Manningtree

[jengles]

We're thinking of moving out to Manningtree from London (so am agog at what we could get!).

Have 2x kids who would still be at primary school if we were to move in the Autumn.
Went up and had a walk around the town yesterday and loved it but wanted a bit more info on what the area is like for families with school age kids - are clubs like ballet/football/swimming easily available?

Are there any areas to especially consider/exclude?

Thanks in advance x

...or even that area generally.... north/east Colchester/East Bergolt.... am I considering a move to a Mumsnet-free zone? (Surely not )

I don't live there anymore but I grew up in Capel St Mary and went to high school in East Bergholt. It was nice! Many acquaintances still in the area. I'm sure they have all the children's groups going on (but obviously can't confirm). I live in Ipswich and have recently had a baby and discovered absolutely loads happening here. If there is this much going on in the town there should be loads in a naice area like Manningtree.

Colchester is okay, I used to live there. There are parts to avoid but the surrounding villages are nice (rowhedge etc) and leaden is good. I would avoid greenstead, old heath, hythe and certain parts of high woods! My friends partner lives in manningtree and she hates it. It's very small and everyone knows everything. She is Nigerian and is treated like the most exotic thing ever.

We moved to Wivenhoe from Manningtree, both lovely areas-some parts nicer than others. Manningtree better for trains back to London as on the main line. Schools good in both, on paper currently Manningtree High is better than the Colne which is the Wivenhoe secondary (in Brightlingsea) but the Colne have massively restructured since their last Ofsted hence the on paper line.

Manning tree station has a good bar.

@inferiorbeing We're in S Lo don at the mo & can imagine its quite a different racial profile 🤷🏻‍♀️

@wednesdays2cats congrats on the baby, my kids are both at school now, but good to know there's lots of activities/families with young kids as work with families with younger kids & have a BF specialist qualification/studying for IBCLC which is hope to use if we move x