Maidenhead Advice

[headmaiden]

Hello

We are moving to Maidenhead. Work is there and also school.

We know there are some lovely villages nearby but we do not have the time to be travelling. We currently live 20 mins away from Maidenhead and it is a nightmare. Marlow is a complete nightmare to get to and from.

Looking for a 3 bed semi in nice family area. Budget isn't huge!

Furze Platt? Cox Green? North Town?

We have ruled out Boyn Hill. Not our cup of tea.

Any advice/ experience greatly appreciated.

Pretty easy to get the train 1-2 stops from Burnham or Taplow and then you’d don’t have to worry about traffic. Probably cheaper than Maidenhead.

Out of interest, where do you encounter traffic from Marlow to Maidenhead? I live round here but train into London so never see the rush hour on the roads.

We need to be within walking distance of school/ work or a 5 min drive as the whole issue at the moment is that we all need to be at different places at the same time. We are sick of driving and spending an hour in the car each day for no reason.

We have to go to via Bisham so the Marlow bridge is very busy at times.

Hi @headmaiden Also thinking about moving to Maidenhead! Not been to boyn hill, but please can I ask why you ruled it out? We have seen properties we like in furze platt and braywick but trying to research the areas currently!

Pinkneys Green! The lanes behind the pub (Bakers Lane/Darlings Lane) are absolutely beautiful and there are small houses to be found in between the mansions.

Furze Platt/ Beaufort area (near Oaken Grove Park) also v nice and good for school catchment.

The traffic at the dual carriageway roundabout is insane at rush hour, not if you’re on the dual carriageway itself, but if you’re on the Marlow road or the Maidenhead road (or trying to cross the dual carriageway) it’s awful.

Down the A404? Any better for traffic if you take the route through Bourne End/Cookham?

Sorry, I realise that is off topic but I’ve considered moving somewhere around Bourne End and driving to Taplow every so often get to London. So the potential traffic issue is sort of relevant for me, albeit not quite the same route you’re talking about.

@ItsCalledAConversation would you recommend any other areas that are within 10-15 minute car ride from Maidenhead station? Or is it mostly nice roads/pockets dotted about

yes @Mger2 im talking about the a404 junction. It’s very very hard to cross at busy times.

Bourne End is lovely (as is Flackwell Heath) but far enough outside Maidenhead to make it quite a long way at busy times iyswim.

Id say getting a bargain in Maidenhead is mainly about finding nice roads/pockets, as the properly nice villages (Bray, Cookham) are hugely expensive and the traffic would be prohibitive for your purposes.

If I was looking, I’d look:

Pinkneys Green like I said
By the river (Ray Park/Ray Mead area)
Belmont Park area (sorry didn’t mean Beaufort in my post above, I meant Belmont)
Anywhere in the triangle between All Saints Rd, St Marks Rd and College Ave/Claire’s Court

Also if you want to park at Maidenhead station you’re going to need to get up very early in the morning! Though I believe they’re building an expanded car park at the moment.

Have you loooked up Shoppenhangers Road for nice apartments? If that’s your thing (it’s not mine, hence not in my main suggestions)

The other place that has a villagey feel but isn’t expensive is Woodlands Park. Again, not for me but very popular.

@ItsCalledAConversation thanks so much, those are the areas we think look good. What puts you off about Woodlands?

Boyn Hill felt too congested, narrow streets and we felt too close to the centre.

We don't need the train station, work is in Maidenhead (free parking) as is school (DC already there). Occasionally need to get to Bisham but not at peak hour traffic.

Moving to Taplow/ Burnham wouldn't make our situation any better unfortunately.

Any areas we should avoid?

Where is the school? You'd want somewhere in that area as traffic from one side of Maidenhead to the other is a nightmare in rush hour!

@roses2 its central/ west. Don't want to be specific.

Prices might be a bit high there so we think Furze Platt or Altwood would be a good alternative. DC are walking to school age. If we lived in Woodlands/ Cox Green then I can drop them somewhere on way to centre for work.

Woodlands Park is absolutely fine, for me what counts against it is:
Its a way into town, too far to walk
Local shops/takeaways very average
Plane noise from White Waltham airfield
Large estate

Yes the aircraft noise puts us off there. I mean its not Heathrow but they are old planes rattling around. Furze Platt looks more promising although I like the suburban large estate feel.

Pinkneys Green

@Moonshine5 pinkneys green is lovely but so expensive and rare. we only need a 3 bed semi nothing fancy. we are going to wait to see what pops up in Belmont area

What price range are you looking at?
I'm in Boyn Hill area. There is quite a lot of variety in the area. How about the all saints area?

All saints would be good but I don't want a period property. would prefer something more average standard 3 bed semi which might not be able to get close to the school. Boyn Hill is very mixed, do you hear a lot of train noise?

Our dear friends lived in a new build estate in Furze Platt exactly like you’re talking about, check out Kensal Green Drive.

Agree with PPs that Pinkneys Green is the ultimate, but a 3 bed semi there will be £725k+.

There are a few newer areas in st marks.
Where I am I hear barely any train noise.
What price are you looking at? To buy or rent?

@headmaiden Pinkneys Green is not that big so outskirt P.G. / border you can pick up a 3 breed semi for the same price of a flat in Slough

Thanks everyone, hoping some more houses come up for spring. Looking to Buy under 600k. must haves are off street parking, quiet street (we have a cat) , not period lol.

Hi, sorry to jump on this thread but wondering if anyone can offer some advice on what it's like to live there, specifically in the all saints are. Seen a house I really like but have some concerns about the area. It seems like a nice area with nice houses but just wanted to know if there is much of a community feel to the area?

There doesn't seem to be a huge amount in terms of amenities in the area so was wondering if people tend to drive to Windsor or one of the surrounding villages for days out, particularly given the two centre appears to be a building site at the moment.

We are moving from South East london and have a decent amount of amenities Walkable so we are ideally looking for something similar but in the absence if this would settle for a decent local pub and coffee shop.

We are looking in the area to be closer to family, have considered the surrounding villages but like the idea of being able to walk to the station

Thanks

Mel

Hi
Town is dire atm. There is meant to be a grand plan of regeneration but it is yet to start.
I find that maidenhead in general is a welcoming area and neighbourhood chats, events etc do happen.

There are plenty of nice places to get dinner, drinks , coffee etc. And when you add in driveable local Areas, Windsor, Twyford, Henley-on-Thames etc you can always find something to do. Pottery painting, wine tasting, activities on the river etc.

There are a good schools , and I have never found myself feeling unsafe or anything

Not sure if that helps!

@Melcl1987 its been described to us as one of the better areas. We still haven't moved. Nothing coming up thats affordable and doesn't need an entire refit. Plenty near the railway, motorway or airfield but we're looking for a quieter life.