Move to Emsworth or Clanfield areas

[Holieholiebobs]

Hello!

Me, my dh and 2 children aged 6 and 9 live in Ryde IOW. We moved here 8 years ago, thinking the beach and countryside was a wonderful setting to bring up children. We make full use of the beaches but work and commuting to Portsmouth is taking it's toll. Plus the schools seem to be struggling here ( although it could be like that everywhere though)

We are looking at moving to either the Emsworth areas or around Clanfield areas.

Does anyone have any good/bad experiences there? What are schools like?

Emsworth has the advantage of quite a good train service to Chichester, Havant and Portsmouth, and I suppose to Southampton. Clanfield does not, and seems to me to be miles from anywhere. Driving to commute, on the South Coast, will drive you wild with frustration.

Emsworth is a bit nobby near the water, and has some good restaurants and shops,

I'm guessing you don't want to be in Portsmouth/on Portsea Island itself @Holieholiebobs?

I don't like Portsmouth per se, but was born and lived in Southsea (apart from uni years) till almost 40 and it was perfect imo, as is Old Portsmouth. However, Southsea is ridiculously expensive now and we couldn't afford to move back to the kind of street we'd sold in when we moved back to the south coast in 2024 (the house we sold for 585k is now around £1m 😳) so we went further along the coast into West Sussex.

We had friends in Clanfield who sold and moved to Southsea when their DC reached secondary age. They felt very cut off out there despite both having cars. They also worked in Portsmouth. Emsworth is lovely, quaint etc but I've no knowledge of schools etc as the only families we knew there back then went private.

@LibertyLily We did look at Southsea, it's good a great vibe there. But you are correct, out of our price range. So we're just looking for places that we can commute to work which is QA hospital and Havant. Amd thar has good schools.

@PigletJohn Thank you! I think we will go towards Emsworth first and see how we feel.

Emsworth is lovely, but quite pricey.

It has outskirts.

QA is a long uphill trek from Cosham station. I imagine you would need a bus as well/instead.

Havant town centre has the bus and train stations, but a lot of the newer business (especially the site of the old factory) is a trek. The college and civic centre are OK.

Emsworth is lovely especially near the town centre, but you might need deep pockets.

Is Havant still known as 'Chavant'?

@PigletJohn We work in Cosham and Havant, we don't want to live in those places. The walk from the station to my office is a quick 15 minute walk, and I'm fine with it. It's only when its raining is it an issue really. Its a lot easier than walking up the pier in Ryde! Hopefully we will find somewhere thats good and I won't be commuting 4 to 5 hours a day!

Not in the circles I move in.

There’s quite a big price difference between Clanfield and Emsworth tbh. Also with the ages of your children, I’d look at which secondary you are aiming for and look within the catchment areas.

Ah, I guess it was just all us 'snobby' PGS parents in our 'big' houses then 😆