Anyone living by the seaside? Just looking for a few pointers - re nice areas, schools and commuting to London. Looking for a three bed period home, budget is around £450,000. We have become a bit stuck in our two bed flat in London and it really is time to move on! We initially looked at Bishops Stortford, which seemed a nice enough old market town with an anglo-european secondary school, which would suit us. Then an old colleague told me about Leigh on Sea and I initially dismissed it - partly because it is grammar school territory and I don't really believe in dividing kids at such a young age. But then we went to visit and the sea and the buzz of the town won me over. And someone told me that as long as there is a good alternative, if they don't make grammar school, then it's fine. But I still have concerns. On the one hand I want to give our daughter the chance to go to grammar school, if we do move to grammar school territory and if she has the potential. On the other hand, I'm a bit worried about all the pressure and the segregation of girls and boys at secondary school too, which just seems a bit past century to me (they all have to get on later in life). I have also started looking at Whitstable/Tankerton online but have yet to visit. Like the idea of it being near Canterbury. And even been looking at Broadstairs, which looks stunning, but unless hubby changes jobs that is not feasible. I currently work from home as a journalist/researcher but need to get into London a few times a months for interviews and events. Hubby is a chef doing corporate fine dining in Canary Wharf. Currently it takes him 20 mins by motorbike and 45 mins on pushbike to get to work. He is trying to get a licence for a bigger motorbike so he could commute in from outside London. He likes his Monday to Friday hours (works 7am to 3.30pm most days) so doesn't want to do restaurant/hotel work. Hence he can't really see himself working outside the capital, as he says the pay for chefs outside London is rubbish unless you run your own business with all the commitment that entails. And he wants to save money on commuting by avoiding the trains. He thinks Leigh on Sea would just about be doable by motorbike although the roads look scary (about 45 mins commute each way). And he says we can look at Whitstable too, but not sure if the daily commute would be too much - as he obviously doesn't have option of working any days from home. Any thoughts on Whitstable Vs Leigh on Sea re community, schools, commute to London etc? Or other areas? Ta so much!