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Would you recommend moving to Shropshire?

23 replies

Pbjguildford · 20/02/2019 09:17

We are looking to move to Shropshire and would welcome suggestions of good areas, places to avoid, advantages and disadvantages. Thinking mainly of the triangle from Ludlow to Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury. All comments useful. Thanks.

OP posts:
Mewe · 20/02/2019 09:25

Yes! Moved from London to Shropshire and don’t regret at all.
Beautiful countryside, affordable properties and good amenities.
The South/ West of the County (you mentioned Ludlow) is quite isolated, however.
Lots of people think it’s a “hick” place with nothing to do but we love it here.
Avoid some parts of Shrewsbury & Telford as they can be quite run-down. Bridgnorth is lovely but poor transport links.
Good luck with your search - if you want some more information do message me as don’t want to out where I live here!

GemmaXOX · 20/02/2019 09:32

Yes! So many beautiful villages in Shropshire with amazing countryside! So much to do around there too. Theres Ellesmere, Market Drayton, Whitchurch, Bridgnorth, Whittington!

SockQueen · 20/02/2019 10:13

I grew up in Bridgnorth but moved away for uni and haven't gone back except to visit parents. It's lovely, not too pricey, easy drive to Telford/Shrewsbury/Wolverhampton etc. Schools are pretty good AFAIK, though haven't extensively researched (I left primary 20+ years ago and went private for secondary). It has reasonable amenities including cinema, swimming pool, lots and lots of pubs, plenty of small shops and a decent sized supermarket, and lots of community activities. The surrounding countryside is beautiful too.

Pbjguildford · 20/02/2019 12:09

Thanks everyone for those initial responses. Really helpful. I may well PM @Mewe for more information. Just starting our search so it is really good to have some guidance and insider knowledge.

OP posts:
Beeeeeeeeep · 20/02/2019 14:37

Newport, Shropshire is lovely. Two of the best schools in the country, great transport links and excellent local amenities. Lived here for 10 years and wouldn't move.

shrewnotshrow · 20/02/2019 15:02

Consider the north of the county as well - some lovely villages around Market Drayton/Whitchurch/Oswestry and you'd get more for your money than Ludlow.

I would personally avoid Newport - it's basically a commuter town for Telford these days and the amenities haven't kept up with the new housing. As an ex pupil I'm also sceptical about glowing reports of the schools there, though it's been over a decade since I left so I suppose things might have changed.

You might also want to familiarise yourself with the saga of the hospitals which has been dragging on for the past few millennia - I think the latest plan is that Telford will lose its A&E department to Shrewsbury despite being the far larger of the two towns.

SunnyTikka · 20/02/2019 15:11

I’ve lived in lots of places but the last 20 years in Shropshire and I will never live anywhere else. I love it. Happy to answer any questions you might have. I’ve worked over the whole of the county as well so have an insight into most areas. Depending on your family dynamics and where you are going to work, you will have lots of options.

tomatoplantproject · 20/02/2019 15:22

Newport is changing massively at the moment - tons of housing going up in every spare pocket. I regularly return to visit my parents (and have been there for the last few days) and was just thinking that once they are gone I won't return - the feeling was one of relief. Lots of nice villages nearby and easy to get fresh air though.

If you're serious about Shropshire I would go to Bridgnorth.

TwinkleTits70 · 20/02/2019 16:03

Telford PRH will have an urgent care centre instead of a&e.

Shropshire is a lovely county, I can recommend it.

NotExactlyHappyToHelp · 20/02/2019 17:50

Nope don’t recommend it. Wouldn’t come if I were you.

(It’s lovely and rather unknown comparatively speaking so if word gets out I’ll have to share my beautiful county)

Pinkstars2501 · 20/02/2019 17:55

I live in Telford. Used to live way down south. It’s ok for us. We quite central so everything we need is really walking distance. Though nothing takes long to drive to. And the countryside is lovely.
I love the Wrekin. There’s quite a few places that don’t take too long to get to for day trips, close to the welsh border too so lots of trips over there.

MuskySlyOldFoxyStoat · 20/02/2019 18:13

AVOID Newport & Telford (Wellington, Oakengates, Shifnal etc) . Please ignore the poster who suggested Newport. It's a complete dump.
I grew up in Bridgnorth- it's a really lovely place to grow up!
Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ironbridge, Muck Wenlock, Ludlow, Albrighton are all lovely.

katmarie · 20/02/2019 18:24

Parts of Telford are not great, parts are lovely just like any major town. The park in the centre is fantastic for kids and the library services are excellent, for example. Shropshire on the whole is beautiful though, I moved here a couple of years ago, and I love it.

