Chippenham, Marlborough area – what's it like to live round there?

[Frieda]

We've been vaguely thinking about the possibility of moving out of London (mainly because of the schools thing) and we both have family in Wales and the Southwest, and now an opportunity has come up in this area for dh. It always looks very pretty when we drive through this part, and Bath and Bristol both look attractive ? but what's it actually like to live there? I'd really appreciate it if anyone can offer any insights/advice.

TIA

pph lives there

have emailed here
we live in salisbury further south which doenst have a s fast a train link to london if you are still going back fro work, BUT it is much nearere the coast which is important for me

Thanks, codswallop. Not sure whether I would try to commute (may not be worth it, as my present job is the other side of London (city) - was thinking perhaps of looking for something in Bristol, if not more locally.
Is Salisbury nice?

loverly

my brother works in bristol , moved form london years ago

Salisbury is nice and Bath too.
I have lived this area all my life and have no dreams to move away really.

look what you could buy of ypu had 795 000 to spare

Golly, codswallop ? I wish I had! Unfortunately, we'll be looking for something slightly more modest.

Both mine and dh's parents live in Chippenham. (Weird coincidence as we both met in London) Also, I was brought up in Salisbury so know that well too. Here's my random thoughts - hope they help.

Chippenham - only an hour and a half down the M4 to London. (Depending on whereabouts you want to go in London, of course. We live in Highbury and allow more like two and a half hours.) Chippenham used to be a cheap alternative to very expensive Bath, just ten minutes away. But people have got wise to how convenient it is (Only an hour and ten mins on the train to Paddington, actually) so prices are starting to rise. My mum has a six year old in school there and I know she loves it.The schools are, apparently, good. One point though - my mum's six year old is black (adopted) and she's one of only two black people in her whole school. In this day and age I find that a bit weird but maybe that's just the provinces in general for you. There is some beautiful countryside around there - Box, in particular, is a beautiful village.

Salisbury is altogether prettier as a place with a beautiful cathedral and a 'posher' feel generally. I went to one of the few grammar schools left there and the headmistress was a cross between Margaret Thatcher and the queen. I have no doubt that Salisbury prices won't be that different from London's though as it really is quite posh! It's the cathedral, I suspect, that makes it so desirable (And therefore expensive)

I personally love Bristol. It offers so many of the same things as London but without the hassle. Like London it has areas with different characters. Clifton is georgian, beautiful and incredibly expensive. St Pauls isn't. People who live there could tell you more.

Both mine and dh's parents live in Chippenham. (Weird coincidence as we both met in London) Also, I was brought up in Salisbury so know that well too. Here's my random thoughts - hope they help.

Chippenham - only an hour and a half down the M4 to London. (Depending on whereabouts you want to go in London, of course. We live in Highbury and allow more like two and a half hours.) Chippenham used to be a cheap alternative to very expensive Bath, just ten minutes away. But people have got wise to how convenient it is (Only an hour and ten mins on the train to Paddington, actually) so prices are starting to rise. My mum has a six year old in school there and I know she loves it.The schools are, apparently, good. One point though - my mum's six year old is black (adopted) and she's one of only two black people in her whole school. In this day and age I find that a bit weird but maybe that's just the provinces in general for you. There is some beautiful countryside around there - Box, in particular, is a beautiful village.

Salisbury is altogether prettier as a place with a beautiful cathedral and a 'posher' feel generally. I went to one of the few grammar schools left there and the headmistress was a cross between Margaret Thatcher and the queen. I have no doubt that Salisbury prices won't be that different from London's though as it really is quite posh! It's the cathedral, I suspect, that makes it so desirable (And therefore expensive)

I personally love Bristol. It offers so many of the same things as London but without the hassle. Like London it has areas with different characters. Clifton is georgian, beautiful and incredibly expensive. St Pauls isn't. People who live there could tell you more.

Both mine and dh's parents live in Chippenham. (Weird coincidence as we both met in London) Also, I was brought up in Salisbury so know that well too. Here's my random thoughts - hope they help.

