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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:
Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 12:40

Very true and that stretch on M5 in the summer and hols can be a nightmare!

OP posts:
CalistoNoSolo · 29/05/2023 13:13

Swindon old town and frogpool are nice and there are lot of vast but nice estates if you like suburbia. Avoid penhill like the plague.

And yes, I would say Gloucester is at least as bad as Newport.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 13:17

CalistoNoSolo · 29/05/2023 13:13

Swindon old town and frogpool are nice and there are lot of vast but nice estates if you like suburbia. Avoid penhill like the plague.

And yes, I would say Gloucester is at least as bad as Newport.

Wow, I'm surprised at Gloucester. I just thought of it differently but I don't I've ever been there. Think it will be off my list then.

OP posts:
CalistoNoSolo · 29/05/2023 13:19

It's not somewhere I would want to try and raise a family x

CalistoNoSolo · 29/05/2023 13:20

If you want to pm me feel free. I've lived in the cotswolds for years.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 13:23

Thanks Calisto.

OP posts:
MagicClawHasNoChildren · 29/05/2023 13:26

We live about five miles from Gloucester and the fact that it is, admittedly, a bit shit does not affect our day-to-day lives at all. We don't ever have to venture there if we don't choose to - and we usually don't - and have plenty of other places to go to, like Cheltenham, or Stroud, or Cirencester, depending on what you're after. Bristol's not far away, and neither's Birmingham. There are some great schools not far at all from Gloucester. Don't let Gloucester - which is a very small part of Gloucestershire - put you off!

turkeyboots · 29/05/2023 15:10

Swindon is fine. The magic roundabout is just a circle of mini roundabouts so is easy enough. And also easy enough to avoid.
Loads of ex Londoners in Swindon due to the fast rail link and house prices. So it's a lot more diverse that the SW proper.

Avoid suburbs starting with P was what I was told 16 years ago!

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 29/05/2023 15:28

I have a lot of colleagues and friends who live in Telford. I genuinely think it’s on the up and up. The town centre has some fantastic facilities and there’s more coming, the park is absolutely brilliant. There’s a lot to do for kids.

Obviously Telford is a conglomeration of lots of old villages so different parts of it feel different and there are some areas I wouldn’t live in if you paid me (Brookside, Woodside, Sutton Hill etc) but saying that a cousin lives in one of them and has no issues whatsoever.

Wellington has had a bit of a renaissance and is much improved from the charity and pawn shop wasteland it had slumped into. There’s lovely independent restaurants and cafes and a fab eco shop.

If you have a lot of ties in Shrewsbury but don’t think you can afford it then Telford is a brilliant choice. Good and easy transport links to Shrews and to Brum.

gogohmm · 29/05/2023 15:33

Could you get a shared ownership nearer to Bristol. We are n Somerset but 20 mins into city centre and whilst it's multi cultural like the city, it has a number of people of different ethnicities and not known to have particular issues (as I'm white this is from a friend telling me how it's so laid back and friendly)

gogohmm · 29/05/2023 15:34

The prices drop significantly when you reach bs20 btw

moonlight1705 · 29/05/2023 15:39

How about going slightly further up the road from Gloucester and come to Worcester. It's a lovely town with the Cotswolds, Malvern on the doorstep and Birmingham only 40 minutes away by train.

I grew up in Weston-super-Mare and definitely found the drugs to be an issue. 20 years ago, all the schools were total shit so my parents ended up getting us into Churchill but was a bit of a trek. It may have all turned around since but wouldn't honestly recommend it now.

Mooovingonout · 29/05/2023 16:00

I've lived in Gloucester 40 years. Agree it has its shithole areas but the whole city isn't like that.

I live half a mile from the city centre, not exactly postcard picture perfect but just outside the city there are some nice areas

drpet49 · 29/05/2023 16:04

turkeyboots · 29/05/2023 15:10

Swindon is fine. The magic roundabout is just a circle of mini roundabouts so is easy enough. And also easy enough to avoid.
Loads of ex Londoners in Swindon due to the fast rail link and house prices. So it's a lot more diverse that the SW proper.

Avoid suburbs starting with P was what I was told 16 years ago!

