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Worcester, Leamington Spa or Norwich?

8 replies

BeansMeansBeans · 10/07/2023 16:55

We're currently in northern Nottinghamshire and considering a move with a toddler and a baby on the way. The schools near us are dire and I'm a bit tired of the countryside so we're eyeing up potential town areas.

Anyone currently live in Norwich, Worcester, Leamington Spa? Maybe Birmingham at a push? How are the schools, how do you find these areas to live? Any particular areas we should zoom in on around these spots?

Thanks for any help!

OP posts:
finewelshcheese · 10/07/2023 17:10

I live near Worcester and I think as cities go, it's not a bad choice. I don't know anything about the schools though. Malvern is also lovely (not far from Worcester) but if I had the choice I'd go for Norwich simply because it's nearer the sea!

PureLife89 · 10/07/2023 17:20

Most of the good schools in Leamington are private. Not the case in Warwick and Kenilworth

Roselilly36 · 10/07/2023 18:27

Norwich is a great place to live, small safe city, wonderful sandy beaches half an hours drive away. We moved from the SE, best decision we have ever made.

Roselilly36 · 10/07/2023 18:29

Can’t speak about schools, our DS’ has finished their education before we moved.

Chenford · 10/07/2023 18:31

Roselilly36 · 10/07/2023 18:27

Norwich is a great place to live, small safe city, wonderful sandy beaches half an hours drive away. We moved from the SE, best decision we have ever made.

Yup, we moved here from the South East about 4 years ago.

Just love it. Some great schools (some not so good of course).

Thoroughly recommend it.

Fidgety31 · 10/07/2023 18:32

I moved from Notts to near Norwich .

The only downside is how long it takes to drive anywhere now as it is so remote .

ReviewingTheSituation · 10/07/2023 18:42

They're quite different geographically!

Leamington is the smallest of the 3, but probably the best connected. You can be in Birmingham in 45 mins, London in 90 mins, Manchester in not much more, Bristol in 2hrs... but it's a long way to the sea.

It's a nice town, with plenty of choice of good restaurants, pubs, cafes etc. Shopping isn't as good as it was - but that's probably the case everywhere. Plenty of out of town shopping for the big stores, and a decent number of independent retailers - but it's a tough time to be on the high street, and there are notable gaps.
There are nice green spaces/parks, a decent cinema and a small theatre (but you've got the RSC up the road, so you're not short on culture). Warwick is just down the road, and you've got Stratford 20 mins away.

The housing stock is very varied - everything from huge Regency mansions, to plenty of mid-war kind of stuff, to the new build estates of the 70s and 80s and a HUGE amount of brand new stuff springing up.

I can't comment on the schools specifically (friends kids have all gone through the school system now. Secondary is a long way off for you, but North Leamington School has served friends' kids well, as has Myton (which is in Warwick, but depending on where you live in Leamington you might be in catchment).

If you want a town, rather than a city, it has a lot going for it. We moved here kind of by accident 26 years ago, and have been very happy here.

BeansMeansBeans · 12/07/2023 09:55

Wow, thanks for the responses! This has been very helpful. I think I'm leaning towards Norwich possibly, but not sure when - the housing market seems a bit unstable currently. We also need to think cost - it'll have to be something quite small, we bought our current house really cheaply and can't expect to be so lucky again.

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