Due to our good reputation over nearly 5 years, Chandler’s Ford Today community website receives a lot of emails from readers each week (such as missing cats and where to find a butcher).
Today we decide to start an Advice Column on Chandler’s Ford Today. There must be some Agony aunts and Agony uncles out there (i.e. YOU).
Our first letter comes from a reader from Kent. Please kindly share your advice to help the reader (Mary). Be kind and stay relevant. Share your wisdom in the comment section. Many thanks.
Mary’s question:
“My children, my parents and myself are looking at relocating from Kent to Hampshire. I wondered if you could advise me on some points please as I am very nervous.
Chandler’s Ford is beautiful and looks like it has every box ticked with what we are looking for. My parents are just retired and I have a son of 7 and a daughter of 16 who will be doing her A levels from September.
Are the schools in your area good? What schools would you recommend please for both of my children?
Are there any areas which we should not move to?
We would like to be near some shops and schools especially as my parents are retired, they love to walk.
We would be buying homes in your area.
Any advise you can give would really help us to decide where to relocate.”
Please share your views in the comment section below. Many thanks.
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Schools all good but recently newcomers have had difficulty getting into primary schools as all full up.
Central Fryern shops good and in walking distance of much of central Chandler’s Ford.
East of Winchester Rd may have motorway noise.
Can be rather traffic ridden specially on roads leading to the motorway hunts.
I’ve lived in Chandler’s ford for more than 40 years and have been very happy here. I have lived in North Miller’s Dale for most of that time. It’s a quiet residential area and I like being able to walk to the post office, local shops and The Hilt and also into Flexford and Hocombe nature reserves. The buses aren’t as good as they used to be though so, if moving to the district, I might consider moving within nearer walking distance of the No 1 bus which goes along Winchester road every 15 mins between Winchester and Southampton. There are 2 active U3As in CF so a good way for your parents to meet people.
Hello,
My family and I relocated with my job from Coxheath near Maidstone 25 years ago and have been very happy here in Chandler’s Ford. We are on the Scantabout Estate near Scantabout Primary School and in the Thornden School catchment area. Thornden has always been one of the top schools in Hampshire so this increases house prices. Toynbee School is also very well thought of too locally.
You will find good shopping at Fryern Arcade e.g Boots, W H Smith, Post Office, Waitrose, Co-Op, Costa Coffee, Rawlings Opticians, Pets Corner, a flower shop, lots of estate agents, hairdressers, dry cleaners, etc. Also a library and of course the doctors and dentists and a pub!
There are good community halls and various churches.
There are many good community clubs and a very good drama club that puts on great performances and a panto every year.
The area is good for getting to the M3 and the New Forest is only 20 minutes away.
There is a good Facebook page called Chandler’s Ford Friendly Neighbours where you can get more advice about local services.
Thanks Ray. Very informative.
This article has a few images of the shops that you mentioned.
New and old businesses in Chandler’s Ford
Secondary School:
Based on the Government performance Tables, both Toynbee and Thornden schools are now in the Top 5 school in Hampshire. Info: Compare School Performance
Both schools have their strengths, though a lot of people seem to praise only one of them. I’ve heard that some estate agents tend to highlight one particular school and its catchment area (more expensive).
My son went to the Toynbee School and this school suited him. He had very happy 5 years there.
Some local pupils take the Yellow bus in the morning to go to Kings School in Winchester.
Thankyou for your comments. I am currently looking at visiting over the next few months and the areas of interest are all within Eastlaigh ie Chandler’s Ford, Fair Oak. Are there any areas to not live in? I don’t mean to sound like a snob as I’m not but I don’t want a council estate on my doorstep. I hope that I have made sense.
Thanks
You will note that I have not commented on areas which you should not move too as that is a very emotive question to start commenting on publicly. Depends on your budget too. Best to speak to the local estate agents and come and have a look around.
Good luck with your move.
Difficult to say without knowing what your interests are and what you are looking for. However, I don’t think there are any “no go” areas in Chandler’s Ford. Like anywhere, some area are more upmarket than others, but nowhere is rough.
Chandler’s Ford has two secondary schools – Thornden and Toynbee. They are both good – I know children who have attended both. Thornden has an especially high reputation – one of the best on the county – and I think that Toynbee sometimes suffers by being compared to it. I should also add that you will find that Thornden’s reputation does influence house prices in its catchment area.
You said that your daughter will be attending sixth form from September. There are two sixth form colleges in the area – Barton Peverel in Eastleigh, and Peter Symonds in Winchester. I would have no hesitation in recommending either.
I’d echo what Mary says about public transport – but also add that there is a railway station, with trains to Eastleigh (connections to London, Southampton, etc) and Romsey (connections to Salisbury and the west country). I’m not sure whether you are looking for a single property, or separate for you and your parents. If the latter, your parents might like to look at Eastleigh, where there are more amenities.
Your best bet is to come and stay in the area for a few days so you can have a proper look round. Maybe a few of us form CF Today could meet you for a coffee and give you any other advice (or reassurance) that you want.
Talking about railway station, Chandler’s Ford railway station gives you FREE parking. FREE!! We always get a parking space there.
On Saturday if I travel via Southampton Airport Parkway station, the day parking fee is £5. Not too bad.
Oh and if you are sporty there are 2 good recreation grounds, one in Hiltingbury has a thriving Tennis Club with newly surfaced hard courts where “mature players’ played mixed social tennis most of the year. Alternatively get an access card and you can book yourself a court.
There is also a state of the art new Leisure Centre nearby in Eastleigh with Pools, Gym, Sauna and huge Hall for all sorts of sports.
If you like to travel, where else can you be within a few minutes of the motorway system, rail to London (just over 1 hour) and direct to the North, International airport at Eastleigh to most countries in Europe and Ferries to France and the Isle of Wight?
Better still the peace and tranquility of the Itchen and Test Valleys, the space of the New Forest and the history around Winchester, Stonehenge and Salisbury are all close by, beaches too.
There are theatres in Winchester and Southampton, concert halls also.
Oh dear, there is no cinema in Chandler’s Ford but films are shown regularly at the Hilt and Thornden Hall. Pity about the popcorn, they do not sell it. Tea, coffee and ice cream only. You can bring your own flask and who’s to know what it contains.
Thank you very much. There is no need for a cinema in Chandler’s Ford. We have Vue in Eastleigh, just 6 minutes by train (every 14 minutes past the hour) from Chandler’s Ford. Or on a lovely day, you could simply walk to the cinema.
Don’t forget that National Theatre Live productions (and National Opera Live as well now) are shown at Thornden Hall regularly. And I must put in a quick word for The Chameleons, our local amateur theatre company who have staged some wonderful plays. So quite a creative community (and there are a number of writers amongst Chandler’s Ford residents too!).
As for walks in the area, there is Hocombe Mead Nature Reserve and the one at Flexford Road too. Hiltingbury Recreation Ground is just behind the Hiltingbury schools and is very popular.