Help - Best villages to live near Worcester?

[Soleena]

I’ve got to move to Worcester with my family (primary age kids) for work…

Can anyone local recommend the best villages to live in, max 20 mins drive from Worcester?

We are going to live in airbnbs while we find something permanent

A village would ideally have a pub and primary school? Beautiful countryside, but NOT in the shade of the hills?

Our house budget will be £700k or possibly a bit more.

We love old-woldy places and period properties where possible!

thanks so much, it’s hard starting to look when you don’t know an area at all!

deoends whic side of Worcester you’re after. Ombersley is lovely. If you want to be the Malvern side, then Leigh Sinton or Branford. Think about which side of the river you work on, and pick a village that side as crossing is difficult and slow in rush hour

Agree with above poster.

You need to take into account where you’ll be working if you have to commute because traffic can be an issue, but Ombersley is lovely and very close to Worcester. It has a couple of decent pubs, nice deli, primary school, tennis club, doctor’s surgery. Not much else though.

West Malvern! While not technically a village these days due to there being no ‘gap’ between there and Great Malvern the locals call it ‘the village’ and it had a great community vibe. Great views! Sun comes over in the late morning.

Colwall is lovely and has a direct train to Worcester/Hereford/Birmingham.

Hanley Swan is also lovely.

Alfrick. Leigh. Am not fond of Leigh Sinton, it’s cut in two by a busy road.

I’m West Malvern and I can be at the uni in St John’s in less than 20mins or over the river at Worcestershire County Council HQ in about 25/30 on a normal day.

Thank you, traffic is a good point to consider

I think I’ll be working on the central- west side, so villages towards Malvern area or north of that probably work best for the commute. (I Don’t want to be near any motorways too)

I will have a look at Ombersley - I do love a deli and a good coffee!!

DH really wants proper countryside though, so maybe just outside the village we choose would be ideal 🤔

the biggest deciding factor is probably going to be secondary schools as eldest DC will need one in 2 years time. Does anyone know if the Chantry is good?

Thank you - I have driven through West Malvern I think, but was put off by being on the hill and not getting morning sun?

I’m a real sunlight addict, and ideally would be on top of a hill with views and light all day!

Is Colwall still under the hills and getting restricted sun in the morning too?

I will have a look at Alfrick and Leigh (thanks for the tip on Leigh sinton, the busy road would definitely not work for us)

Hanley swan is an interesting one as I guess then we’d be near Hanley Castle secondary school, which I’d heard is pretty good, does anyone know it?

Hanley swan is lovely. Primary school, pub, shop, secondary school nearby. I work there and there's a few houses up for sale at the moment.

Hi there OP, Hanley Swan is beautiful and Hanley Castle High is still a very good school, yes. The Chase High is a similar distance from HS and is very well regarded (my old high school 😊).

So if we lived in Hanley swan or thereabouts, we might have TWO good secondary’s to choose from - The Chase at Malvern or Hanley castle?

Eldest DC does seem to be quite academic, so we’d love to find a school she can be challenged at. She’s also very sporty and I’d love her to try more sports (it’s mainly football at the moment!)

My only niggle is that it’s so flat around there?!

But I guess it’s far enough away from the Malvern hill not to be shaded by it?

There's plenty of options for sports. There's a cricket club in Hanley Castle and two in Malvern. Football club in Welland. There are quite a few multi sports holiday camps around Malvern.
My kids go to the chase and are doing well. The school had some of the best GCSE and A level results in the county last year.

Fantastic thank you that’s so encouraging :)

Hanley Castle school is good as is The Chase.

West Malvern gets the afternoon sun which would be my preference and the amazing sunsets. School bus runs to The Chase.

Cool thank you, I won’t write off west Malvern just yet :)

Following with interest, but as downsizers. We like Malvern and don't really want a village but we're struggling to find a house we both like!

We’re looking at moving to Hanley Swan and I wondered what transport links there might be for The Chase school, does anyone know?

I think the 334 bus from Upton to the Chase goes via Welland, rather than Hanley. I'd have thought most of the children in the village go to Hanley Castle.

Off to house hunt tomorrow for DC, and our evolving thinking is taking us towards Worcester city centre. We don't know the area very well but it suits us for family and work reasons. No kids, so no school concerns, but we are leaving an area we know and like, for one that is much closer to family and friends.

Where in Worcester would you consider for a starter home for a single young man and a married couple of 70? We want two separate properties, for clarity. Initial thoughts are WR1/Arboretum for a two bed terrace, and the old gimmers want 3 or 4 beds, space and a garden, ideally walking distance of each other and everything else.

Be wary of flooding. It’s a huge issue in Worcestershire.

Thank you, this is really helpful. We are considering both options. HC start GCSE prep from year 9 (options year 8) I believe so wouldn’t be an option for our DC (one in year 9 already).

@Engineeredit , how much of the older part of the city floods please? The estate agent was telling us at the most promising viewing that the house DS likes hasn't ever flooded (but he was about 12). It's close to the canal, so water flow is controlled by sluices and it's been there about 100 years.

We looked at another in Diglis Basin, but were put off by the huge building site that is being cleared for redevelopment.

Many thanks for your local knowledge.

I know of a house on an acre of land … not sure of closest school but there is a couple of pubs. On right move and in budget near bewdley

We are looking at moving back to the area after living there nearly twenty years ago. Looking for a three bedroom house with garden, detached . Preferably a village and not on an estate if possible. Budget up to £750,000. On bus routes preferably!