Which county to go to : ?

[whereishome]

Hi everyone,

Don't know where to start : ) We are coming back to the UK this summer after working abroad. But where to go - who knows?

We used to live in Surrey and loved the lifestyle but it was costing us a fortune. We had no extra cash to spare and could never get on the housing ladder. It was one of the main reasons for us leaving and going abroad. We are now coming back home but are reluctant to go back to Surrey because of the pricey rent etc etc. We are considering it as it ticks a lot of the right boxes - apart from money, and perhaps not quite as friendly as I would choose (massive generalisation - hides in a corner).

We have looked at other counties - also really like Winchester way. But we never found any nice residential areas to live around the city. And schools seemed to be a bit hit and miss when it came to looking for really good primaries.

So we are looking for a really nice area with excellent primary and secondary schools and really safe. Sorry, the usual which probably makes this really boring to read. I also am looking ideally for somewhere with a good cluster of private schools as I am teaching in a private school abroad and might need to continue in this sector on my return. We are looking for somewhere as nice as Surrey but a little more accessible in terms of lifestyle for those without stacks of cash. Still working on the lottery win : ))

Have briefly considered Wiltshire, Sussex...don't really know anything about Wiltshire. Sussex seems to be gorgeous but miles from most places and a bit too quiet with no easy access to a big town. Kent I don't really fancy due to me growing up there. Sevenoaks looks nice but oh so expensive again.

Ideally, my husband will need to get to London but at this point we are open to other suggestions. I know this is a boring thread and does seem to be asking everyone to help me find a needle in a haystack, but I need your help! We are returning in 12 weeks and I have no idea where to. We have no roots or ties anywhere which makes things that much harder. Thanks for any thoughts!

[NannyPlumIsMyMum]

Rushcliffe is one of the top ten counties to live in.

[NannyPlumIsMyMum]

The secondary here is in the top 30 in the country.
Cant fault any of the primarys either.

[DeterminedandSpecialMum]

Hampshire? I live on the border of Hampshire & W.Sussex - easy to commute to London and house/rental prices aren't to high either.

[BellaOfTheBalls]

Winchester has become the go to place of families needing to commute to London. The schools are excellent with several incredible private schools nearby. However as a result the house prices are astronomical.

Dorset? Poole/Bournemouth or north Dorset for Sherbourne? Excellent schools there and about 2.5hr to Waterloo on the train.

[whereishome]

Thanks for all these replies!! Rushcliffe is a new one to me - will investigate. DeterminedandSpecialMum - we have actually really looked at Hampshire. It is a contender but there are very few private schools around which might prove important for me. But it is a nice area - I agree.

BellaOfTheBalls - I love the feel of Winchester. But we never found any great primaries in the centre. We looked around the Alresford area but again, prices are really expensive. As are the renting prices in Winchester. It ticked a few less boxes than Surrey and seemed to be as expensive when it came to us renting/buying a property. Beautiful city though! I think you may have hit on a few golden nuggets with the Dorset idea. Know nothing about this area. Homework for me : ) Long way for dh to commute though so he needs to make sure he doesn't need to go in every day.

[DeterminedandSpecialMum]

If you want private schools you need to go near to Petersfield & Liss. However, house prices are slightly higher there.

[nagynolonger]

I thought Rushcliffe was a borough south of Nottingham.

[hels9]

East Grinstead and surrounding villages? Near your beloved Surrey (and East Sussex and Kent...), beautiful countryside, not too far from Crawley or Tunbridge Wells for more shops, planes from Gatwick aren't allowed to fly over it (but watch out in other areas nearer the airport...), one outstanding secondary and one good secondary, near Copthorne prep and Brambletye prep, and Lingfield Notre Dame schools, and for secondary level, Worth school and Ardingly (and one or two others). East Grinstead is the end of the line into London, so you always get a seat in the morning!

[hels9]

ps East Grinstead is in West Sussex.

[DeterminedandSpecialMum]

Or Chichester in W.Sussex have a good couple of private schools.

[RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief]

Brighton (East Sussex). Less than an hour into London on the fast train. The beach and the Downs. Lovely.

[hels9]

pps Lingfield Notre Dame goes through for children from 2-18.

[hels9]

Sussex is lovely...

[whereishome]

I really appreciate this - thank you for taking the time. People in the know about Sussex - do you not find that it is a little remote - ie. no substantial towns easy to get to. We spent a day driving around and it was beautiful but we just didn't find it busy enough.

[whereishome]

Some great thoughts on here for me to explore tonight - East Grinstead - worth checking....thanks everyone!

[laptopcomputer]

Sussex is in the busiest most densely populated corner of the country, hardly isolated! Although i agree a bit rubbish for big towns. But then I grew up there and am not a town person. However you have Brighton or go further up to the sussex kent borders and then you have Tunbridge Wells. Plenty of private schools all over Sussex.

Rushcliffe a county??

[whereishome]

thanks laptopcomputer. Oh, and I had to smile too.

[WhoKnowsWhereHerMajestyGoes]

Another area which might be worth trying is Alton and surrounding villages, it's close to the Surrey border with good access to many fee paying schools, it has good state primaries and secondaries, as do many of the villages, an excellent sixth form college and the house prices are cheaper than nearby Farnham, which is over the border, probably cheaper than Winchester/Alresford too. Nearby Four Marks is cheaper house price wise than Alton, still got access to all the schools but you'd have to drive to the station, whereas Alton has a mainline station going straight to Waterloo.

[goingforfour]

South Leicestershire? Reasonable house prices, good state schools and there are a few private schools around as well. Good train links into London.

[roadkillbunny]

Oxfordshire, easy (depending on area) commute to London, good primary schools, lots of private schools. House prices can be quite high but you can find reasonably priced housing if you look carefully (everybody's idea of reasonable is different though so it is hard to say without knowing what your budget and what you are looking for) there are some very good secondary schools but again, it depends on area.

[whereishome]

Thank you : ) I know Alton and it's ok. Hmm - it's hard on here isn't it - because you don't want to offend anyone. I just found it a bit small and not quite as picturesque as Surrey/Winchester way. South Bucks we looked at but thought it was a bit too close to London. Leicestershire - definitely on the homework list. Oxfordshire - is it as pretty/safe as Hampshire/Sussex/Surrey? Also, I think you are quite right - house prices are high. So there would be little point avoiding Surrey which we really like if we are still going to struggle with house prices.

Oh, I know. I sound like I am flailing around in the sand don't I? I'm sorry - I am. But you really are helping me - by helping me to home in and divert out. Thank you!!!

[grovel]

Berkshire. Look at Winkfield Row. Brilliant primary (St Mary's). The area is swamped with private schools serving Windsor, Ascot etc.

[HilaryM]

area round hertford is nice and much cheaper than surrey

[whereishome]

Hmm - mentioned the Bracknell instead of Surrey suggestion - not sure why dh gave me that look. Never been there. Ho hum.