Bracknell?

[DiploCat1]

Me, DH and DD will be moving back the UK after living overseas for 3 years and are looking to buy our first house. We have been looking at Bracknell due to its seemingly reasonable house prices and reasonable commute into waterloo. However, apart from Coral Reef which I frequented as a child, we have little knowledge of what Bracknell is actually like. Are there any areas to avoid? Hidden gems? Any mumsnetters from here that could give us some pointers?

There are some lovely places in and around Bracknell - The Lookout, Southhill Park - and a huge new M&S!!
Spend some time looking at the town - there are pockets of deprivation which you will want to identify and consider.

I used to live in Warfield, about a half hour walk from the station & there's a lot of building going on in that area at the moment. I rejected Forest Park when I was looking as there wasn't enough parking for the number of houses. The town centre regeneration has really improved the town as a whole - it's fabulous. The train into Waterloo takes about an hour as it stops everywhere, and is to be avoided on Ascot race days & Twickenham rugby match days.

Great Hollands is not the best part of Bracknell.
New town. Traffic congestion in rush hour.
Recently regenerated town centre was described as rubbish by my friend. It's got a waitrose and a cinema.
I wouldn't want to live there but it's not too bad.
I think there are trains to Waterloo every 30 mins and it takes about an hour.

For a Waterloo commute have you looked at the Portsmouth - Haslemere - Guildford line? It's possibly a little more expensive (perhaps?) but some lovely areas.

I also lived in Warfield for a while but for some reason could never quite settle there so I didn't stay long, despite living in quite a lovely house.