Possibly moving from London to Birmingham, need some help/advice

[Samsan1]

Hello everyone

So we need to move house because we need more rooms, we currently live in London bordering Surrey, would ideally love to move to Surrey but can't afford that. So the choice is between Crawley, Horley, redhill or Birmingham or close to Birmingham. Basically the areas above we could get a 3 bed but need a 4 bed so would need to do a loft conversation which of course is I'll cost a lot, which is one of the reasons we are planning on moving towards Birmingham as we can get 4/5 bedrooms in the same price.
I'm still a bit unsure weather to move to Birmingham as I just fear I might regret it. The area I live in has had many stabbings lately so I do want to move, do you guys think I'm crazy to leave London for Birmingham? Which of the areas above would you do?
Also what are the good areas in Birmingham? From what I've read south is good as well as Sutton Coldfield is this correct? I want excellent primary and secondary schools and a move family area. I'm trying to
Narrow down areas so we can head up there to check out houses, schools is the number 1 priority.
Also any other suggestions for areas outside Birmingham would be considered.
Sorry for the long post
Thanks

Just wanted to add, I worked at poles worth school, it was amazing. Such good work and such a caring school. The villages around are nice, Newton Regis, Warton, beddesley is nice now. Might not be busy enough for you though. Warwick is great. Stratford upon Avon is only 45 mins on the train to bham now we have a parkway station. No way to Coventry it's a dog hole!!
Alcester?
Henley in Arden

Some of the new houses in Northfield are quite nice (though I dislike them because they are built on the fields that I used to play on) but it's still not a great area when you look at the old council houses - they were nice enough about 40-50 years ago but it's gone downhill since.

turnip - you are aware that only a small proportion of Northfield is made up of council houses, aren't you, you know, like most areas.

Yes, I'm aware, I know Northfield well.

Why not look at Newtown or lozells. Very close to the centre. Very good areas

Very good areas for what....?

Good for high rise flats. Good for busy roads. Good for dirty streets.

I used to teach in Lozells and it was a brilliant school which I would happily send my children to though.

It was a joke guys..... where's your sense of humour?

Lots of people live in those areas, many not by choice. I'm sure they appreciate your piss-taking

Lighten up darling x

I don't think it's at all clever or funny either.

Nor helpful to the OP.
Don't know what is going on, on this thread.
there seem to have been q a lot of people moving to Birmingham this year, asking for advice, and all other threads have had lots of really helpful posts. Just don't know why so many posters are derailing this one

I would seriously consider renting for 6 months before buying if you can stand the hassle of moving twice. I don't think house prices are rising so fast 6 moths would do much. Or am I wrong?

No, I'd agree with that assessment, stopsnoring.

Totally agree with the renting, but I’d be concerned about school places. If you rent in Dickens Heath (for example) and then decide to buy in Moseley you’d need to move schools, that would be a bear of a commute.

True enough.

If you're looking at Sutton I've heard that Holland House infant school seems to have more movement than many. Possibly because the junior school is historically poorly rated ofsted wise. Also next door to secondary Plantsbrook.