To move to Bath?

[AppletonP]

We've rather fallen in love with Bath but we haven't spent massive amounts of time there. Anyone care to share the downsides of Bath? The private schools don't seem to feature in the league tables. Is that because the state schools are very good?

[AliTheMinx]

I forgot to say, but I think there is now a KES minibus that goes to/from Box/Corsham, but as I work at the University we don't need to use it.

[TrickorTreacle]

I've been to both Bristol and Bath many times.

Bristol is better if you're a socialite and enjoy living life in the fast lane. Great nightlife, pre-covid obviously. Good transport links too.

Bath is prettier, a better place if you're starting to slow down.

[AppletonP]

@felineflutter That's worrying!

[Whammyyammy]

I live 6 miles outside of Bath in a small village. Bath is beautiful, never tire of walking round it.
Tourists, even worse when the Xmas markets(locally known as 50 sheds of shit) are on.
As well as the city, Victoria Park is great for kids and adults, you have the river and canal, great night life and restaurants. Bath Rugby! I could go on all day
Cant help with schools.
Parking would be annoying, hence I live in a village outside

[Spidey66]

I've got friends there (well a friend and her partner, and a cousin and her husband, I've introduced th em and now tggey meet up all the time.) I love it there and have considered moving there myself!

I think one down side is it is very hilly! Also if you have on street parking it maybe difficult.

Both couples have kids. I don't know the names of the schools but my friend has 2 girls at the girls school tyere (state) and my friend appears happy with it. My cousin's daughter is last year primary (I'm old and have no kids, in my day it was 4th year juniors!)and she's in a private school. They went for it because her daughter is shy and theh thought she'd be better off with small classes. My cousin has admitted though that the local primary is very good, and she does sometimes wonder why shes paying, but her husband is a high earner and was very keen. Their local school is I think called All Saints c of e. Its in Weston anyway.Many of the schools are faith but open to all-all of my extended family are RC with varying degrees of practising (none in my case, probably little or none for my cousin and her husband doesn't have any religion AFAIK)

[AppletonP]

@Whammyyammy is there public transport into bath from your village or do you drive?

[MrsMoastyToasty]

Car parking in the city centre is expensive. I used Queen Charlotte Street carpark on Saturday evening and it was £6.40.
They have also brought in a clean air zone which i reckon will kill off retail in the city centre if diesel vehicles have to pay a charge.
The new shopping precinct at Southgate is a bit soulless and fake retro Georgian.
Bristol doesn't seem to be so snooty in my opinion.
I'm a Bristolian by birth but I've worked in Bath for several years and now live midway between the two cities in Keynsham. It has good links to both cities but no private schools. Although the state schools are pretty good.

[Blah1881]

It’s a bit boring and small as cities go. Culturally it is elitist compared with London. Culture costs money to access. There are only two central art galleries and they aren’t very child friendly. It has a relatively elderly demographic and isn’t culturally that diverse. It is conventional in its tastes. There are masses of SUVs and wealthy folk who have largely moved from West London, housing is expensive.

[Ellpellwood]

I lived there for a year then ran away to Trowbridge. Living in a mouldy listed Georgian flat, the tourists, the parking, and the crap supermarkets (basically one rammed Sainsbury's and a Morrison's) finished us off. We were 20s, no kids though.

[MsTSwift]

Love it. Also London refugees. Yes culturally it can’t rival London 🙄 but we do more here as easier we minutes in a cab from theatre cinema often festivals. We can also do proper country walks from the front door. Lots of likeminded friends made here and we have found the state schools great. For us the ideal compromise between city and country. Tourists don’t bother me means city feels more international and has better restaurants. Not bothered about parking we cycle or walk into centre.

[MsTSwift]

I can’t stand Keynsham (depressing) or Bristol (used to live there hate it).

[AppletonP]

@MsTSwift Could you recommend areas to look in? Country walks from the front door sound ideal!

[AppletonP]

Anyone have an opinion on why KES doesn't do better academically? They don't seem to be in the top 100 for either gcse or a levels.

[Whammyyammy]

Yes, good public transport, bus, and I also drive

[MsTSwift]

Lower Weston / Larkhall / Widcombe / Bear Flat.

I love that you see green hills even from the town centre. As a small city you get the advantages of a city but it just “stops” so you don’t get the urban sprawl of a “proper” urban big city like Briz or London (lived in both).

[Rupertbeartrousers]

Corsham is lovely for raising a family and has good state primaries and a good high school there are a couple of very good state secondaries in Chippenham and an outstanding high school in malmesbury I believe.

Box/Neston/Atworth are other nice villages on the Wiltshire side.

Bradford on Avon is nice but the traffic isn’t great.

Westbury/Trowbridge a little further away but lower property prices.

[GoWalkabout]

KES isn't pushy but is lovely from my experience - so maybe not so many top grades but more support and more rounded pupils?

To be fair to certain pretty cities with homelessness problems, homeless people do tend to move to nice places with decent services (Cambridge suffers from this too). The only way this is noticeable ime is that some street drinkers (who may or may not be homeless) tend to congregate in the area near the police station, which can be intimidating but not massively so.

[AliTheMinx]

@AppletonP

Anyone have an opinion on why KES doesn't do better academically? They don't seem to be in the top 100 for either gcse or a levels.

www.best-schools.co.uk/uk-school-league-tables/list-of-league-tables/top-100-schools-by-a-level They are at number 70 in this table for A Levels. They do get excellent results on the whole.

[uncomfortablydumb53]

I was born in Bath and lived there until 5 years ago( moved 8 miles!)
The area I lived in Combe Down was on a hill, above KES, Nearby area is Bathampton or further out Winsley is popular and more affordable!
My 3 sons all did well at Ralph Allen
It's a beautiful city, but residents generally feel the Tourists are the priority for the council
Parking is very expensive and residents permits are often necessary
Sainsbury's have the monopoly of the supermarkets, although there is a Waitrose in the city centre
City is very geared up for university students.. new student accommodation built on refuse disposal site!
I now live in Trowbridge

[AppletonP]

@uncomfortablydumb53 What's Trowbridge like? Would it be commutable to Bath for the school run?

[Whammyyammy]

[quote AppletonP]@uncomfortablydumb53 What's Trowbridge like? Would it be commutable to Bath for the school run? [/quote]
Trowbridge is the County Town of Wiltshire. In my opinion its a place to avoid, a fair bit of anti social behaviour and crime. Ots cheaper to live there, for a reason.
Go on FB and look at Spotted Trowbridge, in on it for entertainment , alwsys posts about police, fights , etc.

[Whammyyammy]

But Trowbridge, or Trowvegas as its known, is commutable from Bath

[uncomfortablydumb53]

@AppletonP
Trowbridge is an old market town, which has expanded with housing
Population 33,000.. Has more supermarkets per head than Bath!
It would be easily commutable, I'd say 30 minutes in busy times to KES
Nice walks and country parks on the outskirts
Train to bath takes 10 minutes

[uncomfortablydumb53]

@Whammyyammy
A tad judgemental!
Bath has areas of deprivation so not perfect either

[AppletonP]

Hmm ok. So where outside Bath could we find a house with at least .5 of an acre of garden preferable 1 acre and have it not be impossible to get into KES. Any steer much appreciated.