Suggestions for a good place to live???

[chiswickmum]

My DP and I are thinking about moving over the next few years. We are starting to research possible places. This is what we are looking for:

Good state primary and secondary schools which are supported by local parents;

A sense of community - this is difficult to define, but I suppose what I mean is somewhere where people are happy to talk to one another in passing and where there are plenty of local activities, which don't involve going to church (we are non-Christians, so it is not appropriate).

A good hospital

I don't know whether this is a tall order. It certainly doesn't apply to where we live now, except for the odd street. Does anyone think that they live in a place which meets these criteria?

Thanks
the possibility of buying a 3 bedroomed house for less than 400k

Yes where I live its like that. Im ooop north and live near Haydock race course. There are some brilliant schools nearby and lots of very friendly people. When I moved up here 7 years ago (from Hampshire) I only knew my mum but now have a wide circle of friends. Three bedroom house would certainly be less than 400k..lol!

chiswick mum do you want to stay in London or move to the country? Do you need to be within commuting distance of one of your jobs? How close does the hospital have to be and what sort of facilites, eg is a good paed dept what you need?

If you have a spare moment have a look on the net at Wimborne in Dorset. We've been here a year and love it. I think it fits your criteria really well. Have just deleted a whole chunk I'd written about it as I realised I sounded like something out of a tourist board leaflet !

Are you sure you don't want to move abroad...?

Sorry, I didn't mean that the way it sounded, just not sure you can find all that in this country, can you? Dorset is lovely, but v expensive.

It seems that quite a lot of people from London have moved down and pushed prices up in the last year, but you can still get a decent detached 3 bed for less than 400k

Don't really want to move abroad, as it seems a bit drastic!

Adell...
We have friends who moved to Wimborne a few years ago and they, too, love it. I've always enjoyed my visits there, so its somewhere we might consider.

If we found somewhere that met the bill within commutable distance of my job using public transport, that would be great. However as I work in local government, think that I could possibly find a job elsewhere, so distance from current job, not really an issue.

salisbury, its lovely, grammar schools too, near to coast, lote of villages, good hosp (altho mat wing a bit ancient)
theatre, cinema(medieval building) loads of activiteies , loads of lovely playgrounds, day trips,

yeah and you love the fields beety (!!)

I live in the Ribble Valley in Lancs, it has all the above except for the hospital - it's half an hour to that. Also it rains a lot. I like the sound of Dorset and Somerset...

I always thought of you in east anglia janh. dunno why. bath nice too but mucho dinero

Southampton is pretty good. Mild, temperate climate. Fun to watch boats dock there (big cruise liners like the Queen Mary 2nd), plus tall ships festival, and annual boat show. Great shopping in West Quay retail outlet. Brilliant (if unfashionable) premiership football club (I'm a fan!). Seaside resorts within easy reach i.e. less than 40 mins away (e.g. Isle of White, Bournemouth). Sensible distance from London with fast trains from Southampton Airport Parkway and an circa 1 hours drive (off peak) along the motorway. Has one of the largest UK teaching hospitals - Southampton University Hospitals Trust. Various 'attractions' within reach - fantastic zoo (Marwell zoo), kids theme park (Paulton's Park), New Forest very close etc...in fact tonnes of stuff for the family.....

If you don't want to live in Southampton itself there are smaller towns nearby such as Romsey. Prices are quite high but you should be able to find something within budget.

I have lived in the following places in my time: Peterborough, Sheffield, Doncaster, Nottingham, Leicester, Ascot....but where I live currently (not actually in So'ton but a few miles out in the country) takes some beating

HMc soton itself isnt so nice though is it? I reckon the outskirts are nicer....

what about Shaftesbury?

we live near about 2 miles from Warwick and we love it, has all the things you've asked for

really c/ where? have a pal in bidford on avon

It's funny how we have completely wrong ideas of where people are - I was convinced WSM is in Scotland but she's in Worcs!

beety, did you ever visit Ribchester? It's v lovely up here but generally soggy. Where is the Ribchester friend now? (somewhere down south, I bet!)

I got married in Barford too , but onein salisbury!!

My pal lives in Marlcliffe near Bideford

its a hamlet.. really.

I married in 96, I was 26

what was I doing. I am splitting this thread with the fatties who are doing very badly ont he diet...

Yes, you BR