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 live near Salisbury and I love it here. The countryside is beautiful and there’s plenty to do. I know people who commute 2/3 days a week to London from here so it’s clearly doable. Do you have any parts of Wiltshire in mind?

Wiltshire is not a dump, nor is it ‘ghastly’. It’s a mostly rural county with picturesque villages and crop fields. Salisbury is nice, it has a handful of towns that are down at heel but that’s the same anywhere.

And it has the most UFO activity and crop circles of any county.

Well that’s unfortunate but basically the same as any environmental incident - haven’t they discovered PFAS in the water in Lancashire? And look at Corby, the ex mining towns etc. Wiltshire is hardly high up the list of toxic places.

@LadyCrustybread even here in Bath it’s only 1hr 22 Swindon is 55 mins, Chippenham - 1hr 10 - it’s not something I would want to do every day but plenty do . Cost reasons a biggie down here too , although may improve after May whennGWR lose the franchise - thing is here in Bath you are paying Home Counties house prices and rents AND high commute costs - only really works if you go in rarely or work more local Bristol/bath/swindon etc - my H does go in once or twice every 2 weeks but drives and it’s only to west London just off M4

The River Avon is clean and contains lots of trout and it's very popular with fly fishers. The army presence is generally considered to have kept the area unspoiled and has been good for wildlife. There's no worrying shortage of birds, butterflies, dear, etc.

I'm certainly not aware of any toxic no go areas.

Before the Cotswolds became such a big thing, Wiltshire was a place where rich and famous people bought nice country houses - Sting lives in the Woodford Valley. Madonna used to live somewhere near Salisbury. There are loads of beautiful manor houses tucked away on the edges of picturesque villages.

Just be aware it is known as "Smallsbury" for a reason. I work there (live in Dorset) and everyone seems to be interconnected, is a bit odd!

This Country is set in Wiltshire.

Gloucestershire I think.

Salisbury is dull, very dull. Train to London is expensive and tips you out at Waterloo. So another 30 mins to get to West End.

They certainly do!

Bath used to be in Somerset before the creation of Avon in (I think) 1974.

Most local people (including me) still think of it as properly belonging in the county of Somerset, whatever changes are made to local authority administrative boundaries.

@Mum1216 Crewkerne is in Somerset and quite a bit closer to Devon and Dorset than it is to Wiltshire.

Someone mentioned corsham, it has a few nice buildings but that’s it. No train station, 1 overpriced supermarket, the high street is pretty but very poor range of shops, no market. There’s really not a lot there tbh. The house prices are going up though because it’s close to Bath to commute and people don’t want to pay those prices

I’m not sure locals being priced out of the housing market would agree! Due to people moving from London / Home Counties the prices in the ‘nicer’ towns have sky rocketed over the years. Bradford on Avon is a case in point- attractive as it has river, canal, lovely buildings and has train station and just 15 mins from Bath. No actually it’s vile , smells, hates dogs, has awful cafes and is really unfriendly so stay clear!

No it isn’t.

It has a beautiful Cathedral and surrounding water meadows, a good range of shops for a large size town, a playhouse, nice restaurants and loads of nice countryside around it. The schools are excellent. It may not be as exciting as a bigger city but then it’s not a bigger city is it?

And no, it is not inbred as other poster suggested

I mentioned Corsham , but I certainly think you have to think of it more like a big village or very small town in terms of amenities - it does however depend really what someone wants, it has several nice pubs, several nice restaurants, a lovely deli, a great butcher, a post office, greengrocer and an excellent Chinese takeaway and a good bookshop - if you want cinema. Clothes shops, shoes, homeward etc you need to go into Bath20 minutes drive( or very regular bus) - supermarket, 7 minutes down road to M&S mini food at the petrol station and a giant Sainsbury’s plus virtually every other supermarket in Chippenham - I don’t drive so got me would be a fag, but lots of people do , so wouldn’t find it a big deal - if I was looking for a nice house then if I was in that market ( and drove) I would rate it highly , myself I like big places, tons of amenities but I know everyone isn’t like that

Really don’t get the comments on Salisbury - and I’m a right snob - we often pop there on a Saturday from Bath - if this was an area of London it would be mega money - my husband prefers it to more pricey Winchester , better shops ! Fantastic Saturday market too

I live right on the edge of Wiltshire so very close to Bath and love it. Beautiful countryside but easy to get to Bath, Bristol and Chippenham for fast train to London.

Very mystical county as well with many white horses, burial mounds etc.

Prices vary hugely though and obviously a bit of difference between central Swindon and Marlborough high street.

Quite a lot devlepment going on in Corsham interestingly with nicer restaurants opening which will be interesting to see. Maybe its the 'Rivals' effect ;)

It’s very narrow to drive through as well

i do like Wiltshire but Swindon doesn’t seem quite the same itms.

i like the shopping outlet there though

what about NHS and Drs in Wiltshire.

Yes, I think for a large town it has a really good range of shops and general services. I moved away when I was 18 but still go back regularly, so I like to think I can be objective and not defensive about ‘my hometown’, but I don’t get these comments at all. I loved growing up there.

Bridgwater is in Somerset 🙄. And seriously who would judge a county on a service station? Oooh look how lovely Heston services is (not)

I'm in Salisbury, its great, we've got a Bradbeers (local chain of Department Stores) and a Waitrose, what more do you want

salisbury District Hospital is fantastic too, very big for the size of town, does most things, I waited 45 minutes in A&E this year!!

Isnt it quite dull? Places like Swindon?

I'm baffled by a lot of these comments - I live in Wiltshire and it's lovely! My teen felt it was a bit dull growing up, and teens all need to drive as soon as possible due to lack of buses etc; but equally we've spent a lot of time at night looking at meteor showers in the unpolluted skies, and checking out crop circles etc, which are experiences you don't get in lots of places.

But if people think it's all a pit then it works in our favour, with less people moving here to drive prices up!

Is the pensions company still here? there were two, Friends Provident and James Hay - Provident went years ago, James Hays Dunns House offices are empty and to let?

That's very true, I grew up here, if I don't know someone, I'll know of them through someone else or be related to them in some way - I like it, its like a massive family - and everyone knows your business!

Terrible commute to London compared with all the other areas you mention.