Is stoke mandeville, Aylesbury a nice place to live?

[Babyfg]

We're looking to relocate. We can get a lot more house for our money in Aylesbury (we're moving from London) and it's closer to family, better air and seems to have a lot of positives for us.

We've found a dream house in stoke mandeville. We told the estate agent we are very interested, however we're at the early stages of selling so did not expect the house to be still available. The house is still available which obviously were really happy about...but are we missing something that an amazing house hasn't been snapped up? Is the area nice? I thought I did a lot of research and I think I'm just getting jitters and just need a cold hard reality or reassurance that it will be amazing.

There is significant development planned in Aylesbury. Is this house close to that?

What about Princes Risborough? I lived in Aylesbury a few years and I'm always grateful I only lived there for s couple of years.

I think hs2 goes through or very close to stoke Mandeville so that's worth looking into. There is also obviously the hospital which is worth considering whether that's something you want to live close to as I know parking can be a nightmare around it if you haven't got a driveway?
There's a lot of new builds going up around there as well.

On the whole though I'd say it's a nice part of Aylesbury vale to live in, obviously there's the train station which is handy and it's close to Aylesbury for anything else you need.

Depending on budget there are nicer villages/towns around Aylesbury than stoke mandeville but probably more expensive.

@Teddybear45 I know that there some new houses being built nearby and there's a link road planned (which has mixed reviews, some people think it's great). Would that make a place undesirable? Also I thought the hs2 would be more desirable?

@Rainbowhairdontcare may I ask what you didn't like about Aylesbury?

@Lucylou321 we looked at the villages and we think they're a bit quiet for us, I think a town is the quietest we'd be comfortable with. We liked the local amenities and the grammar schools were a plus for us as we have two young children. We looked at Milton Keynes but we found it quite bland. The dream house has a large drive so hopefully no one will be cheeky enough to take those spaces 🤞

Also thanks all for the replies. I'm open to listen to everything as I don't want to blindsighted by a beautiful house!

I found the town centre quite depressing (especially the mall). I lived very close to the gyratory so it was noisy. Neighbours weren't very nice. GP surgery was useless. Lots of drugs/dodgy things going on my street (Madeley Road).

I’ve had family in Stoke Mandeville for years. They’ve been really happy. Nice community, lots going on, handy for Aylesbury without being too busy, train into London etc. Couple of nice pubs, big playing field, community centre and playground. More for your money than Wendover but as close to HS2.

Spend some time locally if you can, good luck with the move!

Are they the Red Row’s by any chance? If so there is a strong possibility that the older houses will lose their value which may explain things. It’s happened in Leicestershire too - the second a Red Row development was built the sales around it dropped as they were smaller and less desireable

@Rainbowhairdontcare we currently live basically on top of an a road so totally get your dislike of the gyratory. It is awful and we really dislike it. We are definitely only considering quiet roads for that reason.

@HelenaJustina thanks. We got a good vibe the couple of times we've been. I really want to visit the area at night time and in rush hour but it's been a bit difficult with the small children but I definitely am going to before we put an offer in.

@Teddybear45 I don't think so. Is red row a housing company? There's quite a lot of new builds about but we found it they were smaller than the house we were looking at.

Again thanks for all the replies ❤️
It's on kings land road if that means anything to anyone.

Red Row are a luxury development company and tend to build large ‘American style’ houses with double-garages etc. They are often bigger than the surrounding houses on purpose. I know there is a development planned in / around Aylesbury but not sure where.

This is the link

www.redrow.co.uk/developments/weston-grove-aylesbury-222449/?mpmdiv=22&infinity=ict2~net~gaw~ar~275523672620~kw~redrow%20aylesbury~mt~e~cmp~Weston%20Grove%20%7C%20Aylesbury&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj-ykoOPs5AIVWOd3Ch0H1QcvEAAYASAAEgKQ8vD_BwE

Sorry but Aylesbury isn’t very nice at all. We used to live near the Princes Risborough side and there are much nicer areas nearby, especially if you’re moving from London.

Lookat Berkhampstead, St Albans, Thame, they’re all much much nicer.

Stoke Mandeville is pleasant but the village bit to the south will be ruined by HS2 (if it goes ahead) so that's something to bear in mind. It's a non stop high speed line between London and Birmingham ie there are no stations along the way, and it will be like having a motorway ploughing straight through. The construction of it and traffic disruption will go on for years, with zero benefits for the local community.

Also the Grammar schools are great but only a small percentage of kids pass the 11+ to get in. You can't count on your children getting in!

