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Original poster

Where to live in South/South East?

47 replies

Havvaharte · 31/01/2022 21:18

Hello, I'll be moving back to UK next year after 9 years overseas and am starting to research where to move to in the South/South East. For anyone living in this part of the country, and loving where they live, I'd really like to hear about it and what makes it so good.

Ideally I need to be within a 90 minute drive of where my Mum lives in South East London. I like the countryside and woodland, and don't mind being outside of a town, but I do need to be within driving distance of decent amenities and schools (my son will be turning 11).

So far I've looked at places as far apart as Canterbury, Poole, Reigate and Winchester, but outside of these bigger towns I have no idea of whats on offer, so I'm open to suggestions and recommendations for anywhere in the South and South east!

Many thanks in advance!

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dizzydizzydizzy · 31/01/2022 22:09

Villages around Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks or Orpington? They are pretty, would be convenient for SE LOndon and have good schools. Eg Knockholt, Ide Hill, Penshurst, Eynsford

IDontHaveThePelvisForAFuton · 31/01/2022 22:17

What's your budget and desired house type? A 3 bed semi will be vastly different prices in Winchester and Portsmouth for instance.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 31/01/2022 22:21

Faversham is lovely, and nice villages on outskirts too.

SFisnotsimple · 31/01/2022 22:24

Kent is 11+ territory - so with an 11 yr old beware!

TheNorthener · 31/01/2022 22:25

Don't bother with Poole, overrated, backward and rubbish transport links unless you use the (extortionate) train

buckleten · 31/01/2022 22:32

Newbury and surrounding villages is lovely, easy to London but lots of beautiful countryside and walking etc and all amenities. Also Marlow in Bucks, Wallinford and Dorchester in Oxfordshire.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 31/01/2022 22:35

East Sussex.

Original poster
Havvaharte · 31/01/2022 23:57

@Tryingtryingandtrying

Faversham is lovely, and nice villages on outskirts too.
Good suggestion! I had a friend who lived in Faversham years ago and visited her once and really liked the place. Would you happen to know the names of those villages around it that could be worth investigating?
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Original poster
Havvaharte · 31/01/2022 23:58

@dizzydizzydizzy

Villages around Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks or Orpington? They are pretty, would be convenient for SE LOndon and have good schools. Eg Knockholt, Ide Hill, Penshurst, Eynsford
Great suggestions. I'll look into those, thanks!
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Original poster
Havvaharte · 01/02/2022 00:58

@IDontHaveThePelvisForAFuton

What's your budget and desired house type? A 3 bed semi will be vastly different prices in Winchester and Portsmouth for instance.
Ideally an old, detached house with a lot of outdoor space; Winchester would be at the top end of the budget!
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Original poster
Havvaharte · 01/02/2022 01:11

@buckleten

Newbury and surrounding villages is lovely, easy to London but lots of beautiful countryside and walking etc and all amenities. Also Marlow in Bucks, Wallinford and Dorchester in Oxfordshire.
I really liked your suggestion because I hadn't even thought of Bucks and Oxfordshire, but thinking about it now they would probably fall into that 90 minute radius. Thanks so much for the recommendations of Wallingford and Dorchester, really helpful.
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KobaniDaughters · 01/02/2022 01:14

In a similar position and it’s so hard looking from abroad!

lostoldname · 01/02/2022 01:15

Kent does have the 11+ but other schools in Kent are very good. How about Meopham

Mediumred · 01/02/2022 01:17

I’ve had three lots of friends move to Faversham and they really like it. The town is very nice itself, I think, has a little cinema, some nice shops and places to eat/drink and near countryside.

