Moving to Birmingham with the family - where to look?

[lilyblue82]

Hello amazing mumsnetters,

We are moving to Birmingham from London in the Summer as husband will work at the University of Birmingham. I've never been there but I have started to have a look at properties, so I need your precious help and knowledge.

Considering South and East Birmingham and I wonder what is your opinion on Bromsgrove?

Budget is 400k but we can stretch. Looking for a 4 beds house. We want to be in a nice and friendly area with lots of family. Good schools are important as in Sep 2018 my son will go in Y2 and my daughter will start reception.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Val

I live very close to many of the houses on your list and know the park and school well. If you need Cotteridge based info I am also happy to help!

Does it have to be Birmingham? I'm in Wolverhampton, 15 mins by train to New St, about 30 - 45 to Birmingham uni with a change at New St.

Not saying it is wonderful, it isn't, but as an example you do not NEED to be in Birmingham to work there, it might be worth having a look further out to get more house for your money.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70101542.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60304663.html

What ages and sex are your children? The girls' school in Wolves is in the top 10 state schools.

Just going back to your original post Bromsgrove also worth a look it just depends how near the city you want to be. As an ex Bromsgrovian it certainly ticks the boxes you talk about of family, schools etc plus the motorway access is brilliant. But it's not the city and as coming from London whether it would be too much of a culture shock I don't know? I love bromsgrove though for great countryside on your doorstep and fantastic pubs! Anyhow had a look and saw this...Astley Road, Bromsgrove, B60
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49970283.html

Coming to the area tomorrow! Can't wait.

Planning to go through the roads with the houses on sales, but what else would you suggest to do? Where to stop for lunch? Thanks a lot!

Will go to Bromsgrove too tomorrow to have a feeling about the place.

Exciting! In Kings Heath you could have a wander on the High Street and the park and go to Maison Mayci or Kitchen Garden Cafe for lunch. When you're in Bournville mooch around Bournville Green and Cotteridge Park (Cotteridge Park is on Franklin Road) and if you have lunch here I recommend either Leverton and Halls on Mary Vale Road opposite Rossiters butchers (a very good organic butcher) or head to the Pershore Road in Stirchley and you'll find CanEat or pick up something to go from Loaf where it's salt beef Friday!

Bromsgrove is ok but further south where my Dh lives is nicer - Droitwich and the villages round there are good and so are the schools.

Brother not Dh!

I did wonder what was going on there! thought it might be a LAT thing.

Does it have to be Birmingham? I'm in Wolverhampton, 15 mins by train to New St, about 30 - 45 to Birmingham uni with a change at New St.

Lol, that's very much 'in theory'. My dh worked in Wolverhampton for 3 yrs, travelling into Town by train then to W'ton. The reality of that daily nightmare was a lot less appealing than the theory.

OP Realise I'm too late to give any advise on where to wander round / go for lunch for today.

My thoughts on houses are - Knighton Rd is really sought after. I'd definitely move there if I could. Really lovely road to live.
Franklin is a nice area to live - parking is an issue though (as I think it would be in the Kings Heath one although not so familiar with Kings Heath.). I'd go for the Norman Rd one probably, or the Knighton if you feel it is big enough once you look round. Norman Rd puts you nearer the stations, Knighton is definitely considered a much 'naicer' road.

From Norman, go to bottom of the Rd (walking), cross over, and go up the path opposite. It takes you up the side of Churchyard for St Laurence Church - this is 'old Northfield'. Lovely old Church and pub. Then head onto Bunbury Rd, cross over (slightly left, then right) and you get to the bottom end of Victoria Common, which is the local park. If you wander down the High Street then you will see it has it's limitations (lots of fast food and charity shops) but does still have a post office, banks, and a couple of nice coffee shops.
From Knighton, (walking again) turn right at bottom, cross over Woodlands Park, walk along then keep right on Hawthorne and you will come out on Heath Rd South. on your right is Rowheath Pavillion - lots going on there, from sprots to arts to social . There's a cafe there and just a nice place to wander.
You've had advice from Franklin and I don't know Kings Heath so well.
hth

Thought I would give you an update lovely people.

We went today and we loved the area of Bournville/Cotteridge/Harborne. We view three houses and we drove through the area between Northfield and Harborne, Cotteridge.

We decided that we would focus on Bournville and Harborne.

People were so friendly, stopped to talk to us, that’s so lovely!

Lol, that's very much 'in theory'. My dh worked in Wolverhampton for 3 yrs, travelling into Town by train then to W'ton. The reality of that daily nightmare was a lot less appealing than the theory.

That depends, if you have done a London commute for a couple of years then it's not that bad.

OP good luck with the house hunting. Glad you like the area.

Would love to share some more thoughts with you lovely people, after few days from our first visit.

We really love Franklin road, there are another two houses on the market thought they need updating but I'm prepared for it.

