Moving to UK in August - where should I start my search?

Here are the tourist boards for Kent and Sussex if they are any help to you.

http://www.visitkent.co.uk/

http://www.visitsussex.org/

Kent (and the neighbouring county of Sussex) really is a pretty area with London and France on the doorstep, lots of gorgeous countryside and some nice beaches. 

Kent school children have day outings to France, it is that close.

Thank you, everyone. I have found your suggestions very helpful and encouraging! 

Facts about the UK.

Kent has 2 of the 3 Eurostar stations to Europe (Ashford and Ebbsfleet - but don't live in Ashford). Ebbsfleet has the better rail service.

Why not Ashford?  One of my colleagues recommended it, along with Epsom.  Kent is sounding like a good place to start.

If you can, I would recommend coming over for a visit, rent a holiday home for a week or two and get a feel for what is on offer.  Having the whole country to chose from is daunting - so many great places!

I was actually starting to think it might be better to move over there in late August, without a place to live - just rent a place somewhere interesting for a couple of weeks and look around.  We have to fly back to CA for a week for my brother's wedding in late September, so we could have a pretty good look for almost a month.  Is that crazy with 3 kids in tow?  (Although, they are pretty rock 'n roll kids, ages 8, 11 and 14).  But if we do end up putting the 14 yr old in school, he would be starting late then. 

Thank you, everyone. I have found your suggestions very helpful and encouraging!  
Why not Ashford?  One of my colleagues recommended it, along with Epsom.  Kent is sounding like a good place to start.

Ashford is known in Kent as Trashford. Very Chavvy. A tv programme on places to live also stated that if Kent had an enema, Ashford is where you would stick the pipe. Some of the surrounding villages are good and Canterbury is nearby and very good also, but a big no to living in Ashford.

Epsom is in Surrey. Close to London. It depends what you want from where you live. I always find it a bit soleless. It has some nice areas though.

I was actually starting to think it might be better to move over there in late August, without a place to live - just rent a place somewhere interesting for a couple of weeks and look around.  We have to fly back to CA for a week for my brother's wedding in late September, so we could have a pretty good look for almost a month.  Is that crazy with 3 kids in tow?  (Although, they are pretty rock 'n roll kids, ages 8, 11 and 14).  But if we do end up putting the 14 yr old in school, he would be starting late then.  

The good schools have a waiting list, so maybe sort that first to see where he can get a place?

It would have to be a holiday home that you rent for those few weeks as the UK has minimum  rents of 6 months (assured shorthold tenancy) unless you can find a landlord to agree otherwise. As you are coming over during peak holiday time, you would need to book a holiday place soon.

Ashford is known in Kent as Trashford. Very Chavvy. A tv programme on places to live also stated that if Kent had an enema, Ashford is where you would stick the pipe. Some of the surrounding villages are good and Canterbury is nearby and very good also, but a big no to living in Ashford.

Epsom is in Surrey. Close to London. It depends what you want from where you live. I always find it a bit soleless. It has some nice areas though.

Two other places that spring to mind to avoid in Kent are, Chatham and Margate.

Chatham is a squadie town and always has been. Not nice, but very cheap.

Margate use to be wonderful: a family place to holiday with a long golden beach and the fantastic Dreamland (before Disney). Then the last government moved some wayward boys homes down there, Dreamland burnt down and shops on the seafront are boarded up.

Can you tell me what a "market town" is?  And how to find them?  Within an hour of London would be fine with us.

Hello there:

I live in a small village in the South. We have been here a little over a year and here are some of the 'market towns' I have been to that are lovely and filled with charm:

1. Arundal
2. Emsworth
3. Bishops Waltham
4. Wickham

Other options of larger towns are: Winchester and Salisbury. They are both larger, wonderfully beautiful small cities with good access to London.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks for the suggestions, Jennifer.
My husband and I are planning on coming out near the end of August.
I think I have determined that I am too much of a control freak to rent a place, sight unseen, so I think we will rent a "holiday house" for a couple of weeks, and tromp around and just look until we find a spot. 

How old are your 3 kids? Do they go to school yet? How was that transition for them?
Mine are 14, 11 and 8.  They are very enthusiastic about the move, but have different ideas about the school thing - some want local, some want me to homeschool.

Again, thanks for the suggestions.  I will check into them this week.

I would advise putting your children in local schools. They should be able to take full advantage of living in a culturally different country. If you wanted to, you could home school them on any US specific subjects that their US schools would want to have them keep up on. But I think they would get a lot out of experiencing a British school and making new friends.

My kids were 5 and 8 when we moved.  They adjusted very well to the local primary school and made friends.  It may be harder for a teenager.  I guess a lot depends on your children's personalities.