Warwickshire

[zeeww]

DH's got a new job in Warwick, so will be moving to the area after Xmas. We prefer semi-rural, and not too far away from warwick and amenities, spoken to various friends in the area and also did 'drive-rounds' in the areas to get a feel. So far we have narrowed to Kenilworth, Southam and Alcester. Discounted Stratford for being too touristy, and leamington we get less house for the same money.

Schools are important too, DS is 2 and another one on the way. We can see ourselves living in the area for a foreseeable future, so it could be awhile until our next move after this.

We have not family/friends ties in any of these areas, we would welcome views about which of these areas are much better to live in?

We haven't started viewing in these areas, but driving about I quite like southam and kenilworth, DH liked all of Alcester, southam and kenilworth. However we are not sure what's good/not so good about these areas?

Thanks in advance for any comments...much appreciated

Southam has a terrible reputation, and the schools are...debatable. People from Southam will defend it, but I'd certainly avoid it at all costs. I grew up in Warwick, and Southam was always the place to avoid!

Your analysis of Stratford and Leamington are pretty fair. Stratford is often a nightmare for tourists, as is Warwick itself.

Kenilworth and Alcester are quite similar. Both have good road links. Kenilworth has a lot of things to do, especially for children/teens, I went there a lot with friends growing up. Schools in both areas are considered okay, I didn't go to either but there was no problem with them. Certainly not known as 'bad' or 'struggling' schools.

I don't think you'd go far wrong with either, to be honest, if you like the look of them. I had friends who lived in both and commuted to Warwick, and it's okay.

Have a look at the HS2 route; that will give you areas to avoid (maybe including Southam).

Why do you want to be so far from Warwick? There are lots of villages closer than Alcester (at least; Kenilworth's not so far).

Thanks for the quick response on these 3 areas.

kenilworth has a lot to offer, that's for sure, could easily see ourselves living there, and lots for kids to do. The concern for us is that most property coming up in our range are on the north east sides where HS2 consultations are going on!

As for Alcester, loved the areas and my only concern is the distance to Warwick for DH's commuting, although it didn't seem to bother him.

Would you be able to elaborate on what southam should be avoid at all costs for? And you are right, the ones that recommended to us southam were people living there, or have families there.

thanks!

Have you considered Barford , Wellesbourne, Loxley? All lovely villages in close proximity to Warwick with good schools.

Don't completely rule out Stratford - the tourists aren't here all year & the schools are great!

Barford is nice but very rural. No local shop rural, you will have to drive your future teens to/from town rural, because there is one bus in the village and it comes about every 2 hours. They have (fairly) recently built a bypass which has reduced the traffic in the village.

I think Southam is okay. I've never lived there but have visited. I don't like it much, it's dated, and can feel a bit villagey without having the nice parts of a village. I don't think the schools are particularly bad at all!

Hatton is lovely and Hampton Magna if you want to be near to Warwick, quite a few smaller villages around that way. Hatton has a train station so your future teens can catch the train into Leamington when they want to go shopping/go out etc. There's also a farm park at Hatton which is fantastic but overpriced if you pay full price - would be very worth getting a season ticket with two tiny ones though, especially if you live nearby.

The secondary school in Southam is outstanding and has been for a number of years, not sure about the primaries. It's actually quite a long way from Warwick though, and can take some time to commute, especially when you end up following tractors etc!
Kenilworth is nice, more shops/bars/restaurants than southam.
I would definitely look at some of the outlying Warwick/leam villages like hatton/Hampton magna/cubbington too.

I have lived in both Kenilworth & Leamington, having grown up in nearby Solihull. Firstly, Kenilworth isn't exactly semi-rural - you'll need a smaller village for that rather than the 25k population town it is. It's a lovely town to raise a young family though. Leamington Spa House prices is cheaper in general than Kenilworth which is why we bought there years ago. If you wish to take a longer term view, Leamington has a mainline station to London and more amenities when your children grow older and is separated from Warwick by a small bridge. otherwise, it's part of the same urban sprawl albeit an attractive one. I would say that Leamington is also one of the few places left in the uk where gorgeous regency period housing is still within the reach of normal folks. Huh

Hth

Another no to Southam - There is always a reason why it's a cheaper location!

