Relocating to Bath

[househuntingFTM]

Hi All.
Moving to Bath from the North, first baby due soon.
I don't drive, so need to move somewhere that's well connected by buses and trains so I can work in Bath centre or Bristol easily.
Can anyone recommend places to look at houses? Would like community, nature, good quality of life and minimal deprivation.
Good schools also. Budget 400k tops really.
Thanks!

Oldfield Park

Agree Oldfield Park; or Bear Flat, though that’s somewhat pricier. I’d avoid the London Road side of Bath purely because the traffic on the London Road is a nightmare but if you don’t drive it’s not going to be so much of an issue.

What does £400k have to buy you? It should fairly easily get you a three-bed terrace or semi in decent areas.

Apart from Fox Hill, Twerton and Whiteway (Bath’s main council estates - and really pretty pleasant, safe and well-kept) there’s not a lot of deprivation so to speak and because it’s a small city, school catchment areas are quite large so you always have a good social mix at any school.

Widcombe

Thanks so much for these :-)
I've noticed Bradford on Avon, are there any other picturesqueish places that are well served by public transport? A further out town or pretty village? Not sure I want to live in the city per se, but need to be able to get there and Bristol easily. Thanks!

Bradford on Avon is lovely but whilst there are buses it’s the sort of place where you would really need to drive - it’s much the same with most of the towns and villages surrounding Bath.

You could try looking at Claverton Village, Limpley Stoke and Combe Down - but I personally wouldn’t want to be reliant on buses to and from there, particularly not if I was also timing buses to get to trains.

Bath is a very compact and walkable city - you can literally be in near-countryside a couple of miles in any direction so needn’t feel as though living in Bath itself is going to be too urban.

Keynsham. Half way between Bristol & Bath, about 10 mins on the train to either.

I was going to say Keynsham. Have friends that live there and love it.

Widcombe is mega expensive. You could look at Keynsham? Probably quite well served re buses as its between Bath and Bristol, though perhaps not very picturesque. Any of the villages really require driving and you'd spend a lot of time sat in traffic. Batheaston is a nightmare re traffic. Lots of young families in Oldfield Park and between 2 train stations.

I find Keynsham a bit of a nothingness (sorry to anyone who loves there) with none of the good features of either Bath or Bristol - but it’s definitely well connected and convenient for both so worth having a look at least.

I was going to say Keynsham too. Both cities are probably easier and quicker to get into by public transport than by car. Bristol has a big residents only parking zone and Bath has bus gates and an awful one way system.

Keynsham has several nurseries, several primary schools (including brand new ones) and a couple of secondary schools. It also has a large park, all the usual shops, pubs , a library and council offices for BANES (the local authority). A good mixture of housing from historic to brand new developments at Bilbie Green and Somerdale (formerly the Cadbury chocolate factory site). In normal times we have a Christmas fair in the high street and our own music festival.

Frome is cute, has a train connection

Look at Somerdale in Keynsham it's got a really nice feel. Bradford on Avon to Bristol might be OK on the train I guess.

My mate lives in Oldfield park, gets train to Bris for work daily pre Covid. Has a car but rarely needs to use it. She's in the 'early 30s, getting married wants kids soon' demographic

We looked at Keynsham when we moved back a few years ago. We didn't as it was a bit too far from my mum but I know others like it a lot.

Bath is pretty small. So no matter
Where you live in Bath it doesn’t take too long to walk or cycle to the centre. I know loads of people who don’t drive and manage just fine.

Once you move out to the outlying villages and towns you are going to be relying on buses. And traffic into Bath can be terrible so short journeys can take a long time.

Oldfield Park is student central. That might not bother you but it's good to be aware.
If it were me I would find out how many HMO student houses are on the street before making an offer...
The map attached is the HMO register from the council, just an example of some of the streets in Oldfield Park (blue circle=HMO).

Some great suggestions here, OP. Just wanted to jump in and say my maternity care at RUH was brilliant, so you're in good hands for the new baby!

Don't move to Frome if you don't drive; the train connections are sporadic at best.

@biddybird

Oldfield Park is student central. That might not bother you but it's good to be aware. If it were me I would find out how many HMO student houses are on the street before making an offer... The map attached is the HMO register from the council, just an example of some of the streets in Oldfield Park (blue circle=HMO).

Ooh thanks for that! I forgot about students! Where are the main student areas? And could anyone recommend places that there aren't any students? Would like peace and quiet :-)

Both Bristol and Bath are really student central as both have 2 universities each- Bristol university, University of the West of England, university of Bath and Bath Spa University .

I don't think you'll get into a quiet neighbourhood of Bath with £400k unfortunately.
I would suggest:
Widcombe is a great location, as is Bear Flat, and neither is particularly student-y. Just check the HMO register before you make an offer. Weston, but beware of the ambulances if you're too close to the hospital.
Larkhall, but that's a bit further away from the centre.
Fairfield Park. Some great views if you don't mind walking up a large hill to get home.