Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

Weston, Gloucester, Telford, Swindon

125 replies

Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 11:06

Ok, so my house has sold. In fact, I'm 6 weeks in and I'm looking to move to an area where I know people or where I'm not too far from family.
I have 3 children who are mixed race and have experienced racism in different forms since they were young, some areas more than others. (sadly this has to still be factored in in 2023).

I've lived in Somerset near to Weston so know the area fairly well but never actually lived in the town. I really miss living near the sea.

I do not know Gloucester but it would be within an hour's driving distance from family.

I grew up in Shrewsbury but don't know Telford very well. It's more affordable for me and I still have friends and family in Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is still a possibility.

I have some family in Swindon but do not know it.

These are some of the areas I could afford to move to. I'm currently in South Wales in an affordable area but for the scheme I want to use (Heylo), I need to buy in England. The schools here also have been pretty dire where we live so I'm looking for better schools (primary and secondary).

I work as a TA and tutor currently but am looking into doing my TT next year.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 29/05/2023 11:19

My understanding is that there are more people of colour in Gloucester than the other three places.

CalistoNoSolo · 29/05/2023 11:24

Gloucester is a shit hole. It's a rough as in places with some serious poverty and deprivation. You couldn't pay me enough to live there. Swindon has got some pretty rough spots but there are nice areas too, the colleges are pretty good and employment prospects would be pretty good there too I would think, despite Honda closing down recently (way to go brexit voters of Swindon). Shrewsbury I don't know any more at all but it's an arse to get to. Weston is aka as weston super nightmare as it pretty vile.

Wildflowersinthemeadow · 29/05/2023 11:27

Shrewsbury is a beautiful town with stunning countryside but isn’t especially diverse.

Telford is … hmm, well. It’s two towns really. There are nice parts to it, and there are some good schools but these are selective and the remaining ones used to be just dire, honestly. The less salubrious parts of Telford are rabbit warrens for crime and anti social behaviour, or they certainly used to be. But that was many years ago.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 11:28

CalistoNoSolo · 29/05/2023 11:24

Gloucester is a shit hole. It's a rough as in places with some serious poverty and deprivation. You couldn't pay me enough to live there. Swindon has got some pretty rough spots but there are nice areas too, the colleges are pretty good and employment prospects would be pretty good there too I would think, despite Honda closing down recently (way to go brexit voters of Swindon). Shrewsbury I don't know any more at all but it's an arse to get to. Weston is aka as weston super nightmare as it pretty vile.

For reference, I live in Newport. Could anything be worse?! 😂

OP posts:
Theimpossiblegirl · 29/05/2023 11:29

There are lovely areas in Weston and surrounding. Somerset isn't very diverse but it won't be unless people of colour move here and are welcomed. I think with Hinkley it's improving.

Schools are hit and miss, like everywhere, but there are some very good ones, particularly in the Cheddar valley.

Everywhere has negatives, but nowhere is all bad, as suggested by a pp.

DoctorLawn · 29/05/2023 11:30

I live in Gloucester (moved from Cheltenham) and I love it. I certainly wouldn't describe it as a shit hole. There are crappy areas, for sure, but no worse than anywhere.
Shrewsbury is nice, but I don't know what it's like to live there.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 11:30

Thanks all, if anyone has any better suggestions, I'm all ears.

I do like Shrewsbury and it's a nice town but it really is a pain to get to and I'm not sure if I'll feel cut off up there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 11:32

I agree, everywhere (even Newport) has some nicer areas.

OP posts:
NooNakedJacuzziness · 29/05/2023 11:37

I thought you were updating M's Pop Music song for a sec there OP. Grin

I'd skip Swindon personally but my sister lived in Gloucester for a bit and loved it.

Bluebells1970 · 29/05/2023 11:38

Gloucester really IS a shit hole. We live 6 miles away and it's our closest city but we never go there unless it's unavoidable. The city centre has degenerated beyond rescue in the last 5 years, and even the flagship outlet centre in the docks isn't worth visiting these days. The roads can't cope with the amount of traffic, and it really is a sad shadow of the thriving town it used to be 30 years ago. The town planners should be ashamed of themselves, chasing out all the decent shops with the parking charges in car parks full of homeless drug addicts that aren't safe to walk through. The crime rate is horrendous, and it really isn't somewhere that anyone sane would chose to live. Cheltenham is better (whilst having its own less desirable areas too), but property prices reflect that.

