Relocating from Kent to Hampshire

[HermioneGr]

As the subject says! We live in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, but our family is based in the south west. We want to move closer to home as we are having a 2nd baby and I just miss being near my parents. We want to stay within close proximity of a mainline station to London though.

Considering Petersfield or Eastleigh atm. Would love Winchester but the prices are staggeringly high lol

Any recommendations? I've trawled through previous old posts on MN but just looking for more current responses, thank you xxxx

Petersfield and Eastleigh have a completely different vibe. I would consider Eastleigh to have a more “working town” feel, whereas Petersfield has more of a gentrified feel to it. Advantages of Eastleigh are the M27/M3, rail, Southampton airport, Southampton West Quay for shopping. However I would say Chandlers Ford has a nicer feel (more expensive than Eastleigh). Hedge End could be a consideration.

Whats your budget and requirements?
I live near Romsey which is quite popular. About 15 minute drive/direct bus to Winchester which has the London train link.
Chandlers Ford is a nice leafy suburb. Eastleigh is a bit more urban but houses are consequently cheaper

Eastleigh is grim. Romsey is a pleasant market town with a lot of history, C Ford is leafy and quite affluent but very suburban. Horses for courses!

Romsey is a similar feel to Petersfield I think.
You also can't really go 'wrong' with Romsey schools, primary or secondary, and a good choice of 6th form colleges within reach too.
I'd allow 20-30mins to get to Winchester though, not 15.

Eastleigh is more 'big town' feel but has faster links to places. Not sure on schools, some good, some a bit less so I think. Would expect it to be cheaper than Romsey.

I’ve heard Eastleigh can be pretty noisy- sandwiched between the mega busy m3 and the airport, plus the trains.
Perhaps for the SW access, somewhere nearer the 303? Petersfield not ideal in that respect. I’m in Fleet and it’s pretty decent, very green and a calm vibe, cheaper than Winch for sure. Basingstoke is a bit more bland but you’ll get a lot for your money, excellent transport links too.

Petersfield is a thriving and popular market town with very good amenities. Much much nicer than Eastleigh.

As you rightly point out the nearest swap from TW would be Winchester but it comes at a cost. Petersfield is a good option and has easy access to Winchester, Guildford, London, coast and country. It’s not nearly as big as TW but has lots of charm.

There really is no comparison between Petersfield and Eastleigh. What budget are you looking at and type of property? But I’m assuming if you are selling in TW your budget is decent.

Thanks for all the responses. I'd love Chandlers Ford, looks lovely, but the route my husband would need to take to work is a bit of a faff from here and we're already extending his commute by moving further away. We considered Eastleigh purely on house price/value for money but I agree with comments on noise and not as nice as other surrounding areas.

Petersfield is sounding promising.

I will also check out Romsey and Hedge End.

We have a budget of £500k so really cannot stretch to what's in Winchester right now which is a shame but hey ho. And we are on one salary as I'm a sahm and my husband works full time (works for us right now), I'll go back to work when the kids are in full time education. Childcare is a ridiculous cost and I just can't justify it!!

I am currently looking in Hampshire.
Petersfield is almost as expensive as Winchester- average price paid for a property is 575k as compared to 619k as of today on Zoopla. With a budget of 500k and commuting requirements I would look towards Basingstoke side where you get more house for your money.

A word of warning though is that the surrounding villages of Basingstoke are very desirable and so therefore expensive. I was considering a new development (still am really) just outside of Basingstoke where the “affordable” houses are starting at 465k for a 3 bed semi.

Alton might be worth considering too? Must admit I don’t know it that well, but it’s fairly reasonable price wise. Quite a pretty high street too, lots of older architecture and in nice surrounding countryside.

Chandlers Ford to Southampton Airport Parkway is 10 min drive before rush hr and 1 hr 8 min into Waterloo so it’s not terrible.

Look at Fair Oak/ Bishopstoke near Eastleigh

Chandlers Ford is popular but no real centre.

Areas near Eastleigh that are convenient for the M27 and train lines to Winchester and London could include Hedge End as PP said (there's more to it than the sprawling suburb feel if you stick closer to the original village), Botley, Fair Oak, Horton Heath and Netley. These areas are family friendly with great schools and amenities.

One word of caution given you have implied your husband will be needing to commute East. The M27 can be a nightmare to commute along, so worth checking the commute from wherever you pick in term time in rush hour.

Bit further but not too far is Chichester which I love .

Where does your DH need to commute to? Is it only into London or does he need to go back to Kent as well?

I would move to the nice suburbs of Southampton in a heartbeat over Eastleigh. Anywhere around The Common is nice with good primary schools. You could get a lovely, big semi detached house with a big garden in Shirley, for example for 500K. It’d be a bus ride or a ~ 20 minute walk to the station. I know it less well, but there are some nice areas on the East of the city as well. As PPs have mentioned, Hedge End and Botley are both very family friendly.

Alternatively CF and Romsey are both great. You’d get less for your money, especially in Romsey, but they do have a nice, village like feels to them. The schools in Romsey are brilliant. Romsey would be useful for getting to the South West, especially.

Have you considered Salisbury?

I’d look at Alton.

Basingstoke. 45 minutes on the train in to Waterloo. The town isn't amazing, but it's much better than Eastleigh or Alton and there's loads to do for kids. With your budget, you could find a nice house on one of the good estates. There's easy access to the A303 to go down to the south west. If you look at the south side (Hatchwarren or Beggarwood), you can get to Winchester in 25 minutes which is lovely for evenings out, etc, and there's loads of loves countryside walks in the surrounding area.

Romsey is very nice, but it's not on a direct train line to London. Your DH would have to drive to, or change trains at, Eastleigh or Southampton, or drive/bus to Winchester.

@Ellmau

Romsey is very nice, but it's not on a direct train line to London. Your DH would have to drive to, or change trains at, Eastleigh or Southampton, or drive/bus to Winchester.

True, Romsey to London by train isn't really possible. It costs twice as much and takes twice as long as going from Winchester. We usually get the bus to Winchester (straight through from romsey to the station takes about 15 min) and get a fast direct train.

I'd allow 20-30mins to get to Winchester though, not 15.
Yes I stand corrected on this, I just checked and its 25 mins by bus from my house.

With Romsey I wouldn't daily commute to London, but it would be do-able occasionally. It is easier to get to the M27 from Romsey than to get to Winchester station.

You could also look at Liphook - there is a direct train to London.

It really depends what your budget is and where the commute is. North Baddesley, Hedge End, Fair Oak you are more likely to get a reasonably priced house there than Romsey, Petersfield, Winchester and even Chandlers Ford which is very competitive and very expensive. But still good schools and family areas.

But I would also look at Southampton suburbs (Shirley, Bitterne Park) where I would also 100% live over Eastleigh. Lots of people commute to London from Southampton.

Alton has a direct train to London, easy access for a31/a3 and m3. Feels very rural but also very well connected.

Oh also schools very good!