Areas to move around Christchurch, UK

[croft85]

Hello,
My Husband and I are moving from Kent to Dorset/Hampshire - I am from Dorset but not very familiar with Christchurch or surrounding areas to the east and keen to know people’s opinions on areas if poss please?
I am pregnant and would love to be 10/15 mins drive from beach ideally.
There isn’t much available in Christchurch, Highcliffe, Mudeford (££) - what are people’s opinions on Barton-on-sea, Hordle, New Milton? Any other areas in and around Christchurch to consider/avoid?
Seen a house in Hordle I love, know nothing about it, any opinions?
Thank you!
Xx

What’s your budget? My parents are down that way so know it fairly well.

Great, thank you - £450-600k - although ideally top budget of 550 otherwise we’ll be really stretching mortgage to the max especially as maternity leave is looming xx

I live locally. What do you want for your budget? How many bedrooms? Outside space? Detached etc......

Ok well that’s quite a good amount. My folks are in Milford, it’s changed over the last decade or so and is really quite popular these days. Stony beach but you get a bit of sand if the tides out. Slightly out on a limb geographically but that’s part of its charm. Some really good places to eat and drink these days. Beach house is stunning!

New Milton is ok but not great. You’ll get a lot for your money there, but some parts not so good. You’ll see by how things are priced where these bits are. High street a bit faded but ok.

Barton is more of an area as it doesn’t really have a centre so you’re into New Milton for shopping anyway. I think parts of highcliffe are not so good but I’d have to ask which ones.

Lymington is my fave of all the towns down there. It’s “vair vair naice” and pretty yacht-ey but has lots of character and a good high st. No beach though but the sea baths are awesome.

Lovely part of the U.K. down there in general, the New Forest is magical!

I would just move to Bournemouth you could a nice house near a sandy beach and good hospital and loads of shops

Bournemouth is huge and sprawling and feels like a city so I guess it depends if you want that feel. The centre isn’t that great imo and feels a bit run down. Traffic and getting around can be awful and that only gets worse in the summer. I wouldn’t move there with that budget but maybe that’s just me.

With that budget and wanting to be near a beach I would look at Southbourne. Keep an eye out at Hengistbury as well. It would be more like 600k minimum in some areas there though. My mum lives in Hengistbury and its a lovely area. Good primary school (St Catherines), and secondary (Twynham and St Peters) schools are great as well.

Hordle is OK, I like it but there is not a lot to do, especially when you will have a young baby. Also as your child gets older they will be bored as a teen in Hordle and surrounding areas.

Sorry about your Dm. I will ask about Hordle. Another option along there would be Sway but it’s pretty quiet and is just a small village. Best placed for the forest though.

This is in Lymington
Clarendon Park, Lymington, Hampshire
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73247475.html

A relative lives in New Milton. Chalet bungalow with 4 beds + dining room/5 beds, good size garden, quiet road. Was for sale for £450,000 I think. The town is OK for shopping. Demographic on the older side. Don’t know about schools. Good train links. New Forest nearby.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72766080.html

Could be a lovely house over time with a bit of jigging of the bedrooms and making an en suite etc..... perfectly lovely to live in with a young baby as well.

The area is so so expensive, especially for places with a large garden. But with the above one, it's such a short walk to the beach that could swing it.

Barton on Sea is lovely, I live there! It used to have a very old demographic but the last 5-10 years a lot of younger families have moved to the area. Great access to beach which is quiet and some nice places to eat. Also a small supermarket is being built currently and there is a post office with shop. Not as expensive as Milford so you'll get more for your money. Close to amenities without being a noisy area.

Hordle is also lovely and more in the countryside than beach. Nice primary school and community feel. Less to do there however.

Beachcomber cafe in Barton has the best chips I think I’ve ever tasted

Beachcomber is great for a breakfast too! And the Cliff House does a lovely roast!!