Tonbridge or Winchester? Rightmove links. Rightmove psychosis driving me mad

[TonbridgeorWinchester]

Unreasonable for Tonbidge
Reasonable for Winchester

Winchester pros:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94504308#/?channel=RESBUY

>unrivalled beauty and prestige
>I will be at home among fellow snobs
>extended family in area
>3/4 beds depending on setup so could take in entire immediate family in emergency plus future baby's room
(my entire immediate family have precarious living situations. Parents both destitute)
>spacious, double size of Tonbridge
>can be renovated and increase in value

Tonbridge pros:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92164008#/?channel=RESBUY

>1hr to LGW
>40 min to Ldn
>no/negligible mortgage needed, mainly cash purchase (great because i fkn hate working)
>exposed beams (biggest compromised i'd be making on winchester..)
>mum prefers this house to Winchester flat

I'm 28 years old, work remotely in finance but want to return to teaching in the near future. Hope to have one baby in about 9 years time.

Which one is a better fit? Will be moving in with bf who will have no stake in the property.

It’s very personal. I hate Winchester for no very good reason, I just don’t like it, lived nearby for two years and was happy to leave. Is the Danvers Road house in Tonbridge at £325k an option so that you have slightly more space and an actual garden?

Winchester is much larger and better. However, neither are especially family friendly lay out.

@TonbridgeorWinchester I grew up there. My friends who I went to school with have sent their kids to the schools we all went to and they've told me they are happy with the education their kids had. I don't live there now. Not sure if I'd move there at this point in my life to be honest ( older now and still want a bit more of a social scene), but if I was thinking of having kids then yes, defo I'd move there at the drop of a hat. It's an amazing place to bring up kids.

Can't pretend airport runs would be good. Expect they're a bit of a sod if I'm honest. Trains to Waterloo are frequent.

Edited to say - location of house on Rightmove isn't ideal. Esp. if you did want to have kids.

sorry which one, winc or tonbridge?

Am I missing something - the Winchester flat is 2-3 bedrooms? Not 3-4. And it’s a flat.

The Tonbridge house is small, but it’s a house - which is generally more desirable. And Tonbridge has very good transport links to London (Winchester might also have these, of course).

could be recon'd into 3-4 if emergency requires it.

Sorry, yes Winchester. I know nowt about Tonbridge

Why did you move to, and where if you're comfortable saying?

I live just outside Winchester and love it. Beautiful city. I would go with the Winchester flat - seems like a good price for the area too

St Cross Road is very busy - I wouldn’t buy there.

As towns go, personally prefer Winchester. However, there is a lot of places between Kent and Hampshire, I would look at other areas. Perhaps say your budget and minimum requirements, MN's will come up with suggestions.

I wouldn't move to Winchester if you don't have a car to be able to get around.

its got permit parking

I used to live in Winchester & loved it. I still visit regularly & would more than happily move back. Everything is walking distance & there are good rail links. Heathrow also isn’t too far.
House wise the Tonbridge one looks miniscule & I wouldn’t wish to start a family there with a child on a different floor & no bath. Would you still be living then with a family? I see neither of them have outside space.

I grew up in Tonbridge and live relatively near now. That spot by the castle is amazing - there's quite often something happening in the castle grounds. Live music, food festivals etc., a great swimming pool, and it's at the bougie end of the High Street with plenty of bars and restaurants around. It's so easy to get into London from, and overall a great place to bring kids up. The property itself I have no view on but, whilst there are car parks nearby, they can get full very quickly in good weather and when an event is taking place.

Hi, I know Tonbridge, as I live in a village nearby and grew up near there, and went to uni in Southampton so know Winchester very vaguely. I am still a little puzzled despite your explanation as to what your priority is. You are buying a property on your own, that your BF will move into [for fucks sake please please deal with any legality here]; you currently WFH in a good finance job [ie location doesnt matter?] but you hope to return to teaching? Were you a newly qualified when you quit? Why do you want to go back to teaching?

Tonbridge is long considered the poor relation of Sevenoaks and Tun Wells. Actually it is great - it has all the shops and facilities that anyone needs. Without their crazy house price uplifts. But that house - yes great commute to the station - 15 min walk? But why is that important if you are going back into teaching! Plenty of schools around - private, grammar, primary. That house is tiny - you mention very long term plans for children. That is not a great house for kids. Too many stairs and no parking. But I would normally prefer a house to a flat but perhaps not in this case. But why WInchester? Ignore your family - they need to sort themselves out. DO not buy a property expecting they might need it.

So location 1st - sort that out in your mind. Then job/career? The relationship, then children.

Hope to have one baby in about 9 years time.

bizarre

Where and with whom do you currently live?

entire immediate family have precarious living situations. Parents both destitute)

This just gets stranger and stranger

I live in Cambridge on the outskirts. I hate it here and I have to get on my bike to get anywhere so basically trapped in a tiny 1 bed house any time it rains.

And your boyfriend has no view of where he will be moving to? He also wfh exclusively

This is all so strange

I could tell you actually strange things about myself and my life. My boyfriend's financial or employment matters are no concern of mine or yours.

I don’t disbelieve it. Every detail practically is incredibly weird

St Cross Road is one of the busiest roads out of Winchester. There is no outside space for your mythical child to play, so what if they arrive quicker than planned? It's a flat for a car free young couple who don't mind noise & car fumes. I wouldn't want to rely on permit parking. Where are you going to keep your bike?

Love Winchester. Wouldn't touch anything on St Cross Road.

I have absolutely no idea of either location.
Never been in one or the other.

However if I had to choose between an end of terrace house and a flat, the house would win every single time.