Country versus city for brining up two boys

[TandC]

We currently live in zone 3 London and have two boys - 3.5 yrs and 1.5 yrs. Considering a move to rural Hampshire to offer more space, bigger garden etc, with the main motivation being that we are keen to offer them high performing primary and secondary state education. I guess I expect that the move is the best thing for them but wondered if anyone could argue against this? We're not farmers so is living a rural lifestyle seems a little odd. Also, mindful that they will miss out on the culture and diversity that city life offers. Has anyone made this move and what have you found? Views please.

[TandC]

Thanks again everyone. And thank you for the suggestions of where we should look. I've started researching Reigate, Guildford, Dorking and in parallel I've made and appointment to visit two local primary schools in the village we're looking at. They tell me they have their intake for this Sept. and as the population isn't transient like London's, I'm not sure we'll get in for next year either. Long term, I guess we'll look to move to more of a town location when the boys reach their teenage years, as there is no bus route or station nearby.

[Pyrrah]

Decent station is much more important than a bus route unless it's a really good frequent service.

My parents lived on a bus route - hooray. Then you find out that there is only 1 bus an hour between 8 and 5 and sometimes it doesn't turn up.

It meant that my parents were a permanent taxi service if we had holiday jobs or wanted to go out.

A decent train-line (ie not some unattended station at the bottom of a deserted track that is likely to feature on CrimeWatch) with regular services to good big towns is a huge plus.

So many of the things you hope to do in the country just don't work out. I know my parents had dreams of us all going on bike-rides... until the girl at the other end of the lane was knocked down and killed. After that we weren't allowed bikes.

[Dozer]

Guildford, epsom, reigate?

[pickle346]

We moved out of london to the countryside before having a family - now with 2 children we are moving back to london! Lots of reasons, main one being jobs, but also lack of facilities and amenities for the children and us. There is no diversity at all here and we are looking forward to going back!

[LittlePicnic]

Hi. Be careful where you choose. We are in a large village very close to a small city. Council cuts mean the last bus from the city to our village is now 8.40 p.m. On a Saturday night!! ( no nights out without cabs back). We moved from zone 3 London to here. I like it here but find no street lights a bad thing- who wants to cycle or walk in the dark? Not me so I don't really go out in the evenings in the winter. The people here are less friendly than my neighbours in London!! Maybe it's just here ( even the ordinary folk seem to think they are god)! So looking to move before DS1 goes to secondary school.