Moving to Gloucestershire

[Bambi14]

Totally new here & no idea if I’m posting in the right section. So please bare with. Due to o/h working in Gloucester we are currently looking to relocate here from Wales. So far we have looked at properties in the following areas.

Lydney

Newent

Dursley

Hardwicke.
Ideally we’d like to move to a safe, semi rural location with a friendly community where in particular myself & my 2yr old can make new friends (attend some groups) as we will literally know nobody. I’m finding the concept of moving away from family quite daunting. So feel it’s really important to find the right location.
I’m also horse mad & love the outdoors so a location with a friendly livery yard & plenty of nice walks would be a huge bonus.

So basically if your from any of the above areas I’d love to know what you think or if you can recommend any other nice areas within Gloucestershire or areas to avoid it would be much appreciated ☺️ TIA xx

Stroud or Painswick might be worth a look.

Yes I was going to say Stroud too. Lots going on, brilliant Farmers Market, friendly people and the countryside all around.

We live near Dursley. Lots of lovely villages around it which allow access to services but also more rural and good for horses etc. slimbridge etc.

We live near Dursley in an amazing village near the motorway and I work in Dursley. There is not enough money in the world to make me move.

You’ll get much more for your money on the Forest of Dean side of the Severn, so looking round the areas you have is a good move.

You might get more equestrian choices on the Cotswolds, and still a quick commute to Gloucester, though prices will be higher.

The train goes from Swindon through Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse and into Gloucester, so those could be good places if a train would be useful.

There are also lots of villages along the A38 between Stroud and Gloucester you could explore.

Lots of places around Cirencester are good for equestrian, and there’s a fast road to Gloucester, though often congested.

How much money have you got and how much space do you want? Some of the Cotswolds parts are pretty expensive. Some of the Forest of Dean areas are cheaper but a bit more insular and deprived.

I don’t want to out my location on here, but I have lived in Glos for almost all of my 50+ years and work extensively across the county, so if you want a quick check on a particular location, feel free to PM me and I will happily make a (virtual) horrified face at you if it’s somewhere to avoid 😁

If you fancy the northern side then Tewkesbury is lovely.

My horsey friends all live in Upton St Leonards/Painswick/Birdlip areas or over towards Stroud. Forest area are definitely cheaper but commuting in to Gloucester from that side can be a pain.

I know most of the areas well. Budget would be a big factor obviously.

Personally I haven't felt a good vibe in Dursley but some of the surrounding villages are great. I also have a horsey background so can say there are lots of good yards around Dursley and also over near hardwicke. There are going to be a lot of houses being built near hardwicke soon so make sure if you do consider that you check plans.

I would say if you're after a more hippy style vibe Stroud could be an option. Minchinhampton is lovely and very horsey but pricey!

I wouldn't personally move to the forest as traffic can be a nightmare coming into Gloucester, newent is on the outskirts so a lot quicker. You could look at villages like frampton on Severn (pricey!) or Elmore and surrounding areas as they are semi rural.

Feel free to pm me

Oh god don't choose Newent. It used to be a thriving market town, but all the banks and shops have closed leaving 2 horribly expensive Co-Op convenience stores and a plethora of charity shops/terrible takeaways. The post office is in the process of being sold. It's had so much house building in the last 5 years but no improvement in the amount of school places/medical centre. Both my parents live there and it's a nightmare trying to see a GP. It also has a large percentage of elderly residents due to the amount of sheltered housing. It's also quite rough these days sadly.

Hardwicke has good and bad areas, you're closer to Gloucester and there's more facilities on the doorstep as well as open countryside - and good motorway access.

There are some lovely villages between Gloucester and Tewkesbury. Corse Lawn/Staunton/Eldersfield/Hartpury all have lots of equestrian facilities. You'll pay more than Newent/Lydney way but it's a lovely area.

I know Dursley very well. I would echo what others say re look at the villages/areas around it but maybe not Cam which is technically a separate village but in reality is sprawl. Coaley/Uley/round the Peak are nice. Stinchcombe too.

There are ok facilities there. Leisure centre, Lidl/small sainsbos and Tesco's in Cam. Nice Pubs (the Spot is famous), I like the Italian and the Indian used to be owned by Keith Allen and I ate my first curry there.

You do need to drive though. Takes about 30 mins into Gloucester centre but I haven't had to do it at Rush Hour. Train station is in Cam and runs every 30 mins in the morning, hourly in the afternoon which is a pain in the arse.

The fireworks display is immense for a small town display.