What's the nearest road with some shops and restaurants?
What's the park like? (we went in a very foggy day so we couldn't see much).

What would be the nearest supermarket?

Farmer market?

When we went it looked a very quiet road with lots of families walking.

Feel free to comment any concern, your advice has been so valuable so far.

Thank you and happy holidays!

What's the nearest road with some shops and restaurants? Depends what you are after...... Bournville Village Green has a few shops (don't shop there myself so someone else will have to fill in the details but I think it has a butchers, a general store, newsagents, knitting shop and a couple of others)...... Cotteridge is walkable - bit like Northfield High Street really, a bit shabby but that is probably your nearest series of shops..... then you aren't far from Stirchley High Street which is particularly excellent for curries / baltis - both takeaways and restaurants. If you wanted to "go shopping" (clothes, or Christmas shopping etc) you'd probably either go into the City Centre (easy on the train from there) or train or drive to Redditch or drive to Solihull.

What would be the nearest supermarket? Probably nearest is to go to Sainsburys in Selly Oak (close to the University) or Co-op in Stirchley although there are smaller ones such as Co-op in Cotteridge or the minisupemarket at the TESCO petrol garage very close to Franklin.

What's the park like? (we went in a very foggy day so we couldn't see much). Nice. Quite a big space. Play area (there's also a play area at Cadbury World which is quite close). Lot of grass. Good sledging in the snow. They have quite a bit going on - big festival / fete in July, various activities for dc, from littlies to teens throughout the year.

Farmer market? On Kings Norton Green once a month (there are also some shops there). there is also one at the university once a month (probably only in term time, not 100% about that).

When we went it looked a very quiet road with lots of families walking.

I have responded to your PM (happy to keep chatting), but here is the info generally on Cotteridge Park cotteridgepark.org.uk

Thought I would give you an update on how the move went. We finally moved to Selly Park and all went well. So after a lot of calls we have been lucky and for our children (Reception and Y2) we have been offered a place at St Edwards in Selly Park and St Mary’s Catholic in Harborne. Here’s the dilemma. Our house is closer to St Edwards, but my gut feeling is telling me to go for St Mary’s and go through the traffic pain. Our concern is the fact that if we go for St Mary’s the kids won’t have local friends. What are your views? Thanks a lot, Val

Welcome to Birmingham!
I stumbled across this thread, and having lived in South Brum for over 15 years I read it in interest.
From your last message, I would say that it would be better to go for St Edwards. You'd be in a world of pain traffic wise getting from Selly Park to Harborne and back each morning and afternoon. I don't know if you need to get to work after school drop off but that would be even more traffic to factor in.
Know people whose children go to St Edwards and they seem to really like it there. Facilities wise it's great and we did look around it ourselves when viewing schools before our child started reception (was actually one of our 3 choices, if choice was the correct word in the baby boom year my child started reception!)
There always seems to be a lot of birthday parties and a lot of the kids go to the park (one by Warwards Lane) after school, which seems to be a hub of social activity (my friend got to know a lot of moms from the school there I think)
Think it's a valid concern about your kids having local friends as the people I know whose kids go there live in Selly Park, Selly Oak (Muntz park end) and around there. That's not to say that kids from out of the area don't go there, but I imagine it's predominently local kids.
I'd also say that if you can, it's nice to be able to walk to school and back. I find that when we walk to school that my child and I have some great chats, but less so if we're in the car as have to concentrate more.
If your children went to school in Harborne you'd have to drive every single day.

There is the bad weather to factor in too. I sledged my kid to school during the snow earlier on this year/last year but there's no way you could do that from Selly Park to Harborne.
We are actually moving (only 5 mins up the road) but one of the factors when looking for somewhere was somewhere we could still walk to school as didn't want to have to drive in really bad weather/have to drive every day if could help it.

Hope that some of that is helpful.
Essentially though, you know what's best for you and your family and if you decide to go to St Mary's then I'm sure that your children will be happy there.

@Claire24R, thanks! Thanks a lot. I will be working from home and commuting to London once a week. However things can change and over the next 7 years I may have another job though. It’s impossible to predict.

My dilemma is around the quality of the school with St Mary’s been outstanding and St Edwards been good but until 3 years ago it was requiring improvements. After reading the ofsted for the schools, St Mary’s is by far the best however the ofsted for St Mary’s is dated 2008. That would make me drive for 7 years however... the kids are very new to the city and friendships are very important. If the kids go to St Mary’s they won’t be local. They love cycle to school, they can’t do that for Harborne.

The other concern is about the ethos of the school. Whilst in London we discarded a pushy outstanding school for something a bit more mixed and relaxed. The kids loved it.

It’s so difficult to make a decision on their behalf. I really feel that St Mary’s will give them a great opportunity whilst St Edwards would be more an average choice.

Outstanding vs good, so tough.

I’m desperately trying to grasp some good reasons for discarding St Mary’s and not feeling guilty