Tell me about: Bournemouth

[Django x2]

Looking to potentially move down to the beach with the wife and kids, however I've never been to this area so I have no idea where would be nice to live etc.

We've heard going closer to Dorchester is nice, but it appears a large variety of place exist between.


If I shout some criteria would you mind pinging back any suggestions of locations if known please?


- Great Schools (nursery/first school etc, kids are still babies).
- Detached property with green surroundings, not cramped estates.
- Village location but it needs accessible shopping.
- Max 1hr drive away from Bournemouth City.

Dorchester is ok, as is Weymouth, don't expect schools to be amazing unless paying private.
Don't expect change from £500k for the house you're after. In fact, expect to spend more like £600k-£700k
Both are 1 hour(ish) from Bmth.
Try Ringwood, Ferndown, Wimborne, Holt, for much closer, and similar feel.

 

[InvaderGIR]

Hah! Touristy, or scummy?

It used to be the latter but as I understand it, the area has improved a lot over the last 5-10 years. As with all places though there will be dodgy areas.

Bournemouth is/was known as a retirement destination for many, many years but it's also a student town so you kind of get a mix of both young and old. The centre is a bit meh really from what I remember but it's been a long time since I spent time down there anyway.

 

[Kenai]

Bournemouth was the first place I ever saw a McDonald's with bouncers.

 

[neodude]

Hah! Touristy, or scummy?

The Latter. Although it has been over 10 years since I lived there. There was an armed hostage situation in one of the pubs while I was there, police helicopter and armed response and everything, classy place

 

[SonicSW20]

Bournemouth was the first place I ever saw a McDonald's with bouncers.

Common in many towns and cities in the evening now.

 

[DXP55]

Bournemouth in 1978 was first place I ever saw topless female sunbathing. Has it got better or worse. ?

 

[nicktay2605]

I grew up in Ringwood, a small town about 15-20 minutes from Bournemouth. It's a good place for families, has schools for all levels (which were well regarded when I was growing up), plus it should still be in the catchment area for the grammar schools in Bournemouth if selection school was something you wanted to consider for your kids in future. It's also about a 30-35 minute drive from Southampton, so you've got access to a decent sized town and city on either side. You're also right on the edge of the New Forest, which has some really nice walking areas and some good pubs dotted about. Ringwood itself is basically a fairly affluent small town; it's got several supermarkets ranging from Lidl to Waitrose, a couple of gyms, some decent restaurants and coffee shops, loads of pubs, a good barber in the town centre, etc.

You'd get a nice 4 bedroom detached house for your budget based on a quick look on Rightmove.