Droitwich or Malvern?

[Eatstoastalot]

Hi Peeps 🙋🏻‍♀️
Have recently sold our house in Worcester and we’re thinking of moving to either Droitwich or Malvern. I grew up in Droitwich on and off and have fond memories of the place. Always felt safe there - although that was the 80’s! Went to the lido on a lovely hot day back in 2019 and was very impressed. Families and teenagers hanging out and the atmosphere was really nice. I left that day really wanting to move back there. Then there’s Malvern with the hills and we always love walking round there - so beautiful. Recently viewed a house in Welland and even though the house wasn’t quite for us we fell in love with the Welland. As you can see we are torn and it’s slim pickings on the market at the moment. So anyone who also knows these have any advice for us? I went to St Peters and Wilton in Droitwich but never went to Droitwich Spa? Is it a good school?

Thanks for reading

👋🏻 Grew up in Droitwich in the 90s but went to school in Worcester. I don’t think Droitwich High has the best reputation but depends who you talk to.
We’ve recently moved back to the area and live near Droitwich. Not lived near Malvern to compare but love the park and hills. A big consideration for me would be transport links - where do you need to get to? For work in Worcester or via the motorway Droitwich would be more convenient.

Malvern definitely if I had to chose between the two. Droit which has always just felt like new build town, there’s so little that feels traditional in Droitwich and during the week it’s dead as most people are just commuters to either Worcester or Birmingham but Malvern has a more established feel with a tighter community, and during the day there’s more on party due to the older population but also tourism. I left Worcester and it never crossed my mind to look at droitwich

Thanks for the reply.

I don’t drive so would need school to be within walking distance of schools - I have a 6 and 12 year old. When I googled Droitwich Spa High one website listed it as the third best secondary school in Worcester which I was quite surprised at - not sure if that’s right 😕. DH commutes to Cheltenham so really Malvern would be better. It’s just the unknown aspect as never lived there before that worries me a little. I’m not currently working at the moment. Hope to find something wherever we move to. We have a pretty good set up with the schools where we currently live. Both in walking distance. Primary is outstanding by ofsted but we’re just tired of Worcester and have outgrown our house here. Just feel the urge for a fresh start.

This is all good advice, thank you. Malvern it is then. Makes a lot more sense really. Anyone have any experience of Dyson Perrins and The Chase schools? Which would you say is best?

Move to Malvern! We’re moving there in a few weeks if everything goes to plan. I’m afraid I can’t help with secondary schools as mine are primary and pre-school age but I’ve heard good things about The Chase.

Malvern by far. Droitwich has very little going for it.

You have to be careful where you live in Malvern because of the shadows cast by the hills. If you go in Welland direction then you have to think about flood risk. The schools always used to be good in Malvern - full of the DC of various boffins.

I like Droitwich. It always seems to have lots of clubs and societies going on. And you get the Lido. It's on the railway line to Brum, Kidde and Stourbridge. It's handy for the motorway so it's probably more expensive than Malvern, which is on the wrong side of the rivers Teme and Severn.

Out of the Chase and Dyson’s currently The Chase is definitely the most popular, if you are in Welland you’d be Hanley Castle catchment which is very well regarded. We moved here 7 years ago and we love it, absolutely no regrets

Hello! I live in Malvern, my daughter goes to the chase! I highly recommend!
Dysons sixth form is going to close after this year and the chase has a sixth form that rivals the local private schools.
Happy to advise on areas if you need insider knowledge. I am also trying to buy and the market here is crazy at the moment!!

The Chase was my first choice but it’s reading full at the moment and it seems very little comes up in the area near to it - which probably makes sense if it’s popular. Dyson Perrins does have spaces available and there’s always that thought in the back of my mind that a religious run school should be a good thing? Although I went to a Catholic school once and the teachers were terrifying in the main.

Just to add we’ve considered Hanley Castle to. Just don’t know what do for the best. It’s all so stressful 😆😩

I'm sort of in the middle of Malvern and Droitwich and if it was me choosing I'd definitely choose Malvern. Droitwich seems like a Birmingham overspill to me. Malvern is prettier and the people seem nicer.

Hanley Castle is an excellent school. It's lot of people's first choice around here. If you can move close to there and have access to a car then I would. The villages Hanley swan and castle are lovely.

Have you considered Pershore? Your DH wouldn't need to cross the Severn to get to work. The High school seems to get a fairly good rating.

Malvern obviously. (Because I live there!)

Droitwich has always felt like such a dead place, one to be passed through and never stopped in. If you do stop you want to leave!

Malvern has a lot going for it.

I used to commute to Cheltenham from Malvern and my colleague commuted front Droitwich and without fail something would happen on the M5 and she be late in or late home.

I'd often skip the motorway route and go the scenic one - bit longer but always quicker as no queue off the motorway etc.

Lots of people I know work in those mystery jobs in Cheltenham and commute from Malvern.

@senua

Have you considered Pershore? Your DH wouldn't need to cross the Severn to get to work. The High school seems to get a fairly good rating.

That's a good option. Cheltenham is quite accessible from Pershore and as you say, the high school has a fairly good reputation. There's lots of nice villages surrounding Pershore as well as the town itself.

We moved to Malvern a couple of years ago and my son attends The Chase. We're in catchment for Hanley Castle but it was oversubscribed so The Chase was actually our second choice, but it's been great, he's happy there and they seem a very supportive school. Malvern itself is lovely, lots to do, good parks and places to walk and lots of lovely cafes!!

We’re on waiting lists now for The Chase, Hanley Swan and also The Chantry. We saw a house in Martley we absolutely loved but typically the day our house sold that one did to! We have also considered Pershore...just doesn’t have the hills. Having said that we views a house yesterday literally built in to the side of the hills. It’s been renovated and my family all loved it but some how I wasn’t feeling it. It felt quite dark. Maybe I’m too fussy. There’s just nothing on the market! Have emailed all agents asking them to notify us of anything fitting our criteria. Not everything can be on Rightmove - surely.

My house is built into the hill in West Malvern.

We have good light in most rooms - the ones that matter and views to die for. I didn't want to be down on the 'flat'.

We had 12 years further down the hill but still with views.

Everyone is different but you couldn't pay me to live in Barnards Green or Pickersleigh Road area or worse the housing estate off Roman Way.

Breathing a huge sigh of relief that our new house isn’t in an area on the above list!

I’d recommend speaking to Kate at Emdot property, she provides a house finding option, she knows all of the local agents and will give you great insight into areas to avoid etc etc

In terms of being able to walk everywhere, Pershore is great and my ds is very happy at the high school. I'd say it was a more reliable commute to Cheltenham than from Malvern, though maybe with the doubling at Carrington bridge now, that bit will be better.
If you don't drive, then Malvern would be a bit of a drag, quite literally unless you live close to everything, and though I like Hanley Swan (and the high school is supposed to be amazing), that would be fairly restricting without a car?

We rented a maisomette in West Malvern and we had incredible views and sunsets.. I really miss it. We couldn't continue renting so bought a new-build house on the flat the eastern side of the hills and tbh I hate it compared to being on the hills. Mine and DH's hearts will always be in West Mal.

Exactly the same position OP. Sold house in Worcester, looking at droitwich or malvern. Lots of family in droitwich, but there's just nothing coming up at the moment. So frustrating! We sold our house 8 weeks ago and haven't viewed a single house since good luck with your search!