Original poster
Havvaharte · 01/02/2022 01:24

@TheNorthener

Don't bother with Poole, overrated, backward and rubbish transport links unless you use the (extortionate) train
I've heard a lot of positive stuff about Poole, but it's interesting to get another perspective. Is there anywhere around Poole that you'd recommend? It would be nice to be near the sea, but I don't necessarily have to live on the coast. Do you know anything about Wimborne by any chance, think its about 10 miles from Poole?
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beggingforsleep · 01/02/2022 07:03

Wimborne is lovely but you won't get to south east London in 90 minutes, it's at least two hours. There are no motorways in Dorset and it can be slow going with bad traffic through the new forest. I live in Dorking and my dad is in Wimborne and I can't do it in less than two hours and that's without entering London.

Dorking is great by the way. Near to Reigate but with much better countryside and a friendlier community. The villages around it are lovely.

Twasacceptableinthe80s · 01/02/2022 07:12

We were in exactly the same position - moved back from the ME in 2019 with an 11 and 10 year old in tow. We looked all over the South East and decided on Folkestone (on a bit of a whim, tbh). Best gamble we’ve ever taken: The grammars here are less competitive so kids got in there quite easily, there was lots of beautiful housing stock to choose from and so much to do and explore (even during lockdown), beach, town, countryside, Europe, London are all so easily accessible. It’s been the best move we’ve ever made and I’ve always been a bit flighty, but I don’t feel itchy feet at all here - it’s such a fantastic place to put down roots. Happy to answer any specific questions if you want to explore further and PM me 😃

cherrypie66 · 01/02/2022 07:13

Leigh on sea or hadleigh Essex

Talipesmum · 01/02/2022 07:16

Wimborne is really lovely but for 90 minutes driving to SE London I wouldn’t really want to be anywhere to the west of London at all. We used to live in twickenham and it was a huge pain visiting friends in forest hill, for instance.
I’d restrict the search to places broadly south or east of London. Use google maps set at various times of day to check travel times, and add on 30-60 minute uncertainty windows for any travel along notable stretches of m25 or south circular.

Emelene · 01/02/2022 07:21

I love Poole and Wimborne. We live in this area and don’t think we will ever leave.

languagelover96 · 01/02/2022 08:01

Research areas and properties. I'm happy to answer any and all questions as well. I live in a little town with a cinema, a few schools, a library, a bank, a leisure center, houses, a hospital, some pubs, and shops.

There is a supermarket on the outskirts and also a pet store too. The local schools are not bad either. Find out as much as possible first however. Good luck. And there are two churches and a park on top of that. You might want to consider other important things like crime rate, location etc.

It is a good idea to make notes.

Fleurty · 01/02/2022 08:12

Anywhere in East or West Sussex. You have countryside, Downs, forests and the coast all within easy reach. I live in Eastbourne and can be in South London in 90 minutes by train or car.

florafaunaforest · 01/02/2022 08:20

Oxted, Penshurst, Hever, Chiddingstone - all beautiful and good connections to London!

GrowBabyGrow · 01/02/2022 09:27

Kent and Sussex areas are the best if you want to be 90 min drive from SE London because you do need to factor traffic if you want to do it regularly and not just off peak. It really depends how far into London you would have to drive though as traffic once you get closer in can be an absolute nightmare so best to look at driving distances when the traffic is at its worst!

There are beautiful villages in Kent that have already been mentioned here like Penshurst, Chiddingstone etc however given you will have a secondary school age child maybe consider towns
like Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge as well? DC will be able to have much more independence as they get older. All my friends in that lived in villages were completely reliant on their parents until they learnt to drive because public transport is practically non existent and can still be a drive. E.g Penshurst does have a train station... But it's not actually in Penshurst, it's in Chiddingstone Causeway!

Original poster
Havvaharte · 01/02/2022 11:19

@beggingforsleep

Wimborne is lovely but you won't get to south east London in 90 minutes, it's at least two hours. There are no motorways in Dorset and it can be slow going with bad traffic through the new forest. I live in Dorking and my dad is in Wimborne and I can't do it in less than two hours and that's without entering London.

Dorking is great by the way. Near to Reigate but with much better countryside and a friendlier community. The villages around it are lovely.

Thanks for mentioning the lack of motorways in Dorset, I had no idea! I will check out Dorking...thanks!
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