Bracknell?

[Quirkyme]

For a young, black single woman in my late twenties?

What is the place like generally, diversity-wise, racism? Links to transport/drives to London...

Considering looking at a place there, due to relocating for work purposes... and it seems not to be far from north-west Surrey - where I'll be working... is that right?
Surprised it came up in my Surrey radius search.

Thanks

It’s not very diverse, but I don’t think you’d experience any racism. The new town centre is very nice but it’s all restaurants, there’s nowhere to go out - if you want bars and clubs you’ll need to go into Reading or Windsor. Transport links are excellent with the M3 and M4 close, train into London takes just over an hour. It’s an easy drive to north west Surrey yes - where will you be working - Camberley? Housing (both to rent and buy) is fairly expensive though.

Didn’t we already do this with Farnham? 😆

It’s more diverse than Farnham… it’s very family friendly, easy to get to London and to airports etc. It’s not got much going on after about 10pm but there’s plenty of clubs and activities (eg sports, art, etc) and things to get involved with and meet people. Probably more expensive to live in than somewhere like Camberley but I guess it depends on the specific part of Bracknell.

If diversity matters a lot you might as well live in Reading, ideally on the eastern side if you're driving to Surrey. I'm not sure what else Bracknell has going for it beyond proximity to two motorways

I don't think it is that great for transport links. It's not bad but I wouldn't choose to live there

Used to live there, and it’s probably the most boring town in Britain.

It has lots of roundabouts, if you like that sort of thing.

@C4tintherug

Didn’t we already do this with Farnham? 😆

It’s more diverse than Farnham… it’s very family friendly, easy to get to London and to airports etc. It’s not got much going on after about 10pm but there’s plenty of clubs and activities (eg sports, art, etc) and things to get involved with and meet people. Probably more expensive to live in than somewhere like Camberley but I guess it depends on the specific part of Bracknell.

Hey there, yes we did lol. I mentioned on the thread that I missed out on the place, unfortunately, they went with someone else... so I'm still looking!

Thanks for your comments

@jimmyhill

If diversity matters a lot you might as well live in Reading, ideally on the eastern side if you're driving to Surrey. I'm not sure what else Bracknell has going for it beyond proximity to two motorways

Hi jimmy, thanks , could you give me suggestions of the places on the eastern side of Reading that would work for driving to Surrey please?

Whereabouts in Surrey would you be driving to?

If you are looking at North-West Surrey, why not look at Staines or Woking. If you have the budget look at leafier towns.

It depends where in Surrey you are driving to as travel tends to mean being stuck in traffic.

Have to say the roads to/from NW Surrey are hellish and it only takes one accident somewhere for everything to grind to a halt!

or roadworks anywhere and everything grinds to a halt

Bracknell is very under rated. It’s a great place, with easy links to London if you want them. Cheaper than the “posher” places nearby too.

So many roundabouts!

Used to live there, and it’s probably the most boring town in Britain.

It has lots of roundabouts, if you like that sort of thing.
This cracked me up. They’re fancy roundabouts, though. Lots of municipal flowers.

My friend is a single black mum with two black children. They like it there. They experienced racism in one area but have been fine in their new home.

Bits of it are quite nice

We moved to Bracknell a few years ago and like it a lot more than we were expecting and I'm pleased we chose it! Transport links are good, new town centre a vast improvement, great open spaces and Swinley Forest is brilliant to have on our doorstep. Loads going on at South Hill Park (arts and theatre venue).

Its not the most diverse town, Reading I'm sure is more diverse, but its more diverse than surrounding villages.

South Hill Park used to have comedy nights. Does it still have them?

@KirstenBlest yes, they're brilliant!

Might see you there.

Agree with @daisyroses. Lived here for 30 years. Great road links. Train to London ok but slow. New town centre pretty good with more development happening. Countryside near by. Reading easy for social life but you’d probably save 20 minutes drive to Surrey being in Bracknell!

And South Hill Park has Comedy Nights!

It's not particularly diverse, but lots of footpaths leading to green spaces and a nice town centre. Plenty of lovely country parks only a short drive away. Then again, if you have to head in to Surrey (commute?) bear in mind the traffic. Heading down the A322 during rush hour can be horrendous.

Join the Berkshire against racism Facebook group for a more realistic portrayal of racism in Bracknell

I have family in Bracknell. Mixed race female, white male, daughter l. They love it. Daughter was the only white Christian at school 15 years ago. They taught the whole school the nativity for her.