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Family-friendly towns in England

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    Family-friendly towns in England

    I know that every time this question pops up, it elicits a deluge of cynicism, but I'd like to get some advice on family-friendly towns in SW England, preferably, between the M3 and M4 corridor. I live in the Continent, but my expecting wife is British. We've thought about relocating to the UK so that my child can get easier access to the grandparents.

    My criteria:

    -outside London
    -IT jobs available
    -good public schools
    -family-friendly atmosphere
    -reasonable house prices <=250K

    Any clues?

    #2
    You won't find much for 250K in nice areas, 400K is more like it.

    I live in Winchester. 400K will get you a small family house.
    ...my quagmire of greed....my cesspit of laziness and unfairness....all I am doing is sticking two fingers up at nurses, doctors and other hard working employed professionals...

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by KaiserWilly View Post
      I live in the Continent
      Anywhere near Paris?
      Coffee's for closers

      Comment


        #4
        Where do the grandparents live?

        The family house for < £250K is the problem. In nice areas with jobs and good schools near the M4 and M3 you are talking about tiny 2 bed terraced houses or ex-council houses on dubious estates full of chavs.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Lockhouse View Post
          You won't find much for 250K in nice areas, 400K is more like it.

          I live in Winchester. 400K will get you a small family house.
          A quick search gave this for 237K

          3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Westman Road, Winchester, SO22

          OK. Not Buckingham Palace, but modest enough for a family.

          Unlike most Brits, I practice the Germanic habit of saving and not living beyond my means.

          Comment


            #6
            That's a rubbish area. Parts of Weeke and Stanmore in Winchester are to be avoided.

            "Unlike most Brits, I practice the Germanic habit of saving and not living beyond my means. "

            Only trying to help mate.
            ...my quagmire of greed....my cesspit of laziness and unfairness....all I am doing is sticking two fingers up at nurses, doctors and other hard working employed professionals...

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by KaiserWilly View Post
              Unlike most Brits, I practice the Germanic habit of saving and not living beyond my means.
              Admirable as that it, it will put you at a disadvantage in a housing market where everyone else is getting up to their eyeballs in debt, you will simply be priced out.
              While you're waiting, read the free novel we sent you. It's a Spanish story about a guy named 'Manual.'

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by KaiserWilly View Post
                A quick search gave this for 237K

                3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Westman Road, Winchester, SO22

                OK. Not Buckingham Palace, but modest enough for a family.

                Unlike most Brits, I practice the Germanic habit of saving and not living beyond my means.
                Look at the streeview. Not a BMW or Merc to be seen. Would you want to live somewhere where the neighbours drive old Ford Escorts?

                Good schools in that catchment area? Doubt it.

                Cheap for a reason.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by DimPrawn View Post
                  Where do the grandparents live?
                  Somerset. So everything in a 100 mile radius would be OK for the weekend-odd family visit: Bristol, Swindon, Portsmouth, SOuthampton, Reading.

                  I went to Exeter last summer and I liked it a lot.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by DimPrawn View Post
                    Look at the streeview. Not a BMW or Merc to be seen. Would you want to live somewhere where the neighbours drive old Ford Escorts?
                    I drive an old Opel (Vauxhall for you). What's wrong with it?

                    "Catching up with the Joneses", etc... that's so 2007.

                    Comment

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