Relocating from London to Midlands (Warwick area) ... Eek!

[themoonsaballoon]

Hi - we're thinking of relocating from London to the Warwick area to be nearer family and hopefully access some better schools for our son (Yr 1). Do any of you lovely people have any advice or have made a similar move out of London? Particularly interested in schools and friendly areas that aren't too 'rural' ... Not sure what I'll miss about London, but DH will still be commuting in at least 3 days a week.

[justanothergrumble]

If you're looking for areas that aren't to rural then j think you have posted in the wrong topic, you have posted in rural living, everything outside of London isn't rural.

[pistachioicecream]

Hi

I live in Stratford-upon-Avon and work in Leamington Spa so might be able to help.

Warwick itself is lovely with a good community and lots going on. Are you looking for a town or a village?

I have to travel to London regularly for work - Chiltern line service is not too bad most of the time and with the fast train you can be at Marylebone in about 1 hour 15 - 1 hour 30 usually. Obviously there are sometimes delays/problems but plenty of people do it daily from Warwick Parkway/Leamington. So you could always get back easily for the day if you needed a London fix ;-)

Lots of lovely villages around this area if that's what you're after - plenty with good communities and lots going on. Schools are generally all good. Grammar school system still operates here which will be a good or a bad thing for you depending on your view.

We love living in Stratford personally - lots going on, the theatre, restaurants. We can walk into town from where we live and with teenagers that's perfect - we didn't want to spend our spare time being a taxi. Traffic can be a challenge but depends where you live and to be honest most towns have issues with traffic don't they? Just part of modern life!

I have work colleagues living in Warwick, Leamington and some of the surrounding villages. It's a beautiful part of the country - close to the Cotswolds and fab countryside but also really accessible with good motorway/train links. Sure you'll love it!

[themoonsaballoon]

sorry justanothergrumble, I'm not at all suggesting everywhere outside London is rural (I grew up in inner city Leicester so v aware of that!), I just couldn't work out where else to post! When I say not too rural I mean I don't particularly want to live in a house that's reliant on a car to reach schools/any shop.
Pistachioicecream, that's brilliant, thanks. Really good to know it's not too bad on the train too, we had nightmarish visions...
DH wants private school but I'm a bit anti. Warwick Boys is (obv) single sex and I'd only really want co-ed if I did get my arm twisted - any ideas for my defence (would prefer state school)??

[pistachioicecream]

There are some really good state schools up here - although obviously I know more about Stratford based schools than Warwick.

Are you talking about Primary or Secondary? Might be able to make some suggestions if that would help.

Alternatively this link takes you to a page where you can search for info about all state schools locally.

If you don't want to be reliant on a car you're probably looking at one of the towns really so Leamington, Warwick, Stratford, Kenilworth.

Some of the villages will have shops, a primary school and some sports clubs but really you have to travel a bit for other activities.
apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/findaschool

Will PM you later with some more info about schools my children are at if that would be helpful.

[themoonsaballoon]

Thank you SO much. It's actually that link that overwhelmed me a bit, so many schools! He'd be in Yr 2/3 when we moved so Juniors. Prob Leamington/Warwick more because of family (elderly parents). A single shop (and a pub?!!) is good, just don't want to have to get in my car for a pint of milk. Happy to drive around for after school stuff, you're right, there's traffic everywhere so I'm used to that!!
I really appreciate your help, thanks. Did you move from London to Stratford? If so do you miss anything? I love where I live now but I can't keep schlepping up the m1 and m40 twice a week within school hours, I'm run ragged between child and parents. And DH has wanted to return to Warwickshire for YEARS. X

[Hotlips1]

Hi, am also planning to relocate to Warwickshire next year and curious about schools. I have a daughter currently in year1 and a son who will start reception in September 2017. DH will be working out of Birmingham airport and I want to be close to m40 for access to family and work, thinking about Warwick, Kenilworth or large villages East of Stratford eg Wellesbourne. Would love to hear people's views on primaries and secondaries and also general info on these areas - atmosphere, stuff going on for kids etc. Thanks!

[Mamia15]

Re travel to London - given how regular and frequent this will be, my advice is to look into fast rail routes first and then nearby villages you could live in e.g Virgin West Coast from Rugby to Euston is 50 minutes and you could consider villages between Rugby and the area your parents live in.

Leamington is 20 mins drive from Rugby and is a nice small town with decent independent schools e.g Kings High, Warwick, Princethorpe, Rugby and state grammar schools (Stratford Girls, King Edward, Lawrence Sheriff & Rugby High).

[Dangit]

This post is old but I moved from London back to Warwickshire. If anyone’s still watching this thread I will try share my experience.

[Zephy]

Hi Dangit,
Yes please, I would be very interested to hear your experience. We're still in London but this is very much on the cards for us in the next year or two... We have three children and need to make a decision before secondary school (eldest is currently in Y4 so really not much time -- eek!).
Many thanks!

[Dangit]

Hello Zephy,
well I guess for us, we moved to be nearer my family as I wanted them to have a good relationship with grandparents. We live 7 miles south of Leamington spa and it is very friendly. It's SO nice being able to just get in a car and drive without traffic. Our market town has a grade 1 secondary, three primarys - of which I LOVE the one my kids are at and a pool too. Its by no means exciting at all but it does have a nice feel. Watch out for buses though, coming from London I thought, great! a bus to leamington. My jaw dropped when I got on at the £6.50 fare! and that was 8 years ago...
We are all very happy though I have to admit, we are contemplating moving away as I hate being so far from the sea. I'm not sure if we will actually do it as the kids are so happy. So in that respect we are in similar shoes to you as oldest is Y4. I think all the research I've done has just muddled the picture more. If your going to do it you just have to take a leap of faith at the end of the day as with so much info out there you can talk yourself into and out of something day by day!
But I totally don't regret moving out of London. Its all still there at the end of the train line. And I feel we and the kids are very safe here.

[Zephy]

Thanks for your reply, Dangit, I really appreciate it. We would be in the North Cotswolds / Stratford area (my husband's family are there) which I only know from our visits. Do you know that area at all? Is it family-friendly so to speak?
Did you struggle with the adjustment from London? I have been very keen to move since having children but we have a very nice community here and I worry about not being able to make friends if we moved away! Also, will the children resent us when they're teenagers?!
Our youngest will start reception in September so we would need a school able to take on three -- obviously nigh on impossible in London but is it a possibility there? (I understand it would all depend on availability but is everything as over-subscribed as it is in London?).
You are so right about talking yourself into and out of things we've been procrastinating for years! And it's so true that London is still there at the end of the train line the best bits at that!

[nanastasie]

Hi,
I have read the thread and wondered if you could give me an update on whether you moved or not and how you found it. I have two little ones, my eldest would be starting reception in September. I currently live in London and the opportunity to move to Stratford has come up. I have the same worries about them being teenagers in a rural area, me missing the busy London life although it is one of the thing we want to run away from etc.
If any of you have any words of advice or just feedback on your experience, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you :)