Hampton school chosen - are these towns too far out ??

[scattycow]

We will be returning to the UK next year, and have chosen a school in Hampton (middlesex), but we have very little knowledge of the surrounding areas.

There are lots of school buses that run as far out as windsor, and it's certainly temping to look at these areas that are on the perimeter of the school bus (think they go just inside the M25) run as I would think you would get more house for your money.

I have come up with these towns ; egham, wraysbury, shepperton, epsom, windsor/datchet, Twickenham (unsure as have only driven along some kind of highway - towards M3? - and it wasnt that appealing)

I think my husband will be working around liverpool st, kids will probably have school stuff on after school, but in school, so taking into account driving to and from school on the odd occassion, and transport links into London - what do you think of my chosen towns ? Any feedback good or bad would be most appreciated.

We have done sooo much research on schools, and we like this one because of its superb academics, languages, and shedloads of football. I also like the way it has the longer lunch break for the activities, or sports tranining, or whatever DS wants to do. If i start looking at other schools this late in the day (bare in mind we are overseas and getting back to look is quite gruelling with the jetlag), I will go bonkers.

I think the school bus pickup at the furthermost towns on the bus run is 7:30 am . There are only a few stops on the way into school, so most are in just after 8 . Does this sound correct ?

are any of my areas BADLY affected by aircraft noise, should i rule windsor out ? Would i be safe to assume that DS can take a school bus, therefore we should really concentrate on easy access to London ?

SC

Scatty, you have chosen a fabulous school for all the right reasons. Finding the right school/house/commute is hard even when living here ...... it must be so hard from abroad. I really do feel for you. I don't think you should doubt yourself and think about changing all your plans at the last minute.

Okay, the school day starts at 8:50, and I would guess that the furtherest pick up means they travel for about an hour. It is a long trip to have to make every day, but it is with their mates (and girls) and from what I hear the boys who go on the coaches seem to actually enjoy it.

Most of your selected areas suffer from aircaft noise. We are in Twickenham and get it for 2 weeks at a time. I am aware of it a bit when it starts but then after a while I stop noticing it. It stops between 11pm and 6am daily, and honestly, it doesn't bother me that much anymore. But I know everyone has different tolerance levels for these things.

The thing that drains me is the commute into London. I have been doing it for 14 years and I really just want an easy quick commute that take no more than 1 hour door to door. I think your DS's trip to school will be easier than your DH's trip to work, as long as you are happy to stick him on a coach.

I completely agree with JetJungle. I just do not notice planes at all, it's just not an issue for me. But the daily commute into and back from central London is an issue. Make sure you investigate all train times and make that bit easiest as possible . The Hampton/LEH bus is a big success and your DS will enjoy it from anywhere on the extensive bus route.

I think it is totally possible to get used to plane noise in most areas- Windsor wouldn't be a problem I think. I had a close friend who lived in West Windsor and at first, when we sat in her garden, I was really bothered by the plane noise and coundn't continue a conversation over it. Over time though I just adapted to it- an that was only being there from time to time.

However, I couldn't live in Wraysbury because it actually looks like the planes are going to land in your back garden. They look so big and close, I actually find it quite scary.

We are buying a house on the Bracknell/ Ascot boundary with an eye on sending DS (only 3 at the minute!) to Hampton or RGS. The commute for him doesn't put me off at all.

If you've got a million quid definitely look at Surbiton. Quickest commute into London that you can get in this neck of the woods and a reasonable commute for your boy. You could just about still get something detached for a million.

if money allows can I vote again for East Molesey? Anywhere that you can walk to Hampton Court station (which is most of it) is very pleasant and it is not under the flight path.

you do need to be able to walk to the station if commuting regularly as parking is tricky/expensive, but you'll always get a seat and it is 40 mins to Waterloo. You can do it a little quicker if you change to a fast train at Surbiton.

lovely area, lots to do, not far from anywhere!

Whilst you could love in any of those areas I would personally try to stay nearish to school and good train service. The Surbiton train service is good so I would suggest living somewhere where dh can pick that up .. eg Esher, TD, Long Ditton, parts of Molesey, Claygate, parts of Hampton, Oxshott, Cobham. These are all great areas to live. Teddington is lovely but ime pricey if you want the better bits.
I'm sure places like Windsor and Ascot are lovely to live in. But given the commute needs and a Hampton school I wouldn't go there.

Hi there, I just saw your thread and had to post. I do feel for you as the areas are not that well know and it must be hard for you to decide. But hang on a sec, heres another view for you, from a local teacher! I have very close connections to the school you are sending your son to, and I live locally to Hampton. It infuriates me the way some posters ...not you, obviously...write off Hampton and the Hampton borders. I do work with these boys, and they get exhausted from tiring coach commutes. Windsor is a great place, but solo many hours are lost to that child from just sitting slumped on a coach seat...seems mad to me. he should be close by so he time to get on with his homework! I truly believe that living ten miles max radius from tw12 is enough for a small boy to deal with.
Moreover, Hampton is a fantastic place to live, the train is not a bad line at all, a comfy 45 mins max, but those in the know have realised that if they move to the 'Hampton borders' area directly west of Hanworth Road, which is the road that Hampton School itself is on, you move into good old Hounslow borough and the drop in house prices is massive whilst the area remains JUST AS NICE! Historically the whole area is lovely, the main locations were all market gardens and nurseries, gardens are generous, lots of parks....Ooh, the snobbery surrounding some of the posts about Dean Road and Nurserylands exasperate me! These areas are fine and several are by superb Edwardian detached farmhouses and family friendly improved five bedroomers for under 500 k. Yes, under 500k! Oh and the Hampton academy is next door to Hampton but the two rarely meet as their hours differ greatly, and the evidence is that it is a vast improvement. They have a sixth form now and the whole place is working incredibly successfully. Every school on Hanworth road delivers to its target intake. I should also add that I have never seen any social problems from the old rectory school kids, it was just a big school which needed extra funding and restructuring to do the intake proud.I live about ten minutes walk from school and laugh at how many parents to be dismiss this area because they think it is some sort of Dickensian badland. It is full of nice families and older locals who have lived here all their lives and remember the old fruit and flower nurseries, plus there are frequent buses to kingston and Richmond, and a five minute taxi ride hooks you up on the faster Heathrow to Feltham and Waterloo line. So Hampton North really gets my vote! Lower sunbury is also nice but it is very poorly served by public transport, not a popular choice with a young boy I should think, they would end up being ferried everywhere by car. I like seeing local mids near me happily heading off shopping on the frequent buses and being totally safe.
Then there is he financial side....I work alongside Hampton and Richmond locals who pay huge amounts in mortgage repayment and council tax. I paid over 100pcm for my one bed flat in Hampton. I now pay 140pcm for a 4 bed extended house on the Hampton borders and I can get into London easily. Enough said!