Zarataralara · 29/05/2023 11:43

Every town and city has nice bits and not so nice bits.
Telford: crime rate put me off when I considered btl there but I was looking at cheaper areas.
Swindon: Lots of different estates, and I’ve seen some good properties in what’s described as Old Town. Seems to have a very mixed population culturally. I think you’d have to spend some time there sussing out the different areas.
Weston -S-M . Police officer colleague warned me about large number of sex offenders there when I was arranging an activity in the area, but that was 20 years ago, might be different now but from experience a lot of British seaside towns have a high alcohol and drugs problem.
Gloucester I don’t know at all.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 11:45

NooNakedJacuzziness · 29/05/2023 11:37

I thought you were updating M's Pop Music song for a sec there OP. Grin

I'd skip Swindon personally but my sister lived in Gloucester for a bit and loved it.

😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 11:47

Zarataralara · 29/05/2023 11:43

Every town and city has nice bits and not so nice bits.
Telford: crime rate put me off when I considered btl there but I was looking at cheaper areas.
Swindon: Lots of different estates, and I’ve seen some good properties in what’s described as Old Town. Seems to have a very mixed population culturally. I think you’d have to spend some time there sussing out the different areas.
Weston -S-M . Police officer colleague warned me about large number of sex offenders there when I was arranging an activity in the area, but that was 20 years ago, might be different now but from experience a lot of British seaside towns have a high alcohol and drugs problem.
Gloucester I don’t know at all.

Yes, totally agree with the seaside drugs problems. Have seen it first hand. Working in school, I'm very aware of County Lines etc.
Good point and I don't particularly like the actual town.

OP posts:
drpet49 · 29/05/2023 11:49

I have friends in Swindon. Quite diverse, good transport links and nice areas.

JudyGemstone · 29/05/2023 11:54

Bluebells1970 · 29/05/2023 11:38

Gloucester really IS a shit hole. We live 6 miles away and it's our closest city but we never go there unless it's unavoidable. The city centre has degenerated beyond rescue in the last 5 years, and even the flagship outlet centre in the docks isn't worth visiting these days. The roads can't cope with the amount of traffic, and it really is a sad shadow of the thriving town it used to be 30 years ago. The town planners should be ashamed of themselves, chasing out all the decent shops with the parking charges in car parks full of homeless drug addicts that aren't safe to walk through. The crime rate is horrendous, and it really isn't somewhere that anyone sane would chose to live. Cheltenham is better (whilst having its own less desirable areas too), but property prices reflect that.

Definitely not Cheltenham, it’s the most boringly brand whitewashed town, v little diversity.

Swindon has one nice part, which is too expensive for what it is.

I’d go for Bristol.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 12:05

Bristol is way too expensive. If I could afford it, I would. It's close to where I am now but having done a massive search within 5/10 miles, It's clear I can't afford it.

OP posts:
Zarataralara · 29/05/2023 12:06

@JudyGemstone whats the nicest part of Swindon? Asking for a friend.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 12:07

I am scared of that big magic roundabout in Swindon!! I've seen it but never driven it.😂

OP posts:
Alphabeaters · 29/05/2023 12:13

Weston is fine. There's a lot of new estates on the outskirts such as Hayward Village.
It's not rough rough. I know lots of young families that live there. The newer estates have their own primary schools, shops etc.
Weston town centre is also fine. We visit once every couple of months and I've never felt it's rough. It's a typical seaside town with arcades and lots of visitors from up north.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 12:16

There are a few houses in Hayward village that look nice. I do drive but do you know what other transport links are like there?

I have looked at the schools in Weston and most seem to be 'good' or 'outstanding' which is a big draw. Also it's not far from Bristol.

OP posts:
Alphabeaters · 29/05/2023 12:21

There's the train station in weston, I think worle has one too? I'm not sure re busses etc. I know there's busses from weston to bristol.

Lidlpopdrinker · 29/05/2023 12:25

Telford is fine. There are a few less desirable places but they are easily avoided, there’s plenty of housing and it’s affordable. It’s no better or worse than any other place, in fact having lived in other places it’s one of the better ones.

VittysCardigan · 29/05/2023 12:31

There is a train station in Worle, regular trains to Bristol with good connections for other parts of the country. Regular busses to Bristol too. I know a lot of people that live at that end of Weston that rarely go into the actual town. Sainsburys, morrisons, aldi & lidl all have large stores in Worle along with Boots, TKMAXX, food warehouse, and home bargains

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 12:37

VittysCardigan · 29/05/2023 12:31

There is a train station in Worle, regular trains to Bristol with good connections for other parts of the country. Regular busses to Bristol too. I know a lot of people that live at that end of Weston that rarely go into the actual town. Sainsburys, morrisons, aldi & lidl all have large stores in Worle along with Boots, TKMAXX, food warehouse, and home bargains

That's fine. I've lived in Newport for 4 years and have been into town about 4 times. 😂

OP posts:
VittysCardigan · 29/05/2023 12:38

I should say that the motorway junction getting in and out of weston during rush hour can be very busy/a pain

Swipe left for the next trending thread