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Original poster

Commutable locations to raise a family but also be close to the sea/river

83 replies

bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 13:32

Our house is under offer and we are hoping to move somewhere where we will be closer to the coast or a river to be able to do water sports and other activities that are free or don't cost an arm and a leg. We're an outdoorsy family - 4 year old and 8 year old. We need to be commutable to London - +-1.5 hours one way.

Are there any suggestions for good suburbs/locations/towns/villages? Have been looking at Winchester but I have no knowledge about the area.

Also been looking in the Ipswich area but the high schools are an issue if you're closer to the coast. Also lots of new developments which in themselves is not a problem but there is quite a lot of them happening.

Any suggestions would be very welcome. We're originally from South Africa but children born here. We would like to explore a different part of the country from our usual Kent locations but would not rule Kent out if someone could convince me there is a lot to do in Kent.

Our kids do swimming, karate, tennis, cubs/squirrels so an area where there are good activities for kids along with good primary and high schools.

OP posts:
Mosaic123 · 01/04/2025 13:34

Southend? Many trains to London. The sea is technically an estuary there.

Crikeyalmighty · 01/04/2025 13:36

Henley , Chichester

LaPalmaLlama · 01/04/2025 13:38

I'll throw Poole into the mix because you wont do much better in terms of the watersports- sailing/ kitesurfing/ SUP/ windsurfing etc plus beautiful countryside for hiking/ biking etc but it's 2 hrs into Waterloo. People do do it though so just mentioning it. There are also a tonne of people who live in Poole and semi- commute so they stay up 2/3 nights a week and WFH 1/2 days (often Mon or Fri)

Is also a grammar school area (single sex).

Skimpyy · 01/04/2025 13:39

Whats your budget and school requirements - private / state / grammar?

SoonTheDaffodilsWillBeOver · 01/04/2025 13:42

Chichester. Big sailing place, quite pretty, decent train into London.

Original poster
bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 13:42

Ah sorry - up to £650kish. Can't afford private so good state school will be lovely. thank you

OP posts:
waitingquietly · 01/04/2025 13:44

Reading and Maidenhead and the surrounding smaller towns and villages - Elizabeth Line into London - lots going on on the Thames and Lakes like Dinton Pastures

Notstrongandstable · 01/04/2025 13:45

Brighton

Wishboneswishes · 01/04/2025 13:45

Lots of lovely small towns/villages in the Southampton suburbs. The Hamble river is perfect for water sports and close to forest and country walks. Fast train from Southampton to Waterloo.

Original poster
bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 13:47

Wishboneswishes · 01/04/2025 13:45

Lots of lovely small towns/villages in the Southampton suburbs. The Hamble river is perfect for water sports and close to forest and country walks. Fast train from Southampton to Waterloo.

Are you able to share a few names with me please so I can check them out? thanks

OP posts:
HippyKayYay · 01/04/2025 13:48

Lewes. 15 mins to the coast (Newhaven). Some river based stuff at Piddinghoe. Just over an hr on train to London.

Houses expensive though. And we’ve struggled to get kids into some clubs/ activities because demand outstrips supply for some. Although you’d be ok for the ones you mention (really good tennis club, decent swimming pool, for eg)

Hoolihan · 01/04/2025 13:49

Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing.

Original poster
bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 13:50

SoonTheDaffodilsWillBeOver · 01/04/2025 13:42

Chichester. Big sailing place, quite pretty, decent train into London.

any suggestions for specific suburbs of Chichester?

OP posts:
Skimpyy · 01/04/2025 13:51

I think with this type of move its really important to prioritise getting close to the best rail connection (direct, fast, reliable) as you will be using this every day and any issues with cause huge frustrations for family life.

However it woud not be a problem to be 30 mins from water sports at the weekend however as you would have the time - and large parts of the year weather is too cold for water sports - but lovely to be near water for walks etc.

Fictionreader100 · 01/04/2025 13:53

Along the Essex coast perhaps , take a look at Maldon , or maybe Witham which is just a short drive to it.
If you want a bigger town Colchester or Chelmsford .

