Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Move to Wiltshire or Cirencester

79 replies

Nuttymama83 · 31/01/2022 13:45

Hi,

We are hoping to move to Wiltshire or Cirencester from a far so don't the know the area at all! Our two kids are at primary but ideally would like to relocate near a good secondary school in either Wiltshire or near Cirencester with good local activities and countryside. We would really appreciate any advice that could help narrow down a town/village considering our budget for buying a house is ~£375K.

Many many thanks in advance xx

OP posts:
Sidge · 31/01/2022 16:09

I like Chippenham - its a pleasant little market town, schools are very good. Good transport links for road and rail and surrounding villages are lovely. House prices are reasonable compared to RWB. BOA etc.

BellatrixOnABadDay · 31/01/2022 16:10

@steppemum

Swindon has the magic roundabout

and we love it Grin
(learnt to drive in Swindon!)

@steppemum me too 😁 I refuse to drive near the magic roundabout though 😂
mbosnz · 31/01/2022 16:31

My preferred method of dealing with the magic roundabout was to shut my eyes and gun the engine. . . somehow I don't think I was the only one!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
RuthTopp · 31/01/2022 16:40

Despite the often downer on here about Swindon, many areas are quite nice . The actual town centre for shopping has taken a big dive ( as many places ) but it has lots of our of town shopping areas that are good. As a previous op says Old Town is a nice area , as is Old Walcot , and Covingham , Nythe . Have a look a houses / prices in those places .

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 31/01/2022 17:28

Melksham is definitely worth a second -and third look, the secondary school there is a modern build and I hear very good things. Corsham is a lovely wee town but the school isn't up to much. Hardenhuish in Chippenham is good, particularly on SEN as far as I'm informed. Stay away from Trowbridge

BellatrixOnABadDay · 31/01/2022 17:34

@RuthTopp

Despite the often downer on here about Swindon, many areas are quite nice . The actual town centre for shopping has taken a big dive ( as many places ) but it has lots of our of town shopping areas that are good. As a previous op says Old Town is a nice area , as is Old Walcot , and Covingham , Nythe . Have a look a houses / prices in those places .
Swindon gets too much criticism. It depends what you want. It's never going to be lovely like bath but its not as bad as people think. I know that's not exactly glowing 😁

Yes, the town centre is revolting. I mean really grim. But it's about 25 mins on the train to bath which is great for shopping. The outlet is really nice. It still has reasonable facilities for a large town. It's close to many lovely places, takes no time on the train to bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford, London. The countryside nearby is lovely, Cotswolds on the doorstep. It's always felt quite safe for a large town. Old town is lovely with some nice bars and restaurants. And some of north Swindon is nice as well.

Sprig1 · 31/01/2022 17:37

Tidworth, not great, v much a garrison town. Warminster is good, although not much there. It's a quick trip to Bath for shopping, if that's your kind of thing.

Original poster
Nuttymama83 · 31/01/2022 17:48

Ooo that’s interesting. On locorating Corsham school comes out as good and Melksham as needs improving but the views on here seem to rate Melksham over Corsham.

Melksham looks like it might be worth a view then as it has a train station also I think??

Haha mixed things about Swindon so we’ll def add that into the considerations and go se for ourselves.

Steppemum: the only other thing we are considering is good local hospital with access to decent bigger city hospital. Thinking you might have access to Bristol/Oxford depending where in Wiltshire?

My partner will need a job but he’s open to anything, and isn’t much of a deciding factor as long as there is something.

To be honest we’re really trying to find a nice place to raise the kids as where we are doesn’t have these things. We’re not too far from some lovely countryside but we really want to try give them a better life.

We have looked at other counties, but they’ve not felt right, so this is our last hope. We have driven through Marlborough which looked lovely and been to Salisbury but we did really like the countryside in Wiltshire.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nuttymama83 · 31/01/2022 17:53

Steppemum - if you do have any other suggestions please do send over even if they are outside of Wiltshire x

OP posts:
Cric · 31/01/2022 17:54

I have sent you a private message Smile

BellatrixOnABadDay · 31/01/2022 17:56

@Nuttymama83 I think you should definitely see some houses in Swindon or the outskirts, just to see for yourselves. It really does depend what you want- I think if secondaries are your priority that might put you off tbh. I'm in Swindon and will have to consider secondaries soon- i do know it is possible for children to attend Wootton Bassett school and a couple of others when living in Swindon. But obviously it's not a guarantee.

drpet49 · 31/01/2022 17:57

I’d recommend Swindon for your requirements OP.

RuthTopp · 31/01/2022 18:07

You keep mentioning Marlborough . Have you actually looked at what you will get for £375k ? It's mostly retirement apartments or masionette. Only a few houses are £300k - 350k.

Notdoingthis · 31/01/2022 18:11

Cirencester is wonderful. The lido is lovely. The town is beautiful and historic. The water park is fab. The shopping is good. Deerpark is a brilliant school.
I don't know Wiltshire well but worked in a school in Westbury which was awful!

