Where should grad DS and gf live around Bournemouth and Lymington?

[Delphigirl]

Hi not a bit of the world I or they know.

DS likely to be working for a company based Lymington (near the hospital). He has a car and drives and will often be driving on elsewhere for work so not likely to use a train to commute. Gf has got a grad job at JP Morgan in Bournemouth.

DS is a sociable person who loves sailing, but also likes clubbing, nice pubs etc. He finds being close to the sea important and in his coastal uni town will often just sit watching the sea at night in headphones listening to music as a destressor. GF has to run every day - long distance, runs marathons at a high level, but also does gliding.

I think the south coast sounds perfect for them but where should they live to have a good mix of decent commute to work for both, young people around and affordability? Southbourne? Christchurch? Towards Lymington like New Milton? Someone said Ringwood but that is inland- does that matter? Other bits of Bournemouth they should think about?
Thanks!

Hello OP. I only know a bit about this gorgeous area because my in-laws have a property there but I’d say from what we’ve seen the average age around Lymington and New Milton is far, far above your DS! Don’t get me wrong we all absolutely love it there but we’re in our forties and in-laws in their seventies. Fabulous for walking, running, food and golf. Also I see gliders in Barton-on-Sea very often! And there’s a lovely ice cream shop. Lymington Hospital has been great when we’ve needed to use them.

I wonder if more towards one of the cities might suit better? Someone with more knowledge than me will be along soon. I would also warn that the phone signal down there is terrible.

We liked Christchurch, which felt quieter but still closed to the larger towns.

I would live in central Bournemouth to start with. I think anywhere new forest wouldn’t have many young people or much nightlife. I used to commute Southampton to Bournemouth many years ago when I was on the JP grad scheme and there was definitely a good community of grads living in Bournemouth itself.

Oh that’s interesting @bunanarama - can you remember where they tended to live? Southbourne or Boscombe or further towards Poole? Yes @afaloren ive heard that stretch of coast is retirement-central. Is Christchurch also a bit older @Barrenfieldoffucks ? He just isn’t sure whether his commute might not be a lot easier from Christchurch rather than central Bournemouth. If it takes 30 mins to get from Bournemouth through Christchurch I think that would be decisive otherwise I think they would probably be in Bournemouth near a beach,

Bournemouth has a very huge drug problem - not just smaller dealers, OCG members live there.

Christchurch is lovely but v quiet and slightly older. Lymington itself is pretty, but exactly the same distance to Southampton if they want a bit of nightlife.

Hengitsbury Head and Southbourne are popular with younger families. Can they rent for a while, whilst they explore their options. (Under the new renters right act, they no longer have to have a year's minimum contract.

East cliff area, Dean Park Road and Charminster were areas I had friends in. First 2 would give easy beach access. This was a long time ago but we are still down there regularly as it’s my husbands home town however everyone we know is now in bigger family homes in different areas!

Commuting from the Poole side of Bournemouth to Lymington would be awful. Ringwood to Lymington would also be a drag. The Southborne side of Bournemouth would be best. Milford, Highcliffe & Christchurch are definitely not buzzy.

I have very specific knowledge of this area/jobs/commutes. The GF will struggle on the grad scheme living further out- JP has no parking except for seniors/long tenure. She needs to check the JP Morgan commuter bus service and identify places to live based on these buses- there is one to Christchurch but not as far as Lymington. His drive out to Lymington from Bournemouth will be much easier (and prettier) than her commute to JP. So I’d conclude at least whilst she is on the grad scheme, they should be living in the Bmouth area- the grad scheme will also provide a decent social circle, partners are welcome too. Generally people start there and then move out to Christchurch/Lymington etc when they want to buy houses.

For their hobbies, there is a really decent running club at the Littledown Centre next door to JP Morgan. There is an athletics stadium at Kings Park too. If she chose this one then the logical place to live would be Southbourne which has good sailing and seafront opportunities for your DS and is closer to Lymington for more sailing and commuting. It’s a pricier area but naice and on two salaries they’d be comfortable.

Poole also has a really decent running club and good sailing opportunities but is a much harder commute for both of them. I’d generally avoid central Bournemouth as it’s a bit rough these days and isn’t close to either hobby. Ringwood is lovely and has a JP bus route but is pretty quiet and not close to either sailing or running- maybe something to consider when they are a bit older.

They sound fab and really suited to the area- DM me if you’d like to know more!

Lymington and Bournemouth aren't that close together so they either pick a mid point, say Christchurch, New Milton area and both commute or just an area they can afford at this point. All of it is good, but Bournemouth has some very unsafe areas so if erring that way would be very careful about precisely where.

The coast does attract retirees but there are still plenty of youngsters around and loads to do. Lymington would be a great place for him to live, but it is a bit of a commute to Bournemouth. It also tends to be more expensive, as it is a highly desirable place to be.

When I graduated, I moved to this area but inland. It is a great area if you like the outdoors, but don't mind some big urban areas near by. I like the forest and the coast, but don't like the urban sprawl.

As others have said I would suggest Southbourne, Tuckton, Christchurch.
Bournemouth isn't great at all, lots of it is grim.

Thank you so much everyone. @user1471548941 that is such brilliant insight thank you so much. His gf will be really pleased to know about the running club. I am sure I will contact you further if that is ok. Her job starts mid July and if he goes for the Lymington job they want him about a week or so later - not much time to get a flat organised! It seems like Southbourne is the obvious place to look but I’ve found details of the jpm bus routes and have sent that to them too.