Chippenham - only an hour and a half down the M4 to London. (Depending on whereabouts you want to go in London, of course. We live in Highbury and allow more like two and a half hours.) Chippenham used to be a cheap alternative to very expensive Bath, just ten minutes away. But people have got wise to how convenient it is (Only an hour and ten mins on the train to Paddington, actually) so prices are starting to rise. My mum has a six year old in school there and I know she loves it.The schools are, apparently, good. One point though - my mum's six year old is black (adopted) and she's one of only two black people in her whole school. In this day and age I find that a bit weird but maybe that's just the provinces in general for you. There is some beautiful countryside around there - Box, in particular, is a beautiful village.

Salisbury is altogether prettier as a place with a beautiful cathedral and a 'posher' feel generally. I went to one of the few grammar schools left there and the headmistress was a cross between Margaret Thatcher and the queen. I have no doubt that Salisbury prices won't be that different from London's though as it really is quite posh! It's the cathedral, I suspect, that makes it so desirable (And therefore expensive)

I personally love Bristol. It offers so many of the same things as London but without the hassle. Like London it has areas with different characters. Clifton is georgian, beautiful and incredibly expensive. St Pauls isn't. People who live there could tell you more.

Both mine and dh's parents live in Chippenham. (Weird coincidence as we both met in London) Also, I was brought up in Salisbury so know that well too. Here's my random thoughts - hope they help.

Chippenham - only an hour and a half down the M4 to London. (Depending on whereabouts you want to go in London, of course. We live in Highbury and allow more like two and a half hours.) Chippenham used to be a cheap alternative to very expensive Bath, just ten minutes away. But people have got wise to how convenient it is (Only an hour and ten mins on the train to Paddington, actually) so prices are starting to rise. My mum has a six year old in school there and I know she loves it.The schools are, apparently, good. One point though - my mum's six year old is black (adopted) and she's one of only two black people in her whole school. In this day and age I find that a bit weird but maybe that's just the provinces in general for you. There is some beautiful countryside around there - Box, in particular, is a beautiful village.

Salisbury is altogether prettier as a place with a beautiful cathedral and a 'posher' feel generally. I went to one of the few grammar schools left there and the headmistress was a cross between Margaret Thatcher and the queen. I have no doubt that Salisbury prices won't be that different from London's though as it really is quite posh! It's the cathedral, I suspect, that makes it so desirable (And therefore expensive)

I personally love Bristol. It offers so many of the same things as London but without the hassle. Like London it has areas with different characters. Clifton is georgian, beautiful and incredibly expensive. St Pauls isn't. People who live there could tell you more.

Both mine and dh's parents live in Chippenham. (Weird coincidence as we both met in London) Also, I was brought up in Salisbury so know that well too. Here's my random thoughts - hope they help.

Chippenham - only an hour and a half down the M4 to London. (Depending on whereabouts you want to go in London, of course. We live in Highbury and allow more like two and a half hours.) Chippenham used to be a cheap alternative to very expensive Bath, just ten minutes away. But people have got wise to how convenient it is (Only an hour and ten mins on the train to Paddington, actually) so prices are starting to rise. My mum has a six year old in school there and I know she loves it.The schools are, apparently, good. One point though - my mum's six year old is black (adopted) and she's one of only two black people in her whole school. In this day and age I find that a bit weird but maybe that's just the provinces in general for you. There is some beautiful countryside around there - Box, in particular, is a beautiful village.

Salisbury is altogether prettier as a place with a beautiful cathedral and a 'posher' feel generally. I went to one of the few grammar schools left there and the headmistress was a cross between Margaret Thatcher and the queen. I have no doubt that Salisbury prices won't be that different from London's though as it really is quite posh! It's the cathedral, I suspect, that makes it so desirable (And therefore expensive)

I personally love Bristol. It offers so many of the same things as London but without the hassle. Like London it has areas with different characters. Clifton is georgian, beautiful and incredibly expensive. St Pauls isn't. People who live there could tell you more.

