Moving to Birmingham

[Picklepickle123]

DH is looking for us to move to Birmingham this year to be closer to family. However, we've no idea about schools and are hearing mixed reviews about 'good' areas. It's super confusing for me because it's such a big city I feel like there are lots of options!

We're looking for our forever home - max 700k, 4 beds. It doesn't need to be close to my MIL because she won't be helping us on a day to day basis with childcare so location is fairly flexible, but DS will be starting school in 2021 so good primary school catchment is a must, and ideally some amenities close by? Mumsnetters, can you help clueless me please?

Sutton Coldfield is very nice and most parts of Edgbaston. Can't comment on schools though as I don't live in those areas (far too expensive for me, I'm sure you can get something nice with your budget). Good luck

First question is are you religious.. there are a lot of Catholic schools in the city and a good number of C of E.

Where are the family he wants to be close to?

Most of Birmingham I wouldn't choose to move to (Harborne being the exception). However some lovely areas close enough to Birmingham, like Bromsgrove, Hagley, Halesowen, Stourbridge, Lichfield, Tamworth.

Solihull is a lovely area. I lived in Birmingham for 5 years and loved it, I'm originally from London but feel Birmingham is more home to me now, whenever I visit the UK (we live abroad now) I love a day back in brum town!

Family and friends are spread across the city which is what gives the flexibility to pick an area that works for us as we're never going to be walking distance. Some family in Solihull, others in Sutton Coldfield. Also have a MIL and BIL in Saltley.

I think my biggest concern is schools as I don't want to move again so need to get this right!

Sutton Coldfield has a girls' and a boys' grammar school. There is also a non-selective state school, Arthur Terry, which was spoken of highly when I was last interested in Sutton Coldfield schools (a couple of years ago). It has a very small catchment and it would be worth buying within its catchment if it's still good.

Or, as a PP said, what about Lichfield?

I've not thought about Lichfield tbh. Are schools good there?

I'd opt for the Solihull area. Good transport links and the schools are good.

There is soon to be a congestion charge for Birmingham and the public transport system is dire.

Trains to and from Birmingham are routinely delayed and cancelled, especially to the south west (Lichfield, Bromsgrove, Droitwich Spa and Worcester).

Birmingham, being central, is affected by rail delays across the network and by train operators who fail to maintain minimum staffing levels.

Think of the commute.

Sutton Coldfield and Solihull are pretty nice areas, but you have to travel through some dodgy areas to get to and from the city centre.

Barnt Green is a lovely area - very green and with a village feel. First/Middle/High school system though

Yeah, it definitely feels with the congestion charge coming soon we'd need to move somewhere which has some local amenities (ideally a good high street) so we can do our normal bit and pieces. taking a toddler into town really isn't ideal anyway!

There are some websites you can use if you’re willing to do your homework.

These are all the schools in Birmingham LA.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=330&la-name=birmingham&geographic=la&for=primary

This website can help you narrow things down too:

maps.cdrc.ac.uk/#/geodemographics/imde2019/default/BTTTFPT/9.994534547937429/-2.0528/52.6036/

And finally, police.uk can help you spot areas that might be close to problem areas etc.

Halesowen and the surrounding towns are wonderful, but as they're outside Birmingham, there are no Grammar schools as such. There are some fabulous selective faith schools but you're looking at that for secondary.

For Primary, i'd recommend (in Halesowen) Lapal, Lutley, Howley Grange, and Hurst Green in a heartbeat.

Moseley, Sutton Coldfield, and Edgbaston are lovely areas too.

Another vote for Solihull

Sutton Coldfield town centre is suffering from a lack of investment. So many shops have closed down - the M&S, Next, Body Shop, Argos, Ernest Jones, and rumours that Boots will be next to go too.

Meanwhile - Solihull has a John Lewis, a Waitrose and an Apple store, which kind of tells you everything you need to know!

20 years ago I'd have said Sutton wins out but these days I'd base myself in Solihull, or Lichfield.

Solihull and Sutton Coldfield are not Birmingham :P

They're both wealthy (SC more so).

Most of the Birmingham suburbs have pretty good local high streets and amenities. Kings Heath, Harborne, Selly Oak, Moseley all good. No idea about schools though.

I think a house in a good school catchment, near a high street, not suspiciously cheap, and not in the inner city, would probably be looking good for you.

Solihull! Nice area with parks and schools, good high street aswell - I never go into town I always go into Touchwood (Solihull) as it has everything I need. You'll find a nice house there for your price range too

Lichfield isn't south west of Birmingham, it's in Staffordshire which is north!

The inner city areas are pretty dire to be honest (I'm a proud brummie before I get flamed!) As PP have mentioned, Sutton Coldfield and Solihull are both nice with good schools but not part of Birmingham.
Bournville, Harbourne and Moseley are nice areas and parts of Kings Norton as long as you stay well away from Hawksley.

Just south of the city you've got Cofton Hackett, Barnt Green, Lickey, Alvechurch and Blackwell which are all lovely villages (I live in one) but houses are pricey and the schools here come under Worcestershire local authority. Worcestershire have some schools which are primary and secondary and some which are the in first/middle/high three tier school system depending on which part of the county you live in. It's a bit of a pain.

The public transport is not the best. I commute on the cross city line and it is crowded, infrequent and expensive.
Overall its a fab city though, people are friendly and we have fab shops, bars and restaurants.

On your budget OP I wouldn’t bother looking at anywhere like moseley/kings heath. They’re nice, but for your budget you can get much nicer. I would stick to Sutton Coldfield or Solihull. Solihull is better for shopping than Sutton Coldfield, which has a lot of shops closing all the time and the high streets dying a bit. Whereas Solihull has Touchwood centre.

Solihull has good shops and cinema etc and not far from Birmingham with decent train service. Defiantly one to consider - and surrounding areas like four oaks

Let’s face it, Kings Heath is a dump and Moseley is half dump! There’s no way you’d ever want to a pend £700k in either of those areas, let’s be honest!

Spend

Welcome to Brum! I would say that posters above have made some good suggestions, but I wouldn't necessarily consider some of them to be "birmingham"... you may be quite surprised at how long it would take to get to those southern villages into the city centre

I don't think Moseley is a dump at all! And it has some fantastic restaurants, a great market etc... it depends what you're looking for. I've only visited there so I don't know much about it but I've always thought it was lovely.

Personally I would look at Bournville. You could get something amazing in Bournville with your budget. The primary and junior school is rated outstanding and the area has a lovely village feel. The only thing that's missing from your requirements is the high street but you have got some small shops and amenities there, plus you've got Cotteridge and Stirchley high streets (- Stirchley high street is really up and coming for little independent places to eat and drink. Do you like craft beer? If so you really should go there for a drink and some lunch after looking at houses. It's about 2 mins walk from Bournville train station).

And if you jump in the car, (or 1 stop on the train, once they've finished all the integration building work around Selly oak station) then you've got Selly oak retail park just a few mins away. Massive new Sainsbury's, M&S food, Next, Homebase etc etc. Whatever you need.

Plus Bournville is only 12 mins to the city centre on the train, or maybe 20 mins drive? You've also got the QE hospital right there in Selly oak, as well as the uni.

I've heard great things about Sutton Coldfield and Solihull, as well as so many other little southern villages like Knowle etc, but to me they seem so far away from the city! And, (having come from a place north of bham myself, so I'm allowed to say this), I would say that the areas to the south of bham seem a bit nicer in general, eg if you wanted to pop to Worcester for a day or whatever.