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.

@Crikeyalmighty Yes, meant to mention you are the inspiration for my high summer list and we will do Arundel as we never made it there. either!

Poole - Ashley Cross Lilliput areas

@Mum5net so very glad it worked out for you - - Poole is one of our quick weekend trips !! Whereas yours might be up here in Bath or Salisbury - lol !!! I really like Christchurch too so not far from you !! I’ve always fancied being a relocation person - and to be frank I’ve lived in a lot of areas so can genuinely I think speak from experience and get what people are looking for

Welcome to the sunny south!

DH and I grew up in Bournemouth and still live nearby. It used to be a lovely place but the town centre shops are all gone and it is sad now.
Anyhow I was amused by your comment about day tripping away from the beach... our holidays have generally been inland. Beach was for after school, or maybe quiet Saturday mornings (ie. hotel change over day when the holiday makers are travelling). Our holidays often explored the industrial - the canals were a favourite for us or sometimes weekends in London (especially loved the Docklands Light Railway, it's like a theme park ride!)

Dorchester would be an idea short train to seaside but lots things going on and direct link to London..

If you don't fancy Weymouth itself

Bognor regis is great value.. Aldwick area/beach is noce. Also Felpham... Along that coast Rustington and Ferring as well as Littlehampton... Traffic can be a pain all along there but buses and trains as well

Christchurch area ? Stanpit looked nice also Southborne great beach

Don't just stop at Cardiff - unless you're shopping - come to Swansea, our beach is far and away the best! You can walk to it from the train station no trouble at all and plenty of places to stop for refreshment that are right next to aforementioned amazing beach - this place is lovely: https://www.thesecretswansea.co.uk as is: https://swanseaobservatory.square.site

The New Forest, Lyndhurst, Lymington, Brockenhurst, Barton on Sea, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Wareham, Weymouth, Bridport, Lyme Regis.

Wool (village), Wareham (small town) or Dorchester (bigger/county town). All have a station. Wool only 5 minutes drive or a bus to Lulworth, has shops, pubs, GP surgery, takeaways etc. Can get to Southampton airport by train, or a short drive to Bournemouth airport too. I live 3.5+ hours away from there now, but miss the hills, countryside and sea. Not so much the cost of housing and the time it takes to leave the county/find a motorway.

How about Penarth?

Taunton - Lyme Regis?

Thank you for all your encouragement. I am happy to report my monthly electricity and gas payment is now just 40% of what I paid in Scotland. So the sunny south is working on so many levels …

I’ll say what I always do- Chichester area. The train station is in the town centre. Coast, South Downs, Chichester Festival Theatre, Novium museum, cinema, art galleries, links to Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, London, Shoreham, Worthing. Buses aren’t bad either. Villages around have lovely houses and all the areas are in your budget. The coast is nearby too and Chichester Harbour.

You can afford North Somerset. We are effectively a Bristol suburb but not, £700k gets a nice house, we are are even getting a railway station (ground works started) but bus is frequent to Bristol and town has all the day to day things you need. Lots of people in 50’s and 60’s who have chosen to move here as well as families as it’s cheaper and less gritty than Bristol, eg walk around at night without concerns alone. Good music scene if that’s your thing

Chichester Harbour is breathtaking. I love the area around Chichester.

@Arlanymor that looks lovely. I promise to head there this year …

Excellent! Not that I am biased or anything you understand..!

Haven’t read previous replies but Bristol is very doable at that price (depending on area). Portishead is about to get a new train station and is great. Close to beaches but also a marina there and lake etc. definitely one to look into!

Lovely update 😊. One of my friends swears by the Birds of Poole Harbour walks and sea safaris.