Nice areas around New Forest

[aprilshowers2015]

Posting on behalf of a friend who has been living in London for the last 20 years.

Can anyone recommend nice areas around the New Forest to live please? They're keeping it fairly open at the moment but would like to be within half an hour of a beach, Not too far from Salisbury, and within easy reach of good state schools for their 2DC (2.5 and newborn currently).

I'm in Salisbury but don't really know the New Forest areas that well so any suggestions welcome!

Within half hour of beach and not too far from Salisbury is pretty tricky I would think.

Ringwood? No idea about schools though.

What's their budget?
Do they mean 30 minutes from beach on a heatwave weekend, or 30 minutes from the beach on a rainy January? There's a big difference in journey times!

I love Brockenhurst. No idea about schools but it’s my lottery winner fantasy destination.

Fordingbridge would meet this criteria.

What is the budget?

Yeah probably Fordingbridge. Brock I'm not sure about secondary schools but primary I think are good. Lymington is lovely and coastal but not sure what the schools are like.

Maybe Wellow - you're feeding into Romsey schools then which are good for secondary and Canada common is lovely!

Yes I was going to suggest Fordingbridge. Pretty area of the new forest, with amenities of a small town. 20 minute drive to Salisbury and 20 minute drive to beaches of Bournemouth. It’s also on a decent bus route to both Salisbury and Bournemouth. Can’t comment on the schools though.