Chippenham, anything wrong with it?

[likeatonneofbricks]

seen many negative comments on it, but are there good points and good areas within it, with easy access the rail station, either walking or a good bus?
For someone who needs to upsize but can't affort the best of Bath, and needs quick access to london, isn't it a good compromise?
I know Corsham is nice but is there a frequent bus to Chippenham station or is it dire?

Just bumping this for you, I grew up not far from Chippenham, my best friend lived there (twas a while ago...). Like anywhere there are good and bad areas. There are buses to neighbouring towns. Train to London takes a little over an hour.

It has a newish Pizza Express so is obviously "up and coming". Used to have a busy evening drug scene among local teenagers so you might want to avoid the town centre for living and research the "nicer" streets. I went to Monkton Park recently and there were broken glass bottles etc. all over the place.

Hope this helps a bit and someone more knowledgeable comes along soon!

PIL live in Chippenham, I've been coming here for ...17 years or so... quite like the town, feel safe walking home at night. High St is like any other with pubs and bars and rowdiness of an evening but you get that in Bath too. Very handy for M4 and train station. Have a look around, not sure about 'good' or 'bad' areas but that's like any town. Chippenham is currently expanding (as is everywhere) and I like it. HTH

It's lovely - like mini Bath - yes High Street is rowdy - what main street isn't.

It has a very community type feel.

DH wants to live there.

thank you for replies! a bit of a contrast between the first one and the last posts, but overall sounds like it's worth a look. It's just prices are SO much lower than in Bath I was wondering why. It's only 15 min awway by train and quicker to london. Is tere a good park there (without too many broken bottles)?

Ive been to monkton park a few times and it's always been lovely tbh.

John Coles Park is lovely. Has fab bandstand (with concerts on Sundays) and lovely children's park and tennis courts

see here www.chippenham.gov.uk/leisure/john-coles-park.aspx

Great state secondary schools too (Hardenhuish & Sheldon) and some lovely villages on the outskirts (Lacock, Castle Combe, Biddestone to name a few although house prices are much more £££ here)

I think it's a great place for families to live.

thanks halfbaby and bloodyfurious. Definitely will go and look soon. what about shops - is Bath the best option nearby, or any nice shops/food shops/delis around town or nearer than Bath?

Allington farm shop is nice( but pricey). There is a mini waitrose in town and decent sainsbury. No real delis in town. Either Bath or Chipping sodbury has a few nice shops. I live between Chipoenham and CS.
The secondary schools are fantastic but beware as villages nearby get priority and you may find living in town that in a big year town dwellers won't get places. Can recommend looking at the villages between Chippenham and A 46 if your budget will stretch.