andover in hampshire

[lewislewis]

What is it like for families with kids? Friend is thinking of buying there but scared of leaving London.

Ooh dear poor old Andover! Grew up a few miles outside, and went on the train to Salisbury to school. Then went to sixth form college in Andover - really good, and didn't get too many probs with squaddies, but Tidworth is nearby. Would def say Salisbury & Winchester are nicer, but more pricey. Grateley (village between Andover & Salis) has a mainline station to London, so lots of people commute there from the Wallops (q big villages).

I would not want to live in Andover itself if I could help it....

ps lonelymum - went to the Hawk Conservancy with all our wedding guests the day after our wedding

CD, no I don't think we know each other. We have had this conversation before, haven't we, or am I mixing you up with someone else? Didn't you go to a private school in Winch? And your parents live in the vicinity still?

Tickle, good isn't it?

LM - quite scary when I think I've known it for more than 25yrs!! Living in Denmark now, so haven't been for a while, but always impressed that they have managed to keep it feeling like a true family place when it's really quite a big operation these days.

Making me quite homesick

oh yes we have haven't we!
Yes, and yes they live in Avington

That's right! Actually, you didn't tell me the Avington bit, but I think I read it on someone else's thread. What makes you say the people of Alresford are fascists?

Aww, this thread making me slightly homesick - I grew up just outside Andover and went to school there (lots of years ago!). I moved away though and have never really regretted it tbh. Lonelymum, Finckley Down Farm was one of my favourite places as a child .

oh nothing, just as a lefty bolshy teenager I decided that the good people of Alresford were fascists. You have to admit it is fairly twee and smug - lots of well-to-do country tories in their 4x4s etc.

Isn't that what you have become now though? Or maybe not.....

GOD no!

Am still lefty and wouldn't go near a 4x4!

And I live in London

There are some posh parts of London! But I take the point, it is not countryside.

Oh well, just me then..... ............

So Bagpuss, where did you grow up?

Do you live in Alresford, Lonelymum?

Tickle, small village just outside Andover (not saying which). Just had a thought that I may know you if we were at sixth form college there at the same time. I went between 1990 and 1992.

I don't know it all that well but it has a reputation for being a bit rough...

Oh and Finckley Down Farm will be closing within the next 2-3 years sadly...

Aha, I'm small village too I left Cricklade in 88, so just a bit older than you!

HMC why will it be closing?

CD, no I don't! I spent my wedding night there though in the Swan ? Hotel next to the Watercress Line.

Oh yes I know the one used to be owned by Derek Warwick's (Formula1 driver)parents in my day

where do you live LM?

Romsey is a very pleasant market town which is do-able in 1 hour from London..

I wouldn't recommend Winchester either - have met some most appalling snobs there (present company on this thread with knowledge and roots in Winchester excepted!)

Lonelymum - something to do with a big trunk road thingy (wasn't concentrating when dh told me)

Message withdrawn

True - but very convivial, with good community feel (without being claustrophobic), well decent schools, no real 'rough' bits or sqauddies, and does it matter that you have to drive 15 mins to So'ton for big shops / theatre / cinema?