Should we move again? London to Bath (or who knows)

[planforeverything]

Apologies if this isn’t right place for this but looking for some honest and helpful advice.

I’m 30, DH 32 and lived in Bristol for 5 years before moving to London. I moved from Scotland straight after University for work and DH’s job was also in Bristol. First 18 months were good in Clifton. I didn’t really take to Bristol as a city as a whole, I loved life in Clifton and that was our bubble. (Note: people absolutely love Bristol, it’s a great city and I like a day visit but I found it too alternative/hipster for me to live in). We then moved to North Bristol to buy an ‘opportunity’ house, my husband had just gotten a job just outside London which he commuted for and I hated those 3.5 years in Bristol. I found the place rough, it was a new build estate near nothing, I’d come from a cute seaside town in Scotland with a lovely high street and bike rides on my doorstep and I was living in an estate near absolutely no parks/amenities/anything, couldn’t walk anywhere, had to drive everywhere including work/shops, our lovely detached new build was next door to social housing and we had an attempted break in within 4 months of being there and our direct neighbour getting an ASBO for constant arguments and fights outside. I was thoroughly miserable and on my own 80% of the time.

Given husbands job was in London (and he’d had a near miss of a serious accident on his commute home one night) I visited SW London, loved it and we sold up (made a lot of money on our 4 bed detached new build house) and bought a 3 bed garden flat in Putney. I adore SW London, the parks and feeling of green space, cafe culture, cute pubs, restaurants - it’s just an all round lovely area though traffic and parking are a nightmare.

Anyways, last year DH became unwell, was hospitalised and was left with post viral fatigue and has been off work for 7 months. Whilst he loves what we have here, he is ready for a little bit of a quieter pace (I.e no beeping horns on our street at 2am, not being able to get parked on the same street as our flat, noise of tube etc) but still with nice cafes and restaurants but main thing is he wants more space (DH grew up in a huge stunning period house with a walled garden so more space to me means something a little different to him!)

Husbands job has changed slightly in that he only needs to commute once a week, we used to visit Bath a lot and loved it. We have also considered other areas of SW London (Teddington, Richmond) but don’t know if it’s still too much for him. I would live there in a heartbeat. I don’t know if going back west is scaring me a little as I had a rubbish time there before. We aren’t village people, more large town people (probably aren’t big city people given we don’t leave SW London much) Also thought about Edinburgh but jobs for me there look thin. No children yet - I might not be able to have any so it’s not a guarantee we will but irrespective I do want to live in a lovely, family friendly, SAFE as houses area (I’m OCD on safety after an incident in Bristol which left me with anxiety). Not sure this is even important but DH is a little genteel if that’s the the right word?!

Does Bath sound like it could be right for us? Visited Marlow and Henley and liked them both but commute to London for me would probably be a pain. If we moved to Bath I’d work in Bath or Bristol. Also thought about Windsor too.

Looking for ideally a period detached house with a driveway, garden, minimum 4 beds in a really nice area where the people are friendly/sense of community and it’s easy to make friends. Budget is £1.4m. I really want to find somewhere I can settle and not move every 3-5 years! Help!

[Reedwarbler]

I know some people love Bath, and I have family who live there, so I am no stranger to the place....but the traffic is horrendous in the centre. The London Road (and everywhere else) is so snarled up and they have real problems with air pollution. I wouldn't want to live near the centre of town, however scenic it may be, I value my lungs too much.

[areallthenamesusedup]

Train times from London to Bath now 70 minutes(!) on some services :)
Bath to London best service is 75 mins on some services.

Traffic thing really not an issue compared to most places..nothing like Bristol! Just avoid ANYWHERE that means a daily car journey up London Rd or trying to cross the river every day. But to be honest, even in peak period it's not that bad.....I just wouldn't want to live near London Rd cos of pollution.

[areallthenamesusedup]

Think you will easily find property in Bath. Here are 4 ideas. None in dodgy areas :)


www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71439993.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-93467771.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-94364522.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-93229898.html

[TeetotalKoala]

Bath is gorgeous. Bathwick and Lansdown are lovely. Bathwick is a level walk into the centre, you wouldn't need a car to pop into town at all for cafes etc. As a PP said, Lansdown is on a crazy steep hill. That never ends. I like Widcombe too. Doesn't feel like you're right in town, but you are, easy walk into town (and as close to the train station as you can get), pretty area.

[MrsMoastyToasty]

I echo Reed. Bath traffic and parking in some parts of the city is dreadful.
I have worked in Bath and the vibe I got was that people from there are up themselves. A real " we're from Bath. isn't wonderful? Aren't we wonderful?" vibe.
Bristol has the good, the bad and the ugly like any large city. It's just a case of researching the area you want to live. (I was born and grew up in North Bristol). Naice areas like Westbury on Trym sit cheek by jowl with less favourable Southmead.
FWIW all new build estates have to incorporate private and social housing. They don't build separate estates these days.
I now live midway between Bristol and Bath in Keynsham. Have you considered that or one of the other satellite towns with a railway station?

