Relocating help

[Bishboshbash]

Dh has just been offered a job in Corsham and we are looking to relocate from Scotland.
I am currently a SAHM with a 1 and 4 year old, the 4 year old will also be starting school so any info on primary schools would be appreciated.

Having searched on here it seems Chippenham doesn't seem to get very good reviews,would love to live in Bath but doubt we could afford it.
We currently live in a big city so I am a bit nervous about living in a tiny village, DH will probably need the car for work so ideally would be somewhere we could walk to school/activities/ shops etc but not be bored!

Can anyone suggest anywhere that would be a good fit? Is it worth looking at Bristol or would the commute be hard going? I get the impression schools aren't as good?

anyway, any help would be appreciated, feeling very clueless!

Bump for evening!

Why not Corsham? The primary school is supposed to be good. There's a lot of house building there at the moment. I believe there is talk of the train station being reinstated.

Bath is expensive and Bristol's quite a distance.

(and there's nothing wrong with Chippenham - near the motorway, good schools, on the main line between Bristol and London Paddington, lots of children's activities )

Thanks Coke.
I was a bit worried Corsham would be too small and not have much going on. Maybe that's not the case.

Corsham is a small town rather than a village. Plenty going on. Chippenham has some good schools. Bristol is great for adults but disastrous for state schools.

Look at Royal Wootton Bassett. Also a small town. Fab schools, great community groups (loads), and very friendly. It's semi-rural, but close to Swindon, although I wouldn't recommend living there (parts of it are OK though).

It's near the M4 for days out too.

Swindon has improved vastly. Not pretty but then near to cotswolds for that, and lots going on. Easy to get to places too like Bath, Oxford , Reading, can't say I drove to Corsham so can't say about that. West Swindon puts you near the motorway for travel. Also really safe compared to other big towns/ cities. Just moved away from there, never thought I'd miss it but I did to start with, coming to a more rural location. Found it a culture shock, you might too the other way round if you go somewhere with less activites, though I've got used to it now.

Corsham is a small town with a VERY small high street with 1 supermarket shop in it. For any shops you need to travel to Chippeham, Trowbridge or Melksham Travelling from Bath to Corsham for work can be between 20 mins and 1.5hrs - if after 7am. Bristol would be a good hour travelling as well. I know you are in Scotland at the moment but are you able to visit at all? Is he being transferred and you get housing or are you buying/renting privately? That could also change it all. There is obviously a large military family presence therefore if military there would be a large support network for you all. Corsham Primary schools have all got mainly 'outstanding' scores and there is a peep school too. Railway station - no confirmation yet....
Message If you want to ask any queries. 😀

Corsham is considered quite a desirable place to live. My sister's sister in law lives there and loves it. Her son is happy at the local school and doing well. As others have said, Bristol is a hike and Bath is expensive - VERY expensive. I would try and get a house in Corsham itself, or neighbouring areas. I don't know Chippenham. It would be well worth your while coming down for the weekend and sussing out the area. The area has a lot to offer, but it is very different from Scotland. You can get into Bath reasonably easily if you aren't travelling at peak times if you want some culture .

Thanks for the replies!
He will be working for the MoD in Corsham and we will be renting. I think that might make it hard to get something in Corsham itself if there is not a lot about for rent.
Does anyone know much about Chippenham, Trowbridge or Bradford on Avon? They are other places I've seen ok looking houses to rent.
DH will be going down to looking at houses. Too complicated for us all to go and we need to move asap.

There are not many houses to rent in Corsham currently and they do go quite quickly. Bradford on Avon is beautiful but expensive, small and touristy- good for days out. Trowbridge is about 20/25mins away from Corsham and with Chippenham (about 10/15mins away from Corsham) they are the two closest towns with shops, facilities and more affordable housing than Corsham. If there are issues with you all moving at the same time he could sign up to the mess and stay there during the week until you arrive. Rightmove is really good to show what houses are available and then looking on maps is useful for seeing what is around.
The main thing I would say is deciding what you want in an area.

Bradford on Avon is a nightmare for traffic.

Really helpful thank you.
Ideally I'd like to be able to walk the eldest to school and then for there to be enough for me and the toddler to do during the day. Although I would be quite happy to drive/get the train in to Bath or something for activities if need be.
I'm hoping nice green spaces, places for days out should be achievable from most of these places?

Oh and the reason we want to move ASAP is to start trying to get DS1 into a school.
I don't know how likely it is he will get a place so close to term starting, I have no idea about schools, nevermind English schools haha!

Give Wiltshire council a ring on Monday to ask about school places availability. Have a chat with them and explain what you're planning on. I know Corsham has a lot of military children so they are used to lots of in year movers. It's finding the right place. I think Corsham is quite quiet - size of a small town, brilliant sports centre with lots of clubs/groups(I've not done baby groups here but looks like a lot) and a good play are. The secondary school has just had a bad Ofsted but that should mean it will get more money and get better. Primary schools are good.
Just looked on right move and there are a few houses available currently and not bad pricing. Generally for a 3 bed in Corsham renting it's £900+ a month. Trowbridge and Chippenham generally £750/£800+

I think it's a low birthrate year so you should be ok.

Thanks very much for your help Coke and dizzy. I will give them a ring on Monday and I may well be back with more questions!

Jo10000 the best thing you can find to say about Swindon is that it's a good place to easily get to other places from!!!

You must admit, it's a bit chavtastic. Almost every shop in the town centre is either a fast food shop, charity shop, pop up pound shop type thing or empty.
Reasonable Debenhams and M&S (although I heard that's closing I'd favour of the one at the outlet), small Too Shop and that's about it.