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Original poster

Should we move to Swindon?

91 replies

swindonmove · 23/08/2023 16:07

Hi, we currently live in London but are thinking of moving to Swindon, as it is cheaper. We have two DC, both 7 years old. Is it a nice place, I don't really know much about it.
Thank you

OP posts:
hampshirecrawler · 23/08/2023 16:12

Don't do it OP. Swindon truly is a dump. It might not a crime rate as high as some other places but it is incredibly grim. Schools aren't great either from my knowledge

mintich · 23/08/2023 16:16

There are nice areas in Swindon! The town centre is a bit of a dump but Old Town is lovely. The problem is there are so many out of town retail parks and the outlet village, that no one uses the town centre.

ettieb · 23/08/2023 16:16

There's a reason why it's cheap.. it's awful.. and don't even get me started on the hideous magic runabout!

hettythehoooover · 23/08/2023 16:20

I'm sure there's some nice parts of swindon but I still wouldn't want to live there to be honest. Royal Wooten basset just outside is nicer.

LittleGreenDuck · 23/08/2023 16:21

"Should we move to Swindon?"

No.

Hope that helps.

moody82 · 23/08/2023 16:23

Used to live in swindon, I would not go back to say the least...
It is not a very nice place. Unfriendly, intimidating, just terrible

RugbyGirl1 · 23/08/2023 16:28

It's not all that bad.... As a PP said, Old Town is lovely and some of the newer developments on the outskirts look good too. The town centre is a dump although undergoing some major redevelopment at the moment. There are plenty of surrounding towns / villages that could be worth considering - wootton basset, wroughton, highworth, blunsdon, wanborough, purton.... Depends what you need! Are you still needing to commute to London?

Iamanunsafebuilding · 23/08/2023 16:30

The estates in North Swindon are nice and the schools are decent as well. Old Town is lovely but lots of only street parking would put me off. If you have London money to spend you will be able to afford somewhere in the many lovely surrounding villages or market towns.

Swindon itself has more green space than you think and great access to countryside. The town centre is a bit grim though

crossstitchingnana · 23/08/2023 16:31

I visited for the first time recently. Horrendous. It was Friday lunchtime and there were no workers about. Just the elderly and unemployed. A strip club, loads of Wetherspoons. No culture or interesting features. Completely obsessed with Isambard Brunel because he invented a railway nearby.

EffortlessDesmond · 23/08/2023 16:31

Consider it, as it has had some of the best employment stats in the country, and while it's not beautiful, there are lovely smaller towns and villages not far away. North Wiltshire is glorious.

espresso14 · 23/08/2023 16:34

Spent about 9 years there pre children. The surrounding countryside is fabulous but we always went to Bath/Bristol for anything cultural, there is nothing in Swindon.

Iheartmysmart · 23/08/2023 16:36

I live in Swindon and it’s not great. The town centre is dire but there are some nice villages around. The main thing for me is the easy access to so many other places. Regular trains to London, Bath, Bristol etc. Plus it’s on the M4 corridor so the West Country is easily accessible.

Once DS has decided where he’s settling after Uni I hope to move but it’s convenient for now.

itsmyp4rty · 23/08/2023 16:40

Swindon would be a no. Newbury, Hungerford, Marlborough, Cricklade and around are all very nice though.

teadrinkerm · 23/08/2023 16:41

I've noticed that people who have lived in Swindon their whole life like it and defend it, saying it's wonderful it is etc. Whereas everyone else who isn't from there hates it.

In my opinion it's an awful place but someone from there originally might think the opposite! I can't recommend it though

Ansy38 · 23/08/2023 16:42

Swindon is nowhere near as bad as people are making out. The town centre is tired as all 60's types are now but the old town is lovely as are the surrounding villages. There are some outstanding schools and property for the money is great. There are some big employers here too. I moved from the south east a few years ago and am happy. Avoid anywhere that starts with a P though, they are grim

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 23/08/2023 16:42

No

Lantyslee · 23/08/2023 16:44

No. I go regularly for work and wouldn't want to live there.

Outlookmainlyfair · 23/08/2023 16:45

Swindon has some great points and some great people too. Some lovely villages near by….but the schools have a bad reputation and some areas are really sad.

Timeforabiscuit · 23/08/2023 16:47

Swindon is very cheap, low crime all things considered, and old town is lovely. Work is easy to get and it's 50 mins to London, short trip to Bristol or Cardiff and Oxford is doable. Its also got the cotswolds in easy reach.

It's served me and my family brilliantly, I can afford to live here on a public sector salary and family is close by.

The schools aren't stellar, but the kids are happy and we can afford extra curriculars.

The town centre is not great, it's being hollowed out and transitioning over to housing and a much smaller shopping area by the looks of things, marks and spencers is moving out of the centre, but there are lots of out of town shopping like the orbital and greenbridge (car convenient). However the designer outlet is good for shopping and feels very safe (as long as you don't fall foul of the bus lane penalty).

I would be asking why Swindon specifically? Is it purely budget driven?

ladyfromslough · 23/08/2023 16:52

I used to work in Swindon sometimes , would never want to live there. Grim town centre where seemingly everything is empty, quite a few areas (everywhere with a P and a couple others) that are very unpleasant, surrounding area is lovely though

cloudglazer · 23/08/2023 16:57

No. Loads of lovely towns and villages round and about, but Swindon is awful.

TheNameIsDickDarlington · 23/08/2023 17:03

No I wouldn't live in swindon if I had any other option. I actually don't know anyone who likes living in swindon and who thinks it's nice.

If you have London house money maybe consider Cirencester, Marlborough, Malmesbury, Bath... all much nicer than swindon and I find we end up having to drive to these places (and bristol) anyway if we want to do anything as there's not really anything to do in swindon. It doesn't have the community feel of the smaller towns or the bustling vibrant nature of bigger towns or cities.

RandomUsernameHere · 23/08/2023 17:03

What is the reason for considering Swindon specifically, OP? Only asking as most of the UK is considerably cheaper than London

Kezhoust2586 · 23/08/2023 17:04

I left Swindon in 2015, and I would never look back. Especially now I'm down by the coast.

My family are all in Swindon, and they all say how bad it has become. I'm still joined on the Swindon Fb groups and nearly everyday there is another stabbing or an incident where a young person has died.
The schools are awful
The town centre has really degraded over the years.
If you go on YouTube there is a young boy who walks you through the town centre and its not great.

Wooten Bassett is absolutely lovely, if I was you I would research surrounding areas .
Unfortunately from me Swindon is a bit NO