Cirencester/ Cheltemham

[spicybuns]

Hi, my family are looking to move to an area in or around Cirencester or Cheltenham. Initially we will look to rent and once we are more settled we will be looking to buy for around £350k. Very important to find a nice primary school for DC, plenty to do, shops, places to eat, nice green area not to far from town centre as we don't want to be isolated.

Can anyone advise on these areas please? Thanks

Anyone?!

Do you know the areas at all? Cheltenham is expensive to rent/buy. Plenty of wonderful schools so maybe this should be your starting point.

We’ve just bought in Charlton Kings which has great catchment for primary and the best secondary school. It’s not in the main town but it’s got a fantastic village community feel with some lovely cafes and shops etc. And only a short drive/bus journey in to town. Loads of green space and parks. You can walk to town in about 20-30 minutes depending on pace.

We looked at Hatherley at the start of our search but houses in our price range meant living further out so a drive to any shops, cafes and schools so we dismissed them in the end.

There is a fantastic house for sale in Charlton Kings at the moment but it is above your budget. We’ve just bought a small semi with 1 double and 2 singles (tiny) for more again. But as a base point you can’t go wrong with Charlton Kings if you can find the right house. Good luck!

Property is expensive in Cirencester too, what about jobs? Where do you need to travel to?

Have you thought of looking a little further out than Cheltenham, usually Churchdown/Longlevens/Hucclecote are recommended when this area comes up. Charlton Kings or Upton St Leonards might be good too.

Cirencester is nice - surrounded by green plus several parks and the Abby Grounds as are the surrounding villages - Ashton Keynes/Summerford Keynes/ South Cerney
Kemble Could be a good option as it has a train line that goes direct to Gloucester and Cheltenham and is only a short drive from Ciren.

From memory the secondary school catchments in Ciren take in from a lot of local villages and both were fairly good. Plus the 6th from college next to Deer park where everyone went if they didn't get into Pates Grammar in Cheltenham - I think Pates used to bus some kids in from the centre of Ciren. There are also several primarys in Ciren - Powells/Watermoor/Chesterton plus a few others i cant remember.

Its a pretty dull place for kids to grow up but is a lovely part of the country - if your kids are older I would try to live closer to the town so they can be a bit more independent - villages are lovely but there was nothing to do once you got to about 13 and the bus services are generally terrible. If you go for a village you will be driving them Everywhere!

Thanks all - we don't know the areas but have been recommended to us. Charlton Kings has come up a number of times.

I've seen some references to Cirencester being a bit boring with not much to do - hoping his isn't true! Can anyone confirm please? If that's the case do you have any better recommendations?

Cirencester has some nice shops/ cafes/parks/ shops/ pubs and I think it even has a single nightclub but it could never be called lively but it was the only place to go to socialise that had more than 1 option of pub.

It is probably the best place in a 10 mile radius but the cotswolds are pretty sleepy so that’s not saying lots. If the kids are active it’s pretty close to the lakes where you can swim/wakeboard/ sail. It’s a boring place for kids but you generally learn to make your own fun. If you watch “this country” on bbc - both the writers grew up around ciren. It’s pretty accurate for what you would be in for.

Stroud could be an option too - more of a small town with a big hippy/alternative vibe plus it’s more affordable with some nice houses.