Notdoingthis · 31/01/2022 18:13

I also worked in Tetbury which you mentioned. Tetbury is dull compared to Cirencester but has beautiful surroundings. The secondary is ok. What are you looking for exactly? What kind of town? Swindon is not pretty but is big and has more going on.

Cheekypeach · 31/01/2022 18:15

I grew up in Wiltshire & know it like the back of my hand. I think somewhere on the outskirts of Salisbury would fit your criteria - excellent grammar schools, the comprehensives aren’t bad, quite affordable, a big enough town for amenities & things to do but also close to countryside - the New Forest etc. Salisbury is also quite green with some lovely parks & it has a bit of a cafe culture now too.

Cheekypeach · 31/01/2022 18:18

Oh and I would avoid the garrison towns if I’m honest - they tend to be quite bleak & the pubs are rough.

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 31/01/2022 18:25

Melksham is a bit of a dump, I’m not sure there’s many train services despite having a station. Westbury is a sad town but has a station.
Corsham is improving as a town but only one supermarket (Co-op), no station and a mediocre school.
Chippenham is better, two good schools, good rail links and road links to M4.
If you want local hospitals they are in Savernake (Marlborough), Trowbridge and Chippenham (with Minor Injury units), the RUH in Bath is the nearest DGH for west Wiltshire, GWH Swindon if you’re in east Wiltshire, Salisbury DGH in the south and here in north Wiltshire if you’re near the South Glos border it’s Bristol (BRI or Southmead) or Swindon. All can be a bit of a trek depending on where you live.

TheHobbitMum · 31/01/2022 18:27

I live in cirencester and have 4 kids from teens upwards, there is very, very little for them to do. They enjoy the outdoor pool in the summer (season passes are great value) but other than that we have to taxi them to Cheltenham/Swindon (only use Swindon for cinema, personally we hate the town centre). The Barn theatre is fantastic but doesn't entertain the teens very often. We do cycle around the lakes quite frequently and walk along the old canal roads but dragging teens out can be an effort.
They went to Powells primary then onto Deer Park and both have/are excellent. There isn't a lot of crime but there is some as there will be in all places and house prices are just soaring, houses sell within days of being listed it seems at the moment.

Good Luck choosing a new home

BellatrixOnABadDay · 31/01/2022 18:27

Mind you, if you like Marlborough and Cirencester, Swindon is close to both 😁 I regularly go to both for a wander round/meal on a Saturday afternoon

If you could find a school that you were happy with, it could be a good choice for you. Have a look at old town, old Walcot, or if you prefer newer build then wichelstowe, or tadpole garden village in north Swindon.

ToastandJamandTea · 31/01/2022 18:31

The North of Swindon has bus links to the outside secondary schools such as Bradon Forest, Farmors and Marlbrough. We live the very North in a smaller village but you can cross the road and you would be in the newer housing of North Swindon. There is a development called Tadpole Garden village that is lovely and popular.
I've lived here for over ten years and have never had real need to go to the town center which I'm grateful for as it really is horrible.

alwayslearning789 · 31/01/2022 18:33

For your budget OP, suggest you visit Swindon, you might find yourself a gem...

Location wise access to the Country plus Cities is a breeze.

From my observations there are different areas within and you can find your preferred place.

Definitely worth having on your list before you write it off completely.

Postdatedpandemic · 31/01/2022 18:36

Research stuff, areas of deprivation according to MN and fact
www.wiltshireintelligence.org.uk

Maggiesgirl · 31/01/2022 18:37

Devizes is nice, School is OK, but I prefer Lavington School. Great Cheverall primary school is brilliant.

You will be a taxi driver for teenagers unless you live actually in the town.

If you live south of the town remember you will have the Army Firing Ranges near, they can be very loud.

BellatrixOnABadDay · 31/01/2022 18:45

@ToastandJamandTea

The North of Swindon has bus links to the outside secondary schools such as Bradon Forest, Farmors and Marlbrough. We live the very North in a smaller village but you can cross the road and you would be in the newer housing of North Swindon. There is a development called Tadpole Garden village that is lovely and popular. I've lived here for over ten years and have never had real need to go to the town center which I'm grateful for as it really is horrible.
Toast is right. I never go into the town centre- last time I went was only to park before getting my covid booster at the nearby STEAM museum! Walked through town and it really was grim.

But it has no bearing on me whatsoever- it's so easy to go to bath/Bristol for shopping, Marlborough and Cirencester are really close too. There's lovely countryside and outdoor things nearby, Avebury is one of my favourites.

If you never go in the town centre, and it really isn't necessary (I live near one of the retail parks on the outskirts which is good) then it's a good option.

Lots of nice places nearby. I like going for a wander up the town gardens in old town. Westonbirt arboretum isn't too far away either. And places like Lechlade aren't far away, used to go drinking there quite a lot and saw Kate Moss in a pub 😁