Chewbecca · 01/04/2025 13:57

Check out towns on the outer end of the C2C line into Fenchurch Street. Leigh on Sea, Chalkwell & Thorpe Bay are the nicest. There are sailing clubs, sea scouts, open water swimming groups etc. Many thanks clubs too. It's a grammar school area though so good if your DC are bright, less so otherwise.

Original poster
bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 13:57

bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 13:32

Our house is under offer and we are hoping to move somewhere where we will be closer to the coast or a river to be able to do water sports and other activities that are free or don't cost an arm and a leg. We're an outdoorsy family - 4 year old and 8 year old. We need to be commutable to London - +-1.5 hours one way.

Are there any suggestions for good suburbs/locations/towns/villages? Have been looking at Winchester but I have no knowledge about the area.

Also been looking in the Ipswich area but the high schools are an issue if you're closer to the coast. Also lots of new developments which in themselves is not a problem but there is quite a lot of them happening.

Any suggestions would be very welcome. We're originally from South Africa but children born here. We would like to explore a different part of the country from our usual Kent locations but would not rule Kent out if someone could convince me there is a lot to do in Kent.

Our kids do swimming, karate, tennis, cubs/squirrels so an area where there are good activities for kids along with good primary and high schools.

Would anyone recommend Suffolk? Any areas there with good schools, activities but also quiet enough for 3 outdoor/indoor cats (sorry forgot to mention we have cats so quiet roads).

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 01/04/2025 14:02

Suffolk is nice but 1.5hrs door to door from a quiet coastal location is (very) tricky, and expensive.

Skimpyy · 01/04/2025 14:46

I would rent in the area first rather than jumping to buy as only by being there will you know which street/areas to target or avoid.

Think about catchment for the secondary school you would want you DCs in and work back from that as you are not to far away from that application process.

Also which bit of London do you need to reach within your 1.5hr commute as that could determine if you go N,S,E or W.

Wondering why you are moving on from Kent and what more do you want elsewhere that you cant achieve there?

Original poster
bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 15:05

Skimpyy · 01/04/2025 14:46

I would rent in the area first rather than jumping to buy as only by being there will you know which street/areas to target or avoid.

Think about catchment for the secondary school you would want you DCs in and work back from that as you are not to far away from that application process.

Also which bit of London do you need to reach within your 1.5hr commute as that could determine if you go N,S,E or W.

Wondering why you are moving on from Kent and what more do you want elsewhere that you cant achieve there?

I am a contractor so could be any part of London (but I typically rule out too many hops on the train). Husband is bored with Kent. Agree we should probably rent first but then we may end up uprooting kids too many times if the area doesn't work out. Maybe do a holiday there instead and speak to the locals a bit more. But the question is where.

OP posts:
Skimpyy · 01/04/2025 15:41

Why is he bored with Kent? What is he looking for specifically?

Only because there is loads of coastline, rivers, watersports - so maybe something else he is after?

mydogfarts · 01/04/2025 15:46

bonniekruger · 01/04/2025 13:47

Are you able to share a few names with me please so I can check them out? thanks

Show quote history

Near swanwick station? I used to sail a fair bit and used to get the train to Swanwick and it's a short taxi ride to the river from there.

Bluevelvetsofa · 01/04/2025 16:03

Chichester, Lavant, Midhurst, Emsworth, The Witterings, Birdham, Aldwick, Runcton, Barnham, Walberton, Yapton, Climping, loads of villages, with sea and aaSouth Downs nearby.

I live in one of those.

DancingFerret · 01/04/2025 16:56

My area ticks most, if not all, of your boxes; motorway access is off J8 of the M27. Suggest you look at Warsash, Swanwick, Titchfield, Old Bursledon, and Sarisbury Green (not Hamble because, although it's lovely, access is via one road and it can get very congested). Caveat re Warsash: it's lovely, but has been over-developed; consequently the rush hour traffic up to the main A27 is something to consider.

The River Hamble is within walking distance of our house, the beautiful Meon Valley is a 10 minute drive away, and the New Forest is easily accessed via the M27.

Trains to London run from Southampton Parkway and also Swanwick.