Moving to Chippenham 2023

[OW0809]

Hello!

Could anyone please share their thoughts on:

1. Chippenham
2. Melksham
3. Calne

We need to relocate and have easy access to Bristol (train and car). Primary and secondary schools are also super important as well as country walks for our lovely big dog.

Melksham and Calne seem to offer more property for £ than Chippenham but not sure if it's because of the areas?

Honest opinions (the good and the ugly) are very welcomed!

Many thanks in advance

Hi, I know this is an old thread but I find myself in the exact situation this year! We will be working in Filton and trying to chose a location to buy a house. We've been looking at Chippenham, Calne, Melksham & Trowbridge too, but are worried about the commute.

So I was wondering what conclusion you came to?!
Thanks in advance!

Hello!

Calne and Melksham commute to Bristol was a no for us in the end as we would have needed to travel to Trowbridge (from Melksham) to catch the train.

We nearly settled on Melksham but pulled out at the last minute because we just did not get that "feel" from the area and could not justify committing to a large mortgage for somewhere we weren't 100% sure about.

Melksham schools are very much hit and miss.

Chippenham on the hand is great, both commuting and schools. Nive looking town. We couldn't find a house that we liked so we are back to square one and spending over an hour each way communiting at the moment (luckily one day a week for now).

We are now looking at Wotton under edge area / Malmesbury and at a push Cheltenham but Chippenham is still on the cards.

We have ruled Stroud and Gloucester/shire. Wales.

Our must haves are:

1. Excellent schools (primary and secondary as wouldn't like to move for secondary school )

1. Reasonable commute by train and car (45 mins)

1. Semi rural / dog friendly but within easy reach of a big ish town / facilities etc

1. 3 double beds and a study or a 4 bed (detached with a garage).

1. Budget up to £500k.

The only area we haven't yet considered properly is Somerset (not Taunton).

Hope this is of a little help. We are still searching. (Have considered getting good old Kirsty and Phil to help as we clearly doing something wrong and need to accept that to have a pretty town with all of the above either doesn't exist or we need win a lottery 🤣).

If you don't mind new builds and not desperate to move now, I believe Bloor will be building again soon in Malmesbury but can't imagine anything will be ready until next year.

Hi OP- we live in Bath but thought you might like this in Corsham- beautiful little town- some nice trendy places popped up and on edge of glorious countryside

7 minutes drive to Chippenham train station- a(and on fast regular) bus too to Bath - 8 miles from Bath, 3 from Chippenham

I'm fussy as hell and even I like Corsham- best butchers in area, fantastic deli and several wonderful pubs

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141580934

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141580934

Corsham is a great little town. It has a lovely library/leisure centre and a busy little arts centre (as well as a few decent pubs).

Funnily enough, I was saying to DH that I would happily downsize to the place if they ever get their train station back.

@Madcats yep- we actually drive over to Corsham to get the best Chinese takeaways we've had in that whole area. I think theOP could do far worse if they can hack a short drive to Chippenham train station

Villages south and east of Swindon and between Chippenham are lovely. Easy commute to Bristol on the M4 or by train.

@Crikeyalmighty where do you rate for eat-in/takeaways in that neck of the woods. DD is usually has a couple of weekends a year out that way in swimming competitions. (Sorry I am derailing the thread).

If you think you can get from Corsham to Chippenham train station in 7 minutes (especially at prime time) you’re deluded 🤣

Especially now they’re starting the A350 development.

Commuting Cheltenham to Bristol would be expensive.

@Madcats I love imperial garden takeaways! (Chinese and thai) they are huge though

@OW0809 Thank you so much! I didn't actually expect a reply :)

That's really interesting, sounds like our want list is pretty similar to yours. We don't have kids yet, but are planning on it in the next couple of years so vaguely knowing there are good schools around is useful as its a consideration I haven't had to worry about before. We also want the countryside nearby for the dog and are aiming for 45 mins (well, under an hour) in the car, with options for train if needed. It looks like we will need to be in the Filton office 3 days a week but will WFH as much as possible. Our other factor is that I grew up in Westbury and all my family is still there, so we'd like to be halfway between them & work, especially once grand kids are involved. Which eliminated the Stroud area for us too. Although we have friends who live in Cam & Dursley and work in Filton who highly recommend it due to the short commute and access to Bristol City Centre via train, plus countryside on your doorstep.

Chippenham is looking more and more like the place to narrow in our searches! We have found a few (also looking at 3/4 beds but at 400k) but you definitely seem to get less for your money there than the surrounding areas. Apart from Corsham which we definitely seem priced out of!

We live overseas at the moment but are visiting next week for a week of house viewings so we are trying to make it as useful and cram packed as possible! Honestly I would love Phil & Kirsty to come and tell me which town to pick! Such a big decision when so much money is involved. I understand why you pulled out of Melksham, got to be 100%!

Just to add that you mentioned Somerset, 6 years ago we used to live in Bedminster, Bristol and I worked in Cheddar, Somerset - that commute was doable at 30 minutes by car. But Somerset in general has very few train stations and lots of smaller country roads which add travel time. So would need to ensure you are close to the M5 or A38. There are some beautiful towns though, but out of our price range for sure!

:)