Where SW, train station, 30 mins beach, circa 2.5 hrs London, retirement?

[Mum5net]

Doing a recce next month for retirement in 2026. Ideally not as far as Exeter and not sure we have funds for Bristol.
Have eight days to just go driving and check out places - rather than actually visit houses and stalk Right Move. T
Looking for 3 beds, 2 bath semi or detached house for £700k with garden and garage. No flats as we have a dog and don't want to pay a service charge.
Want to be able to home exchange with others abroad for at least twice a year, so ideally near an airport (30 mins) and somewhere people abroad would want to visit.
Have previously eliminated Winchester & Chichester on our last explorations. Winchester was too spread out and a bit ££, and really wanted to love Chichester but didn't love the housing stock or get the vibe.
Interests are beach walks, woodland walks, pub lunches, DIY, garden etc need links to London for DC x 2, also have relatives on the LNER route to Edinburgh. Needs to be a town as have to give up driving in next decade. Public transport quite high up the agenda as don't want to rely on others.
Currently am a 10 min walk to a station and 10 min walk to Sainsburys, 10 min walk to fabulous park but poor northern weather and 5 hrs from London prompts move.
Hit me with your best suggestions, please.
I have an A3 laminated print out of the routes for SW trains, but no idea which stations are the gems.

The Lighthouse? Yea that area around the bus station is pretty scummy but hopefully will improve once they redevelop that whole strip between the theatre and the Barclays towers. I don’t really go to the town centre that much- there are quite a fewer satellite high streets like Ashley Cross and Westbourne which are nicer for shopping. My teens love the Dolphin though and it’s fairly safe- just feels a bit scuzzy.

I just RightMoved Rustington and found a lovely barn conversion within a stone's throw of a Waitrose on at £680k. Momentary air punch.
Then I went onto Trainline. Checked how long to get to DC1. Only negative is that DC1 operates out of Paddington. I would need to go into Victoria and then change to Paddington then onwards. Over 3 hrs 30 mins door-to-door. This is a setback I hadn't considered. Not such a big change from the 5 hrs + and the great divide currently being in Scotland brings.. It's great for DC2. And of course, both DCs can move anywhere in the world, I know.
Feeling crest fallen.

But it sounds as though wherever you live you'll be closer to one DC than another. If you want to be on the Paddington line you need to be round towards Bristol/Bath. However, if it helps at all there is a cross country train from Bournemouth to Reading.

There have been so many weekends over the last eight years we missed out on because we were all so far away.
Everything that leads via Reading suits DC1. DC2 is more flexible as freelance .
I guess I might have to redraw my area

Ha- if you skip the beach --around the Bath villages or even Bath itself would be good , is eminently 'house swap ' territory- always in demand , will be somewhere your adult children will enjoy and want for free weekends away ( mine does) and great for the train to London - and we have a lot of buses too ! Fantasticrolling/hilly countryside within 5 minutes.
something like this OP is well within budget and easy into town - sorry I can't offer a beach - we also have good medical facilities, an A&E , and a brand new plush NHS cancer centre- a tad depressing I know to mention, but probably not if it's needed

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158060186

We have a house for sail in Nailsea, which fits those criteria. 😉

It has easy access to both Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare and a direct train to London Paddington.

You are right @LaPalmaLlama we will always be closer in proximity to one DC and I am fully aware their work and life choices could take them anywhere.
Thankfully that Cross Country train works for me! Thank you for suggesting. I've looked on trainline and I can be at DC1's in around 2 hours door to door from Lymington
My soon-to-be redrawn map won't eliminate Poole/ Lymington/ Brockenhurst / New Forest etc just yet as I am more drawn to these places than Exeter / Bath.
This hiccup has shown me the search is about finding somewhere that empowers me to travel. It's less about DC coming to see me and DH, it's more about me being able to travel to them, if I can't drive.
Future-proofing.
(NB Haven't yet had time to check out Southampton airport and where it connects)

Will scope all of these individually, thank you

I will check these out on forthcoming recce, thank you

@Notjustanotheroldlady and @Numbersarefun I will check out Exeter, thank you

Thank you! I appreciate this offer and will definitely have more questions

I have no clue at all about Southampton. I will research. I'm certainly going to visit. All I know is the colour of their football strip.

