Moving to south wales from London

[Amelia2012]

Hi everyone, it’s my first thread just hoping for general feedback if poss :) my dp and I have put an offer for a beautiful house in Blaengwynfi and it’s been accepted fingers crossed it all goes through, we have a dd who will be 12 soon and a ds who will be 5, we have lived in London all our lives but because of crime rates and just the busy schedule of life round here we want a better future for our children we have spoke to DD who is happy and excited to move to wales as I feel it would affect her most, was just wondering about schools in the area any recommendations? Shops? And basically what it is like to live there? After we viewed the house on the way back to London we stopped and looked at the views it was amazing and breathtaking and so quiet and peaceful. I will have to leave my job if the house goes through and my dp will be working from home was just wondering about jobs and if there are term time jobs locally so I can be with the children when they are off school?

Hi I don't live in Blaengwynfi, but not a million miles away. You obviously get more house for your money, but it will be a big culture shock for you. This is a deprived area, so while there are jobs usually minimum wage - not like London. Can't comment on schools as I don't have kids in school. Public transport is also poor. Drugs are a problem as they are everywhere these days, but unemployment is high. Hope it works out for you.

Thank you for your reply, definitely more house for the money can’t afford to live round here even if we wanted to, but where I am at the moment police are round my road every week or every other week for my neighbours. Public transport isn’t an issue as I drive, I have tried to research schools and got the email for admissions to get them placed in a school when the time comes, I’m on minimum wage anyway but yeah I understand about unemployment, just want a better life for my children and to enjoy the freedom which we don’t get to round here. when we viewed the house we met a lady who lives down that road and said it’s a lovely quiet road and close knit community hope she wasn’t lying lol.

I moved from England to Powys and it was a bit of adjustment.
Finding work may be hard as the areas are small and may require a long commute wont be anything like London. I lived in London for 2.5years and Hated it with a passion.

Some things I struggle/d with:

• fewer shops / shops closing down
• driving 45mins to get to major shops (high street clothing shops etc).
• a lot of places close early and 99% of the shops don't open Sunday!!!
• not many indoor places to go to on rainy days
• not all supermarkets can deliver to you. I miss Ocado.
• we are 50 mins from Major A&E hospital across the border to England!!

However on the flipside:

• traffic barely exists
• loads of outdoor activities
• clean air
• quiet and peaceful
• much much safer environment for kids
• very friendly residence
• can get GP apt same day or me at day!!!
• care team much better especially for children. I had the same midwife my entire pregnancies and never rushed with apts.
• 0 stress for us no issues with people.
• where we live schools are good and they have peivate options to.

On the topic of schools most have reintroduced Welsh into the curriculum.

@MixedCouple sounds like it be a good move I don’t mind the children learning welsh I think it be good for them and hopefully they can teach me a bit too. We all want to get away from the busy life so everything you mentioned sounds bliss lol at the moment we are right by the airport so don’t have no luck of clean air. Just hoping the children will settle in new schools as they are both excited. I don’t mind travelling to do food shopping, it will take time to get used to I’m sure I don’t normally like going out my comfort zone but I know deep down this is the right move for us as a family