Where to move.

[milwife]

Hi lovely people,
Does the following list of wants generate any ideas for a place to settle our family?
-Near a town/city for choirs, events, estates to visit
-Preferably near water
-Good free schools (all ages)
-Friendly
-Near somewhere peaceful
-5 bed house - £880k absolute max, but v happy if cheaper haha!
Thanks,
Gx

Exeter

Thanks, are you from there? Anything you particularly like about it? Much appreciated.

I'm not from there, but I do know it quite well. It's possible to reach so many lovely places easily from Exeter. It only takes half an hour to get to the coast. It's friendly. You could get a 5-bedroom within your budget.

Half of the UK - you're going to have to be more specific.

Huge thanks. Have a lovely day.

Indeed. Do you have information about Chichester, Cirencester and Canterbury?

Norwich has all this and is absolutely lovely.

Norfolk? Somewhere near Norwich? Lovely countryside, north Norfolk is beautiful and Norwich is great. I'd move there tomorrow. Budget would go a long way too, as long as you avoided Burnham Market! I don't know what the schools are like though.

Penarth or Porthcawl/Southerndown if you don't mind South Wales.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148187873
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156713996
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157451324

Cirencester isnt near any water except a river! It’s about as far away from the coast as you can manage in England. You’d be lucky to get that sort of house within budget, either.

Thanks so much. Anyone from near Norwich who doesn't feel it's too far away from things? Also, anyone know anything about Christchurch, Dorset? X

Thank you x

I’m not far from Chichester. There are some lovely villages locally that are near the sea, or with easy access to the South Downs. There’s the Festival Theatre in Chi, the Novium Museum, some nice restaurants, the canal. Transport links to Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, London. Near Goodwood is the Weald & Downland Museum, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, the Goodwood Estate, Arundel Castle, Amberley Museum.

Peaceful villages like Bosham, Birdham, the Witterings, Walberton, Yapton, Aldwick, Felpham, Shoreham, Ferring, East Preston, Goring. Bosham and the Witterings might be a bit pricey and the last few are further away from Chi, but I think you’d get what you want for your money in several of them. There are some decent local estate agents, but I wouldn’t recommend the bigger chain ones.

Just had a quick look. There are five bed properties for your budget all around.

Tynemouth

Very kind, thank you. I've heard always having something to do/see down there is really fun! X

Looks beautiful.

Portishead. Beautiful town, lovely marina area, lots of good shops and cafes, plus really near the M4, and they are about to start work on opening the train line to Bristol.
Really recommend!

I grew up in Norwich. Excellent state schools at all levels, compact city centre, two rivers, from one hour 38 to two hours to Liverpool Street by train. One hour 17 to Cambridge but with a change at Ely.

Cambridge and Ely are also similar with small city centres, and near water (The Cam and The Great Ouse) with good schools and about an hour to King's Cross. Cambridge has better shops but choirs and concerts are in both.

Really helpful, huge thanks and have a lovely day xx

If anyone can comment on Canterbury vs Chichester, that would be ideal - thanks! X

I have a very similar wish list!! I want to live in Bingham, Nottinghamshire. This house is a 5 min walk to very good secondary and sixth form (top 10% for results). https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157496552#/?channel=RES_BUY
It's a small, friendly town, also with quieter lovely villages close by, West bridgeford (fancy suburb of Nottingham) is a 20 min drive away, well connected by train/bus. All country parks and water is a drive away though.
My second choice would be Whitley Bay/Tynemouth area, I loved loving there.

York

Best of luck lovely! X

Do you know the nearest, nice beach? X