My friends say avoid Penhill, Pinehurst, Toothill, Freshbrook

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 16:07

I've just looked at Worcester. I didn't realise it was actually a city!
There's quite a lot in my price range too.
I will definately have s closer look tonight.

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 29/05/2023 16:09

One of the more complimentary things you can say about Swindon is that it's very cosmopolitan. The town centre doesn't have a lot going for it these days but there are some v nice areas to live and several good schools, both primary and secondary.
It's also only about an hour from the other places you mention, an hour on the train to London, 90 mins by car. South coast beaches doable for a day trip, nice market towns nearby for browsing, shopping and eating, and lots of other stuff to do not too far away in any direction.

MissyB1 · 29/05/2023 16:12

Just research flood areas in Worcester, it can flood badly. Lovely little place though.

I live not far from Gloucester and one of my adult dc lives there with his partner. It’s a bigger place than you realise and there are nicer parts to it. DC likes it. Swindon however- no thanks!

KnickerlessParsons · 29/05/2023 16:15

CalistoNoSolo · 29/05/2023 13:13

Swindon old town and frogpool are nice and there are lot of vast but nice estates if you like suburbia. Avoid penhill like the plague.

And yes, I would say Gloucester is at least as bad as Newport.

Where is Frogpool? Do you mean Tadpole Village, as that's very nice. Also Wichelstowe, Wroughton, Purton, Highworth, Old Town.
Wootton Bassett is in Wilts, so not Swindon but only about 5 miles away and that's lovely too.

divorcingmumoftwo · 29/05/2023 16:24

Also wondering where frogpool is in Swindon? I live in one of the 'estates' mentioned above and I do love it here, happy for you to pm me if you have any questions about Swindon.

Seaitoverthere · 29/05/2023 16:26

What is your budget if you don’t mind me asking and what are your buying requirements?

thaisweetchill · 29/05/2023 16:28

Used to live in Telford and it's much better now (IMO), a lot more amenities, shopping is much more improved.

Obviously depends on area but I'd aim for Lawley, Lightmoor, Priorslee, St George's. Avoid Brookside, Woodside, Sutton Hill and parts of Wellington.

Train links are great and M54 linked to the M6 makes things a lot more accessible.

NerrSnerr · 29/05/2023 16:37

I live in Brockworth which is just outside of Gloucester. We go into Gloucester regularly for children's activities. There is some deprivation and there are people who clearly struggle with addiction who hang around Eastgate street but I have lived in Hull, Nottingham and Birmingham and feel safer in Gloucester.

Brockworth is seen as the 'poor relation' of the nearby towns and cities but that is mainly just snobs because the schools are a bit more diverse than others in the area (not as diverse as a city though).

Cheltenham feels a bit like the emperor's new clothes to me. It's nowhere near as nice as Cirencester or Tetbury and has some really rundown areas and most of the town centre is dull but there's enough corduroy trousers around to make people think it's posh.

Original poster
Sittingonasale · 29/05/2023 16:43

Seaitoverthere · 29/05/2023 16:26

What is your budget if you don’t mind me asking and what are your buying requirements?

Well I'm planning on buying with Heylo so I can buy a large share with my equity and avoid getting another mortgage. They have said I can spend up to around 400K but I don't want a big rent so prefer under 300K.

If I do go for another mortgage, it would be 240K max but I don't know how easy it would be in this climate. I'm on my own with 3 children but their dad is selling up in London so could potentially buy cash later on. I do work F/T but not on a very good income atm. Planning on doing my TT.

Once my own house completes (if it does) I'll have around 100k equity to put down.

It needs to be at least 3 beds as I have 3 dc, two of whom are teens and the youngest approaching (10).

OP posts:
LilySavage · 29/05/2023 16:45

I’ve lived in Gloucester and I found it ok - but that was 20 years ago now so could be very different.

I wouldn’t live in Swindon itself, however, I did raise my family in Wootton Bassett and haven’t got a bad word to say about it. Lovely community

mafsfan · 29/05/2023 16:50

Are you planning on doing secondary or primary teaching?

If secondary, the Priory School in Shrews does a lot of teacher training and often has open days about it. For primary, Chester Uni have a course run from their place in Shrewsbury.

I'd always picks Shrewsbury over Telford. You could get something for your budget - this is a 4 bed for just over £300k

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123517178

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