User name gives it away😀Made me smile.
I think public transport is going the wrong way, too.
Trains are more likely to be running than buses.

@Crikeyalmighty Your insight is invaluable. Thank you.
DH is a beach and sea lover who has been banished to the wrong part of the UK for the last 30 years. He deserves to be as close to the sea as we can afford. (Granted that house would be very suitable budget and space wise)

I should also say DH is a Devon boy who moved away 40 years ago! It doesn't really have a bearing on the search as he's been away for so long and nowhere has stayed the same, but it's principally why we are looking into the Devon, Dorset, South Coast etc rather say Norfolk etc

@Mum5net I do get that. Shame as otherwise here would suit.
I think the new forest area might be the best fit - especially in terms of your family coming down - so Christchurch, lymington ( both nice and on coast) -Christchurch has some really nice pubs ,bars and cafes too - and then the slightly inland places like Fordingbridge, Brockenhust and Ringwood. Great obviously for woods and walks and lovely pubs and a quick jaunt to coast - Christchurch is also only 10 minutes into the nice bit of Bournmouth at Southbourne ( fabulous gold sand beach) - It's also a lot quicker to London than Exeter etc ( I do like Exeter but it's a much bigger fag to get to for family and more expensive to travel to ) Poole is nice too - lovely houses, but Christchurch has a nice attractive high st and a cosier feel and seemed to have less 'issues' at obvious sight. I don't actually like Southampton at all - but you may - if you didn't like Chichester though I would be suprised if you like Southampton .

Even if I might not like Southampton, I've just checked out Southampton Airport's destination list and its connectivity by train. Gives great house exchange opportunities. Thank you to @Sassybooklover and @Sinkintotheswamp for the tip off.

And yes Southampton airport is very handy for the new forest areas too, as is the smaller Bournemouth one. It's very well serviced but mainly to holiday destinations of course - I would honestly focus on that area for convenience and connections too -

For the Southampton area-ish, I would add Emsworth and Romsey to your list of candidates.

Update; For part 1 of the recce trip we are booking an Airbnb for four nights near Topsham which means I can check out Exeter and the surrounding areas pretty thoroughly.

@Mum5net ooh Topsham is lovely

Take a look at the BH6 postcode in Bournemouth. It includes Southbourne and Tuckton. I think it meets all your requirements. The whole of the postcode is walking distance to a beautiful sandy beach (far quieter than the town centre beach) as well as the river Stour. The general feel is pleasant and leafy with lots of 1930s semis and detached houses on tree lined streets. Detached 3 beds start at around £450 000.
There are regular buses into Christchurch which has a market town feel with a decent high street as well as into Bournemouth centre. Christchurch and Pokesdown stations are nearby. Bournemouth airport has lots of holiday routes and there are National Express buses from Bournemouth to Heathrow and Gatwick.
Traffic can be busy at rush hour and on very hot days but to be honest it is easily avoided.
Also, I used to live in Sherborne which is on your list. Its a lovely town but would be quite limiting in comparison if you can't drive.

DH says I have never been to Dorchester and he thinks it's at least 30 years since he was there. Thank you @Daisydoesnt @TianasBayou @Cyclingforcake @Hannahthepink @TeenLifeMum We are going to spend a day in Dorchester when we leave Exeter.

Sherborne is also on the list. Need to work out whether we do Exeter to Sherborne and then stay a night Dorchester. Will fathom that tomorrow. Would leave us three nights to cover BH13, BH6 and Lymington and New Forest.
If we base ourselves in one place for three nights - where would people suggest we make our base? Hugely grateful for suggestions

Dorchester comes in two parts, Poundbury and the center, both worth having a look at. The high street is a bit hit and miss and there was a major fire there which means it’s cut off half way and then there is brewery square. Seventh Seal does excellent coffee and cake