Moving to Redditch/Worcestershire/Birmingham

[NotSure1542]

So I live in Essex and looking to move. My DH is eyeing up Worcestershire particularly Redditch and Birmingham, somewhere like Northfield or Longbridge. I’ve been to Birmingham quite a lot and enjoyed it however never been to Redditch. What is Redditch like? Our budget is £350k at the absolute most. We have one child so decent schools are a must.

Redditch is mainly a ‘Newtown’ so very soulless estates and millions of roundabouts. Longbridge and Northfield are shitholes (sorry). Worcester is nice, Bromsgrove is nice, Kidderminster is ok, Droitwich too. Lots of scenery around Worcestershire.

Thanks Bandito. We’ve came across Studley which appears to be in Warwickshire but very close to Redditch. What do you think of Studley?

Redditch has some beautiful areas. Lots of green space. A decent enough shopping centre etc. There are many new areas but some old areas like headless Cross, Webheath etc. Studley is also nice. We moved from Birmingham to Redditch and have no regrets. We chose between Northfield, longbridgr and Redditch and 9 years on im really happy we chose Redditch. We are in an older area but even though the new areas sometimes get bad press the whole area is nice to live in

Studley is nice. Bits of Redditch are nice. For your budget, have you looked at Halesowen?

Alvechurch is quite nice, people like Bromsgrove but I dont love it. Redditch actually has an ancient history and it is there to see if you look for it (Cistercian abbey ruins, big Victorian factories) you can visit Bordesley Abbey and Forge Mill Needle Museum to get a feel for it. Bits of Church Hill (North) are lovely, as are Bordesley and Beoley, Webheath etc. 350k will get you a decent house on one of the estates. Avoid Church Hill South, Matchborough and Winyates.
I like Studley and Astwood Bank. Alcester is lovely but not sure budget wise!

I agree with the poster who said Alvechurch is nice.

Also, if you end up considering anything closer to the city centre of Birmingham then Harborne is nice. Parts of Kings Heath are lovely and Bournvilleis beautiful. Just a few suggestions for you to consider.

What type of lifestyle are you looking for? If you want semi rural then surrounding Studley would work. You’d get more value for money towards Astwood Bank, Alvechurch, Bromsgrove. Less value I suspect if you look at Alcester, although areas like Cookhill offer value and are accessible to Redditch and the motorways.

Thanks all. I want a buzzing town, good links to the rest of the country, somewhere where our money can go further than Essex and somewhere with a good school. Our money goes slightly further in Redditch than Bromsgrove, Alvechurch, etc.

I lived in Redditch all my life and left recently. If I'm being honest, I don't really miss it as I wanted a town with what you describe as buzzing which Redditch doesn't really offer I'm afraid.

It has a 24 hour Tesco which is really handy and have used a few times. It has an alright shopping centre which appears to be getting worse, quite poor railway connections as it's only a crosscity line train into Birmingham (not sure if you're commuting or what) and as someone else has pointed out - soulless. Schools overall aren't great for secondary education except the St. Augustine's but the rest are shocking. Despite all of this, it has plenty of greenery, quite a safe town (I've never experienced crime living there) and most people are very friendly. I would avoid Woodrow, Batchley, Church Hill, Matchborough, Winyates and Abbeydale. Everywhere else is nice. Can't comment on Longbridge or Northfield but Longbridge has good shopping.

Me personally, I would live closer to Birmingham. Look at Harborne, Moseley, Bournville or even Worcester (I know it's not Birmingham but amazing city). Good luck OP and PM if you would like to chat!

Interesting @Hairbrush123... I think i'll look elsewhere then. thanks everyone :)

I would look at Droitwich - not exactly buzzing but better rail access to bromsgrove/Worcester/Birmingham. It’s also small enough that it’s walkable, it has a lido, Waitrose, events etc.

I have family in rural area 10 mins outside of redditch. It's OK. I personally don't like the town but the surrounding country is very pretty and very convenient for rural areas. 10 mins off Solihull which is great. Love Knowle and Henley in Arden but that will be way out of budget.

Have a look at Solihull, Shirley and Monkspath.

I’m from Redditch and would agree with the above poster - the schools aren’t brilliant (I send mine over the county border to Warwickshire schools). Studley is better and has better links to schools - the catholic school is good there and there’s one in a village down the road called Coughton that also has a good rep. Studley high is also a really good secondary school, and down the road in Alcester there are really good secondary options too.

Redditch is definitely off! Thanks all. I looked at Solihull and places like Knowle, Shirley, Dorridge, Monkspath, Hockey Heath (they all appear to come under Solihull?) and it's waaaay out of our budget. Some of the house prices in Solihull are comparable to the posh parts of Essex Worcester seems up our street and house prices there are more our budget. Now just need to visit it for the weekend!!

I'm from Bromsgrove originally. It was a good place to grow up and has good transport links to Birmingham and Worcester and anywhere you can get to via M42 and M5.

