Anyone live or around Winchester?

[KobaniDaughters]

Looking to move back to the U.K. after 5yrs abroad and Winchester seems to hit a lot on the tick list, doing a reccy there in July so wondered if there’s any inside knowledge on areas and schools - have heard a lot about Chandlers Ford and Eastleigh too but anyone live in or around any of the other towns and villages?

We’ll have 13&10yr old DC when we move, looking for a strong community that is friendly and will be happy to help us integrate. Rental budget to start up to £2500pcm for a 4 bed pref detached home (or 3 bed and office - DH works remotely FT), pref up to 20min bike ride away from a direct line to london

State Secondary school with good pastoral care and good at transitioning kids who have been in different education systems and setting

Any very very specific areas for us to check out?

Try Whitchurch, 9 miles north of Winchester. Good schools, including a secondary. Decent train line into Waterloo and nice community, which has grown a lot over the years so welcoming of newcomers. Don’t live there myself but have family there.

Overton too -a few miles from Whitchurch. Good state primary, secondary schools and lots of good sixth forms. Also lots of good private schools as well. Very welcoming village.
Has a train station, but Basingstoke is also near by, so lots of trains to/from London.
Have family/friends in Winchester too and, whilst I love the city, I wouldn’t want to live there.

You will have trouble getting places at any local schools - Winchester and CF have been recommended as they have two of the best state schools in the county but you could be waiting a long time for a place if you move mid year and aren't right on the doorstep of the school. Even then you might not be top of the waiting list. So I would budget for time off work and tutors or private school fees for the eldest and also consider moving very close to whatever school you want.

Def looking at moving close to any school we end up choosing and our move will very much depend on where we can get a place. We’re looking at quite few areas in the SE and using July to tour areas and hopefully schools then honestly I think we’ll end up moving to wherever can give my eldest a spot!

If you want good pastoral care definitely avoid Whitchurch and Overton as the school is terrible (especially for children with SEN). Ofsted rating is outstanding but the last inspection was over 10 years ago and a lot has changed since then. I loved the area, very friendly and lovely shops, but moved to Basingstoke to get away from the school. Worth considering when your children are past secondary age though as it's a lovely area. Good luck!

Have you thought of Winchester itself? It is a city, but is more like a large market town. All three schools (11-16) are pretty good and Peter Symonds (17-18) is very good.

It is expanding, with a lot of new builds. I hope this will drive down the property prices, for the sake of younger people.

@Witchlight yes absolutely just that it seems easier to find info on Winchester itself rather than the surrounds - but do you have any specific feedback on any in particular?

If schools are the priority, you want to be as close as possible to Winchester, In Winchester itself try looking around Weeke, or if you want a more villagey feel, try Hursley - in catchment for Kings, lots of community stuff based around the IBM campus.

Badger Farm is in the catchment for King's and is a decent cycle route to the station.

@witheringrowan and @MargaretFraggle thanks for both of these, will go and check those areas out!

It probably won't surprise you to learn that you don't get lots for your money in Winchester. However I don't think you can go far wrong with any school there, which may help!

Hah that’s the truth in every area we’re looking! Bloody south east

Indeed! Probably not of interest, but I know people who commute to London from nice areas of Southampton (both from Parkway or Central, cycling) which is much cheaper.