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Original poster

Is there anyone who lives in or around the Portsmouth area give me some advice please?

32 replies

Bomper · 04/10/2006 18:47

My husband has been told his job will be moving to Portsmouth, and we have been having a look on RightMove for house in and around the area. We have been looking at Waterlooville, Fareham and Bishops Waltham, but really we don't have a clue about the area. What places are great and which should we avoid like the plague? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

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Original poster
Bomper · 04/10/2006 22:04

Anyone?

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Tommy · 04/10/2006 22:16

hi - don't know it terribly well but out of those places I would say Bishops Waltham is the nicest although I guess it depends on the house and the particluar neighbourhood you end up in! Portsmouth itself is considered possibly to be a bit (ahem)rough (sorry to any Pompey-ites round here!) but there are nice parts of Fareham and Waterlooville as well.
Do you need to think about school and stuff as well?

(BTW I live in Southampton - have you considered here?)

Original poster
Bomper · 04/10/2006 22:22

Thanks. Yes I do need to consider schools (both Primary and Secondary). Oh and yes, we have been considering Southampton and surrounding areas. Do you happen to know what Eastleigh is like? What are the pros and cons? TIA

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Eve · 04/10/2006 22:26

I work in Portsmouth and travel from just past Southampton.

Will he be driving, what are you looking for? What budget..area ... facilities etc.

Will you be at home, do you want to walk to schools etc.

Tommy · 04/10/2006 22:33

Eastleigh schools are not as good as some others. The "best" school in that area (secondary) is Thornden which is in Chandlers Ford and that has some nice primaries too - it's also quite pricey round there!
Bishops Waltham has a nice primary (my friend teaches there ) but would think for secondary from there you'd have quite a trek to anywhere.
Would second Eve's questions!

Pixel · 04/10/2006 22:33

We ran a pub in Cowplain, Waterlooville for a few months but didn't see that much of it as we were too busy. One thing I do remember though is that the 'Wecock estate' was really rough so that area is probably best avoided. The locals used to call police cars 'Wecock taxis' .

Original poster
Bomper · 04/10/2006 22:42

right, our budget is between £170,000 - £200,000, and for that we want a 3 bed house (pref. Semi but not essential!) Yes, he will need to drive in to work, but not every day as he is in IT and can work from home most days. I will be at home and would prefer to be able to walk to most places but especially school.

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Tommy · 04/10/2006 22:46

prob not Bishops Waltham then if you want to wlak everywhere as it is quite small and you'd probably end up wanting to drive to a bigger place!
I think Fareham has pretty much everything you need there as well.
I walk most places but I am fairly central Southampton. My sister lives on the Eastern side of Southampton and works in Portsmouth - takes her about 20 mins
Where are you moving from?

cowmod · 04/10/2006 22:46

petesfield is that enarby>

Original poster
Bomper · 04/10/2006 22:49

I love Petersfield, but seems a bit pricey. We are moving from SE London, and will have no relative nearby, apart from a great aunt who lives in Waterlooville, so it will be a bit of a wrench!!

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Tommy · 04/10/2006 22:53

good luck with it bomper - let us know when you've got some more ideas. I suppose you'll just have to come visiting and get the feel for the different places.
Think I would go for the schools first and see what you want and what seems suitable - I would go secondary schools first as they seem to more controversial.

Original poster
Bomper · 04/10/2006 22:56

Thanks Tommy I will let you know how we do!! Agree it's probably best we drive down there and take a look around ourselves!!

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MuddlingThru · 04/10/2006 23:14

I live in Waterlooville. Your budget is definitely realistic. Agree with Pixel re Wecock - if you are thinking 'wow, I can get all that for £170k' it is probably a sign that you are straying into Wecock (ditto Leigh Park). Waterlooville is right next to A3 so good connections to surrounding area. Local shops are adequate for most day to day needs (eg Waitrose, Asda, Boots, Wilkinsons, Argos, Dorothy Perkins, TK Maxx) with Southampton, Guildford, Chichester all within easy reach for something a bit more exciting. Not really up on schools as ds is only 15 months (but have local friends with older kids). Feel free to CAT me with more specific questions and I will do my best to answer them.

Eve · 05/10/2006 08:24

Oh... which company , I am in IT as well?

