Bedford

[spotty26]

My DH went to school in Bedford and lived in St Neots. We are thinking about moving there from SW London for a few reasons:

1 Schools
2 Commute to london
3 Close to in laws in st neots and shaves 2 hours off to my parents up north
4 Reasonable and large victorian houses

We do not want countryside living in cute cottage (yet) but want tall ceilings original features. Like this... which is over budget but wow.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-19381062.html?premiumA=true

I have seen threads on here slate Bedford. Is it that bad? Tell me about it please.

Rothsay is a lovely road. The Castle Road area is quite nice in fact recent local paper reports suggest that residents call it the Notting Hill of Bedford. Lots of Yummy Mummy types.

Personally I find it a great place to live, great schools especially independent. Great parks. Great commuting to London. Some beautiful villages nearby. Shopping so so but there is a new Waitrose that is currently being built if that is your thing.

DH is in the forc es and we moved to a v small village about 6 miles from Bedford 18 months ago. The last time I went to Bedford was 1987 and it was grim, sorry, but I think it is even grimmer now. There are some nice big old houses but an awful lot of it seems incredibly deprived and run down (and I live on army camp, lol). Shopping is crap. Best thing to be said about it is that it is very multicultural, a good thing imo. I wouldn't move here, much nicer places in this part of the country I think.

Have to say I know nothing about the schools

Yes I would say certain areas are run down but I am sure no different to SW London or anywhere else in fact. Yes the shopping in the town is not great but isn't everywhere like that empty shops etc. The parts that are nice are lovely, you can get quite a lot for your money if you are coming from London and it is only 40 minutes on the fast train to Kings Cross. There are lots of positives to Bedford. You should visit the river, around the castle area, new museum/gallery opening next year, lots of crafty things happening, music interests.

Look at We are Bedford or The Bedford Clanger two things run by local mums.

They don't call it 'Dreadford' for nothing - just sayin

Well I have never heard anyone say that.

Thanks people. I am quite an optimist so as long as I had some loveliness, park, river, a few cafes, I can look past grottiness. I live in Tooting now so do this daily! Loving the crafty bloggers and pop up shops -right up my street.

Lots to think about. Do you think Rothsay/ Castle area is better than De Parys/ St Augustines roads near to the Park?

Saints area has some lovely houses as does De Parys but personally I prefer Rothsay/Castle area.

Bedford is horrible.

Ha ha. Tell it like it is Joanthefennel...what is it you don't like? In my experience most Towns of this size have some grotty parts but are there no redeeming features for you?

Everyone says its nice by the river, but the river isn't even that nice.

It's the pollution and the smell that pervades within about a 3 mile radius. My asthma was the worst it has ever been the year I lived there.

Maybe I've just been spoilt in the other places I've lived in.

Hi spotty26 - Bedford is OK. Perhaps not the place I would have dreamed of living in, but I've now been here for almost 8 years and I'm happy enough.

I'd say it is down to personal preference whether you prefer Castle Road or De Parys/Saints. If you're commuting, then De Parys/Saints/Prime Ministers are all slightly closer to the station than Castle Road, but there isn't much in it.

The independent schools are good - the state schools are variable (and still 3 tier at the moment). Bedford Park and Russell Park are both lovely, and there are some nice cafes (my current favourite is the new one on Roff Avenue - the ginger cake is amazing).

I wouldn't worry about the shopping - you can always go to Cambridge, London or Milton Keynes. That said, my DC (age 6&7) love going into town - largely because of the library (which has a nice coffee place ).

You should be warned though, that shopping in Milton Keynes is a whole new level of hell....

so true blahdi, so true. MK is definitely to be avoided on the weekend, but bearable during the week (and a better selection of shops than Bedford).

I just get completely overwhelmed by it all and always come home empty-handed!

Oubliette0292 - Yes that cafe is lovely

There are villages around Bedford that have v good schooling. Wootton, whilst not a picturesque village has good value properties available and has a good middle and upper school whih get good results (65% GCSE A-C approx). It is only a couple of miles from Bedford town.
To the north of Bedford by a couple of miles are Clapham and Oakley - they have an outstanding middle school and feed into Sharnbrook which gets excellent GCSE results (80% + most years).
The upper schools in Bedford itself do not do too well but the independents offer generous bursaries/ full scholarships so could be an option

Great thanks. We are keen to live in town as we like the period town houses.

Spotty - ignore JoantheFennels remarks about the smell from the river. I am looking at it as I sit here typing. I have never, ever, heard anyone complain about it smelling. I hardly think people would stroll along the Embankment on pleasant evenings in such numbers, or sit outside the Embankment hotel or the rowing club balcony enjoying a quiet drink if there was an almighty pong in the air. I also have mild asthma and no way has it been worsened by any miasma from the river.

I prefer this end of town, i.e. the Castle Road area. The houses are mainly in single family occupancy whereas the Saints area tends to be a bit "flatty" - no offence to flat dwellers out there!

You don't mention your children's ages but the Castle Road area is served by Castle Lower, with an "Outstanding" from OFSTED. Not necessarily the be-all -and-end -all I know, but our grandchildren love it there and are doing very well. The three tier system is a bit of a pain, but one of the local middle schools, Goldingon, has also been given "outstanding", and the other one, Newnham, has a new head who is reputed to be very good.

Do you know about "The Paddock"? The houses at the east end of Waterloo Road, a chunk of the Embankment and the southerly parts of Rothsay and Bushmead enlose an area which is for their private use, invisible from the road. There used to be a tennis court there, maybe still is, it is a large pleasant area like a private park. Understandably houses with access to it tend to be a bit pricier.You can spot it on Google earth.

I do agree that the shopping is not brilliant, but at least from the Castle Road area it is a short and pleasant stroll into town; if you don't like Milton K you can go to Cambridge and Park-and-Ride or get a bus.

Our elder son is currently looking for a new house in SE london. Favourite is on sale for £600,000 with about £200,000 needing to be spent on it. We think he is insane since for that money, as you have seen, you can get a mansion in Bedford. Downside is a weekly season on the train = £100, nevertheless...

Might have to name change to FanofBedford

Wow, I didn't know there were so many MNers in Bedford!

The shopping isn't triffic and there are some truly ugly areas in the town centre. But I visited the fruit and veg market for the first time on Saturday and loved it.

The absolute best thing about Bedford IMO is the quantity and variety of open spaces. The Embankment, Russell Park, Bedford Park, Priory Park, Forest Country Park to name just a few. Then there are all the footpaths that join them, the international athletics stadium, Bedford RFC...if you like the outdoors and/or sport it's a great place to live.

Thanks hintofbream and quenelle. Does your son want to houseswap... we are in sw london!

I have been onto the crafty websites mentioned above, I have visited the green spaces and I think it is lovely and has lots going for it. I grew up in Birkenhead on the Wirral, a similar feel, some beautiful enclaves and some drossy bits, super schools etc.

I think it is "on hold" for the foreseeable, that house was removed from the market so not even got to see that but I think I am sold on the Castle Road end of town.

Thanks again everyone