Anyone know Bradford-on-Avon well?

[juliainthedeepwater]

Hello!

I'm wondering if anyone here lives in (or knows well) Bradford-on-Avon. If so, I would be extremely grateful for your insights/tips/warnings!

I ask as we're seriously considering relocating there from Bristol. We have two small children and a dog, so schools/nurseries/green space all very important. Besides that I guess the thing I'm most interested in (and hardest to gauge without spending serious time there) is the community vibe, type of people. Is it friendly? Relaxed? Open to incomers?

Property-wise, we're craving space and a big garden, which also slightly concerns me as I know lots of houses are quite cramped in thetown centre (which we'd definitely like to avoid). Are there sort of outskirty bits with much property? Walking to train station and school/nursery would be a must though I think...

Thanks so much in advance for any advice!

Hi
I lived there for a year a while ago now. It is (was? ) a lovely little town with a good community feel. Pretty and prosperous and very safe feeling. There is modern housing on the outskirts - we lived in a development called Greenland Mills which was lovely.
Main downsides are price of properties /flood risk in the centre of town/poor public transport /limited amenities so that you have to go to Bath for shopping /eating out etc

I drive through it very morning to take my boys to school we also walk our dogs down the canal path there - it's gorgeous all year round.

I live not far from there and from what I've heard from people who live and work there it's a lovely place to live in. You may find it a bit sleepy after Bristol though.

The surrounding villages are lovely too.

Thanks so much, both!

@Puppylucky hmm, interesting about poor public transport, as the good-seeming rail links are one of the things that attracts us.. maybe I should do some more research on that!

@Wagsandclaws the natural beauty of the area is certainly a huge part of the appeal. And we're looking for something sleepier than Bristol for sure - we were considering a village move but thought that might be too much of a jump so a small pretty town seems potentially ideal...

I can't remember now what gave me the impression that transport links were poor. I know buses were virtually nonexistent and it may be that we were a long walk from the train station - I just remember getting fed up with something transport related! It's why we moved on in the end but we had come from London so maybe I was expecting too much.

Depending on your viewpoint as to whether or not it is a good thing, Bath, Bradford on Avon and Frome area have all benefited from an influx of Incomers, particularly from the South East, but also abroad.

If you like gastropubs and coffee shops and "artisan food stores" you're bound to find a niche.

I think schools pre-secondary are good but a lot of kids catch buses and trains into Bath for secondaries.

Had we not had to get up to London for work when we bought our house, I might have considered Bradford.

Traffic is probably more hellish than usual because the main north/south route through Bath is still closed.

Thank you @Madcats.

Hmm yes, I suspect I do quite like those things.... sounds promising!

I think/hope St Laurence is supposed to be a good secondary.

I don't know anybody there at the moment (DD is at £ school and Bath is a different county, so paths don't tend to cross).

There is a review on here that I don't want to subscribe to read:
www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/st-laurence-school-bradford-on-avon

Why not spend a couple of days there (one midweek, another on a Saturday)?

Try the swimming pool and the playground by the Long Barn, go for a walk along the canal. Wiltshire Music Centre is pretty good (does/did a lot of stuff for kids).

This magazine used to get distributed at primary schools. That might have some useful information in it too:
thebathandwiltshireparent.co.uk/

I

Hartley Farm(shop) in Winsley is very popular with parents of young children (not least because the Church Farm pool nearby is very popular for baby swimming). Maybe go pumpkin carving on 30 October to meet some young families:
www.hartley-farm.co.uk/events/

I live in BoA and have done all my life. Have children at one of the primary schools, and at St Laurence.
Plenty of nicer areas on the outskirts (and some to avoid!) and whilst I don't use it much, public transport is ok.
Happy if you want to DM me for any more specific questions.

This is all so helpful - thank you!

@Madcats great tip about the pumpkin carving - we may well try and do that. We spent a lovely day around the Tithe Barn and playground and town centre the other weekend (all very easy to fall in love with) but yes I definitely plan to go back on my own midweek, as I'm sure it's much quieter. Thanks for that school link, too.

@TripleB32 thank you! you sound like my ideal fount of information and I may very likely DM you - thanks so much for the offer! I'd certainly be interested to hear about any areas to avoid. Good to hear public transport is at least ok too.

Sorry, I know this is a bit of an old thread but we're also thinking about making a move to the area and plan on looking in the spring. I'd appreciate hearing about the areas to avoid as we're more familiar with Bath/slightly west of Bristol area. Thank you!

@TripleB32 - I know it’s awhile ago, it we are also considering this move. Would it be ok to suggest the places on the outskirts of town which are nice, and also the ones to avoid? Thank you so so much xx