Leaving London for better quality of life

[Ellsiedodah]

Hi all, we're going to leave London next summer to have a better quality of life and to live nearer my mum in Cheltenham. My husband's industry is based in London so he'll be in and out so it needs to be accessible. Planning to look at Cheltenham, Stroud and Cirencester but open to ideas. Want an attractive town, good state schools (certainly for primary school age) and broad minded people. Budget will be c. £475k for a 4 bedder. Thanks!

Why broadminded ?? Are you planning on have sex parties every week or setting up a commune.??

Ha. Why not? Are you up for it?

I nearly wrote open minded but thought that would be the interpretation. Which is actually not what we're looking for, though each to their own. We want a new community and we enjoy the company of people who engage with the world, question things and enjoy educating themselves. That's what I meant.

Stroud sounds ideal then - hippyish vibe but I hear it gets lively in the town at the weekends. Is Bristol too far?

Depends on how your DH would be travelling to London.
Bristol is approx 1 hour from Cheltenham (driving) and approx 90 mins to central London by train. You should be able to find a 4 bed in many areas of the city for your budget but probably not in catchment for "best" secondary schools.
There are trains from Stroud to London but Cirencester doesn't have a station. I think that you may need to change trains to get to London from Cheltenham.
My other suggestion would be Bath - closer to London and better schools than Bristol. There are 4 bed semis available in your budget.

I had friends who relocated to Cirencester and they’ve been very happy. Schools seem good, no train station in Cirencester but don’t think it’s that far to drive to one.
My friends didn’t continue to work in london so didn’t commute so don’t know how long it takes to commute from Cirencester.
I do know that the London to Bristol train line is expensive.

From Cirencester your closest local station for Paddington would be Kemble.
Personally I can never see the attraction of Stroud. Apart from the farmers market the shopping isn't that good, there is a lot of graffiti, wandering youths and drug abuse. I avoid going there if I can ( especially when they closed ALL the public loos because so many people were shooting up in them.They have now reopened) I know this is a problem in many towns, but it always bugs me when Stroud is toted as some Cotswold's idyll, when it really isn't.
Stonehouse (and surrounding villages, like the Stanleys, Selsley, Cainscross, Cashes Green) is a bit better, and also has a station on the same line. Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, Tetbury, Malmesbury, Avening and Ciren are all much nicer than Stroud. Or even consider the outskirts of Gloucester. There are some very quiet suburbs where you budget wouldn't be stretched at all.