Calling North Wiltshire mums: Which would be the nicest place to live - Devizes, Chippenham or Malmesbury?

[Frieda]

Any suggestions, anyone? We're looking for a nice place to bring up a family, somewhere with a bit of a community feel, one or two facilities perhaps (such as library, swimming pool, cinema...) I'd really appreciate any inside info.

Thanks in advance.

[Frieda]

Anyone?

[pindy]

Hi - I lived in Chippenham for 10 years. Schools are good, sports/leisure/swimming complex. Good shops etc. There is a cinema - a bit old though!! Nice place to live - would go back to live with my family. Hope this helps! Parents still live there so I visit quite often, also easy to get to Bath, Bristol & swindon.

[princesspeahead]

They are all nice towns. Chippenham cinema is old but it is our favourite - huge comfy seats and a big screen, much nicer than the multiplexes in Swindon! Always seems to be showing good children's films in the holidays as well.

If access to transport is a factor for you then Chippenham or Malmesbury are more convenient for motorways (10-15 mins from the M4) whereas Devizes is out on a limb a bit more - a hike to the M4 and a hike to the M3. If you need to be near a train station to get to london/bristol then chippenham much better than Devizes or Malmesbury. If you want access to other places then Chippenham is nicely close to Bath, Devizes not too bad to Salisbury, Malmesbury means you are right on the edge of the cotswolds and near Tetbury and Westonbirt and spectacular countryside. If you are horsey they are all great obviously but Chipp and Malmesbury are in the Beaufort hunt area which has a very superior pony and polo club! Devizes is a bit more down to earth and farming-ish. If you are interested in private ed, there are some lovely schools around Devizes (The Mill in Potterne for primary, Dauntseys in Market Lavington for primary and secondary). From Chippenham most people go to The Mill or St Margaret's in Calne for primary and board at various places for secondary. Malmesbury I'm not so sure - Prior Park for primary but I think it has been going through not a very good time for a while. I don't know much about the state sector but I do know that Wiltshire is quite patchy as an LEA so maybe do some research and see which ones in those areas take your fancy?

If you just want a really nice community rural life then I think all of them are nice and I'd maybe choose either on the basis of schools or just where you find the nicest house for your money or something, any of them would be fine.

[Steppy1]

...Devizes still quite "old", but had great Childrens' play area in Coral Cove (take my DH and DS frequently !) Chippenham lots of new housing developments but lots of facilities, Malmesbury veeery nice in a "villagy" sort of way, depends what you're looking for. We live in a very small village 7 miles between Swindon and marlborough so get best of both worlds, ie village life, then all the benefits of being near a large town (Swindon) quant town (Marlborough). Previously lived in London, Berkshire and ~East sussex but love Wiltshire the best, its a very underrated county me think

[Frieda]

Many thanks to you all ? esp pph for going into such helpful detail. We're going down this weekend again for a visit, but it's so hard to get a feel for a place based on just wandering around for a few hours. Will let you know where we end up!

F x

[princesspeahead]

ogbournes, steppy?!

[princesspeahead]

frieda make sure you pick up a copy of the gazette (local paper published on thursdays). has a separate property section that covers all three areas so will give you a good idea of what is on the market and which agents operate in which areas.

good luck!

[Riebee]

Hi.I moved to Chippenham 13years ago and moved up the road to Studley (between Chipp & Calne)over a year ago. I think Chippenham is a lovely place to live.

[Tiatote007]

Hi Freida, I know this was a really long time ago but as we are looking at doing the same thing I was curious to know what you decided on. We are moving from Lincolnshire so it is a bit of a minefield only looking at the internet:)