I can't personally give any advice, but I can recommend a site that can help you, it's called netmums.com
If you log in to the area or district you are thinking of moving, there is lots and lots of local info on there, you can also ask on the forums or local noticeboard for advice on moving, as they are parents too, they can give you some insight into the areas that you are looking at.
Hope this helps a bit!!
(And I hope it's ok to post that site, it's completely safe and not rival!!!)
Thanks Amanda I shall have a look tomorrow it sounds very good, x x x
sorry firemonkey, just using your thread for this info x x
Thank you for all your comments, sorry been a delay in me responding to you all. Had My daughters birthday and baptism this weekend so been hectic. We're looking at a couple of places in Andover and a friend has mentioned they have visited Andover a few times and really like it. So, always nice to have you guys helping as well as a personal friend. I'll keep you informed of how it all goes. Thanks again for all the advice, it honestly has helped make our decisions a bit clearer. Xxx
Just checking back to inform you all of how things are progressing. We have visited Andover and found it to be a nice place, it is definitely a place where we would move to. Also the hoses we looked at we're nice too. Tomorrow we are going the Eastleigh, so we'll see how we get in there. Thanks for all your help. X
Andover use to be a nice place I grew up there it hasn't got much there as far as work wise. Most jobs are either in Basingstoke, salsbury etc school wise depending on your little ones age secondary schools are either Winton which is 10 mind walk from the small town centre, or John hansons which is about 15 mins from the town or there is Harrow way. The estates when I lived there were pretty bad (drug, violent) was king arthers way and river way though this was some 10+ years since I was last there though I still have family there and they say it hasn't changed much still the same old problems
Hi - I haven't lived in any of these places but I have friends who lived there so I'll tell you about them anyway.
Winchester is a beautiful place, I'm not sure what the housing market is like but I would personally definitely love to live there. Haslemere is also lovely, very quiet with good transport links to London.
Also, I know you said you'd like to be near the sea side but have you looked at Virginia Water or possibly Egham? They're both SUCH a beautiful places but I image house prices would be quite high there. It's worth a look though unless you've definitely decided on Andover or Eastleigh.
Eastleigh is nice too btw, I've only been there once but I guess I wouldn't mind living there!
We're now set on (unless the OH changes her mind) moving to Amesbury/ Salisbury area. Visited there the other week and really liked it. Good schools for the nipper and clean and tidy. We are looking at houses this week, just need to sell our gaff first though. Thank you to everyone who commented and here's to the future. Xxx
We moved recently and where we are now is very expensive.. If our house we're in now fell through then we were looking at New Milton, Hampshire. Great prices and only minutes from the coast. But it was the drive to and from work ( Heathrow ) which would have been the kicker..
I fully understand why you wish to move out of Hounslow though.. We used to live in Hayes but we've been in Surrey now for 12 years
ok this maybe a bit left field but what about something totally different !
I know one issue is proximity to family and friends , but if you take that out of the problem
what about moving way out !
I know a few people that have left london and surounds to move to suffolk and norfolk ! house prices are good and growing anf if you shop around for 250k you could end up with a lot more for your money ,
schools are pretty good as long as you check first ( the same as any other area) as long as your near a main route travel isnt bad roads are improving ( very slowly) as are trains ,
work wise Its no different anywhere you take what you can get !
and move on till you find the job you want !
two people I know have move or are moving one to suffolk near ipswich and one to the Norffolk coast !
both with young families and both for the same reasons
An old thread now, but just wanted to let people know. We are now in Amesbury and it's been a year. I am traveling back and forth to work in Hounslow (which isn't too bad, I work shifts do its not everyday), my wife is working part-time and we have applied for schools for lil'en. It's all going well, besides slow progress on the friends front. Anyone on here from Amesbury and fancy making new friends. (Seems desperate now I've written it). Not asking for anything sexual, just what to socialise a bit. Many thanks.
We have close family who lived in Eastleigh for a few years. It seemed alright there, plenty of shops, railway station in the middle of town, not far from airport etc... Noidea what house prices are there now (sorry). Our family members have since moved out of Eastleigh town to a slightly larger house an outlying, suberb, but are still within Eastleigh Council's administrative area and have no plans to move again... Sorry its all a bit vague, I was gonna pm you with a bit more info about the area but could not find a means of doing so...
Hi Firemonkey I live in Southampton and used to work at all the Schools in & around the area so would say they are about the same as any others in the Country, have you any preferences to vicinity is Near to Hospital/Medical Centre or Amenities.