Chalford? Places around Stroud?

[Sunplanetearth8]

I’m looking around Stroud, but don’t have any friends in the area so it’s like sticking a random pin in a map at the moment! But Stroud seems to tick a lot of boxes for us as a family.

But I don’t know much about good areas! Came across something about Chalford today and how it is lovely.

Can anyone tell me more about it? Or or other areas in and around Stroud? I can’t visit at the moment - so trying to do some internet research.

Looking for somewhere arty, friendly, and beautiful with some independent shops and really good sense of community.

I had liked Bruton in Somerset, which I did visit, but I think it’s a bit small. Also liked Bath, but couldn’t get much of a sense of it on my visit - other than it being pretty.

Too confusing!

Stroud is very mixed. Slightly alternative. Quite arty, some independent shops. Some beautiful areas and some of real deprivation. Recently popular with commuters to London. Chalford is more rural.

Bath is busy. Perhaps look at Frome ?

Thanks jonsar. I really do need to properly explore!!

I don’t mind busy as long as not polluted and dirty air. Frome sounds interesting!

Chalford is lovely but as PP said more rural, as are Brimscombe and Thrupp. Nailsworth is a town close to Stroud with independent shops, pubs and cafes. Lots to do in the local area and a lovely place to be (although I am biased).

Nailsworth is very near Stroud. Very pretty and still has a reasonable amount of shops and nice country pubs.
I also have a friend who lives in Bussage, very close to Chalford and a newer type houses. She likes it there.

I have heard of Nailsworth but don’t know it! Adding this to the research list.

I do like the idea of a Cotswold stone house. I’m probably romanticising it

I was going to say Nailsworth would fit the criteria too but been beaten to it ;)
Chalford is lovely but not much there.

Cirencester is lovely too

It’s stunning area, creative, hilly, semi rural. Chalford is close to Stroud. Chalford has got good schools and is quite a family area. Random facilities here and there throughout the village, various adult classes but not much of a village centre. My sister in law lives in the area and i would move there in the blink of an eye if I could.

Stroud has some deprived areas and some very wealthy areas. The centre itself is mixed, however the farmers market provides lots of opportunities to locals. Delicious produce. Arty area. Younger vibe

Bath is massive compared to these places. It’s a busy city.

Cirencester and nailsworth. Wonton under edge. Tetbury. Minchinhampton. Painswick maybe.

Wonton under edge 😂😂😂

Was about to say Nailsworth seems to fit the bill, so another vote for there!

Ok definitely going to check out Nailsworth too when I can!

Maybe a lockdown hangover, but I don’t mind the idea of rural (Chalford). Although I did find Bruton a tad too small... and maybe Chalford is even smaller!

Another vote for Nailsworth from me. Another plus is that it's on the Bath side of Stroud.

Wotton under edge 🤣

I've lived in Chalford, Nailsworth and various parts of Stroud itself..
With Chalford you're talking very large village on one side of a huge hill, bottom part being really really steep and you get the feeling of everyone being on top of each other (plus it's a complete frost pocket in Winter) newer houses/ estate at the top towards Eastcombe..Good schools there though.
I'd investigate Nailsworth, bit more spacious plus some great shops and lovely walks.
Rodborough is nice too, walking distance to Stroud itself (and the common) and nice sense of community.

Bath is very very expensive. Premier addresses like the Royal Crescent push the average house price in the city well above the national average.

Bruton to Stroud is a very large search area.
Do you need to be in spitting distance of a particular place for work or for family?

It’s a leaving-London-move. Would have to commute into Bristol for two days a week (job transfer possibility from London!) and WFH the rest. All seem far-ish from Bristol, but doable?

I like the idea of living somewhere different to London (hence not looking at Bristol) and yes - my search area is far too wide! I need to narrow it!

Sent you a PM

Transport in Bristol and surrounding areas is nightmare because we don't have an underground or tram system. So it would be useful to know in what part of the city you will be working in.
If you want to live further out then I would suggest somewhere with a railway station, within easy reach of the park and rides or on a cycle route.

I was quite naively hoping I could drive in. Perhaps that wouldn’t be so easy?

Wotton under edge and drive in at non peak times or park and train from cam Dursley

Randwick is a nice little village, opposite side to Nailsworth. Great little primary school but not much else. I grew up in Stroud and always thought Nailsworth was nice. I liked Rodborough too. Are you driving to Bristol or train?

Ah just seen you've said drive. Nailsworth definitely the right side in that case.

I was just coming on to say the same thing as porridgeoat, Cam station is on a direct line into Bristol. Lovely places to live round there, including Dursley or Wotton under Edge for market towns, or lots of lovely villages like North Nibley and Coaley. There is also a station at Charfield, a bit further south.
Personally I think Stroud is over rated. So often it is recommended on here and I can never see why. The traffic is terrible, it's yobby, big drug problems and indifferent shops. They are yet again trying to revamp it. The shopping centre has just gone through its third rebuild in 30 years. The only good thing is the farmers market and Waitrose.
Chalford is horrendously steep with precarious properties built up the side of a hill. There are areas that get very little (or no direct) sun in winter because of the terrain. Parking is bad. (Parking is always a problem with quaint old stone cottage areas,,especially as the roads are usually narrow too). Picturesque though. The bottom of the village can flood (river Frome).
You will generally get more bang for your buck it you come slightly out of the Cotswolds and move a bit further West to the Severn Vale side, or at least try and keep away from the honeypot locations where you are always going to pay a premium.

I've lived in the area and love Nailsworth. Tetbury may be worth a look too. As to driving to Bristol, that's going to be the usual commute along M4/M32 so not very nice. Train from Kemble could be ok if you lived Tetbury side of Ciren.

Nailsworth and tetbury nice. The villages around Dursley and Cam are pleasant although v limited public transport and few facilities but neither town itself (not that Cam is a town). The train from Cam to Bris is good but not that frequent in the pm, or at least never used to be.

Towards Bris I find Wotton a bit crowded tbh but nice.

I would say if you have teens it's boring as fuck. Honestly. I grew up in one of the places mentioned and there was NOTHING to do except drink diamond white on the Rec unless you got a lift from Dadcabs. We all learned to drive at 17 so we had some autonomy but at 15/16 unless we wanted to spent literally over an hour on the Bus (and I loved 25 mins walk to the bus stop which went to Bristol/Gloucester). Do think of that please if you have kids as I don't think it's changed hugely (mum still there).

Oh and check internet if you are wfh. My mums road is hilarious- every house has a different speed!