To ask about Ashby de la Zouch?

[Didiusfalco]

Posting here for traffic as i noticed a few Ashby folk on the 'sneering' journo thread. Dh's job is relocating to the East Mids and because of the motorway network Ashby de la Zouch looks like a good option. So, one damp Sunday we went to have a look round. I feel umcertain about it and have a few questions, but would welcome any observations from people in the know.

Are the schools as good as they sound, are there any to be avoided or any parts of town to avoid?

Is the nearest a&e department in Burton?

Is the nearest train station Burton and what is the transport like for getting out of Ashby de la Zouch?

Is there a park with swings etc for children within the town - i cant seem to find one?

Is there much going on for children? Would teenagers be bored?

Are there paths that you can walk on out of town to open countryside?

Would you recommend living there?

TIA

[Waxlyrically]

Hi I live nearby so will try and answer

Schools have served my children well. But there is an odd system of middle and upper schools for secondary which I'm not over keen on. Town small market town with no really bad areas imo.

Nearest a& e is Burton - only 20/5 mins drive

Stations Burton or Tamworth

Is a park in the centre near the leisure centre

Fine for children and teens and there are 4 cities close Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham

Plenty of access to great countryside/ paths / cycle routes

Yes

(& of course great carveries!)

[PickleSarnie]

My DH used to live in Ashby. It's nice enough and I've heard it's improved recently. You'd be fairly equidistant from Tamworth and East Midlands Parkway stations both go to London. The former on Virgin and the latter on East Midlands.

Where abouts is his job going to be?

[ghostyslovesheep]

Come to Tamworth - it's ace and has LOADS of parks and green stuff

we have a Snowdome

We are right in the middle of Nottingham/Birmingham/Solihull/Coventry

Schools are okay (nothing amazing but nothing awful bar one)

Ashby is nice but a bit small - lots of countryside but not much to it

Tamworth has loads of shopping and night life

I do like where I live - can you tell :D

[Didiusfalco]

Thanks wax I was hoping someone might come across from the other thread!

I do love a good carvery

[Didiusfalco]

Ghosty what are the schools like in Tamworth? I heard the secondary schools were a bit iffy - is that true?

[Didiusfalco]

Sorry ghosty saw that you said they were mostly okay - what's the awful one?!

[ghostyslovesheep]

there are no outstanding schools but QEMS and Rawlett are good - my kids go to a bog standard ok comp and are doing fine - both achieving well

You can look at the Grammars in Birmingham if need be or lots of people apply to near by Polesworth

I work in education - have done for years so I don't tend to look too much to OFSTEDs etc to judge schools

There are some nice primary schools as well

[Schmoozer]

The middle, senior school thing is history now is Leicestershire, thank goodness !

[ghostyslovesheep]

The one I would avoid is Landau Fotre Ammington - it's not got a great rep

[Schmoozer]

I think ashby is lovely, beautiful little castle, outdoor pool,
Very nice,

[Didiusfalco]

Would DH recommend it pickle?

Job is in Nottinghamshire which is an option, but looking for motorway access to the south also, which is partly why we're considering Ashby. The schools in Nottingham also look quite variable?

[PickleSarnie]

He really liked it Didi We didn't stay there because I needed a train station v close to be easily commutable.

It's really close to the Peak District which is lovely. Used to go on lots of lovely long walks in the days pre children We're on the other side of Leicestershire now in Market H arborough. Which I love. I think the Northamptonshire side of Leicestershire is a bit prettier tbh. But probably not hugely commutable to Nottinghamshire I suppose.

[Foxsox]

Ashby still have the Middle school system.
Ivanhoe is the feeder middle school & has a good rep, Asbhy school is also held in high esteem locally.

Tbh though if DH job is Notts there's massive scope for areas which are close to the motorway.
Where else have you considered.

[JT05]

I'm currently living in Leicestershire and out of choice I'd go to Market Harbrough. Nottingham and Leicester City schools are not very good.

Best Leicestershire school is in Oadby - The Beauchamp school.

DH commuted to Nottingham for year didn't take too long!

[Shakirasma]

I had no idea you were in Tamworth Ghosty! I'm just down the road from you in Atherstone, I'm always nipping over to Ventura and we love the snowdome.

[Didiusfalco]

Thanks Pickle we also went up to Melbourne, which I thought was lovely, but possibly a bit too small.

Other areas? I dont know Fox do you think there are better options than Ashby?

[ghostyslovesheep]

Yeah Shakirasma it's been my home for 15 years now - I do like it a lot - good shopping and lots of sporty stuff - I run in the Castle Grounds a lot - lovely park

I like Atherstone a lot as well

[Didiusfalco]

Thanks JT05 Ill have a look at Market Harborough. I dont really want to go to Leicester proper, however good the Beauchamp school is, lived there before pre-dc (although apparently not long enough to gain much insight in to the East Mids!)

[JT05]

The MH schools are good as well!

[PickleSarnie]

MH rocks! I love it. Gorgeous villages round it too if you prefer rural. When I win the lottery tonight, I'm buying a massive house in one of the Langtons.

[Didiusfalco]

MH does look lovely, but when I've looked at the journey its nearly 60 miles to work as opposed to 25 miles from Ashby, so unfortunately I think it's out.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Ashby has a good night life, I've lived in Tamworth & it can be a bit rough. They cleared out Birmingham to Tamworth and Redditch in the 60's. It was more like Lichfield until they knocked all the lovely Tudor houses down.

Ashby is a bit more monied. Bit more cafe society. Just needs a waitrose really.

[Waitingfordolly]

How about Quorn or Barrow - both great villages, or possibly Loughborough?

[Fourormore]

Bingham would be good for Notts job. Straight down the A46 onto M1. Great schools. Voted best place in UK to raise a family.

[lborolass]

I'm not sure I would live in Ashby if I worked in Notts but obviously it depends where in Notts - are you able to say where your DH would be working?

How old are your children? The three tier system is changing in most parts of Leicestershire that still have it and if your children are young they may not experience it.

Ashby school has a good reputation, I don't live in the catchment but have been to open days there and not been very impressed at all. The vibe I got was that they weren't as focused on individual students as much as some of the other ones I've visited.

Do you need access to the M1 or the M42? You could go as far north as J25/26 of the M1 and still be very quickly on the M42

There's no way I'd live in Market Harborough if I worked in Notts, far too long a commute imo