Hello, I'm in Larkhall, been here for nearly 5 years. We find it a lovely place to live, have made some v nice friends, and has good shops, parks, OK buses (and is also easy to walk or cycle into town).
Not so sure about schools. Know St Saviour's infants is v good, have heard slightly less encouraging things about the juniors, but nothing disastrous. Have also heard not v encouraging things about St Marks, but from what I've seen of the pupils and the work they do (there is a local newsletter produced by the school) it looks really good. Has specialist science and technology status (not sure what that means in practice) and is currently looking for a confederation (again, not sure what that will mean in practice) with St Gregory's (RC) which is v successful.
Plenty of kids from round here seem to get in to Hayesfield (girls), Beechen Cliff (boys) and Ralph Allen (mixed) which are all meant to be good, esp Ralph Allen. But not sure whether catchment areas will shrink when the current big shake-up of schools at secondary level (Culverhay apparently to close, Oldfield Girls to go co-ed) has been finalised, meaning that is less likely from this area?
Re: nurseries, my DSs have been to Snapdragons on London Road which has been great, and St Saviour's (pre-school only), Apple Tree and Alice Park Nursery also v popular. Also Norland Nursery on London Road - friend had her DS1 there, thought it was lovely.
Hope this helps a bit.