I don't know the Portsmouth area well but a lot of colleagues with school children live in Southsea, Waterlooville, Bishops Waltham, denmead. Not sure of schools .

Around Southampton Chandlers ford is good, some good schools but I think the primarys are all full.

You could also think of Rownhams on edge of Southampton (estate though..not a village as such) which has good primarys with access to Mountabtten which is a good secondary.

There is Noth Baddesley and Romsey. Romsey is very nice, with good schools but prices reflect that.

IN Southampton Basset and West end seem OK. However I think local school to Bassett is not very ggod.

Chilworth is also very nice but very expensive.

I think your best bet would actually be to start with where you can get a school place and work from there.

Tulips61 · 05/10/2006 08:38

Southsea is nice, fantastic old houses but schools are pretty bad unless you can afford the private sector and then choose Portsmouth Grammar which apparently is a really good school (friends have children there). Agree with Tommy that Eastleigh schools are rubbish but Chandlers Ford does have Thornden which everyone raves about and which my children are about to start. Downside is houses within catchment area are over priced by about £60,000 on average which is why we're all wearing rags and begging for food from passing strangers .....

Original poster
Bomper · 05/10/2006 11:13

Thanks everyone for all your advice, it is much appreciated! MuddlingThru - I may well take you up on your offer when we are more certain of which areas we are looking at - Thanks!! Oh, btw, Dh works for IBM Eve.

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MuddlingThru · 05/10/2006 21:01

Which IBM site is your dh going to be working at? If it is the big one at North Harbour then Drayton/Farlington/Cosham area is nice and very close by and has some good primary schools that feed into Springfield which is pretty ok as state comprehensives go. Not sure that your budget would stretch to a semi though. Alternatively Copnor is more affordable and I believe the Admiral Nelson comp has a good reputation (although avoid Mayfield as it certainly didn't a few years ago).

Original poster
Bomper · 06/10/2006 07:33

Yes, Dh will be working at North Harbour, I will look in to the places you suggest thanks!!!

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sugarfLeewhileyoustillcan · 06/10/2006 07:50

Mayfield now has a waiting list as its reputation is increasing year on year as are it's exam results.Its headteacher is a bloody marvel and some of the teachers there are truley inspirational.They are heading for specialist college status in Performing Arts.
Admiral Lord Nelson has just changed its leadership so things could change there too.They also have a bit of a bullying problem,I've heard.

Just so as we are all up to date.

sugarfLeewhileyoustillcan · 06/10/2006 07:53

Oh and places in secondary school are limited so you pretty much have to live in the catchment area of the one you want.

Rosylily · 06/10/2006 09:02

I went to college in Portsmouth. long time now. I lived in Southsea and have romantic memories of walking down to the seafront quite often. Was lovely. And I love the old houses there. Its great for kids to be near the sea. And I found the people really warm and friendly.

thankyoupoppet · 06/10/2006 09:29

how about Chichester?

I live in a village just north of Chichester and I worked in Southsea for a while. It's a really easy drive in and out. about 25 minutes if traffic is ok.
There are some really lovely areas in and around Chichester with loads of great little primary schools. In Chichester the house prices are perhaps a tiny bit more than your budget but that is only really wwithin walking distance to the city centre. If you look a little bit out -fishbourne, nutbourne for a start then the prices are more sensible.

I've got to totally rave about Chichester, it has so much going for it. I have lived here for 5 years now, used to live in Eastleigh but I found it a nightmare to get anywhere as you are slap bag in the middle of two huge motorway junctions.

good luck with your decision. Please visit Chichester though when you have a look round (sounds like I work for the tourist board!) let us know how you get on.

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 06/10/2006 09:56

I'm in Bitterne Park, Southampton and the schools there are very good (for Southampton.) Good buses, trains, nice park, near M27 to Portsmouth. I like to think of it as a more affordable, less dull Chandlers Ford. My mum calls it Islington-on-Itchen You can still get a 3bed semi with maybe a workshop/garage for DH for £200k too.
Bishops Waltham's a bit far out. Hamble and Warsash are pretty but quite expensive.

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 06/10/2006 10:00

In fact have a look at this

thankyoupoppet · 06/10/2006 10:33

try
www.upmystreet.com