Any info on what Southampton is like to live in?

[Themumsnot]

Hi guys
Vague possibility we might need to move to Southampton next year. Would need to find secondary school places and a sixth form place for the DCs. Need to be nearish train station to London and/or the university. Any thoughts on what it is like to live there - what is the town centre like, good places to look for houses that sort of thing. Would be very grateful for any tips or advice.

Hi I live in Bassett which is walking distance to Southampton Uni and my husband commutes to London from Southampton Parkway (Airport) and is 1hr 5 mins to Waterloo. Bassett is a lovely leafy quiet area but the only downside is that their are no excellent schools within this catchment area. Lots of children in the area end up going to far way schools on buses. ie Mountbatten in Romsey, Romsey School, Kings in Winchester etc. Thornden Secondary school in Chandlers Ford has a very good reputation and if living in that area would not be far from Parkway station (10 mins) or a big commute to the university.(20 mins).

Hmmm disappointed with the opinions expressed here about Eastleigh. We live in a lovely street where the neighbours still know one another, never any noise or problems. We are within walking distance of the town centre and its cinema, walking distance of the railway station (1hr20min to London), and within walking distance of Fleming Park (local sports centre), plus 5 mins onto the M3 when needed. Being "out of catchment" for all the "outstanding" schools, never been a problem for DCs. One at Thornden, one at Kings in Winchester, the other we're waiting to see which school will suit him the best.
We moved from Winchester, because of the high prices and I agree that given the choice, Winchester would be preferrable, but to label Eastleigh as a "rough" town, is certainly not the experience we have had.

Agree with iholt.

Bassett is a great area, I'd say anywhere around the Sports Centre which would give you loads of choice of houses. I miss the Sports Centre as we spent half our lives down there! Hockey, skiing,the mini fair or walking round the golf course and the woods. There are good bus routes down Hill Lane to the station and you can walk to the University. I hear Upper Shirley High is improving and a few friends daughters are at St Annes and are happy there.
Winchester is lovely but ludicrously expensive and congested and the surrounding areas Hiltingbury, Romsey etc are uber suburban and pricey too. For teenagers Bassett is much easier on the parents IYSWIM.
YY to Uptons of Bassett, I miss that too! (Simon the butcher was last seen appearing on The Wartime Farm).

I agree iholt. Eastleigh seems more of an average, normal friendly town. A good mix of people & housing