Moving to Bath area

[elaudi]

Hello there!
I am a french mum of two great girls and we are currently living with my husband in Shanghai, China but we'll be moving to Bath area in January 2019.
We're very excited about it, as we are both fed up with big city life style, pollution etc... Thing is, I really don't know that area or anyone there. We've looked into some rentals and Bath is a bit pricey for us so we are considering renting first then buying in a perimeter of 25 minutes top by car around Bath (my husband has a job at University)

I heard Frome is nice and Trowbridge surprisingly better than everyone would think. What are your recommendations guys? I'm looking for a town with a minimum of entertainment like cinema, some pubs and restaurants, and a cool life for young families. Maybe some farm at proximity where one can buy good and healthy products.

Also, if there is any french mum in this area, did you find a french class for your kids so that they can also learn french grammar? My daughter will go to public school and so will only have an english education regarding school program.

Anyway. thanks for reading, and again very happy to join this mumsnet club and to go live in this beautiful country!

Elodie

Chippenham has excellent secondary schools, is well connected to London and cheaper than Bath. Not sure about the cinema though. Wootton Bassett also has a v good secondary, as does Marlborough- although it’s pricier for housing. The best school in Trowbridge was the catholic secondary, St Joseph’s - not sure if that is still the case as I am a few years out of date. Melksham’s School was improving but again, I’m not sure it is big enough as a town for what you need.

Have you indulged in a rightmove session there yet? You can draw in your perimeter and see the comparitive prices.

The other thing to take on board is the horrendous traffic going in and out during rush hour. If you can possibly live a walk or cycle from the university, life will be much more pleasant. Is it Bath Spa or Uni of Bath?

Bradford on Avon has lovely restaurants and quirky shops. I'd say it's worth considering, but no cinema. However it's a ten minute train ride into Bath which has two!

Bradford on Avon is absolutely gorgeous I agree. But small. And expensive.

Wow thanks so much for quick replies!
I think my husband is seriously considering to buy a motorbike, so maybe the big traffic jam will not be an issue?
Yes I have been on right move A LOT (more than necessary to be honest but I'm just too excited) and the best options regarding prices were Trowbridge and Radstock, but I heard very horrendous stuff about the latter so probably we will not consider it.

My husband will work at Bath University, so on the east side of the city if I'm not mistaking.

I've seen Bradford on Avon and it looks really cute. Not so cheap though, of course! :)

A bike will be much quicker than a car for sure.

When you say your daughter will go to public school, do you mean that in the English sense (private school) or the American sense (government school)

Sorry - forgot my question mark!

Urbanbeetler I absolutely didn't know that public meant private in UK ahah, I do mean she will go in a "state school", no private. Then she will not have the french education she would get in a french private school or else, that's why I am looking for something like french association with classes for kids who wants to follow up a little bit with french grammar :)

Btw any opinions on Trowbridge?

The council is considering putting in a congestion charge of something like £9 to drive through the city each day.

My husband is from Bath, he always says it's a nice place to visit but not great to live in. Too expensive, too many tourists, not a lot for young people to do.

Bath is really lovely but pricey and not without its traffic problems (one way system) although has a good Park & Ride and good rail links.
Frome or Bradford On Avon could both be options. Warminster and Westbury are a little further out but again still worth considering. Also consider Bathampton and Beckington.
Personally I would avoid Trowbridge.

I’d start with school catchments and go from there (if state school is what you’re looking for).

There’s lots of lovely villages and small towns - it just depends on what you’d prefer and how much you want to be using a car. Would your DH always drive or consider a train into work?

So, small towns - Frome (cinema), Bradford, Warminster, Castle Cary (train station), Wells
Villages - Mells, Nunney, Bruton (Sexy’s schools is very good, train station), Beckington.

Can you visit before you move? Do a big drive around and look at areas.

Avoid Trowbridge! Many people commute from places just outside of Yate such as Chipping Sodbury or Frampton Cotterell as there is a very easy to get to park and ride from that direction and less traffic. Years ago I knew someone living in Keynsham and used the train to hop into Bath, it seemed quite nice but I've only visited briefly.

Trowbridge seems quite run down.

You could look at renting in Oldfield Park while you check out areas (though I realise you want to pick schools). Its quite thriving, close to the centre and cycle path and has a railway station and a popular shopping street with independent cafes.

I can confirm that Chippenham does have a cinema which is just coming to the end of a refurbishment programme.

There is also Allington Farm Shop for local produce as well as a couple more between Chippenham and Bath.

Most of the housing is newish estates(post 1990) with most desirable locations to North of Chippenham because of ease to motorway and proximity to 2/3 of the good state secondaries.

Keynsham is lovely and a great community feel.

I agree that Bradford on Avon is a lovely place to live. I would avoid Trowbridge, although we have friends living in Southwick and that area seems better than the actual town. Public transport from Bradford or Chippenham is really good: the train is v quick and the bus from the station gets to Bath Uni in 10 minutes. Personally I would get a temporary rented place for a couple of months and then decided where to live.

Yes that's our plan, we want to rent then buy, but I'm just concerned about putting my eldest in a school in some place and then make her change again. After leaving her school and all her friends in China, I really want to give her more "stability" although I know she's very flexible and adapts easily.

Thank you very much everyone for your kind advices, I will take good note of everything that was said here. At least I know it's a welcoming area for foreigners! Right?! ahah I'm sure we'll find the perfect place...

I live in Bradford on Avon and it's lovely. Nice schools and very welcoming. There's actually a French coffee shop in the centre of town (owned by a French family). Very easy to get to Bath University, particularly from the Winsley Road area.

My daughter is at Bath Uni. It is at the top of one of the longest, steepest hills I've ever seen in a town! He'll need a powerful motorbike

Frome has a state-funded Steiner school if you want one of those. Nice interesting town.

Another vote for Bradford-upon-Avon as it is divine (DPsbrother has bought there this year after much research, from London.
Bath is a short ride on the train.

Another vote for Bradford on Avon - been here since 2013 and its great. Train to centre of Bath in about 10 minutes, easy trip into Bristol where I work most of the time. Sainsbury's 1/2 mile away, Co-op few minutes walk.

But its expensive and traffic can get very bad. Parts of Trowbridge do seem quite run down but you do get a lot more for your money.

We go to the cinema/restaurant complex quite a lot - its a 3 mile drive.