Why is Wiltshire so affordable in comparison to other southern counties?

[Craya]

This may sound very stupid. Dh and I are wanting to move out of Home Counties house. We live in a very unremarkable 60s house which we thought we’d like once done up. But it’s just depressing even though we live in what is a very desirable area (safe, well kept front gardens etc). We are paying way too much each month so looking to make changes.

We need to be in the south and commute into London a couple of times a week (we both are hybrid workers). I can go weeks without going into the office thankfully.

We’ve considered pretty much every southern county (barring Cornwall due to distance). And the only one place it seems we can afford is Wiltshire. Even the towns/Villages which are decently connected via railway.

Does anyone know why this is? Or is just perception we are moving away from a very expensive part of an already expensive area.

It’s decent value for money. Not many places are imo!

I don’t know. But I do know people in chippenham who are very happy. Good rail connections and good schools.

Not coastal and no major trendy places, longish commute to London

I think it is just in comparison. There are cheap and expensive places within the county. I a m in Wiltshire and moved from Somerset - pretty comparable. In terms of commuting - more expensive trains than Home Counties.

I’d just bear in mind that some companies are increasing office attendance, not sure if yours or your DH’s is likely to change, but guess anyones can and see a lot of people on here making very long commutes a few times a week. The home counties are so expensive though, I am making my escape in the summer after 25yrs in Surrey, as my youngest DD leaves education so heading north. I’d go and try the commute, and bear in mind the trains are often messed up, so worse case scenarios etc.

Not remotely South 😬 feckin miles away, dreadful commute, awful public transport

Yes, agree very bad public transport in general. The South West is beautiful but doesn't get a lot of money spent on it generally. Always seems to be missed out of conversations about upgrading areas other than SE

How is it not South?

As others have said - the roads are shite and Salisbury is the only city…and it’s basically a large town without any decent shops etc

We looked a lot at Wiltshire and have friends there. Still as pretty as some other more expensive places but some of the towns are a bit rougher. My friends love living there though and I love visiting. Only got the train sporadically from London to my friends but seemed fine.

Isn’t Malborough quite nice though?

Have you looked at all of Dorset? Some fairly affordable options aside from Sandbanks and direct trains between Weymouth and Waterloo.

Parts of Wiltshire are lovely and it's commutable to London but not comparable to living in the prime commuter belt that is the home counties. I could sell my Surrey apartment and but a beautiful period house in Bath stone but the commute would do me in.

Bath Spa is gorgeous

I’d just bear in mind that some companies are increasing office attendance, not sure if yours or your DH’s is likely to change, but guess anyones can and see a lot of people on here making very long commutes a few times a week.

i am really glad someone has finally said this.

@Craya you say you’re not required in, but that could change: are you going to resist and kick up a fuss when you’ve moved 100 miles from Central London and it costs you £90 a day to go in 3 days a week?

I am sick of colleagues who refuse to go on camera, refuse to come in on hybrid days, refuse to collaborate …

… and then complain to everyone bitterly, because THEY decided that their job would be fully remote, they moved out to Devizes or Stroud and cashed in on their Earlsfield flat, and now are telling everyone else that they should set the rules.

I live in Warminster. My friend lives in Pewsey and commutes 3 days a week. There is no direct line from Warminster to London so make sure you are on a main line. I was brought up in the home counties and would move back in a heartbeat. I have lived here for 40 years (came here for husband's work). I don't think it's stopped raining since I arrived. I find the locals are very insular, my friends are all outsiders like me. It's not a terrible place to live and I won't be moving because my children snd grandchildren are here, but I hsve never felt like it's my home.

Lived in Wiltshire for 15 years, in a pretty village just outside of Malmesbury. Really liked it. Commuted into London via Swindon (1hr to Padd). Worked well and would work really well with hybrid working. Paddington as a station is quite far west in London, so you have to factor in the commute across if you work in the City. However, this is now quite easy with the Lizzy line. Bath is a close and cool place to go for culture and restaurants and Bristol is not far too. I think it is doable, but factor in the commute.

Wiltshire is very underrated. People pass through it to head for the Cotswolds and Devon and Cornwall.

Beautiful countryside, lovely villages, good schools, easily accessible for Bristol and Bath via train, depending on your starting point.

I don’t know what @Greebosmum is talking about regarding rain - yes we’ve had non stop rain since Christmas as has most of the country! But usually it’s glorious, we get proper weather with lovely spring and summer but also some snow and frost in the winter.

I miss the coast, and I don’t have to commute to London, but I have no regrets in moving from coastal Hampshire to Wiltshire.

Swindon

Had similar thoughts

You never get surprises livin' in Devizes.

There are some lovely parts and some not very lovely parts. Houses will be priced accordingly. Always going to be cheaper than places closer to London. Devon and Cornwall are just second home/retirement counties for London so prices are high there in the nice bits due to that.

People can be quite insular but not as much as Devon and Cornwall - nowhere in the South is keen on the entitled, self absorbed attitudes of ex Londoners though IME.

Wiltshire is glorious. But it tends to feel like the arse end of nowhere. Especially in the winter. It can get quite bleak if you are in a village. Mud everywhere.

But if you are close to the M4 it's a fast trip to Heathrow. The A303 is horrendous on saturdays and everyday in July and August. At least on the Stonehenge stretch.

There are some great schools though and it's a very dog friendly county.

Oh. One more thing, you need to get used to the noise of explosions and guns and the sight of flares.

It gets cheaper the further west you go, Devon is lots cheaper.

Getting anywhere within Wiltshire is a nightmare. The roads are so slow.

Because it’s not commutable to London and it’s not ‘trendy beach’ like Dorset, Cornwall and Devon. I grew up there and loved it, I would move back in a heartbeat but stuck where we are for now. The south of the county is much nicer. The people are not insular at all?!