Wow, I can't believe you have posted this today Frieda. DH has just been offered a move to that area and we are looking at moving to Malborough/Chippenham area. We have been out a few times to have a nose around the towns in that area, but I was going to ask MNetters if they have any views/info they can give. We are going to move in Feb probably, so I'm VERY interested in what others say on this thread. If you do move out there, perhaps we could meet up - another thing I have been thinking about (I'm a bit worried about being a Billy no mates once I move).

Thanks, raggtaggle (I had a problem with my browser, once, which made me post the same thing loads of time ? however, in my case it was some embarrassing facile comment that kept popping back to haunt me!) Your post was really informative and helpful ? even thought I did hear you the first time

Deffo, Potpourri ? I'll keep you posted! Are you moving from London, too? I had been kind of hoping property prices would be a bit more affordable that way, but most of the nicer-looking bits seem to be just as expensive as where we are at the mo .

not sure about the current market but 4 years ago when we moved Marlborough was a lot more expensive than Salisbury. Didn't look at Chippenham.
Marlborough is very pretty, but quite small. Has a Waitrose and a Somerfield, lots of estate agents and Italian restaurants, but not a lot more - you'll need Swindon for bigger shops. Also has the highest petrol price in the country, so avoid the garage on the A4! Lovely villages around and great walks.

ragtaggle I bet wee were at school together with miss matthews?

I am off to chippenahm on a mag course tomorrow
the mag courts a re very handlily ont he outside so I never see the centre, the drive of 37 miles takes 1 hour and 10 minutes!

If you want tog o to hte coast in the summer you woudl have o bear this in mind

salisbury has a cinema ( listed!) theatre, lakeland (!) grammar schools ( ok if your kids get in) and generally a toy town feel to - weekly market int he market square, the most fantastic array of playgournds you will ever see adn ot s of river s a nd lovelyl hills

It also has a wopping waitrose food and home that is fantastic, if expensive
what would your budgeta nd style of house be like I cna look

Yes, I am also moving from London. We saw a few things that were bigger than what we could get here (West London) for the same money, but as always, it depends on how nice the area is and the links to London. I'm on maternity leave currently, but I'm 99.9% sure my work will let me be based from there as they are very advanced in flexible working and homeworking etc. I would need to get into London maybe once a week, but travel time of under 2 hours each way would be fine.

I think we may rent for a bit (we rent currently so as long as a bit cheaper than here, we will be better off, so long as I keep my job). We figured that if we rent we can then take our time in finding somewhere we want to live as well as all the hassle of buying a house. After a new baby and a move from all our friends etc, I think the stress of a house purchase might be just a little too much for one new year!!

Hiya We moved from Reading (close to London) to a little village which is in the middle of Maralborough/swindon/salisbruy/andover etc and I have to say it has been a HUGE culture shock!! Don't get me wrong - everywhere around here is lovely, there are lots of pituresque villages with thatched cottages and fields with horses but it's hard adjusting after living in a city for so long. Of all the places I'm surrounded by Salisbury is my favourite because it is a fairly big town and is really beautiful. We drove through Marlbrough last week and it looks very much like Henley if you've ever been there?

where are you going pp?

are you in grately z?

Yes, I am also moving from London. We saw a few things that were bigger than what we could get here (West London) for the same money, but as always, it depends on how nice the area is and the links to London. I'm on maternity leave currently, but I'm 99.9% sure my work will let me be based from there as they are very advanced in flexible working and homeworking etc. I would need to get into London maybe once a week, but travel time of under 2 hours each way would be fine.

I think we may rent for a bit (we rent currently so as long as a bit cheaper than here, we will be better off, so long as I keep my job). We figured that if we rent we can then take our time in finding somewhere we want to live as well as all the hassle of buying a house. After a new baby and a move from all our friends etc, I think the stress of a house purchase might be just a little too much for one new year!!

Didnt realise you were in Salisbury Cods I LOVE that cinema!!!!