Moving to Trowbridge

[winstone]

Hi!

We're moving to Trowbridge (from London) in the next couple of months with a newborn and her 2 year old sister. Friends who know the area better than us keep warning us that it's not a great place to move to, but it ticks lots of boxes for us (not too rural but close to lovely countryside, affordable houses, good nurseries, nice park, decent transport links and not overly posh).

We've found a great house to buy but could someone offer some reassurance that we're not making some huge mistake??! And any advice about things to do with the kids, groups to join etc, would also be much appreciated...

Thanks!

Personally I wouldn't want to live there (I live in a village closer to Bath).
I prefer Devizes and would happily move there but definitely not Trowbridge, Chippenham or Melksham.

I just wanted to update on my original post... We moved from Walthamstow to Trowbridge a few months ago and we love it here! When we were researching the town as a place to move to we really couldn't find many positive comments, so I wanted to rectify that and give you a brief list of the things we love so far :)

1. There are some beautiful houses, ranging from huge detached mansions, large Victorian semis and pretty terraces. Yes, there are some less pretty housing estates, but no worse than in any other town. The town centre is full of really lovely architecture.

1. Some brilliant resources. To name a few - plenty of big name shops and restaurants; an excellent new library hosting loads of regular sessions for kids; library is housed in a newly renovated County Hall and includes a nice cafe inside the amazing glass atrium; great town park and playground; new complex of Odeon cinema, civic centre, restaurants (M&S Foodhall opening soon); theatre; Wiltshire Rural Music School (where you can hire instruments); Drawing Projects UK (beautiful exhibition space, artists studios and cafe); Trowbridge Arts (arts centre housed in the amazing former town hall); Hope Nature Centre (animal park with trampolines, play areas, mini golf and cafe); Southwick Country Park.....

1. Excellent transport links - regular trains takes

Hi Winstone so great to hear your positive review. We moved to Trowbridge 15 years ago from a much "naicer" part of Wiltshire, and it's honestly been great. So much more for the DC to do and get involved, great transport links - particularly by train, & lovely people.

Hello Winstone, thank you for your lovely post. We just moved two days ago from Berkshire, how hard it is at the beginning! OMG! Where and where is the monthly artist cafe? I would appreciate any further suggestions considering I have two beautiful princesses aged 3and 6 willing to explore. Thank you

Hello, Thank you for your lovely positive post about Trowbridge! I'm so pleased to hear that things are working out for you. We moved here from London 15 years ago. Yes, there are negative aspects to the town, as there are everywhere, but we have made a happy and successful life here. I'm a published writer, currently working one day a week as writer in residence in a school in Bath. Over the years, I've always been able to find suitable, interesting part-time work that has allowed me to pursue my writing (it doesn't pay very much) and to bring up my children. My husband works in IT - he usually commutes to London Monday - Thursday (one downside of moving here was that he couldn't find local work that paid well enough). Our children are now 18 and 17. They both went to local schools and our daughter is now at Oxford University studying English (she went to St Augustine's) and our son is studying for a BTEC at Bath College (He has ten GCSEs from St A's). We have taken full advantage of the library, the Music School in Gloucester Road, the Museum, the playing parks and a much bigger and nicer house than we could have afforded elsewhere. Now, I love Drawing Projects (in Bridge House by the station) and arts events at the Town Hall. I echo all that you've said in your post, it was so good to read what you've written!

I've lived in Trowbridge for 10 years. In 2013 we bought a brand new 4 bed townhouse for £170k in the town centre. We can both commute inside 40 minutes. What's not to love!

We’ve viewed a property in Trowbridge today we love. But just read really bad feedback about ASBO’s, high crime rate, Chav City etc. We would be moving from Berkshire and have a 2 year old. This is all sadly putting us off!

Today Trowbridge is featured in an online article at The London Economic - 'The 10 best up and coming places to live in the UK' (search for it online). Trowbridge is right next door (five minutes away) from Bradford on Avon and only 20 minutes from Bath. Of course it is looked down on by those places and it is scruffier, and there is a mix of people here. It is brilliant to read positive comments in this thread, so please don't be put off by negative ones.

