Leaving London for Birmingham- Sutton Coldfield, Shenstone or Lichfield?

[LouWhit1]

Hello! This is a first-time Mumsnet from me so I'm so grateful for any advice that people may have!
My husband and I have lived in London for ten years now and since we now have our first baby on the way (due April 2023! :D ) we have just taken the decision to relocate to Birmingham to enable us to have a bigger property for our money & so that I am able to be closer to my Mum who lives on her own in Lichfield.
I grew up in Four Oaks but it's been an awful long time now and I feel a little out of the loop with areas and vibes! I am a teacher so job locations aren't a problem for me, but my husband works in Canary Wharf so for the first year or so would be commuting a couple times of week back into London. After one or two years he'd be looking at finding a job in the centre of Birmingham to ease the pressure here.
This is also a move that my lovely husband is very much making for me so that I can be closer to my Mum rather than for himself- he's very comfortable with his job and friendships in London currently so I'm really wanting to ensure that we find an area in Birmingham that he likes too. As such somewhere where it's easy to make friends since he won't know anyone there- where there's maybe some local football teams and social groups to join and good places to eat and drink as well as nice cafes would be really important! He grew up in the centre of Belfast and then moved to London so I think he's cautious about feeling too remote and suburban & he doesn't know Birmingham well at all.
My Mum lives in Lichfield now and there's the train link to London so that seems like a good choice but I don't really know the area at all since she's only recently moved. Sutton I know better from when I was growing up- but I'm not sure how buzzy the town is at the moment or whether it's a better option for socilaising and making new friends. There's also Shenstone which I know has some lovely pubs- but is there much else going on there or might it feel a little isolated?
Obviously baby groups, nurseries and primary schools will be important to consider too!
Thanks so much for any advice. I really appreciate it :)

Sutton Coldfield or Litchfield.

I have friends in Minworth area and there is a lot of young families, good schools etc.

Lichfield is really lovely - I lived there for a short while about 10 years ago before relocating for work.

I lived in Boldmere for about 18 years, my DC were born there and went to school there. I would say it has quite a young population unlike places like Walmley and a fair amount of Four Oaks (which I find on the whole a bit snooty sorry to anybody from there but not my cup of tea at all). Schools are really good in the area although catchments are tight, decent enough High Street and lots of play groups lots of coffee shops around the place and various football clubs (St Michaels ect). Depends what sort of house you're after, I like period houses and Boldmere has plenty of them with a nice feel to it. Easy access to Brum with the train station at Wylde Green. Also depends on budget, it has become quite pricey for larger houses in good catchments. Good luck with the move!

Oh and to add you will be very disappointed with SC town centre, lots and lots of boarded up shops sadly it has suffered like many High Sts. Top end of town though with all the coffee shops thrives.

Thanks so much all that's really useful! So sounds like out of Lichfield and Sutton there's maybe more going on in Lichfield these days, is that right? Interesting option with Boldmere too, thank you!

Lichfield is lovely. We lived there for a year or two. The midlands wasn’t for us as we wanted the mountains but we enjoyed Lichfield itself. Also it doesn’t seem to rain much there - I assume as it is the middle of the middle the rain falls before the clouds get to Lichfield!

Not sure about that but I would say, as somebody who relocated last year, visit the places. Look at the sort of houses you can buy and have a walk around the streets and high streets, get a good feel for it because what you want might not be what the next person is looking for. Also with regards to schools have a good look at catchment areas, Boldmere primary for example was brutal and the catchment shrunk massively when it became really popular with many DC being left without an option. This also happened to my DC for senior school too. Well worth thinking about it whilst you are this side of choosing a new home.

Definitely Lichfield, we've a huge variety of baby groups. Plus Sutton town centre seems to be dying a death, Lichfield is far better.

I would also consider Boldmere. I don't live round there but I visit friends. It's got a good high street, well connected to Birmingham, close to Sutton Park and easy reach to the countryside. I think it's a bit less snooty than some areas around Sutton Coldfield.

Lichfield would be my choice. SC, like Solihull is full of it's own self importance.

Shenston is a bit rural. Tamworth has a lot of young families with very good amenities for children. There is the Snowdome with a lot of sporting opportunities, Tamworth Pleasure Grounds with castle and lovely play parks for younger children as well as older children including skate park. There are several football and cricket teams that are friendly and always on the lookout for new members. I love in a large village about 3 miles outside of Tamworth but regularly go in to Snowdome which as well as skiing also has a swimming pool, gym and climbing wall. Tamworth is about 10 miles from Lichfield and 10 miles from Sutton Coldfield. SC has a nice private gym, large hospital. Lichfield although a city has less amenities as does SC.

I live in Lichfield,moved from Sutton Coldfield 20years ago,I love it here.One huge advantage is the direct train from Lichfield Trent Valley to Euston,I go to London regularly,Sutton Coldfield only has the Cross city line.Here is also easier to get to East Midlands and Birmingham Airports and the Motorways.

Their is so much going on in Lichfield all the time,festivals,markets,the Garrick Theatre has great shows and the Cathedral holds a lot of events.

My children are adults now,but I do know the Lichfield schools have a good reputation.

I definitely would not recommend Boldmere these days,it has gone downhill a lot in recent years.I have friends still living there,I am always pleased to get home to Lichfield.

@Ladywiddio48 "Gone downhill" in what way? Have to say I completely disagree. Houses are at a premium, outstanding schools (St Nicholas and Boldmere), lots of beautiful period houses, striking distance of the park. Do you mean the High St? Compared to many high Streets across the country I think it has done well - no boarded up shops and plenty of independent cafes, butchers and restaurants and it is always busy. As I suggested OP I highly recommend you go and have a visit, I relocated to Shropshire last year and looking at Rightmove was handy but actually walking around and getting the feel of a place is second to none.

Tamworth has nice facilities but I wouldn't recommend it as a place to live when you have places like Lichfield just down the road.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango the schools in Boldmere are not that good!Both of those schools take children from the other side of the Chester Road i.e.Erdington.The big houses are mostly split into flats now,I lived there for over 20years before I moved to Lichfield and still have friends living there,so am in the area frequently,traffic is horrendous.Have a look at the Crime Map,that will give you a clue.Car thefts and house burglaries are rife,not that I think it is any worse than the rest of Sutton Coldfield,but Boldmere and Lichfield are nothing like each other!

I doubt OP is going to purchase a property without visiting areas first!