Moving from rough part of London to Birmingham

[ploads]

Hi all

I'm new to this site so I hope that I've posted this in the right area!

I'm a recent graduate, with an 11-month-old and another child on the way!! London is too expensive for us to live comfortably (Garden, drive etc), so I have been considering moving to the West Midlands for the last two years.

I went to uni in the East Midlands and enjoyed the quiet roads, neighbours being friendly etc... but do also like the option to have a good time and not be tooo far from the city!

I work in the city for a big four finance firm and I have managed to save up enough money to afford a tiny flat on my rough estate or a big (I think) house in Brum! I would be able to transfer to the Birmingham office of my company, partner would have to find a new job but shouldn't be too hard as every company has HR roles!

Our budget is around £300k, maximum £350k (mortgage). We would like 3 bedrooms minimum, 4 would be nice.

I would like to be close enough to commute to Broad Street/Snow Hill area in under 45 minutes, 30 minutes or less would be ideal.

Good schools, primary and secondary are also very important. Our first born is a boy and second is a girl, so would need mixed gender schools.

We are of Caribbean descent so it would be nice to live in a multi-cultural/diverse area, but at the same time there have been so much shootings and stabbings in my area in London so would like to be in a decent area too!

This is one of the main reasons for wanting to move to (a nice part of) Birmingham so that our children don't have to grow up through what we (I) did.

I've heard about Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Moseley, Solihull... where else is nice!?

Main concerns are the commute to the city (for me) and good schools for the kids.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks all

@Spottytop1

Thank you - Harborne has popped up a few times, will look more into that area.

@MindBodyChocolate

Thank you!

@CarriePerry

Thanks for the info... good to know about Sutton lol, thanks.

Why did you leave if you don't mind me asking and where abouts are you now? Rugby/Stone?

Also look at coleshill near the train station and part country side

You could use the buses and opt for Castle Bromwich

Sutton and Solihull are sort after and housing stock limited - you could look slightly further to Minworth which is lovely

@ploads sure! I moved because we wanted to live somewhere quiet and near DPs DD. I live in Lichfield. It's not massively multi cultural in terms of race however has a lot of history and is extremely welcoming. Beautiful too. Expensive but worth it for the amazing schools. We have DC on the way so this was a big priority. I need culture in my life however and don't think I could live here if I didn't spend all day every day in Brum! I would suggest you visit Moseley, Harborne, Kings Heath, Edgbaston, Jewellery Quarter (though the latter may be extortionate!). I also lived in a lovely part of Hall Green for a year just off Stratford road. Again, lovely if you find the right place.

Second Bournville - but also consider Selly Oak (not the main student area but further out towards Harborne, also Kings Norton, Kings Heath, Cotteridge - also lots of new housing being built at Longbridge, which is on the Cross-City train line - 20 minute ride into town, trains run every ten minutes. Longbridge has a new shopping centre n the site of the old car factory and is quite an up-and-coming area.

@CarriePerry

Thank you!

Will look at those areas and at Sutton Coldfield! What about Edgbaston?

@Nevth

My commute to central London is 30 mins, if I'm going to canary wharf more 45/60mins. I know I could get some where for the same price range but I want my drive, garden, and I don't wanna live in a gang ridden area! My thought process is that my money can get me a rough/gang ridden area here or a nice area without those issues in Brum! C

Edgbaston is nice, some nice big houses if you find the right part. Cannon Hill Park is amazing for the kids and they also have lots of stuff going on at the Mac Centre. Massive cricket ground too! I spent a lot of time there with SD as it's near Moseley. I would recommend!

@cantchooseaname

Thanks a lot.

Do you have a weblink where I can read about the new metro line?

I would be happy to take the train but partner would want to drive to work so that she can do the school runs!

I probably won't be able to do often as I work long hours sometimes.

@MsStink

Yes defo want to be close to a train station, that was the only thing that was a bit off putting about moseley - reliant on buses. Not nice especially in winter.

Thanks for tips about Sutton Coldfield and Erdington.

Very sweeping here so happy to be flamed as this is secondhand. DB moved from Birmingham to Worcestershire. He's told me that Birmingham's schools are pretty bad if you don't get into the very competitive grammars. The city council is really strapped for cash (like many), so it'd be worth researching the schools before falling in love with a school. It may be different out Sutton Coldfield way, but I thought it was worth warning you.

When you say commute is that train, bus or car?

Hey, I used to live in Sutton Coldfield with parents (expensive), I then rented in Birmingham City Centre with my boyfriend and now we're married we've moved to Redditch. I drive into Birmingham every day and it takes around 35-40 minutes and the train takes about 40 minutes.

We moved here because we wanted to start a family and my husband is from Redditch. The schools are brilliant and it has a nice rural feel to it but still close to Birmingham and Worcester.

We just bought a 3 bed semi for £175k so I think you'd get a lot for your money

@CheshireSplat spot on! One of the reasons me and DP moved to Lichfield!

Harbourne is a lovely suburb of Birmingham

Sutton Coldfield and Solihull are nice or there's Coleshill for a much more 'village' vibe which is right on the M6

Just want to say that I think you’re making an excellent choice for your family and I wish you all the best

How about somewhere like Coventry? 30 mins by train to New Street and 1 hour to London by train.

I think most primary schools are pretty good in Birmingham. There seems to be a difference in the secondaries where I am but in SC you have plantsbrook, Arthur terry and bishop's Walsh (catholic)& fairfax if you don't get into a grammar. I've heard good things about all of these.

@GreenTulips

Thanks!

Wouldn't really like to be reliant on buses, but thanks for info about sutton/solihull

@nothingfancy

Thank you, everyone is saying Bournville and I've looked at the prices, not too expensive! Never heard of Longbridge but will have a look - thanks.

@CarriePerry

Thanks for info about Edgbaston - you've been very helpful!

@CheshireSplat

Thanks for the info about the schools - never realised it was so important to plan ahead until today, much appreciated!

@MistyReturns

Train!

Moseley is lovely.