Cheltenham or Gloucestershire move

[RyanStartedTheFire]

Considering relocation for DH's job. We have a budget of £300k max, need a three bed, preferably a four or an office space. We have two kids in a large school at home, 90 kids in each year, want something a bit smaller. Would we be able to afford a nice area in Cheltenham or are we stuck looking at Gloucester. Currently looking at Churchdown but DH is reluctant, he's heard from colleagues it's not very nice but I've not seen anything else suggesting that.
Anyone recommend any areas? Any opinions or help welcomed. I can't currently drive but will have to learn before the move - touch wood!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56588175.html

Amazing schools

We live in Hardwicke which is an easy jump on the m5 to Cheltenham and much nicer than the rest of glos imo. We bought a beautiful 3 bed newly extended detached with a decent size garden for £270K last year. I grew up in Gloucester and I wouldn't recommend most of it to be blunt. If price was no issue we'd choose Cheltenham however it's so over priced. Bus routes etc to schools in Cheltenham mostly run to Gloucester too as they're close and plenty commute to and from. Then again, those who live in Cheltenham often say it's just an outsiders view as to how "nice" it is. So. PS driving round GCHQ at rush hour is a NIGHTMARE. Something to bear in mind

I've lived in the centre of Gloucester and the centre of Cheltenham and they both have the same problems like any other town/city. Churchdown is fine for both Glos and Chelt as is Brockworth, regular buses and park and ride. I've never been keen on Bishops Cleeve or Quedgeley, obviously Charlton Kings or Leckhampton are the more upmarket areas but traffic is a nightmare and they're over priced.
I like Brockworth, Hucclecote, Shurdington, Churchdown, Barnwood, Longlevens etc. all handy for both towns and the motorway

We live in Brockworth because we found we could get a lot more house for our money than Cheltenham and Churchdown. It's not the poshest village but we like it here, the secondary school is improving (but were also in catchment for churchdown secondaries and there's grammars).

It's quick to get on M5 over to Cheltenham (we are right on 11a). We like it here, there's a good community spirit. We were in St Marks in Cheltenham before, it was ok but we prefer it here.

I also agree with PP, Gloucester city really isn't a hellhole. No worse than any other cities, has it's crappy areas but they're really developing it.

If you don't want to move until the summer anyway, fine. But please don't specifically delay your move for your DDs phonics test!! That is crazy! What can your school be telling you if you believe it is that important?

It's purely to check on the SCHOOL- not your DD!

NerrSnerr, I went to Brockwerf Comp an I'm alrite en I? It was bloody brilliant when I was there many moons ago (after the riots and before it went downhill)

@heartshapedknob
I was going to suggest Upton st Leonard's too. The school is good and if you go to the west side of Upton the houses are surprisingly good value.

Churchdown is reasonable too- well it was 20 years ago when we lived there.

Thanks everyone for all of the options. Going to discuss once DH is in bed.
As an aside, it's not just Gloucester that I don't want to live in the centre of, I wouldn't fancy the centre of Cheltenham either. The Gloucester/Cheltenham thing is obviously a bit of a divide!
I think the best thing might be to move with DH's work to Innsworth and experience a few areas whilst renting out our house. It seems a massive decision to make with no real knowledge of the areas. At least we can start narrowing some down though so thanks again for all the suggestions.

I lived in Gloucester for 7 years and have now been in Cheltenham for 11 years. I have to say I much prefer Cheltenham! However it is very overpriced for housing. Churchdown is nice and has good schools, but also Hatherley is worth a look. If I wasn’t in Cheltenham I would probably live in one of the villages in the Stroud area.

Anyway good luck with the move, this is a lovely area to live in!

Is there any need to try and out the job after I've purposefully kept it vague?

Yes because it makes a difference to the answer. You need somewhere with links to the golden valley bypass A40 to stand any chance of getting there without being stuck in traffic.
Benhall would be your only reasonable option in cheltenham as its walking distance. That or hesters way but i sense youre not keen on that one!
Churchdown would be a waste of money if it is gchq. Churchdown runs paralel to the golden valley bypass and you cant get accross to gchq you have to go out and around the village either to gloucester and down the a40 or into cheltenham hitting traffic at the churchdown exit/cheltenham entrance.
Your best option gloucester wise is longlevens. You come straight out of the estate and youre at the start of the golden valley. 15mins to gchq...tops. longlevens is a nice place to live.
If gchq is the destination, you will spend at least an hour each way in traffic getting accross cheltenham from the 'nice' area of charlton kings.
Most people leave cheltenham to work in gloucester so livingnin cheltenham you'd be adding yourself to the current traffic however by living outside of chelt and goinvnin, you are going against the majority of the traffic, saving time and fuel, plus money in the house.

Don’t talk such rot. I’d give the same advice to someone commuting to MBD, staverton airport, the retail park with b&q and Asda, the film studios, or the three large hotel options in that area. Or even someone wanting to live in Cheltenham but get on the motorway for commuting purposes.

And not everyone working in that area, or even working in GCHQ lives in longlevens.