Thanks everyone. Definitely given me things to consider.
We don’t have a ‘huge’ budget unfortunately which does limit us slightly, going by todays market. But we’re not looking for a huge house Just an idea of friendly areas with a relatively low crime rate which is more important to us anyway.
Planning a visit again this weekend so will definitely be giving some of the above areas another visit. Feel free to keep commenting/pm any other area suggestions. ☺️

Can you give a vague idea of budget? I would also suggest looking at Quedgeley as there are many nicer older parts (not that old but houses built around 90's and you have the canal nearby and also the river Severn with walks and pubs etc. It has got a lot more popular so there's high demand.

Also consider villages such as eastington off the A38 that meet requirements. It really does depend a lot on budget. Generally Quedgeley is good value as is hardwicke. The more desirable places such as near Stroud are a lot more expensive. Good luck!

325k max budget hope that helps to give people a better idea. x

I’d be looking at Cotswold School/Chipping Campden School catchment areas. Excellent secondary schools without the stress of the 11+. And Moreton and Stow have some reasonably priced houses if you don’t mind non-chocolate box style.

Okay. Well, you might struggle a bit in some parts. Around Cirencester, where I suggested, you’ll need a lot more than that for a family sized home with a good garden. Severn Vale (the east side of the Severn but off the Cotswold scarp) is more realistic but it depends on what you’re looking for.

A PP above is suggesting Moreton and Stow area, but that’s a bugger of a commute to Gloucester - in summer the A429 is chocka with traffic all day.

I think @BobMortimersPocketMeat is right actually. I was just thinking about places to live, but the commute would be hell. Scrap my suggestion!

A few people have suggested also looking at New build areas such as -
Huntsgrove & Greenoaks Quedgeley/ Kingsway
We’ve read many mixed reviews about the Kingsway but not heard much regarding Huntsgrove.

Ok, you’re budget isn’t huge for some of the places already suggested - Stroud/Ciren ie edge of Cotswold places should be thrown out. Can I suggest you move your search to the Glos/Herefordshire borders ie Newent way and then maybe a tiny bit further? You’ll get WAY more for your money!! If you went to Dymock for example (10 mins drive on from Newent) you’d give yourself extra high school options too (you can get into JMHS in Ledbury from there and it’s good!). Dymock’s primary school is apparently ok (I don’t know it personally) but there are also outstanding primaries in other nearby villages that would be commutable (I do know parents who do this)… Lots of livery yard options that way too (and again cheaper). If you’re coming to look this w/e I’d drive as far as Ledbury to check it and the surrounding villages out - you may find the slightly longer commute is worth it for quality of home life.

Kingsway has become quite rough. Hunts grove is still so new and still being built so we don't know how it's going to turn out yet. Coopers edge in brockworth might be one to consider. There is a bridleway network through a gate next to the school going to Upton st. Leonard's and Coopers Hill. Very family friendly and great walks. They are also building some new estates out at Newent, which is lovely, has a lake and very convenient for Forest of Dean.

A lot depends on how often you’d need to commute to Gloucester itself. You’ll get loads more for your money in the Forest of Dean plus wonderful outdoor living and closer communities. But the travel into Gloucester is a pain.

Tewkesbury is lovely and feels more rural than Gloucester, plus it’s cheaper.

Ypu could look at Stroud too - it is possible for your budget. Just be slightly wary what part of Stroud. Stroud has a great community and very much more hippy/laidback vibe.

I wouldn’t touch any of those new estates if you like semi-rural. Kingsway isn’t the nicest and it’s expanded to a giant rat run. I expect the others will go the same way. I moved here from London nearly 20 yrs ago and I always felt as if I wanted the benefits of living near the countryside. In those housing estates I may as well have been back in London.

Hardwicke is fine but not real community. Quedgeley is also fine but it’s more like a sprawling housing estate than semi-rural.

I think a lot of suggestions will depend on how many amenities you want in close proximity and how important semi-rural living is. Depending where you pick, you can have either. It is a lovely area to live 😊

Have you seen properties you like on budget?

I just had a bit of a google and there are houses in your price range in Berkeley (off a38) which always used to be typical village so safe with community but dull for teens unless you get off with your mates cousin out the back of the cricket club (for example). Straight drive into Gloucester but also easy to Bristol the other way.

I did look at slimbridge but nothing there less than a million!

If you are considering Stroud, how about Stonehouse? Easy to m5 and a38 for Gloucester. Has station which has trains to London. I am not sure what it's like to live in but there look to be some new build 3 bed semis in your range and I can't remember hearing bad stuff. V close to Stroud but not in it (which is a huge plus for me). It's all horsey round there anyway.