Best place to live on south /sw coast of the UK?

[Azure83]

We would like to make the big move from London soon. We have no family ties to the coast which is good on one hand - we are not restricted at all. On the other, we nèed to do a lot of research and get to know a lot of places ourselves. Luckily there is Mumsnet..
The must haves are:

• coastal location
  
• good sailing for dh
  
• excellent schools for the kids
  

Thanks x

[Tumbleweed101]

I lived in Brixham for a while - good community, nice little town with all the day to day basics. Nice marina for sailing and keeping a boat. Plenty of gorgeous walks, beaches and woods. Everything you need for day to day and can get the ferry to Torquay for a bigger shopping day. Train from Paignton to Exeter if you need to get to a city.

I don’t know about schools as mine were too small back then. Would move back if I could but my family are all settled for the moment where we are now.

[Battleax]

Do you specifically want rural and coastal?

[Rainbowsandflowers78]

Rye? Not sure about the schools though

[loveka]

Fowey is lovely. I am trying to do a similar move and would choose Fowey if we could afford it.

We are looking in South East Cornwall generally, I love the scenery and laid back feeling. You do have to get used to much longer journeys though, where 6 miles can take over half an hour!

[Rainbowsandflowers78]

Sorry I was actually thinking of lymington!

[Kikashi]

Kingsbridge in the South Hams has a good secondary school and some good primaries (also in the surrounding villages like Thurlstone). Sailing and the coast nearby. No train line though

Brighton is great if you still need to get to London for work. Everything is close by - the South Downs, endless coast, Marina, Sailing clubs in nearby towns. You can get up to Victoria in an hour, tons of restaurants, shopping, theatre etc - aspects of city life but in the Spring, Summer and early Autumn you can come back from work and be up on the Downs or out at sea for a few hours before darkness. Great independent schools and excellent State schools if you pick the right cachement areas. Lots of gorgeous villages just outside Brighton if you want to be feel "more rural" such as Ditchling, Ripe,Poynings.