Relocating to Southbourne or Poole

[Bec8700]

Hi
We’re considering relocating in the next 1-2 years.
I’ve visited Southbourne and surrounding areas and we are planning to visit Poole this summer. All being well !

I just wondered if anyone has done this and which area is preferable out of the two? I have read up on the best areas in Poole and I’m aware school places are hard to find all round which is a worry as I have 2 Primary aged children.

We are in Kent currently in a nice town we aren’t unhappy but the draw of the coast and the beautiful surroundings is really tempting. Has anyone else done this move ? Any advice ? Thanks

Kent has beautiful coasts and scenery as well though? Why the urge to move completely away?

Don't bother its not all its cracked up to be unless you cannot live without sand on your doorstep.

It has I agree, although we’re still an hour away from the coast here. Bournemouth and Dorset seem more beautiful and seem to offer more.

Oh dear that doesn’t sound great :-( any particular reasons why it’s not that good ?

It's just a town with some sand, the 'views' are on the isle of purbeck and further into Dorset. Town centre has declined...although arguably Poole town centre has never been 'up'. Culturally its a bit sparse...ok it has cafe culture, but doesn't everywhere? Traffic is rubbish to go from Poole to Bournemouth can take an hour and it's 7 miles. Southbourne and lilliput and the 'nicer' parts are densely populated, snobby and expensive for no discernable reason to me. Schools are meh or grammar based. Although the sewage works next to the 'welcome to Bournemouth' sign always makes me laugh, but at least we can smell when we are nearly home. There is also a lot of drugs/rehab places, definitely got worse in past 10 years dont know if that is the same elsewhere. I think it's a nice place to visit and OK to live here, but i dont get why people rave about it. I just think there are nicer/better areas, but guess it depends on how much you like sand as that is all anyone ever mentions when they talk about how wonderful it is.

I would prefer Christchurch or Westbourne to Southbourne and Wimborne rather than Poole. Do you want village or beach life. Will you be looking for work.

@DogsSausages Have you seen the queue in westbourne at the doctors for the rehab patients every morning/evening recently? Lots of 'social' housing just behind the shops on the northside of westbourne to accommodate people visiting said doctors.

@TheNortherner
I think we’ll just head for the Bronx