[Redhair23]

Op wasn’t doing anything wrong? The first thing that would be asked is the budget, she laid the facts out and asked for advice.
Should there be a limit on the budget that people can ask for help with then?

The bitter, inverse snobbery gets ridiculous on here sometimes and it puts people off posting.

[CatAndHisKit]

OP, if your DH is 'genteel' Bath is just right, still genteel - bit too much so for may people, it is also quite provincial but now there is a big ex-London element, so it's not as traditional as used to be but still a strong genteel element. Arty too, to an extent.

[CatAndHisKit]

I'd say anywere ig SW London is affected by bad traffic (incl Kingston) AND plain noise if around Richmond (well Putney too of course).

[MrsEricBana]

Bath is fab. £1.4m won't get detached, period etc in the town but would further out. You do need dedicated parking in Bath really.

[romatheroamer]

Redhair 23
Totally agree about the inverse snobbery and why in every thread asking about areas does it have to be "naice" as if a nice area is a bit of a joke or sthg to be ashamed of, whereas in fact it's where most people want to live!
I agree Bath is lovely and would certainly consider it if I wanted to be in that part of the country.

[Rainycloudyday]

Some people just have an enormous chip on their shoulder and anyone who has more than them is a snob or ‘posh’. The snarky responses which reek of jealousy only reflect on the poster.

[BeeBeep]

I just thought the slagging off of 'rough' areas and being too alternative was just horrible. Only Clifton is good enough and boasting about her budget. Yuk. It sounded really snobby.

Nothing wrong with having preferences, a lot of Bristol is a dump or full of hipsters, not everyone's scene.

[thewallisblue]

Have you thought about Guildford? Easy commute to London, lovely area, some quiet surrounding villages.

[DreamingofSunshine]

The OP wasn't bragging, she stated her budget same as if her budget was £100,000. Bragging would be saying how amazing she was, and how marvellous she was to have that amount to spend.

I'd echo st Alban's, Hitchin, harpenden and berkhampstead

[monkeyonthetable]

OP you are 100% describing life in the Surrey or Kent commuter villages.

In Surrey you get gorgeous woodland, heath and hills. Miles and miles of open space, clean air, wildlife. Pretty cafes and high streets, very safe at night, great schools.Loads of places to cycle, go hacking if you like horse-riding, or kayaking/boating on the Wey and the Thames. Not alternative at all. Quite traditional with summer fetes and flower shows.

[Toilenstripes]

Definitely look at Oxford, preferably north Oxford in the Summertown area. It’s exactly what you’re looking for.

[Cardboard33]

Does your 1.4 budget also include stamp duty etc or have you got extra for those? You'll obviously need about 100k for fees etc.

1.4 won't get you exactly what you want in the areas of SW London that people keep mentioning. It'll get you a nice 4/5 bed but it'll have been extended, possibly into the roof and out back to get the space. It won't be a lovely detached period property on an extensive plot of land with a large garden and drive which you seem to want. You'd need to double your budget for that... However, the people will be likely what you're looking for, I like it here.

[isthiswalter]

Bath is lovely but actually to find detached with 4 beds and driveway etc for your budget may be quite difficult.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-89218592.html

[onlywomennotmen]

I am going to suggest Hampshire/Surrey too. I also have CFS (post viral) and felt I needed to leave London. It was absolutely the right decision.

You can get to Zone 1 in London in 45-55 mins (train and car), loads to do, not too far from the sea, the hills are beautiful and the towns like Farnham, Guildford etc. are great. Much better (and slightly cheaper) than Marlow/Windsor (I know them very well) in my opinion.

[monkeyonthetable]

@LadyMonicaBaddingham - Oxford seems very alternative to me. Massive homeless population. Hippies juggling and busking and unicycling in the streets. Pop up theatres and people who live on barges and indie cafes and of course hoardes of students. I love it, but it doesn't sound like what Op is after at all. Does it have a mainstream, genteel area too?

[Tadpolesandfroglets]

Bath is gorgeous! So much beautiful countryside and coastline not that far away. Very good got the soup and a slower pace of life. Good luck wherever you decide!

[burntpinky]

I’ve visited bath a few tones and found it lovely. It was very busy traffic wise but o guess most places are these days! Shopping is fab and plenty nice bars/restaurants/cafes. Good luck with whatever you decide

[sahbear]

Parking in Bath can also be difficult. It's also in a dip and I found the air quality poor. I am not sure if it's improved in the last few years.

[FieryChilli]

I live in Bath. It is a great place to live but property prices are high.
You would get a detached 4 bed for your money but it won’t be within walking distance of Bath and the train station but I suppose it depends what’s on your list of important stuff.
I live 10 mins from the train station and it’s great, I can walk in really easily and I’d compromise on a drive and detached for that.
If you want to be near the centre I’d look at Widcombe, Holloway, Bear flat and Bathwick although the house someone posted above in Bloomfield Road is still walkable and a nice area.
It can be studenty in some places. Oldfield Park has a little train station and nice feel to it but less big houses.

[acatcalledjohn]

How about Farnham, Winchester or Salisbury? Lovely towns with all amenities and lots of character. I also agree with Guildford as an option.