Where to live in Hampshire?

[PrairieDog]

We are currently in USA and moving back to the UK soon. It looks like we might be living in Hampshire (Dh job in Eastleigh). We used to live in Yorkshire and so know NOTHING about this area.

I gather Winchester is lovely but expensive and was wondering what the villages and smaller towns around Eastleigh / Winchester are like?

We'll need to rent first and can take our time to buy but would really like to find a school and stick with it as we have moved around a lot in the last few years. Dcs are primary age but we do need to give some thought to secondary schools too as we don't want to have to move again to be near a decent secondary.

We would love to be able to walk to school / pub / shop etc (have had a few years of driving EVERYWHERE in US) but I realize this may be a romantic ideal because I am pining for the English countryside. We have always lived in or near a city so probably not up for middle of nowhere type village location.

Any hints or suggestions of where to look or where to avoid very gratefully received.

and Petersfield is on the train line to Waterloo which may be handy. Quite a small town.

The new tunnel should have made it much more pleasant. Several expensive schools locally.

However the journey to Eastleigh is about 35 minutes on a good day (far more in rush hour or bad weather). Why would you want to sentence your partner to that when you can live near work?

I have two homes at either end of your area, both within about 30 to 40 minute commute of Eastleigh. I work and spend that time in North Hants just south of Newbury nice area not quite as expensive as Winchester, good schools. The village of Kingsclere is very popular with people moving in from abroad as it is very old very pretty and has lovely facilities.
I play on the Isle of Wight in Ryde which if you keep a little car at the hover car park in Southsea is quite reasonable commute to Eastleigh - I know many people who do this. House prices are quite a bit cheaper here, many many lovely period properties. It is more relaxed on the island than the mainland, though it is quite quiet in the winter though some of us like that .

Forgot say on the Island your budget would buy you something amazing. At the other end you would get a nice house.

Well Lizcat I never would have thought of the Isle of Wight!

I think ideally we want a shorter commute to Eastleigh so when DH is over next week he'll just look at what's around to rent. It seems that schools will be pretty much fine anywhere so that's good.

I do love the idea of a small village but not sure I could handle the reality. Am just generally very excited at the thought of being back in the UK.

Thanks all for very helpful suggestions.

Stubbington - Scary is right about the traffic and there is also the Peel Common Pong to contend with.

Do take a look at Bishop's Waltham - and have coffee in Josie's, check out Peter Atkinson's for fresh fish, Hylands for local produce and Black Boutique for great fashion. Very picturesque, nice community and easy access to countryside. For stations... Botley, Hedge End and Winchester aren't far away.

has anybody said Romsey?

Maybe about a year ago...

It's Alton to far?

Hi - we moved to Winch about three months ago- it is a really lovely city with excellent schools and lots going on. Traffic is an ABSOLUTE nightmare, and thats coming from someone used to Manchester!!! House prices are absolutely staggering, and we have had to accept that there is no way we can afford the type of house we were used to before, it has been hard to come to terms with this, and at some time this useless Government has got to find a way to reconcile two parts of the same country, you cannot have one half doing one thing and one something else. I really dont know how young people/public sector workers who were born and bred here, can ever hope to buy a house in the area they are from, it is scandalous. We did look around areas of the new forest, etc etc ,but had to discount for lots of reasons, commuting, school places etc. Hants LEA were absolutely brilliant helping us with school apps and decisions.

It is lovely tho' and we are glad we made the move, weather is much warmer < water takes some getting used to as well!!!>

People saying Isle of Wight, Petersfield, Ringwood obviously have their own private helicopter! They are all nice places but far to far to commute to Eastleigh! Basset or Upper Shirley in Southampton would get you a house in Southampton and Romsey is a lovely town with good shops, pubs and schools all within commuting distance (which, lets face it, will be by car). Don't live in Eastleigh. There's a reason why they call it beastly! I just saw the date of this thread! Where did you end up?!

A friend just moved to Petersfield - looks fab. I think there are v good schools too..,

ZOMBIE THREAD

I don't suppose the OP gives a monkey's about primary schools now. Her DC are probably finishing secondary, given she posted 6 years ago.

Hi All, could you guys who are from Ringwood pls comment whats it like to live there in 2019?

I'm looking to move to ringwood, and no need to worry about traffic as i work from home, thanks for any info:-)