Hythe, Hants as a place to live?
Discussion
I'm no longer working, so don't need to live in a specific place (I'm in Sandhurst, Berks at present).
Although as I still have to spend some time visiting an elderly parent in the London Borough of Sutton I can't really consider places like Dorset or Devon (much as I might like to)!
Anyway Mrs Tidy and I had a day out some years back (2003 possibly) and stopped off in Hythe for some lunch on the way to the New Forest. I seem to remember a bit of a green and a "villagey" feel to the place.
While trawling Rightmove recently I have seen a bungalow (now I'm pushing 60) that looks promising, is within budget and has plenty of parking!
I quite like the idea of somewhere with a promenade, a pier, beaches not far away and easy access to the New Forest.
Does anyone on here know the area? And if so how would they rate it as a place to live for an early retiree?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Although as I still have to spend some time visiting an elderly parent in the London Borough of Sutton I can't really consider places like Dorset or Devon (much as I might like to)!
Anyway Mrs Tidy and I had a day out some years back (2003 possibly) and stopped off in Hythe for some lunch on the way to the New Forest. I seem to remember a bit of a green and a "villagey" feel to the place.
While trawling Rightmove recently I have seen a bungalow (now I'm pushing 60) that looks promising, is within budget and has plenty of parking!
I quite like the idea of somewhere with a promenade, a pier, beaches not far away and easy access to the New Forest.
Does anyone on here know the area? And if so how would they rate it as a place to live for an early retiree?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Not a retiree, but I used to live down that way 
The negatives are fawley refinery, you do get a whiff on occasion, though not too bad in Hythe. There's also a low rumbly type noise, most noticeable at night.
The a326 is horrible, used to be nsl along its length, now there is a 40 section in the middle (some bint in a Volvo pulled out from a side road and killed a motorcyclist) so that combined with the Balmer lawn honda jazzs and the petrol tankers, means it's pretty much 40 the whole way until the dual carriageway.
It does take forever to get anywhere, especially if that anywhere is not Southampton!
On the plus sides, vast swathes of new forestyness, great for dog walking or just walking. Beaulieu, Lyndhurst, Lymington, Exbury, Bucklers Hard, Lepe, Calshot on the doorstep.
There's a good proportion of retired couples, we sold up to get in a decent secondary school catchment (rubbish secondarys) and sold to a couple retiring from Newbury.
The negatives are fawley refinery, you do get a whiff on occasion, though not too bad in Hythe. There's also a low rumbly type noise, most noticeable at night.
The a326 is horrible, used to be nsl along its length, now there is a 40 section in the middle (some bint in a Volvo pulled out from a side road and killed a motorcyclist) so that combined with the Balmer lawn honda jazzs and the petrol tankers, means it's pretty much 40 the whole way until the dual carriageway.
It does take forever to get anywhere, especially if that anywhere is not Southampton!
On the plus sides, vast swathes of new forestyness, great for dog walking or just walking. Beaulieu, Lyndhurst, Lymington, Exbury, Bucklers Hard, Lepe, Calshot on the doorstep.
There's a good proportion of retired couples, we sold up to get in a decent secondary school catchment (rubbish secondarys) and sold to a couple retiring from Newbury.
.:ian:. said:
Not a retiree, but I used to live down that way
The negatives are fawley refinery, you do get a whiff on occasion, though not too bad in Hythe. There's also a low rumbly type noise, most noticeable at night.
The a326 is horrible, used to be nsl along its length, now there is a 40 section in the middle (some bint in a Volvo pulled out from a side road and killed a motorcyclist) so that combined with the Balmer lawn honda jazzs and the petrol tankers, means it's pretty much 40 the whole way until the dual carriageway.
It does take forever to get anywhere, especially if that anywhere is not Southampton!
On the plus sides, vast swathes of new forestyness, great for dog walking or just walking. Beaulieu, Lyndhurst, Lymington, Exbury, Bucklers Hard, Lepe, Calshot on the doorstep.
There's a good proportion of retired couples, we sold up to get in a decent secondary school catchment (rubbish secondarys) and sold to a couple retiring from Newbury.
I don't think the A326 ought to be an issue - I'll only need to use it out of rush hours. The negatives are fawley refinery, you do get a whiff on occasion, though not too bad in Hythe. There's also a low rumbly type noise, most noticeable at night.
The a326 is horrible, used to be nsl along its length, now there is a 40 section in the middle (some bint in a Volvo pulled out from a side road and killed a motorcyclist) so that combined with the Balmer lawn honda jazzs and the petrol tankers, means it's pretty much 40 the whole way until the dual carriageway.
It does take forever to get anywhere, especially if that anywhere is not Southampton!
On the plus sides, vast swathes of new forestyness, great for dog walking or just walking. Beaulieu, Lyndhurst, Lymington, Exbury, Bucklers Hard, Lepe, Calshot on the doorstep.
There's a good proportion of retired couples, we sold up to get in a decent secondary school catchment (rubbish secondarys) and sold to a couple retiring from Newbury.
And schools aren't an issue, although I wouldn't want to be near to a sub-standard one!
Thanks - it sounds promising!
Iain.
I don’t know anything, but the New Forest in general can be VERY busty in summer!
Have an elderly aunt in Lyndhurst, and as we head to the IOW regularly, we try to drop in on her from time to time. Summertime we fine the roads through to Lymington can be fairly chokka!
