Does anyone live in/know well Brockenhurst/ the new forest?

[Anewerforest]

Can anyone advise please? We are thinking of moving to a New Forest town/village to be closer to family and be able to do some grandchild care for those living on the edges of South East London.
Reasons for thinking of the New Forest: I have a lung problem and can't cope with traffic pollution, which is high in most of the South East. And we love being near trees and wildlife. As we get older we need to be in walking distance to amenities like shops and GP, and not too far from a hospital.
Any thoughts welcome please. Our budget is around 600K, we'd like a small house or bungalow but fine with a ground floor flat if necessary.

Brockenhurst is very nice indeed but I read the other day it is the most expensive place in Hampshire ahead of eg Winchester now. Very little around your budget but there are a few. It’s obviously very busy in the summer and the high street is narrow and jammed in high season. Lyndhurst is slightly better but really has a lot of through traffic so may not be the best for clean air.

Id look at Sway as it properly borders the forest and is much quieter than the two above. Still not cheap but you should find something in budget. There’s not much there (although it has the basics) but it’s close enough to New Milton and lymington for shops. Good luck op.

Lived in that area for eighteen years and still have family there. I absolutely loved it, but it’s not the place to escape traffic!

Pros:

beautiful combination of sea and country
great place for kids, my children had a very Boden catalogue childhood, sailing, riding, cycling and beach after school
friendly
lots of events, clubs etc

Cons:

Lymington hospital is wonderful but limited in offerings. It’s very difficult to get to Southampton and Bournemouth if you don’t drive. Parent has to get taxi to Brock station, train then another taxi
Expensive - ex council three bed semi in excess of 500k
Traffic, especially if you need to get through Lyndhurst

Having said that, it’s still the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived. Milford on Sea has a brilliant selection of cafés, pubs, social activities but public transport is terrible. Lymington is lovely and has a station, Brockenhurst in one direction and the Isle of Wight in the other.

Thanks, that is really helpful.
Very busy in summer with a jammed narrow high street is not inviting, and sounds like St Ives in Cornwall which is otherwise just about perfect.
I will have a look at Sway.

I don't live in the New Forest but I do know it. I think you're 2h30+ drive time from SE London depending on exact locations, is that what you wanted? I'm assuming you're thinking of occasional childcare not weekly? The big hospital is Southampton General. Traffic around Lyndhurst can be terrible at weekends/holidays. I'm not sure what is like on a daily basis though.

You could look at villagers on the eastern edge, on the Waterside. Not idyllic but very close to the forest and more affordable.
Also Cadnam, Ashurst which has a train station.

The villagers might not like you looking at them though, so best be discreet!

Thanks. We'll be going into London by train and the journey time is OK for a couple of afternoons/evenings each week and the occasional Saturday visit, just to take the pressure off the parents and spend time with the children - we are not offering anything resembling full time childcare.

Sounds perfect apart from the traffic!!

Fordingbridge is worth a look.Nice little town surrounded by the New Forest. Well connected with the A338, and also on a good bus route which takes
to you both Salisbury and Bournemouth. The bus takes you directly to Bournemouth hospital. Should get something really decent with your budget as well.

I’m a few miles from Brock and know it well.
It’s lovely but gets very touristy in holiday times. Not as bad as Lyndhurst which is absolutely dire.
I would look on the east of the forest. Beaulieu is stunningly beautiful and although a bit touristy at times it is too small to get as much attention.
Areas around like East Boldre, Pilley, Norleywood are all gorgeous, nice and quiet and really pretty with direct forest access.
There is Beaulieu Road train station for main line to Waterloo and Southampton and Lymington are easy drives.
Feel free to pm me if I can help at all as always nice to welcome people to the wonderful New Forest.

OK, so long as you aren't scared of ponies 😁

Ha, love a good pony!

How about cows and pigs? New Forest has them too.

Better and better. Sounds heavenly.

We made the move from SW London a few years ago and our criteria included being near a station and amenities. We are on the very edge of New Milton, 25 mins walk to the station, doctors, M&S Food on the bustling high street. It’s a proper small town, rather than touristy. Lots of retired incomers and plenty of clubs, groups, activities. Minutes from the beaches at Barton On Sea, Highcliffe, Milford on Sea. 15 minute drive to Lymington hospital, which has a limited but efficient walk in centre, and some day services eg physio. Bournemouth hospital for most things, but not easy to access by public transport.
Sway is lovely, with a station too, and a community vibe, with direct access to the forest.

Would recommend a few visits to get the feel or different areas.

PS it does get more rain than London! On the plus side, the sea and forest are right here when the sun shines

Try East Boldre.

This is a better option for London trains

Brock is expensive although it has a popular sixth form college, a train station and some buses (nowhere has lots). Christchurch would be cheaper although you'd have a short drive to forests... Honestly everywhere is nice... I live in one of the New Forest towns.

For trains look at the timetables, because some stations get the fast trains and others (and at off peak times) involve a change at Brockenhurst. Lymington has its own branch line from Brock.

I live on the edge of the new forest and love it here. My dream is to one day buy in brockenhurst or ashurst. I would choose them over Lyndhurst for example due to train line. It's absolutely beautiful round here and recommend to everyone!

Another vote for the area around Fordingbridge, you also have villages of Damerham, Martin and Rockbourne which are lovely. Close to Salisbury and less busy than the more touristy areas.

It’s expensive and rammed with tourists in Spring and Summer.
Have you factored in the cost of train fares as well weekly for your childcare visits back to London?

Thanks so much. New Milton sounds more like what we are looking for than the bigger, beautiful but more touristy towns. Also Sway.
We are currently living in the Lake District so rain won't be a surprise!

Fair points.
Yes, we have factored in public transport costs. We won't be running a car so should be able to manage.

It is a very expensive train line though. The most expensive in the country per mile.