Any experience of Uxbridge, Middlesex?

[ConfusedMummy07]

Hi

I'm considering relocating from leafy Surrey to Uxbridge in Middlsex. Has anyone got any good or bad feedback on Uxbridge? Education wise it seems on par with Surrey and the SAT results are pretty similar to the school that my DD would have gone on to.

Thanks!

Anyone?

I have come out of long-time lurk mode as I saw you had no answer!

I grew up in Uxbridge.... I'm afraid I can't think of much positive to say. There are certainly worse places to live, and it is convienient for transport links. It isn't a terrrible place but not great either. Maybe it is just bad luck but all 3 of my brothers were victims of random, unprovoked assult within the last 15 years. Every time I go back to visit familly I am glad I don't live there now!

I worked there for two years and I wouldn't want to live there. But there are some nice villages nearby. If it's the tube that appeals, bear in mind it takes over an hour to get into central London - the Met line to Uxbridge is painfully slow

Thanks for your replies :-)

Didn't realise that it was that bad......

I'd stay in Surrey.

Used to work in Uxbridge and certainly wouldn't want to live there. I can't see it has many redeeming features!

Why do you want to relocate?

Ha! I just remember I was mugged outside my house in Uxbridge too. Christine right about the tube, I think it is about an hour to Baker street if all goes well.

Uxbridge only seems ok if compared with nieghbouring West Drayton, which really is a hole.

I'm thinking of moving there as I'm a single mum and my parents are willing to help out with the school runs etc. I haven't got any back up in Surrey and will have to spend a small fortune on childminders. I'd rather pay my parents to look after my DC than a complete stranger.

Whalefish I really hate West Drayton

I know Uxbridge as I used to teach relatively near there. It is not somewhere I would choose to live.

I can see why it might be a good move... It depends how much you like your current area. Where would you prefer your DD to be in her teens?

twinklypearls why, what's wrong with Uxbridge?

whalefish I really like living in the village and having open ample green space around me. I don't think that this is an easy decision and it will be a complete wrench to leave my current area. As for my DC and where she should spend her teens, well even here they hang around street corners & cause trouble even though we are in a really affluent village

We live near Ruislip in Hillingdon and I'm afraid there seems to be a real divide between THIS side of the A40 and THAT side ( that has Uxbridge on).
This side is generally considered to be much nicer and I'd recommend Ruislip/Eastcote/Pinner as a nice place to bring up kids.

Please stay in leafy Surrey

I live in a village outside Uxbridge. It's fine, and uxbridge is handy for shops (everything from a huge pound shop to a smarter shopping centre!) Not sure I would want to live in Uxbridge itself, but I don't think you can underestimate the importance of living near your parents, especially if you're a single mum. I'm not, but I still wished mine lived closer for nursery pick ups, babysitting, general help!
Also, the metropolitan line does take ages, but the central line runs through ruislip too, and you've got the Piccadilly line and the overground into marylebone. V well connected and don't think it takes that much longer than getting from central London into Surrey?
You can get out into some v pretty countryside quickly too.
Good luck whatever you decide.

I'm moving to gerrards cross, maybe you should consider there? You'd be close to uxbridge and your parents, but not in uxbridge.

If it would be a wrench to leave your current area you are really going to hate Uxbridge. Other posters are right about some nicer places nearby, but perhaps the reason for moving - your parents help with your daughter - would not really work out unless you live really close to them.

From reading other threads about how much help people get from their parents (mainly in AIBU!) you should make sure your parents really are as willing as you think. Their idea of helping could vary somewhat from what you had in mind... If you haven't already it might be wise to make it totally clear what they will and won't do, it would be a tragedy to end up in Uxbridge for no good reason!

I didn't turn out too bad despite my early disadvantage of growing up there. I just wish my parents would get their act together and move somewhere nicer to visit!

whalefish you are right in that I cannot consider other areas as I need to live very close to my parents so that they can help me out. I have already spoken to them regarding my expectations etc and they seem happy to accomodate me.

Why do you think that you had an early disadvantage for growing up there? If you parents still live there then you must have gone to school there?

I'm kind of joking about it being a disadvantage really - in the end no matter where you live you can't control who your daughter is friends with at the age where your peers become the biggest influence in your life. And there are bad crowds to fall in with everywhere. I happened to fit right in with a minority crowd of assorted geeky/artistic/unfashionable misfits who didn't care if people thought they were odd for reading books or being in the Scouts! Therefore i spent more time camping and lighting fires than hanging around the shopping centre.

I attended 2 different secondary schools - one with a poor reputation for a term before a place came free at the 'better' one a bit further away. Sometimes I wonder how things would have panned out for me and all of my younger bros who automatically got a place at the better one after I got in. The first one certainly didn't have a great atmosphere for achievement. (not much point me naming the schools, I'm sure it was long enough ago that reputations are different now - but if you have a preferance be aware that competition for places at whichever is best now will be fierce, and you must be within the catchment area to have any hope of getting in)

Hi, I am starting my new job in Uxbridge. I have a 3 year old son and am planning for another one. Could you please help me in choosing areas to consider (to buy): 1. Very good primary and secondary schools 2.Less than 12miles to Uxbridge 3.Links to London (Hubby's work). Would prefer Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.All suggestions would be gratefully accepted. Thankyou.

Hi Rolly
What about Twickenham/Teddington? Great Primaries, some great Secondaries, straight down the A312 from Uxbridge and good connections into London.
It's a lovely place to bring up children.

How about gerrards cross?

I reckon mymumdom's got it about right.

You can go from a rough area with bad schools to a nice area with good schools in about two tube stops. A day's reconnaissance and you'll get a feel for which bits are up to standard.