Hello,

I know this post is quite old but I was excited to find people on here that live in Trowbridge.
I moved here from Devizes coming up almost years ago when my little boy was 12 weeks old. Fast forward to now and I have another little boy and I honestly don’t know where the time has gone!
Anyways I’m writing because I don’t have any friends over this way and it’s getting quite lonely being a mum of two under 2 years. We go to one baby group but I find it really hard to speak to other mums because they are all in groups already. Does anyone know of any groups for mums to meet other mums?
Tia xx

Hi there.. as I see these posts a quite old, I'm looking for a bit or advice on the area also, we are in the process of potentially moving to Trowbridge, I too have seen some negatives but my minds thinking it cant be worse than south east London where we are hoping to move from ... I have 6yr old son, 2 yr old daughter, I'm a florist, quite like the party vibe places so that's all good to read too.. but of course it needs to be a good move..
I wont lie, we are council tenants so I worry that we would be moving into those areas everyone speaks badly of.. any advice would be appreciated. Thank you x

Hello

I too am moving down from London Stamford Hill.
What attracted me to Trowbridge was the cheaper properties while still being so near to Bath and Bristol.
I think Trowbridge looks quite pretty so I am concerned why it is so much cheaper than surrounding areas?
I am willing to take the plunge knowing that I can hop on the train to so Bath and Bristol?
While being able to afford a decent flat.
:)

Any advice on Trowbridge would so much appreciated thanks :)

In reply to rosegjh I’ve lived in trowbridge 17 months and I like it. I’ve had no problems here and found people friendly generally. Advice would be avoid moving into council areas. It’s a relaxed town.

To rosegjh if you have any questions let me know.

Hi there everyone I need some advice we want to move from London to Trowbridge could you please list some safe areas to raise a family there I have 4 year old daughter. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

Did you move to Trowbridge and are you happy there?

We are moving to Trowbridge from Essex hopefully later in the year with two young children and a dog.
Please can anyone recommend Facebook groups, nice walks, things to do with children, nice non-chain restaurants, gyms, swim lessons, etc.
Thanks 😀

We are buying a house right near Hilperton (south of) and am wondering about the sewage plant in Trowbridge and if it will be an issue smell wise, or if there is an overspill during heavy rains etc? We are 2 miles up from the plant. We've also seen there is a large business park near us. Trowbridge is within budget and near family in Bath and has schools etc where other areas don't have or are rated under Good by Oftsed (which is the nearest guide as to how the school is doing) or the schools are too far away (7.8miles!!) because nearest ones (e.g one was at 1.5miles but not in catchment which is ridiculous) hence settling here. If I had more of a budget but I don't. Any thoughts on the above?

Sorry meant just below Staverton! Getting houses confused!

Hi, did you move in the end? I’m in social housing I’m South East London and looking at a swap in Trowbridge so would be keen to hear x

@claireHellopetals Hi, did you move in the end? I’m in social housing I’m South East London and looking at a swap in Trowbridge so would be keen to hear x

@FD90060

We are buying a house right near Hilperton (south of) and am wondering about the sewage plant in Trowbridge and if it will be an issue smell wise, or if there is an overspill during heavy rains etc? We are 2 miles up from the plant. We've also seen there is a large business park near us. Trowbridge is within budget and near family in Bath and has schools etc where other areas don't have or are rated under Good by Oftsed (which is the nearest guide as to how the school is doing) or the schools are too far away (7.8miles!!) because nearest ones (e.g one was at 1.5miles but not in catchment which is ridiculous) hence settling here. If I had more of a budget but I don't. Any thoughts on the above?

This is late so may not be any help! If you are buying near Hilperton you'll be well upstream of the sewerage plant. I paddle the river and it's very clean, lots of wildlife. I've been in Trowbridge a decade and never smelt the sewerage plant. Hilperton and the surrounds are lovely - hope you like it!

Hi, I am thinking on moving to trowbridge west ashton from london by a council swap,, I'm a single mother with 3 children, so would very much like to know how the area is, could anyone kindly please help/advise me on the area, I have heard that it is a rough area, but would very much like to hear from others that live in trowbridge, thank you

West Ashton side of Trowbridge is a good area. One or two parts of Trowbridge are a but rough but that is not one of them. If it's West Ashton itself, then West Ashton is a tiny village, with expensive houses and no shop at all. You would need a car 100% in West Ashton. Hope that helps

@MaudDeBohun thank you! We have moved and love the house and although we are still checking out the local area we do like it here. Yes, there are a mix of people but I ove how close it is to my sister in Bath and the cou try side and managed to get my eldest I to à school in Bradford-on-Avon so very happy. We are just near the canal and plan to roller skate and bike around the area, hopefully! We moved to where we could afford near family this way and so far I think it's been a good move for us. I couldn't buy nearer and at the time the housing market was horrendous. We are lucky and blessed to have a roof over our heads, good health etc. :) I have a 13 and 10 so would be great to hear of ideas around the area you and others might recommend. Thanks so much in advance. :)