No to wellesbourne unless you want to not drive on Sundays and bank holidays. There is a VERY popular market there

Thanks all for your response, we had another drive around leamington a pnd kenilworth today, and loved the areas (inc. some surrounding villages but had to discount some of those due to lack of amenities). We drove to southam too, and agree it's not as close to Warwick as it seems.... which kind of put us off a little bit

We were wondering why southam is a 'no-go' area compared to leam/kenilworth? I agree we may get 'slightly' more house for our money in southam, but that'll be irrelevant if southam is to be avoided - so we are intrigued to know? Is it the schools or the community?

Also, which bits of Leamington are nice?

The trouble now is to find suitables properties. Currently not much is coming up on the market, until after Xmas I think. Anything half decent coming up will be snapped up....

Southam just feels like the 1990s and it's a bit soulless and depressing. I had a boyfriend who lived there when I was 18 and I never ever had sex with him sober. We were always off our faces on something. If that tells you anything

Leamington - the base rule is that North of the river is "posh" and South of the river is a dump, but it's a bit more subtle than that. There are bits at the top which are rough (Lillington, esp Crown Way and Eden Court) although Cubbington is near Lillington and that's ok.

South of the river you have Tachbrook and Whitnash - Whitnash is alright. Warwick Gates is a housing estate here, built about 15 years ago which is popular. Tachbrook Road and the smaller streets off this is affectionately referred to as "the ghetto". If you go a bit further to the East along the canal then there are some very nice, cheap, family homes in a quieter part. I lived here for 4 years and actually loved it. Quite student heavy but also a lot of families. Never any trouble, DS went to a lovely little community primary school which actually had a proper community feel, (I'll PM you the name if interested) there are lots of childminders around the area too, easy to walk into town, very close to train station and easy to drive to supermarkets and 2-3 parks within very close reach. Only thing is that Campion School (the secondary in this part of town) is awful, but North Leamington is very good and you have Trinity in Warwick and the two private girls/boys' schools. If you want grammar schools though, definitely consider Stratford or the villages around there.

What's your budget? Can I fantasy house hunt on Rightmove?

Plus Russell Howard lives in Leamington

Thanks Berstie

It looks like southam is not for us if it's soulless and old fashioned villagey feel?

Our budget is around £325k and if we find a derelict (not for 325k!) we are happy to take it as a project.....

I hope you don't mind I got a bit carried away

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40881773.html

This is nice in Kenilworth although the rooms are a bit small.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26088231.html?premiumA=true

If you like period properties :) Henley In Arden is beautiful.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43289588.html

Nice quiet area of Warwick, slightly boring 60s house, but nice sized rooms and they tend to be built well.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40085290.html?premiumA=true

Another Henley In Arden one :)

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39680671.html

Here's a sort of wreck in Lighthorne Heath. That's a nice village, very small though.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27723282.html?premiumA=true

This is gorgeous - in Warwick. Watch out for ghosts though! A lot of these old houses are apparently haunted.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41614016.html

Nice but terrible photos.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40078844.html

Bishop's Tachbrook - another lovely village on the other side of Leamington.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41246467.html

Open house in November

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40059070.html?premiumA=true

Nice modern house in Whitnash

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40374478.html?premiumA=true

New build in Leamington

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43609175.html?premiumA=true

Nice/quiet estate, about 10-15 years old. I used to live near here as well.

Oh yes, avoid absolutely anything to do with Newman's estate agents, they are utterly incompetent and there's a reason why they have a lot of properties listed much cheaper than the standard prices. Probably not as much an issue when buying (we rented from them) but they lost documents, didn't fulfil their side of the contract, etc. Bit of a nightmare.

Would help if I clicked the button really, wouldn't it??

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40881773.html

This is nice in Kenilworth although the rooms are a bit small.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26088231.html?premiumA=true

If you like period properties smile Henley In Arden is beautiful.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43289588.html

Nice quiet area of Warwick, slightly boring 60s house, but nice sized rooms and they tend to be built well.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40085290.html?premiumA=true

Another Henley In Arden one smile

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39680671.html

Here's a sort of wreck in Lighthorne Heath. That's a nice village, very small though.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27723282.html?premiumA=true

This is gorgeous - in Warwick. Watch out for ghosts though! A lot of these old houses are apparently haunted.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41614016.html

Nice but terrible photos.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40078844.html

Bishop's Tachbrook - another lovely village on the other side of Leamington.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41246467.html

Open house in November

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40059070.html?premiumA=true

Nice modern house in Whitnash

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40374478.html?premiumA=true

New build in Leamington

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43609175.html?premiumA=true

Nice/quiet estate, about 10-15 years old. I used to live near here as well.