advice on relocation

[YvonneH78]

I realise this has been covered before although the threads are now quite old and a lot changes in a few years.
I am moving from the south east for new jobs and a break from busy London. We both work part time . We can't afford to buy but have a budget of 1200 a month rent.
Looked at areas close to city but didn't like moseley or Kings heath. Felt like being back in London with busy traffic.
Edgbaston had some nice big houses but well out of our budget.
On looking at previous threads visited sutton and solihu?l.
train link s are good and the park in Sutton is great. Seems like good schools. Only negative thought town centre looked tired and in need of face lift. Also nursery choices few and far between and expensive.
Solihull lovely town centre but traffic busy and state schools have poor ofsted.
Any thoughts / comments or suggestions

Hello!

I'm from KH, and live in Moseley now and I love it here! But I get that it's not for everyone.

In birmingham you could look at Harborne (close to edgbaston and the city centre, lovely houses and great high street, but pricey) and Bournville village trust properties.

Edgbaston is dodgy: even the nicest houses are on the edge of very inner city housing, the busiest roads and it is generally quite rough IYSWIM?

Out of birminham look at Shirley, between Brum and Solihull, good high street, fantastic park, every supermarket within reach, great schools etc.

There's also Dickens heath, not my cup of tea, but it is popular for a reason.

The other side of town there is Bearwood. Beautiful Victorian houses, Worley woods, close to city centre, a reasonable high street and cheaper.

Finally, you could look at hollywood/wythal. More village feeling, but too suburban for me. Close to the motorways though, good schools and close enough to the city centre to not make it a ball ache.

Let me know if you need more! Best of luck!

Sorry, typos galore.

It's Warley woods and Wythall.

And I don't rate Sutton at all, but that's because I'm from the south. If you have to travel over the distressway to get there, it's north and generally southerners hate the north of the city and vice versa! But don't let that out you off the North!

Looked At Harborne and dismissed it. Houses were pretty but didn't like the fact most were on street parking and it was difficult to find a space.
Been to dickens heath as well. Not for me no real character to the place.
Shirley not keen either wasnt green enough. I like nice parks and open spaces.
Will check out the others thanks

Sutton Coldfield.

Outstanding Schools, nice housing (town centre is a bit boring but it is trying hard to compete with the likes of Solihull)
great park
on the cross city rail line

I think it sounds like you want less of the city.

Look at lichfield and bromsgrove. I really like lichfield, 45 mins to brum on the train, much more chilled, nice town centre and closer to Derbyshire, staffs, and less city like places.

How many times have you been to Birmingham?

There are plenty of nursery places in Sutton, and range from about £38 upwards for a full day.

There are also some great pre schools around and imo the standard of education here is excellent. A good choice of comps and grammars.

Cross city is very convenient. What sort of price and size of house are you looking for? And where will your commute take you?

Also agree Lichfield is nice

Bearwood very full of families. Not technically Birmingham (Sandwell) but only 3 or 4 miles out from City centre. Great transport links. Not the smartest area but lots going on.

Quinton a bit further out. Buses ok. Inter-War suburban. Better parking, due to age of houses. Not much of a real centre, unlike older areas. Both Bearwood and Quinton close enough to Harborne to use its shops/socialise there.

Harborne does have the sort of houses/parking you describe but the edges run into Quinton/Edgbaston and there are some newer houses there. The Calthorpe Estate has 1970s buildings, off-street parking, quiet streets (possibly private roads).

Not sure what you budget is/your requirements are.

Bournville: garden suburb, pretty, good transport links, close to other places like Moseley/King's Heath, decent schools.

Thank you. I have narrowed the search to sutton coldfield or Lichfield. I will be working on col more row when I come back from mat leave. As you all say the schools in Sutton seem to be excellent and I like the park and good commute into town. Lichfield is more picturesque but not as practical for commute etc.
I have appointment next week with playtime nursery and highclare

If you don't find something you like, do look at Harborne again- look at Moor Pool estate- all the houses have drives/garaging, or Calthorpe estate in Edgbaston. Bournville is a lovely garden suburb too, again all houses with drives and garages.

Your commute will be significantly shorter from Bournville or Edgbaston than from SC, as they're both short hops on the train into the city.

Thanks for the update YvonneH78 - good luck with the visits next week.