That said, for a retiree choosing what times to go anywhere & in no desperate rush, I bet it is great. Big city on the doorstep (decent hospital,etc!!) probably makes it a good place to be!
Have an elderly aunt in Lyndhurst, and as we head to the IOW regularly, we try to drop in on her from time to time. Summertime we fine the roads through to Lymington can be fairly chokka!
That said, for a retiree choosing what times to go anywhere & in no desperate rush, I bet it is great. Big city on the doorstep (decent hospital,etc!!) probably makes it a good place to be!
mikeiow said:
I don’t know anything, but the New Forest in general can be VERY busty in summer!
Have an elderly aunt in Lyndhurst, and as we head to the IOW regularly, we try to drop in on her from time to time. Summertime we fine the roads through to Lymington can be fairly chokka!
That said, for a retiree choosing what times to go anywhere & in no desperate rush, I bet it is great. Big city on the doorstep (decent hospital,etc!!) probably makes it a good place to be!
Busty? Busty you say?Have an elderly aunt in Lyndhurst, and as we head to the IOW regularly, we try to drop in on her from time to time. Summertime we fine the roads through to Lymington can be fairly chokka!
That said, for a retiree choosing what times to go anywhere & in no desperate rush, I bet it is great. Big city on the doorstep (decent hospital,etc!!) probably makes it a good place to be!
I moved from Hedge End which is really a huge car park at times.
Hythe - love the market days on Tues, easy ferry over to Southampton & IOW, new Lidl just opened today, 10 min walk to the New Forest, some nice pubs and presently, I'm very happy. A326 isn't an issue when you get to know the back roads that cuts out a lot of the busy periods, especially at Fawley shift changes and holiday periods.
Beaulieu is also on the doorstep and if you get the gift aid ticket, a years worth of entry for £24 (i think). Classics on the quay during the summer uses Hythe marina village for its new venue with some good eateries on the doorstep.
Hythe - love the market days on Tues, easy ferry over to Southampton & IOW, new Lidl just opened today, 10 min walk to the New Forest, some nice pubs and presently, I'm very happy. A326 isn't an issue when you get to know the back roads that cuts out a lot of the busy periods, especially at Fawley shift changes and holiday periods.
Beaulieu is also on the doorstep and if you get the gift aid ticket, a years worth of entry for £24 (i think). Classics on the quay during the summer uses Hythe marina village for its new venue with some good eateries on the doorstep.
Edited by ewolg on Thursday 21st February 22:45
I live in DP, lovely area, I would say that though, lived in Dibden Purlieu for over 25 years.
As said before, all the local towns/villages are not far away st all, Lymington, Brock, Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Burley, New Milton etc etc.
Lovely properties all over the area, I’m sure you will find somewhere to suit your budget, needs etc.
Southampton is not a problem to get to, the bypass flows well most of the time.
👍
As said before, all the local towns/villages are not far away st all, Lymington, Brock, Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Burley, New Milton etc etc.
Lovely properties all over the area, I’m sure you will find somewhere to suit your budget, needs etc.
Southampton is not a problem to get to, the bypass flows well most of the time.
👍
I live in Hythe too, near the big Tesco and Applemore sports centre. Nice place to live, use the forest daily for dog walking etc. Hythe center is nothing special, full of charity shops and not much else, although we do now have a Lidl.
I commute into Southampton each day. I cycle some days and drive the others. Takes 40mins by either method, but sometimes driving takes longer. Ferry to Southampton is bloody expensive too.
I know the area really well, have lived here my whole life. Happy to give you a little direction on what you're looking at buying, there are so excited areas I'd not consider for one reason or another.
I commute into Southampton each day. I cycle some days and drive the others. Takes 40mins by either method, but sometimes driving takes longer. Ferry to Southampton is bloody expensive too.
I know the area really well, have lived here my whole life. Happy to give you a little direction on what you're looking at buying, there are so excited areas I'd not consider for one reason or another.
OK, thanks.
It ticked most boxes because it's a bungalow and not too big. I'll be 60 in April so was trying to think ahead for when my knees get worse! And as there is only me I don't need (or have the budget for) anything large. Plus the one I like has a garage and loads of driveway parking. At present I just have 2 allocated spaces, but visitors don't seem to understand what "allocated" means.
I'll take a trip down soon and have a look around - I would have done it this week but I didn't because it was half-term. Most places aren't quite the same in school holidays.
It ticked most boxes because it's a bungalow and not too big. I'll be 60 in April so was trying to think ahead for when my knees get worse! And as there is only me I don't need (or have the budget for) anything large. Plus the one I like has a garage and loads of driveway parking. At present I just have 2 allocated spaces, but visitors don't seem to understand what "allocated" means.
I'll take a trip down soon and have a look around - I would have done it this week but I didn't because it was half-term. Most places aren't quite the same in school holidays.
I moved to the Waterside ten years ago, and love it - the New Forest on the doorstep, Beaulieu, Bucklers Hard, Lymington, Lepe, Exbury, all lovely, and you'll get used to the blanket 40mph speed limit, which is to protect the dim-witted animals, and the even dimmer-witted holidaymakers and cyclists.
Just avoid Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst during the summer holidays, and the A326 between 8am-9am and 4.30pm-6pm. As already mentioned, alternative routes are available.
Just avoid Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst during the summer holidays, and the A326 between 8am-9am and 4.30pm-6pm. As already mentioned, alternative routes are available.
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