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Original poster

Suggestions for a good place to live???

126 replies

chiswickmum · 03/01/2004 20:21

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

OP posts:
polly28 · 03/01/2004 22:08

Ringwood on the hants/dorset border,not far from wimborne.Lovely community feel ,great schools.

JanH · 03/01/2004 22:11

Well done, polly - drag us back to where we should be! Dorset again - mmm - I wish!

adell · 03/01/2004 22:12

Are you actually in Ringwood Polly28?

nearlymybeetrootday · 03/01/2004 22:13

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polly28 · 03/01/2004 22:16

yes i live here in sunny ringwood

newgirl · 03/01/2004 22:16

st albans is fab on all those counts

adell · 03/01/2004 22:19

Have you been there long ? We've been here for a year,I got pregnant as soon as we moved and didn't get to explore as much as I wanted to last summer as it was just too hot !

nearlymybeetrootday · 03/01/2004 22:21

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JanH · 03/01/2004 22:30

Own up, beety, you are a gypsy, aren't you!

nearlymybeetrootday · 03/01/2004 22:32

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polly28 · 03/01/2004 22:33

adell,We've lived here for thirteen years now,wow can't believe that.My dd was twelve on new years eve and I foun out I was pregnant the day after we moved here ,that's the only way I know how long we've been here.I don't know wimborne very well unfortunately,have been a few times and found it a lovely place to shop.

funnymummy · 03/01/2004 23:03

I have lived in Dorset most of my life, apart from a v long gap year in france (lasted 6 years), i'm further west than polly28 and adell, in Dorchester the county town.
The schools are very good - especailly the upper school, there is a brand new huge hospital and even though prices are ever rising you'd find something within your budget!
There's a new development on the outskirts called Poundbury which has been designed by Prince Charles, there's a brilliant community feel, they've started a "i want to write a novel" club this month! The houses are lovely.

suedonim · 04/01/2004 01:33

Aberdeenshire, Chiswickmum. Excellent schooling and you could buy a whole road of three bed houses for 400K!! Look at Property Centre for homes.

codswallop · 04/01/2004 10:38

d9idnt someone once post about their parents wanting to move to Ringwood?

nearlymybeetrootday · 04/01/2004 11:53

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WideWebWitch · 04/01/2004 11:55

here's the thread about ILs moving to Ringwood

zebra · 04/01/2004 11:56

I think parts of Norwich fit your bill, Chicksmum.

I just want our house to sell, whimper, whimper...

tamum · 04/01/2004 12:14

Parts of Edinburgh are fab and fit all your criteria, chiswickmum. There aren't huge numbers of houses in Edinburgh in the city centre, mainly lovely big flats, but lots of houses a bit further out. As with suedonim's suggestion, you also avoid SATs and having to start school just after 4th birthdays (but none of this may be relevant, don't know how old your children are, sorry). Very easy to look for houses as they are almost all listed here .

bunny2 · 04/01/2004 14:01

Dorset gets my vote too mostly for selfish reasons (I want a local Mumsnetter meetup). We are in Bournemouth having moved from London via Spain a couple of years ago. There are some good schools here (and some crap ones too), the hospitals and gps are fantastic (so much easier and quicker to get an appointment here). There are no big traffic jams (well, not like London ones), property is cheap (we bought a detached 4 bed Victorian house for £170K last year) The air is fresh and clean. We like it here.

Polly28, Adell, Funnymummy, Handlemecarefully, Coddy, anyone else sort of local want to meet? I can travel by car, train whatever, bring ds or not .. anything really .

bunny2 · 04/01/2004 14:03

Gosh, I look a bit desperate. I do have lots of friends here already, honest

littlerach · 04/01/2004 14:24

Bunny2, I grew up in Bmth and moved to Bath for uni, now live in Wilts. I visit Bmth regularly and still love it, especially for the coast. Agree that there are some brill schools, also some yucky ones!!

bunny2 · 04/01/2004 17:40

Littlerach, let me know if you are heading to the coast, we're always around for coffee/park.

codswallop · 04/01/2004 18:11

well found beety.
I would say that ringwood is more sedate than (hardly raving) salisbury - so it depends what youa re looking for

whaddya think CMum?

nearlymybeetrootday · 04/01/2004 18:18

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littlerach · 04/01/2004 18:21

Where in Somerset are you?

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