Hi

I was just wondering if anyone lived in the bournemouth area, I am hoping to move there in the near future and I would really appreciate some advice on which areas are not so pleasant, I have heard that parts of Boscombe are a bit of a no no, but apart from that I have no idea.
I would ideally prefer to be nearish to Bournemouth college as my oldest daughter wants to attend that one in particular, but it's not absolutely necessary to be too close to the town, and if anyone has any other tips or hints I would be very grateful.

Thanks so much.

I live about an hour away from Bournemouth but I'm more in Wiltshire than Dorset. I could name a few rough places in Wiltshire but my boyfriend would be able to give a bit more information if you name a few areas then I'll ask him about them!

Other than that, I believe Bournemouth is a really decent area!

Thanks for reply keira,  I'm quite interested in a school for my younger daughter that is in Hadow Road, surrounding areas seem to be East Howe, Ensbury Park, Kinson and Northbourne.
Thanks for asking your boyfriend, much appreciated.

This school used to have a very bad name when my children were little, I would check it out thoroughly as there are better schools around. My children went to Moordown St Johns which is not far from Ensbury Park & has always had a very good name for itself

Should probably add that areas to avoid are Boscombe, East Howe & Townsend but Winton is wonderful as thats where I live!
DaisyM

I went to Moordown St Johns

I went there on holiday with some college chums and don't really remember what it was like :)

I do remember getting a very sun burnt bottom though :D

Sorry not much help :D

If you are buying a house it all depends on what you can afford, obviously the more you pay the better the area you will get, and renting is the same. I agree East Howe and Boscome are not good area's but at the end of day its what you can afford.
The nearer you get to Bournemouth centre the more expensive it becomes. I live in Ferndown and i shop a lot in Bournemouth which is a 15 mins drive away.
You need to come down and look for your self to see what area's you like, thats what we did when we moved from Bedfordshire, and then either look in estate agents or renting agents windows to see what you can afford, or even do a search in google for Bournemouth or Poole estate agents and you will get some ideas of prices.
I hope that is of some help to you.
By the way if you dont mind me asking where do you live ?

Hi

Thank you for your replies.  Daisy I have checked out the schools on the net, it seems this school has improved considerably as they have a new head teacher, there gcse results are very good although it's not that that I am really considering, my daughter isn't very bright academically but she does seem to have flair in music dance and art and this particular school specialises in those subjects.  I also spoke to the receptionist and in fact the school is over subscribed at the moment, I guess everyone wants their children there now as it has improved so well.
I haven't been to Winton, but will definately take a look when we visit.
Triclours, we will be buying, just the average standard 3 bed semi, though I've noticed the prices vary greatly, my main concern is being fairly near to bournemouth college (bus route) for oldest daughter, and a decent school for my younger daughter, I'd really like it so that younger daughter will be within walking distance, though as I've learnt sometimes by the time you actually move there isn't always a place available in the local school.
It's very difficult when you have no idea of areas as to where to look, hubby and I will be visiting in the next half term we hope.  We'll have a good drive around and try to get the feel of neighbourhoods, we do know someone in Northbourne but they haven't been there that long themselves and they are a much older couple so they are unsure of schools and the kind of facilities we would look for.
I am over on the isle of wight at the moment, it is lovely here but not alot of opportunities for work for my oldest looking ahead. My hubby also has to travel to and fro on the ferries for work and it's just getting so expensive.  I also get a little peeved at lack of choice for shopping, not a shopaholic honest, just get fed up with tesco or a 10 mile drive to newport for a bit more choice.
I've always liked bournemouth, love christchurch but again pricey, checked out local high school Twynham, they are so over subscribed that they dont even have a waiting list.
Thanks again for replies, much appreciated.

Gosh I forgot to add to my post another  important part of house hunting, places where I can walk my gorgeous german shepherd. Thanks again.

Why not come to Lymington/Brockenhurst area?
Lymington Secondary School is a performing arts college and there is a train service to Bournemouth, and loads of open forest to walk your gorgeous german shepherd?  :) PERFECT!

In the Bournemouth area you will find places like Redhill Common at Ensbury Park, Stour Valley Way just by Northbourne near the Cherry Tree SWOP Nursery, (off Whitelegg Way), Talbot Woods, plus areas like playing fields out of school times at East Way (grammar schools fields) and nearer to Christchurch along Iford Lane there is a playing field there.
Further along, again towards Christchurch, about 20 mins drive from Moordown/Winton/Wallisdown, you have Hengistbury Head, Stanpit Marsh and St Catherine's Hill.

If you go past Hurn airport, and go left at the end roundabout, towards the forest, there is a walk amongst pine trees on the right there.
About 3/4 of an hour out of Bournemouth and the best ever walks, is the New Forest - either in the Ringwood direction (Red Shoot area, Linford etc) or more past the Christchurch direction - Burley, Brockenhurst etc all with superb walks esp. if you get a good map.

I love this area and it's our wish to move closer to the forest, to yep, Lymington area or similar in a few years! :) I agree with Chocmolly it is perfect, although the prices in that area are more than in Winton/Moordown, etc.

Lindsay
x

I lived in Verwood before moving to Ferndown and its great for dog walking, you could go for a walk every day for a week and still go on a different walk, thats the one thing i do miss about Verwood great dog walking country. Its about a 20 mins drive to Bournemouth, its got lots of schools for ages 5 - 12yrs, but for upper schools i reccomend Queen Elizabeth school in Wimborne, a school bus is run for pupils.

Let us now how you get on.

Forgot to say Verwood is cheaper than Bournemouth, so you would get a bigger house out there.

Oh thanks so much for all your replies and help, and lindsey thanks for all the doggy walking places have made notes of them.
Chocy and tricolours, we may look further out if no luck in closer areas.  Really grateful for advice and tips thanks folks.

Let us know how you get on! :)

tashina, have you decided yet where you would like to live. :)

Hi Tricolours, Hi all

No we still haven't decided yet  we went over 3 weeks ago and had a drive around and visited some friends in Northbourne, had a great shop at asda's I do miss asda and all the choice of shops, we were only there for the day so we didn't have alot of time really. 

We're going to go over again in a couple of weeks and will spend a couple of days or so over there, hopefully we'll decide where we prefer then.  Think It'll be a case of making our minds up this time as the price of the ferry to keep going over really mounts up, so fingers crossed in a couple of weeks, thanks for asking tricolours, I may need your help again once we've decided, knowing our luck we'll make a decision and then find out an airports going to be built there or something!!!! lol.
Will keep you informed.

Castlepoint's a great shopping centre, I love the way I can do loads of shopping really fast, park underground and walk past planted trees etc and then get home with no parking hassles etc. I dont like shopping but am starting to enjoy it now!!!

CP is along Castle Lane.

Lindsay
x

Also Castlepoint is free to park, unlike Bournemouth shopping centre, i love shopping in Bournemouth with its big department stores and all the shops you can think of, i was down there today and had to pay £1.80 parking i was there for about 2 hours i think thats to much.
Yes i agree Castlepoint does have a nice shopping centre.

I'm about an hour away from B'mth. I think it's a lovely place :-) I'm starting B'mth uni in October and I'm looking forward to spending more time there. The college has a brilliant reputation too. And more importantly...the shops aren't bad either :D

Good luck with the move

Hi Tricolours

Sorry to hijack this thread but I used to live in Ferndown.  Where abouts are you?

CarolW

I live just off woodside road, where did you used to live in Ferndown, and where do you live now.

Hi

I used to live in Bracken Road and now I live in East Sussex

CarolW