WWYD? Bentley, Hampshire vs Winchester

[clemmy0m]

Hi, does anyone live or know much about Bentley in Hampshire? Would you recommend living there? Is the community nice? Which nursery's do you use if you are local?

A little bit of history

We (DP and DS 14months) currently live in a lovely apartment in central Winchester and moved here a few months ago. We love it but it is expensive and by going further out we can get more for our money I'm especially keen on having our own outside space for DS.

We have found a house in Bentley we really like (rental - in no rush at the moment to buy until we find an area to settle permanently) but we don't know much about the area, there is no major rush to move from Winchester either at the moment and I would still need to travel into Winchester 4/5 days per week although DPs commute would be reduced so this would counteract the increase in my fuel costs and we would have a little more time with him.

If you were me would you stay put in Winchester or would you move further out? Any other recommendations of good areas? Must be within around 30mins of Winchester heading north or east with good links to either M4 or M3.

Thank you for reading!

From what I know if it, Bentley's a bit of a non-place really and there's not much there. And would also take longer than 30 minutes to get to Winchester at any time other than the middle of the night

I'd say Alton (bit closer to M3) might be a happy medium.

(Can't comment about nurseries or schools as no DC).

Have a look at Four Marks, lovely village, lots going on

Thank you so much for your suggestions and advice we have considered Alton too. Although there is nothing there we like that much at the moment. We are in no rush so hopefully more suitable properties come up!

What about Alresford? I used to work nearby and it's a lovely little town.

Alresford is lovely, houses are quite expensive though, lots of villages around that area, Old Alresford, Ropley, Bramdean and Cheriton, do not know facilities there now, as I moved away from area

You could try Eastleigh and Chandlers Ford - wrong end of Winchester I know but the M3 is close enough to make it doable and Southampton is within striking distance too if you don't want to be too far out of the way.

Odiham?

Chandlers Ford. Otterborne Compton. All nice villages but not far out of Winchester. Twyford is lovely too