Where to live in South/South East?

[Havvaharte]

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!

@languagelover96

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.

Yes, notes are being made! Whereabouts is it you live?

@lostoldname

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

I had no idea the 11+ was still knocking about! I'll check out Meopham. Thank you!

@KobaniDaughters

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

It really is!

@Fleurty

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.

I've heard good things about Eastbourne, but is it a 'seasonal' town ie. busy in summer and very quiet outside of this period? In the past I associated Eastbourne with an older population, but that may have changed, could you give your thoughts please?

I agree with Leigh on Sea/ Westcliff in Essex.

I recently spent the day in Rye/ surrounding villages and thought it was really lovely.

When is your child's birthday?

A child turning 11 before Aug 31 this year will be going into secondary this Sept, and applications closed last October; so you would be looking at an in-year place, so will have essentially little or no choice, as you will be given a place where ever there is one spare, not necessarily at a school of your choice.

A child turning 11 after Aug 31 this year would go to secondary in Sept 2023, and you would need an address to apply from that is the child's home by Oct 31 (so you would need to be here in residence by then). There are some exceptions for late arrivals/moves, which depend on LA, so if you expect to be resident after that, it's worth checking on your options.

@Talipesmum

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.

Good points. Thanks!

@PatriciaHolm

When is your child's birthday?

A child turning 11 before Aug 31 this year will be going into secondary this Sept, and applications closed last October; so you would be looking at an in-year place, so will have essentially little or no choice, as you will be given a place where ever there is one spare, not necessarily at a school of your choice.

A child turning 11 after Aug 31 this year would go to secondary in Sept 2023, and you would need an address to apply from that is the child's home by Oct 31 (so you would need to be here in residence by then). There are some exceptions for late arrivals/moves, which depend on LA, so if you expect to be resident after that, it's worth checking on your options.

Cripes, I hadn't thought of that. Thank you so much for the heads up!!! His birthday is at the end of September so I'll have to pull my finger out for the October deadline.

What about Bromley , Bickley, Chislehurst.
Keston is also lovely . It is semi rural so there is some Woodland.

@ClaudiaWankleman

I agree with Leigh on Sea/ Westcliff in Essex.

I recently spent the day in Rye/ surrounding villages and thought it was really lovely.

You're the second person who's suggested Leigh-on-Sea so I will definitely take a look. Thanks!

I live in a village just outside Eastbourne. 10 minutes I'm on the beach. There are folk opposite in their 30s. It's a university town, plenty of young people. We moved from Surrey with a massive commute to work because the property was so much cheaper.

@Lampzade

What about Bromley , Bickley, Chislehurst. Keston is also lovely . It is semi rural so there is some Woodland.

They are lovely areas (I grew up around that way) but to get what I'm looking for (house on a good size plot) I think these areas will be over my budget.

@nannybeach

I live in a village just outside Eastbourne. 10 minutes I'm on the beach. There are folk opposite in their 30s. It's a university town, plenty of young people. We moved from Surrey with a massive commute to work because the property was so much cheaper.

Eastbourne does seem to tick a few boxes! Thanks.

Horsham is lovely.

@ClaudiaWankleman

I agree with Leigh on Sea/ Westcliff in Essex.

I recently spent the day in Rye/ surrounding villages and thought it was really lovely.

Do bear in mind that getting to SE London from Essex can be an absolute PAIN most weekends as you will have two very congested options - the QE2 bridge (which you will also have the pleasure of paying to cross) or the A13 and the lovely Blackwall tunnel.

Do bear in mind that getting to SE London from Essex can be an absolute PAIN most weekends as you will have two very congested options - the QE2 bridge (which you will also have the pleasure of paying to cross) or the A13 and the lovely Blackwall tunnel.

It's easily within 90 minutes though. Much more certain than Poole or Winchester!

@ClaudiaWankleman

Do bear in mind that getting to SE London from Essex can be an absolute PAIN most weekends as you will have two very congested options - the QE2 bridge (which you will also have the pleasure of paying to cross) or the A13 and the lovely Blackwall tunnel.

It's easily within 90 minutes though. Much more certain than Poole or Winchester!

So it's better to sit in 90mins of traffic to travel less miles?

Another vote for Sussex. So many towns to choose from along the coast from Eastbourne, Hove, Shoreham, Worthing, Chichester...

We have the beach and the South Downs on our doorstep and central London is 90 minutes on the train. Plus the fabulously cosmopolitan Brighton with its theatres, galleries, restaurants and quirky shops.

@Shadappayourface

But it isn’t always 90 minutes of traffic? I do it fairly regularly. It can be terrible or you can sail through. As can all motorway junctions.

Anywhere in Sussex.

Eastbourne has always had the reputation of being an old person's town, and there are a lot of people that retire here, but there are huge amounts of younger people too. Especially as Brighton has become too expensive for a lot of young people,the towns along the coast have developed a younger vibe.

I think the harbour area and some areas of Meads have a much older demographic as there are lots of flats (purpose built in the harbour and converted mansions in Meads). Old Town and the areas of Meads where you have a lot of houses are probably the best areas for family life.

@Fleurty

Eastbourne has always had the reputation of being an old person's town, and there are a lot of people that retire here, but there are huge amounts of younger people too. Especially as Brighton has become too expensive for a lot of young people,the towns along the coast have developed a younger vibe.

I think the harbour area and some areas of Meads have a much older demographic as there are lots of flats (purpose built in the harbour and converted mansions in Meads). Old Town and the areas of Meads where you have a lot of houses are probably the best areas for family life.

Great, thanks for those tips 👍