Countrysideviews · 20/02/2019 18:29

Newport isnt a dump and neither is Shifnal, Shifnal is well known as a really good area.(Shifnal also isnt part of telford) although it would be better off being as shropshire council are rubbish.
Telford is also far from a dump, there are rough areas like any where you go, Telford also covers a vast area. The town centre is fantastic, lots of shops and restaurants really modern and well looked after it also has an amazing park attached to it with many different playgrounds and beautiful lakes called Telford town park also very well looked after.
There is ALOT to do for familys in and around Telford its all really accessible no being stuck in traffic jams and you can get everywhere quickly.
Shropshire is fantastic although dont tell everyone as I love the fact there is barely any traffic compared to where I used to live down south.

tararabumdeay · 20/02/2019 18:30

'Notexactly' said exactly what I was thinking! As ever it depends what you're looking for. Shrewsbury is a wealthy town with an array of activities, wine bars, arts centres, cafes but not for a full English. There's always hundreds of joggers on a Sunday morning. Traffic can be a nightmare in the centre but everywhere is a scoot around the loop of the river. Some really good schools around the old ring road before the bypass was built.

Oswestry is on the plane with the mountains of N. Wales to the west. It's a normal town - no airs and graces but friendly and well connected by the main road apart from on Fridays on holiday weekends.

Bridgnorth is pretty but as PP said it's a long way from anywhere but a straight road to Wolverhampton.

Whitchurch feels much smaller than it ought to be but it's at the junction of many major roads which makes well connected. Wem, unfortunately, has been mainly closed down for years. It's lovely but is little more than a village.

Ludlow is so far out it may as well be Herefordshire. The nearby villages are beautiful but dormitory with ner a post office or a pub.

Ellesmere is bustling for a small town; well connected to Oswestry and Shrewsbury.

Telford is well connected but too diverse to comment on as one place.

The majority of the county is dominated by agriculture. The villages between the big towns are the usual mixture. Baschurch for example has one large shop, an agricultural college and lots of big new builds plus, some not quite finished, and primary and secondary schools (Corbett).

If I had the choice it would either be Shrewsbury (10 minutes to the motorway, a main railway station) or I'd be just over the border in a cottage with a log burner and some chickens.

Hughes12345 · 20/02/2019 18:55

Yes! It’s beautiful. The people are lovely, stunning countryside and well located for Liverpool, Birmingham and Chester. You can easily do a trip to the seaside in a day too.

Mewe · 20/02/2019 19:08

Newport and Shifnal are not dumps as PPs have said. I own properties in both towns and they are v sought after. Excellent amenities and nice community atmosphere. They are more expensive areas because of said amenities.

Staffordshire is also a lovely county - have you considered around there too, OP?

SimoneStrasser · 20/02/2019 19:08

Shrewsbury dweller here, born and bred.

Shrewsbury is a lovely town and a great place to raise children . It does have crime , a drug problem and there are areas to steer clear of but you could say that about a lot of county towns.

There are issues with the hospital ( read up about the trust) but I’ve had positive experiences , all of my children were born at RSH and any care we’ve received over the years has been mainly very good.

BeautifulName · 20/02/2019 19:16

Shropshire is so gorgeous. Can anyone recommend particular secondaries/sixth forms?

SimoneStrasser · 20/02/2019 19:30

Beautiful The Priory is a very good secondary school in Shrewsbury.

BeautifulName · 20/02/2019 19:53

Thank you Simone Smile that school looks fantastic.

Bchall · 02/05/2020 22:42

We're thinking of loving to Shropshire from the South (I'm originally from the wmids and want to be closer to family).

We're a younger couple and want a rural life but would like to be near towns that offer a bit of culture e.g. Good bars, restaurants and maybe a bit of live music etc.... Do they exist in Shropshire!? Help please on the best places to live 👍😊

Summer776 · 03/05/2020 04:55

Shrewsbury seems to be always hosting live music somewhere (when not in lockdown!) . There is also the theatre that has a main auditorium and a smaller one within the building and lots of pubs and reataurantss that host live nusic and comedy shows. There are galleries and various annual Arts festivals and similiar eg Cartoon Festival and the Comedy Festuval. Lok on the Shropshire Tourist Info FB page too. The Quarry outdoor area also host events such as The food festival and the Fake Fertival that showcase music too.

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