
the M27 / M3 / A3 can be a bit of a mare
but Oxford is 1 1/2 hours away
London around an hour by train

Stubbington, Wickham, Fareham around that way maybe.

Near the sea and midway between Soton and Portsmouth for theatres etc.

Well rule out Gloucestershire and Oxon. Surrey is probably more than 1/2 hour even with the new tunnel.
So I would say you want: Hampshire, E and W Sussex and Kent, or maybe Essex (or Suffolk, Norfolk).
For a bargain I'd probably look at Essex, but then the A12 isn't quite a motorway, and if you are closer to the M11 you are probably more than 30 mins from the beach.

We are already in Essex! But thank you for the recommendation.

Ok ladies so lets narrow it down to Portsmouth/Southampton suburbs - bearing in mind we need the motorway. Where are we going to get a bit more for our money? We wont need schools or stations.

Thanks so much

And on the M11 mummytime and we do like it here whilst the kids are at one of the best 'free' schools in the country but they will be moving on soon.

What's your budget? Upper Shirley, Highfield and Bassett are nice in Southampton. Chilworth pricier but some lovely properties.
The guildhall and Mayflower have quite a few comedians throughout the year: jimmy Carr, Stewart Francis, Milton Jones and Rhod Gilbert spring to mind straightaway.

If you don't need schools, then I personally would look near Arundel or Chichester. M27 very close, nice countryside, but the school problem keeps prices down a bit.

Oww, thanks Mummytime, that is the kind of inside info I am interested in. Budget likely to be between 500-600k if we can find somewhere with room to house our 20 something kids (when the time comes) or less if they are wanting to live (and can afford to) elsewhere.

Well I like this one or this one or this one very close to Arundel itself.
I love the property porn in that area.

No schools or stations
Chilworth
Emsworth
Horndean

I don't think you will get myuch bang for your buck in Chilworth with that kind of budget, but you will get some lovely houses surrounding that area.

Parts of Chandlersford would probably be good to consider (Hiltingbury, etc). Maybe Fareham might be worth considering (certain parts). Ringwood is quite a nice little place. Romsey. Winchester nice but v.pricey for the good areas. Shawford.

My family live in Eastleigh. It is ok but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone anymore.

Have you thought about the E.Midlands? Or does it need to be down south? There are some lovely villages up this way (we just bought up here actually after being overseas for 4 years). Quick rail route into London. Close to motorways/A roads, close to the sea. Lots of country.

*much

Villages around Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill (Sussex) any good?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35235328.html

Sorry no idea how to put a proper link. We had a holiday in Chalford (about 7 miles from hippy Stroud) and it was truly stunning! Bumpy lush and green but sadly about an hour from the coast. Great state, private and grammar schools people said. I think posh Cheltenham is about half an hour away? Theres also Gloucester Bath and Bristol too.

Think it took us about an hour and a half or two hours to train it from London to Stroud?

Fleet/Farnborough/Guildford/Haselmere area?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39321266.html?premiumA=true

OMG look at the views!

Owww thanks. We are not planning on going until DD has finished school. She is in year 9 now. We have family in Sussex and Hants and I would like to be near the south coast. We will have the luxury of no longer needing schools but will still need the occasional train to London and good communications oh and a theatre and cinema not too far away.

a lot can happen in four years ....

Oh I know but it will be very handy to know where to start looking. DH very happy to look in Hants and as we have been together since 1992 I think we are pretty solid (eek I hope!).

Arundel was voted the healthiest place to live in the uk a couple of years ago...

Ditchling in Sussex. Tis the perfect village! Close enough to Brighton for excellent theatre and comedy, trains to London from Hassocks (5 mins drive), beautiful countryside, short drive to M23. Not stuck in the 1950s either, unlike some villages. Nearby Hurstpierpoint is also lovely and a bit bigger.

Arundel is lovely, although transport links from there aren't amazing. What about the villages south of Horsham?

I was going to suggest the Horsham area, 15 mins to M23, 30 mins to Worthing & south coast, own cinema & theatre plus bigger ones in Crawley or Chichester for the Festival Theatre. Good schools in Horsham or Billingshurst.

Thanks all but no need of schools by then so looking for an area where perhaps houses are a wee bit cheaper as maybe the schools not so good (if it exists).

Main priorites are communications, entertainment and south coast.

just to make your choice a bit harder ....
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-37441172.html

Owww nice but cant do thatches as they tend to burn down round here and they are soooo expensive to replace.