Raising family by the seaside

[Spanieljoker]

I live in London and have two daughters (3 and 1). Will possibly have a third in the future.
I have always loved the idea of living by the seaside. My husband loves the countryside and his craving for a big garden and some land. I love the countryside too and traditional cottages.
We are planning a move, anywhere in the UK. Should be close to the seaside and rural. I have been looking to places like Devon and Cornwall for example. Our budget would be max. £1.2 million.
where would you go if it was your choice? We want to raise the children in the nature but their academic future is also important for us.

Makes me laugh when everyone portrays Scotland as being cold. It's really not. I lived for 33 years in England, and I've now lived in Scotland for 23. It's a bit cooler, but it's still warm enough! For the last month, I have sat outside in the sun, almost every day from 5pm-6pm whilst the dinner is cooking. It's been so hot, I've had to get the parasol up. I sit with a little glass of wine and watch the boats and the cruise ships, it's utter bliss.

Ipswich school is mixed now if you’re thinking of the one based at woolverstone?

https://share.google/WlOo94aZFgqRQzVat

Suffolk is beautiful, lovely beaches - although I am on the north Essex coast - both rural and seaside

Come to West Sussex, some great secondary schools (St Oscar Romero/Davisons High School) in Worthing. Right between the coast and the South Downs with good weather, the best of all worlds.

However lovely Cornwall is, it’s a long way from anywhere. If you want a coastal town near the sea, come to Kent or Sussex - lots of coastal towns within easy reach, plus still near the bright lights of London. Whistable or Rye are two lovely places that spring to mind.

The New Forest is perfect situated right on the south coast between Southampton & Bournemouth and you can be back in London in an hour and a half. You won’t get so much house as other areas with your budget but still more than London and there are some excellent schools and plenty of rural activities plus kids sailing clubs, low crime rates and still mostly busy market towns & and you won’t be far from the kids when then hot foot it back to London in their twenties.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174407045

this is my dream home. If I could put an offer in right now I would but I can’t right now 🙄
I’m also not sure about the area. Anyone ?

Suffolk seems popular here. Good schools too 👀

Not in Norfolk it isnt!!

Small children and water, not a happy combination............

i don’t need the lake, the stables and that much land of course 🙂 a pool with a fence!
I love the house though

Just don't ever get ill or need an NHS dentist.

Given the current situation with both diesel/petrol and fertiliser the stables could be very handy!

Frome looks nice. I think it’s expensive there but lovely. Do you know other good spots around Bath?

Not Peasdown St John!!! Or Trowbridge

Bradford on Avon
Avoncliff
Freshford
Rode

Are nice - and you can swim in the river

Norton St Phillip
Wellow
Hinton Charterhouse

Ditto but no river or station

Recent family experience of Cornwall for schools, especially secondary, was poor. Options for post 16 very limited.

Dorset !

Cornwall is an incredible place to live, I don’t know why Mumsnet is so against living here! I grew up here and after going away for uni and various jobs I’m back here raising my child. It feels like I’m on holiday every day. Everyone is friendly, we live near some amazing primary schools. Amazing private schools nearby too if you can afford it. Anywhere on the north coast from St Ives upwards would be lovely. South coast I’m a little unfamiliar with. I would avoid living in the middle of the 2 coasts. Sure there are areas of poverty and deprivation but there is everywhere. It is so safe and tranquil here. Love it and you will never want to leave!

I think they have an issue with secondary schools. When the time comes I think we’ll pay for private if it’s needed…

Another vote for Dorset. I wouldn't move to the west coast; Cumbria is beautiful but it really does rain a LOT. We have flat down on the south coast between Bournemouth and Poole which is great for weekends as it's less than 2 hrs to waterloo. For more remote living in Dorset I'd head for places inland from Weymouth. It's beautiful down there.

Devon is gorgeous but if you’re moving outside of London, wages will be dire. So you have that to contend with.

Ipswich High School takes boys and girls from. EY onwards, although it's out of town compared to Ipswich School.

I'm Cornish born and bred and have always lived by the sea, I was in London earlier this year and hated it there. I went to primary school her in my village but went private school in Truro but always came home at the weekends.

It depends on what you like BUT the further you go towards the fringes that longer and slower the journey out gets.

I used to live in Bristol, a few minutes drive from a motorway and twenty minutes walk from Temple Meads station. The world was my oyster.

Even in Frome its not as easy to get around.

When I was in a hamlet outside Frome there was a very limited bus service and nowhere I could reach on foot safely so even milk or papers meant driving

Also think of your children, will they want to stay in the sticks when they grow up, will you spend your time driving them around or worse still worry about them driving on country roads