Moving to Swindon area.

[Meguinness]

Hi guys , looking to move to a area where we can buy a detached house under £300k , for work reason close to the M4 or M3 . On the M4 we been looking at Swindon. We got two kids ..a 5 and a 12 years hold . What can you tell me about Swindon ,? Good or bad? What would be a nice place close to Swindon?
Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks

Swindon is a hole. You’ll struggle to find anywhere decent where you can get a detached house for that price in the Home Counties. We have a budget of 375k and are looking at terraces and semi detached if we are lucky!

So all the under 300k I see for sale are all in bad areas? Thanks

How many beds? There are some nicer parts (West Swindon, Tadpole Garden Village). You can definitely get a 3-bed detached for £300k.

Great Western Academy is a great secondary school in North Swindon. Heard good things about The Deanery in West Swindon / Wichelstowe.

It's tricky to find anyone with much good to say about Swindon. We live about 20 minutes away and only go there for the big box shops. Maybe have a look at all the new build estates that are popping up? I think 300k for detached house is going to be tight.

How about Royal Wootton Bassett?

incentivised.com/listings/buxton-way-sn4-8jb/

I lived in Swindon for a number of years. I can't recommend it I'm afraid.

Yeah Swindon really isn't great but there are great places nearby but you do pay more to be out of Swindon. Have you looked at Chippenham? That's more affordable and whilst people can be a little disparaging I thought it a nice place (worked, not lived). We considered it, but have bought in a village between Swindon and Cirencester.

Another person saying avoid Swindon unless absolutely necessary

I went there once. That was enough.

I am from Swindon.

I no longer live there.

You won’t find a three bed detached for under £300k in any decent part of Swindon.

Avoid like the plague most of the areas which start with the letter P. Penhill, Pinehurst, park north, park south. Priory vale isn’t too bad but it’s a relatively new area and the houses are expensive.

Thank you all for the suggestions, will look in to Royal Wootton Bassett . What about along the M3? Andover or surrounding? Thanks

You might be best off starting a new thread with the title asking about M3/Andover area OP.

@SatsumaFan

You might be best off starting a new thread with the title asking about M3/Andover area OP.

Thanks I have.

I lived in Swindon for 10 years. The town itself is horrific. The location great. Such easy access to some nice places.

There are a few 3 bed detached for under £300k in SN25 which is to the north of the town and is fine so I have to disagree with a PP on that.

Pretty quick access to the M4 from there (although rush hour traffic down the A419 was building when I left and I gather there are planned to stop people exciting at the A420 roundabout to get to Covingham/Dorcan soon which will make it worse).

I wouldn’t rule it out just yet OP. Although saying that, Royal Wootten Bassett and Wroughton have v good secondary schools (speaking personally, I don’t recommend Abbey Meads Primary School).

@BetteTwoShoes

I lived in Swindon for 10 years. The town itself is horrific. The location great. Such easy access to some nice places.

There are a few 3 bed detached for under £300k in SN25 which is to the north of the town and is fine so I have to disagree with a PP on that.

Pretty quick access to the M4 from there (although rush hour traffic down the A419 was building when I left and I gather there are planned to stop people exciting at the A420 roundabout to get to Covingham/Dorcan soon which will make it worse).

I wouldn’t rule it out just yet OP. Although saying that, Royal Wootten Bassett and Wroughton have v good secondary schools (speaking personally, I don’t recommend Abbey Meads Primary School).

Thank you for your input, I would like to add that we are looking at a radius on 50 to 60 miles away from Bracknell (work place) ...so any towns sandwiched or close between M4 and M3 could be ok.

Wroughton, just south of Swindon is a great place to live. Great schools, countryside feel with all the convenience of living near a large town and easy to get everywhere. You couldn’t get a detached house for sub £300k, but then you can’t get one of those in a lot of places in the south of England.

@BetteTwoShoes

I lived in Swindon for 10 years. The town itself is horrific. The location great. Such easy access to some nice places.

There are a few 3 bed detached for under £300k in SN25 which is to the north of the town and is fine so I have to disagree with a PP on that.

Pretty quick access to the M4 from there (although rush hour traffic down the A419 was building when I left and I gather there are planned to stop people exciting at the A420 roundabout to get to Covingham/Dorcan soon which will make it worse).

I wouldn’t rule it out just yet OP. Although saying that, Royal Wootten Bassett and Wroughton have v good secondary schools (speaking personally, I don’t recommend Abbey Meads Primary School).

Is Swindon getting better? or there's been no change. Because we are thinking on moving there soon.

@MeanMrMustardSeed

Wroughton, just south of Swindon is a great place to live. Great schools, countryside feel with all the convenience of living near a large town and easy to get everywhere. You couldn’t get a detached house for sub £300k, but then you can’t get one of those in a lot of places in the south of England.

We are finding that the houses in Wroughton are over priced. We are from London. We sore a house last week, The houses wasn't in good nick, but the agents are asking for 300.00K. I think that house is worth 200.00K because it needs a lot of work

I know this is an old post but does anyone know what Stratton is like in north Swindon, near the secondary school? I've heard north Swindon is good, but it doesn't seem so nice in this part?

I know a couple of people/families who live that way and love it.

Thanks - I've since found out out it's upper Stratton off Ermin Road by the secondary school?