Best outdoors fam lifestyle (beach / country) within 1 hr commute

[melbxldn]

We will be moving from Australia to UK in January for my husband's job (from home). We don't know the UK very well, but have family in Chelmsford and Greenwich, and friends in Surrey and SW London, and no idea where to start looking (to rent at first)

We have a 1 year old and a dog. We love an outdoors lifestyle (live by the beach) but would consider countryside. Budget will be 1-1.5m. Within 1-1.5 hours commute of London would be good but we will both work from home. Good schools a plus.

Literally no idea where to start looking so welcome any suggestions as know it's a very broad question!

What do you like about living by the beach? Walks on the beach, running, swimming in the sea, surfing? Do you like a good selection of coffee shops and restaurants or less fussed? Where do you live now and what do you like about it?

Went to Camber Sands over the summer and it was the only beach which has come close to being a real beach in the U.K. for me (Australian here, kids are Sydney born!). It was a 1.5 hour drive from where we live in Greenwich. Not sure about trains etc from that part of the world but it really was lovely! Rye seemed really nice when we stopped in for a late lunch on the way home.

Looks like Rye to St Pancras is just over an hour with a change at Ashford.

Walks on the beach, although also love rivers / lakes, like being around water. We live in Sandringham in Melbourne which has a good family vibe and a pretty beach for walks, I would like good cafe culture / mums groups / things like yoga.

Thank you! I’ll check out Rye

Have a look at Hurstpierpoint in West Sussex. It’s in the South Downs National Park and a short drive from the coast. It’s a large village with a lovely feel, functioning high street- coffee shops, butchers, bakers, deli and independent shops. The village is very family friendly and there is an amazing child’s play farm called Washbrooks.

Trains to London are from Hassocks station. The primary school is very good and the secondary school is Downlands in Hassocks, which is Ofsted outstanding. There is also a very good private school called Hurstpierpoint College.

It’s a lovely village, so I have no idea how easy it is to find a rental property.