Is Aldershot a good place to live, and is it safe for walking during the nighttime

[devi909]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning to buy a newly built house in Aldershot, which is approximately a 20-minute walk from Aldershot station. According to the UK police crime rate map, this area falls under Aldershot North, and with a consistent crime rate in this vicinity. Specifically, we are concerned about the safety of walking from the station to our home after work, especially during the nighttime. We are also interested in knowing if this area is safe for infants.

We would greatly appreciate if someone could share their opinion on the safety of this area and raising a family.

Thanks in advance.

It gets called Aldershit for a reason. I would avoid

Yeah.. aldershit… avoid

It’s not great and the last time I went, admittedly a couple of years ago, the town centre was very run down.

I'm sure it's fine compared to some of the big cities. I lived there 25 years ago though so can't comment.

Mumsnet isn't best place to get a balanced response for this kind of Q. Someone said my town had 'poverty like they'd never seen' a few weeks ago. Utter nonsense. People are quite stuck up about postcodes on here.

I couldnt say about safety at night as I dont feel safe at night in lots of places

But in the day Aldershot is fine. I like the town centre and much of the surrounding areas and feel safe walking about with my kids.

It sounds like you thinking of buying on the Wellesley estate which is new and very different to the rest of the town. The new school there seemed to be well thought of.

I lived in two different neighbouring towns over a period of twenty years, as a woman I would absolutely not walk back to Wellesley through the town centre or through the area immediately round the station after dark.

Fine during the day, but I wouldn’t want to at night by myself.

Aldershot is changing though, the army are still there but not as dominant as they were, but it still has the reputation of a squaddy town. Bordon further into Hampshire is similar, although has changed beyond recognition since the army left. However the reputation takes a long time to go. If you’re looking at Hampshire, I would have a good look around at other towns on the train line.

Unfortunately it's reputation is tarnished by the Aldershot of 'old'

I live here, am raising a family, not in one of the 'nicer' estates like Wellesley either. I feel perfectly safe, the people are lovely. My neighbours have been here 40 years and their children moved just round the corner and are raising their family too

Other neighbours have young children, all play together out the front

Despite living in one of the areas that used to have a reputation, there has been no crime in our area

As PP said, Mumsnet probably isn't the best place to get info, you could try joining one of the local Facebook groups

I lived in Aldershot about 12 years ago and did not feel safe in any part of it but admittedly it may have changed since then.

I walk the streets here pretty much nightly and not once have I encountered anything remotely dangerous!

Safer than any area of London

I'm from Farnham, a close by but much nicer town. Aldershot is known as Aldershit for good reason; it's pretty rough.

Fantastic Nepali restaurants though! Sounds like it's changed over past 20 years for the better, so ignore my previous comment.

Thank you all for your insightful replies, and they're really helpful.:)
Truly appreciated!

I lived there around 2018, not too far from the town centre. I had a long commute so would often walk to/from the train station very early in the morning or late at night. Never had an issue.

The town centre isn't the prettiest but it has some useful shops and there is a big Tesco and Morrisons. My partner grew up in the area and was quite against it because he had always known it as "Aldershit" but once we moved there he realised it was fine.