True. A lot of the Aylesbury (and Buckinghamshire) grammar school students are ferried in from Milton Keynes

Ah, I would call that Aylesbury rather than Stoke Mandeville, my experience is more with the actual village. Nice enough bit of Aylesbury though, v handy.

Think carefully about the grammar school system if you have kids. Aylesbury schools are great if they pass but what are the options if they don't? It's not a fair system, there will be bright kids that don't pass every year just as there will be less able kids that do pass and then struggle at a grammar.

Stoke Mandeville is nice enough, nighttime isn't a problem in Aylesbury in general but rush hour.........all it takes is 1 accident on any of the major arterial roads around Aylesbury and the whole town becomes snarled up.

If it's your dream house, go for it but I'd look at places like Thame, Berkhamstead, Buckingham, St Albans, all much nicer than Aylesbury.

Schools are one to watch. The comprehensive schools aren’t great from what I’ve heard. The collet is supposed to be pretty bad.

Aylesbury is lovely, i work all over and yes there is a lot of development happening but Stoke Mandeville is lovely. The town centre can be a bit depressing at times but so can most places, I live in High Wycombe and that also has depressing parts but Aylesbury has lots of lovely pubs and restaurants and if you venture to the villages there are loads more lovely country pubs (I work in the wine trade). Supermarket wise the Sainsbury’s is a bit rubbish but it has plenty of choice including a lovely Waitrose and the Asda right by the hospital. If I didn’t have my horse and family in High Wycombe I would have moved to Aylesbury as you get a lot more for your money.

echolimayankee
There are aren't any comprehensives in Aylesbury. There are grammar schools if you pass the 11+ and non grammars (often called secondary moderns or upper schools) if you don't.

A comprehensive takes all abilities, there are none of those in Aylesbury. Unless the new Catholic school is, St. Michael's I think it is called, I don't know anything about that one.

Kingsland Road is Aylesbury. These houses were built in the late 70s and are on a mature estate. This is not in Stoke Mandeville village and we used to live just around the corner. The estate is decent enough but the local secondary modern is The Grange which is usually RI from Ofsted. Like all the Aylesbury Secondary modern schools. The Grammar and the High are close though if DC pass the 11 plus. It’s not near SM Hospital. Aylesbury town centre is grotty. The theatre is good and the swimming pool decent.

Most discerning people live in the villages and Wendover is the top choice but HS2 is near. It’s a huge disadvantage if it’s too near! The other place to consider is Waddesdon. The best secondary modern by miles.

You would need to check primary places if you need them. Princes Risborough Secondary has issues. Thame is way better. Or look at Aston Clinton or Weston Turville of budget allows. Kingsland Road is on the south side of Aylesbury which is more desirable but you are not in a village. It’s definitely Aylesbury!

Actually The John Colet school in Wendover is one parents like a great deal. Some very uninformed comments on here. It’s a secondary modern but one of the best!

Aylesbury is.... functional. It is not in any way beautiful but is reasonably well resourced. I agree broadly with all of Bubbles's comments. I grew up in one of the villages she mentions and my parents still live there. I lived for several years more recently in a village further south in the county. Aylesbury's surrounding villages are generally much nicer than Aylesbury itself.

I went to one of the Aylesbury grammars and at that time the grammars were generally excellent and the upper schools pretty poor. The John Colet was good at that time; took a bit of a nose dive five or so years ago; and seems to be good again now. Lord Bill's in Thame and Waddesdon School have always had good reputations I believe.

OP: a lot of people go for smaller houses in the villages. You get more for your money in Aylesbury because it’s “functional”. The south side is more desirable but the villages have plenty going on for DC. I live around 5 miles from Aylesbury but I rarely go there. Occasionally to the theatre. It has functional restaurants, cinema and town centre with empty shops. It has little architecture of merit and has few attractive areas. The Museum area is the nicest. The pubs are not great. Far better ones in the villages. The restaurant scene around Aylesbury is average. Amersham has better options. You may find Aylesbury floats your boat and I have lived near Aylesbury all my life - so more than 60 years. Work opportunities are good but it’s now very much a dormitory Town. Many people drive out for work or take the train.

There are some lovely houses in Stoke Mandeville I get to study them everyday when I'm sat in the traffic trying to get home from work!

The traffic is appalling - as someone else said - all it takes is one accident, broken down bus (seems to happen a lot) and the town comes to a standstill.

I like living there though, easy to get in to London, lots going on, the Council are pretty good at putting on events, Proms in the Park etc. There's a great theatre, Cinema the new Exchange area with new restaurants etc is fab. The shops are abit rubbish but you can always go to Milton Keynes for shopping or jump on the train and go to London.