What makes a perfect home for raising children?

[Yoozanaim]

Other than all that mushy love stuff!

We are currently looking at relocating for work and this being our final move until maybe the kids fly the nest. Currently aged four and eight. What do you look for? (Modest. We do not have an excessive budget (for the area).)

I'm considering the house itself and the surrounding area in which they grow up.

I have on my list:

• Village/good community vibe/spirit
• Good access to extra-curricular activities and clubs etc
• A good swimming pool (slides etc - well, certainly my children would like this!)
• Green open spaces and not too polluted by traffic and industry
• Safe/low crime
• A big enough garden for a kickabout/running about and growing things
• A bedroom each (I have a boy and a girl)
• Well-served by public transport for us now but also when the kids are teens and getting around independently
• A cul-de-sac - though I suppose we could move to one and there be no other kids to play with. So I don't know how much to hang on this one.
• A garage or shed so the bikes and scooters aren't in the hall as we come in (as they are now, argh, hate it).
• Good internal storage

Anything I am overlooking - I really don't want to move again during their childhood and want to get this as right as possible, not least cos moving costs a fortune.

Friends live in Ripley, Send and especially Horsell, and love it.

Cross off 'cul de sac' from your wish list. More traffic coming and going and turning than you'd think.

Excellent transport links for when they’re teenagers.

Looks like Tonbridge might suit you.

35-40mins into several London stations- London Bridge, Canon Street, Waterloo East and Charing Cross.

Great secondary schools.

Bus service is not bad. 1hr drive to LHR (if no traffic jams on M25) and about 35 mins to LGW.

Lots of great countryside nearby. I have seen quite a lot of canoes on the Medway through town so your husband might like that too. Great swimming pool in town and several gyms.

Horsham looks lovely! Is the commute not a bit of a chore though, into London?

Snog, I guess an hour, but 45 or less would feel considerably better.

The job is south London so I am focused on Surrey first, Sussex and Kent next. Possibly Hampshire. Also as mentioned there are other future job prospects around the Surrey area (especially Guildford) but also Brighton, so I don't want to be looking north or London - though Cambridge does otherwise tick the boxes.

Oops, missed a raft of replies. Thank you everyone.
Tonbridge does look nice, and DH would be delighted to find somewhere he can canoe!