My main reason for not wanting to live there now is the not wanting to bump into people I went to school with factor more than anything else! I see nothing wrong with it as a place to live and in recent years lots of smaller bars and cafes have opened which give it more buzz.

Glad to see Redditch is off. People suggesting Knowle etc on your budget are bonkers. Northfield and surrounds are indeed shitholes. I have family there born and bred and for them it's fine as they know the area but I wouldn't want to move there from outside.

If you want more life then Worcester is great. It's a small city so more like a big town. It has lots going on.

Yeah, Redditch is pretty grim unless you’ve got a fetish for traffic roundabouts. Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Lickey are nice.

I live in Droitwich, the town itself is quiet and the shopping isn't great but it has nice walks, the lido, and easy access to Birmingham and Worcester. It also has really good schools. It's literally 5 mins in the car to Worcester. I have lived in Worcester and loved being in the city, its just the right size in my opinion, loads of great places to eat and drink, and right on the M5 for birmingham but also Cheltenham, Gloucester and also Hereford way if you like the countryside! I work in Kings Norton near Longbridge and Northfield and tbh agree with pp, I wouldn't live there. Harborne and Bournville are lovely but expensive.

Worcester is nice, but watch out for the seagulls.

Have a look at Solihull, Shirley and Monkspath

I never understand why people write stuff like this, on a thread where a poster has already let you know their budget .
What is the point in mentioning areas that they are never going to be able to afford? It is so unhelpful when people don't know the area at all.

Just saying that Northfield's postcode covers a very wide area, and there are some parts that are very nice. The High Street (like so many) is run down, but excellent transport to the City Centre , or, indeed, out to Redditch, also easy enough to go to Solihull or even Worcester for a day's shopping.
Rubery might suit what you are looking for - on the B'ham / Worcs border. Has a busier / more varied High Street than Northfield by far but is still affordable.
Redditch probably buys you more house for your money - but then you ask yourself why. There are some nice places to live, but less facilities that you would get in a bigger City.
Bromsgrove is pleasant enough but for some odd reason, the station there is some distance from the town centre.
Places mentioned such as Studley and Alvechurch are much smaller.
It depends what you are looking for really.

If you can get over the ‘buzzing town’ thing then Studley would meet your other criteria. Your money will go a long way. The comprehensive is excellent and there are grammars in Alcester and Stratford if that appeals. A decent high street with lots of independent shops. Masses of pubs (supposedly the highest number of pubs per capita in the country, or some other such improbable claim to fame). Straight on to the A435 for quick access to M42 and then M40 or M5. 20 mins to Stratford for culture!

Worcester itself is a good shout. Alternatively Wythall is a nice part of outer Birmingham although you might find it a bit suburban.

@moohoop

I'm from Bromsgrove originally. It was a good place to grow up and has good transport links to Birmingham and Worcester and anywhere you can get to via M42 and M5.

My main reason for not wanting to live there now is the not wanting to bump into people I went to school with factor more than anything else! I see nothing wrong with it as a place to live and in recent years lots of smaller bars and cafes have opened which give it more buzz.

Glad to see Redditch is off. People suggesting Knowle etc on your budget are bonkers. Northfield and surrounds are indeed shitholes. I have family there born and bred and for them it's fine as they know the area but I wouldn't want to move there from outside.

If you want more life then Worcester is great. It's a small city so more like a big town. It has lots going on.

Me too! I have no wish to bump into people either 🤣🤣

Redditch really isn't that bad! It certainly doesn't deserve some of the comments above, OP. Some fairly snobby comments. I've lived in Shirley (more recently) and I would say it's a lot less safe than Redditch (as well as being a lot more expensive to buy)! My family moved from Bham about 30 years ago to Redditch and they would have nothing but praise for it. They spent most of that time in Webheath. It's a typical new style of overspill town. Yes there are older bits but it's surrounded by dual carriageway and roundabouts. You get used to it quickly. It was an ok place to grow up? I don't remember any crime etc. Yes there are some.not as nice areas. Just like every town. But OPs budget wouldn't be buying in those areas.

Studley is nice. But much less going on I would have said? It's a big village! To be fair it may as well be Redditch it is that close. I agree the secondary school is good in Studley.

What does your budget have to buy OP? If you wanted more 'culture' there are villages closer to Stratford that you'd be able to buy 3 beds. Schools are very good. But you wouldn't get as much for your money.

Funnily enough, I was in Redditch yesterday to see what it was like. It’s an alright town with lots of dual carriage ways as others mention but not really a problem. I didn’t really like the town if I’m honest so it’s definitely off the list. I briefly visited Worcester and loved it. Really lovely city even though it feels like a large town! We have decided on Worcester now. Thank you all for the help.

Excellent choice, OP. Redditch isn’t a bad place to live IMO but there are better places with your budget.