But maybe relocating to Bath....help!

[Notquitefeelingit]

I've posted before because we've been looking to relocate to the South West and we really like Bristol (Bedminster, Windmill Hill, Totterdown areas) but a potential job opportunity for my husband has come up in Bath.

I know the centre of Bath can be really expensive and we can't afford it but we really like Oldfield Park and we've just had a virtual viewing on a place in Whiteway/Southdown area. We really liked the house but it seems pretty far up.

We're looking for 3 bedroom semidetached in region of £300-350k and we have two small children so close to primary schools and green spaces would be ideal. Does anyone know that area well?

Hey! I’m from the area and currently looking for a house as well having just sold ours today!!
If he’s willing to commute you will get so much more for your money outside of Bath especially with your budget. Use search areas of 5/10 mile radius around villages like Timsbury, High Littleton (amazing primary there). Town wise you have Midsomer Norton and Frome all with decent schools and commute to Bath is around 30mins with traffic (on a clear day 15-20mins).
Personally, I’d avoid Whiteway and Southdown. Better areas in Bath for your money (but unfortunately still very pricey) are Weston and Newbridge. There are some nice houses in Claverton at the moment as well. There’s not much around at the moment so do register interest with all the local agents. Good luck

Whitewater and Southdown aren’t the “best” parts of Bath. I believe the MN euphemism would be “rough”, because a large proportion of the housing in both areas is council housing.

The reality is that this is Bath and by national standards, even the worst bits are incredibly tame. I’d happily live in either, and they’re definitely the most affordable parts. I grew up in Bath and now live in London, so I do chuckle wryly when people refer to Whiteway and Southdown and Twerton as “rough”, because they really aren’t, but they do have that reputation with middle class locals who don’t travel much.

Primary school intake is mixed because different areas are so close together in a small city and I don’t think there are any schools in Bath which aren’t Ofsted Outstanding or Good. Buses aren’t great up that way though, and it’s probably a bit too far to walk into the centre regularly.

If you wouldn’t have a problem with driving or taking the train to work, a lot of people rate Keynsham as an area well located for both Bath and Bristol, relatively affordable and with a nice community. I think it’s a little dull, personally, but worth a look as a potential option.

That's really helpful, thank you both so much! We currently live in London so I know what you mean about the areas being incredibly tame relatively, but it would be good to be close to other families with small children.

I grew up in the Bear Flat area and it’s really lovely. Handy for shops and the houses are nice period properties.

Prior Park Road area is another place to look at. Again, shops.

Southdown is not somewhere I’d want to live. But it may well have changed.

Lots of young professionals on the Somerdale Estate in Keynsham (with its brand new primary, a sports centre, a pizza restaurant /coffee shop) have relocated from London its nice.

Taylor Wimpey are the developer

Whiteway and Southdown I agree would not be considered naice areas, Oldfield Park is quite popular and good for families I think. Newbridge Primary is good.

A lot of the surrounding areas in Bath are student accommodation. Oldfield park for example. The council will have a list of HMOs so I would look at a that before viewing individual properties.

es, Oldfield Park is the most studenty area of/around Bath.
Agree Bear Flat is v.nice, not sure how expensive though.

You could still live in Bristol and commute by train (10-15min), not great by car though as traffic is bad. Totterdown is good for train station, but Bedminster too as has local little stations linking to TM. Depends if you mind the train commuting or not.

Your budget is modest for Bath so there will have to be compromises. Lovely as Bear flat is, the terraces there go for £600k+! You will get most for your money in Whiteway, but that is the least desirable area to live. But nowhere in Bath is far from green spaces or the town centre or from a good school. I live on the other side of town now , but I used to live on the Whiteway side and the countryside that is easily accessible from there is stunning.

Personally if I had 350k I’d feel happier buying a doer upper in Weston than a done up House in Whiteway.

This one is in Odd Down, which is family-friendly. You could reclaim the downstairs 'bedroom' as a sitting room.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/76539171#/
I agree with pp who say to avoid Southdown/Twerton and Oldfield Park. The latter is overrun with students, and the former may not be as rough as some areas of London but there is still a lot of anti-social behaviour (vandalism, fly tipping, car breakins, dog shit on pavements, fireworks being let off in the middle of the night, etc...)

I'd buy this if I had the money. Vry nice area, loads of space and a short cycle ride along the towpath into the city centre.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/102554726#/

This one is within budget but a lot smaller and on a main road.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/102780302#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/88640458#/

If you widen your search outside of the city you could find what you’re looking for. I live happily in a village 5 miles from bath that a few would say has a bad rep albeit from about 30 odd years ago. It’s lovely, safe and affordable think 280-300 for what you are looking for. Moved from London too. V commutable into bath for work and the coffee and shopping.
I’d avoid some areas of bath but only due to affordability and high number of student hmos.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/75567681#/

In Keynsham- midway between Bristol and Bath. 10 minutes by train to either city.

Keynsham, bitton, upton cheyney, saltford are all nice areas. North common/ warmley/ oldland/ longwell green all a stones throw away aswell. South Bristol still isnt a million miles away either

I'd also agree to avoid Southdown/Twerton and Oldfield Park. Keynsham is not the best either in my opinion. Have you considered Bradford-On-Avon?

I'd love to live in Frome! OH thinks a bit far away from Bristol/Bath area. We don't have a car at the moment but the plan is to buy when we relocate.

Lots of really helpful suggestions here, thank you everyone.

So our budget is pretty modest for Bath because I was originally trying to move with just our salary - we've been talking about moving to SW for years so, frankly, if it hadn't been for covid-19 we'd be making the jump because my husband is a teacher. IF he got the job he wants in Bath we could afford to borrow a bit more. Heartened by the amount of properties in Oldfield Park that are decent sized and close to green spaces and resolved to avoid Twerton.

I didn't love Keynsham either but agree there are some lovely properties there.

with mortgage based on just MY salary, that should read.

Twerton has loads of development work going on at the moment and there are plans in place to redevelop the football ground...however there are loads of multi-occupancy homes which is causing issues with parking and there are congregations of drinkers on the Main Street through the daytime who do not get moved on by the police.

Yet it is quite a friendly little place and I've never felt uncomfortable there.

I would definitely avoid Trowbridge but if you can afford Frome, it's a lovely town. Has a great vibe, a brilliant market once a month and is one of the nicest towns around this area.

Bradford on Avon is pretty but full of older people and expensive, and the traffic often comes to a stand still.

Radstock you'd get more for your money but there's nothing there, but good roads and buses into Bath.

Hey, nothing massively wrong with Trowbridge! Like everywhere, yes it has crime but much lower than bath and bristol! However it does have a decent leisure complex for a small town.
Frome is lovely and again has a train station but I don't believe that they have direct train into London yet but it in the planning stages.

Westbury has an one hour train into London, 20mins via train to Bath - £350k would get you a very nice 4 bed.

Radstock, Midsomer Norton - similar to Trowbridge but seems to have a better reputation.

Lots of colleagues have relocated from Europe to Bath and love it there. If I could chose to live in Bristol or Bath, I'd choose Bath much quieter. However I really do love Portishead, Bristol but doesn't remind me of it at all!