Emerging alternative & artist communities, south england.

[Sublime66]

OH works with alternative health therapies, I am an artist/photographer. We’re wondering if there are any emerging alternative/open minded communities somewhere between Bristol and London (due to family each way).

Usual alternative hotspots in our search area are Frome, Glastonbury, Stroud, Bath, Bristol outskirts etc… but these areas have become incredibly over saturated and are now pretty exclusive/boujee when it comes to property prices and the types of people who can afford to live there. Guildford Winchester and Bath are nice but pricey however ideal distance from big cities. Salisbury is too far to London or Bristol (1.5hrs).

There must be locations at the early stage of development, on the up, with less inflation in property prices. Perhaps slightly less alternative without having to live in affordable but less interesting Swindon, Trowbridge, Portland or Yeovil etc...

2024 is a frightening time to go house hunting with a budget of around 550k for a 3+ bed house (100sqm+) with garden in the south. Must have a train station and access to green countryside, don't want to live in a big city but with train access to one. Clients are in London but have worked remote for 6-7 years already. No to Hastings, Margate, Folkestone. This direction is too far for seeing family in the West Country.

Would appreciate any advice.

I think that its possible/probable that by then end of 2024 your 550k will get you something better, or allow you in to an area that's currently too expensive. Most of the forecasts now are for price falls through 2024. My opinion is those falls may be generally larger than the current predictions. I would put your head down for now and save as hard as possible. An official recession is about inevitable and increased borrowing costs have not yet worked through the market - large numbers of borrowers to come off low teaser rates in 2024. Can you wait ? Frome, Glastonbury, Stroud, Bath, Bristol all likley to soften considerably.

There are plenty of places in Frome that are within this budget

You also might want to look at Mere

Yes I’ve noticed Frome has places within the budget.
Although it’s nice to visit for the independent market or a meal, for us Frome has a weird vibe with a dense concentration of ex Londoners in a small place, and is actually quite isolated/impractical for local services and when only relying on public transport.
Mere has no train station.

@DrySherry you are probably right and I agree it’s a good idea to wait a little regarding the market falling to meet our budget. We could end up being able to afford somewhere currently pricey like Bath or Guildford.

Keynsham has a train station and is on the Bristol to London line. I don't know if its "alternative" enough for you, as that's not my thing. We do have a week long music festival though.

How about Lewes?

This house is well within your budget - you'd have money to spare.

Are you dokey reliant on public transport as moving to the SW even in a town I would say a car is a must.

Castle Cary?

*solely

No, Lewes is way too expensive for far too little and not on the right side of the country really. That house is 80sqm, too small, thanks though.

@Catsfrontbum yes only reliant on trains. This is why we need to be closer to a bigger city incase we need to commute for jobs.

@MrsMoastyToasty we went and looked at Keynsham. From the outside it ticks a lot of boxes close to city, train etc, but it didn’t feel like it was for us.

I don’t think anywhere SW is really viable if you don’t have a car. I mean maybe it is but I don’t think so.

Castle cart has a train station but it’s a short (or long) walkout of the the village. crewkerne also has a train station, but a similar thing.

Yeovil- do not live there but the surrounding villages are nice. Again, car is essential!

no train stations in these places but a short drive links you to one.
Bridport
langport
south petherton
somerton

Totnes?

Car life isn’t an option.
I disagree that a car is essential if you live on a frequent train line or live in/near a city.
Totnes is way too far west for us when we need to be inbetween Bristol and London

Ledbury
Gorgeous little town packed full of independent shops, cafes and pubs / restaurants, an theatre and many small galleries.

Ignore my post
didn’t see the between Bristol and London bit

Gloucester - although not an obvious choice from places you have mentioned, it actually has a great (and improving) arts scene. Good public transport, near stroud and Bristol on a London line. Opinion is divided but I’d say it’s on the up. There is some stuff going on in Dursley too but I don’t know about house prices there.

well none of the towns I’ve mentioned would be suitable. Sorry.

Chippenham is on the mainline. Calne is nicer but not easy to get to without a car.

I live in the SW and £550k seems like a very generous budget to me! As I'm sure you know, most people in the arts/alternative scene here don't have that sort of budget/lifestyle - apart from the Londoners that you are looking to avoid.

Your need for the train means your options are limited and you might want to reconsider Stroud/Frome - there is a reason why so many people have moved there, although I share your reservations.

Gloucester could be a good shout. Keynsham doesn't have much of an artistic vibe. You could get a nice house in Weston-super-Mare and it's on the train. People rave about Abergavenny.

In your shoes I would probably compromise a bit on the house and buy on the green outskirts of Bristol/Bath. More going on, more potential connections.

Also agree with Dursley - a great town in a fantastic location.

I live in Stroud and love it, prices have increased but I would say still reasonably affordable and they definitely seem to have gone down in the last 6 months. You can get a direct train from Stroud to London. I would say that if you want the arty scene you need to be fairly central so town centre, Old Stroud, Slad, Rodbourgh, Uplands. Anywhere further out doesn't really have the character unless your in one of the outer villages, which are lovely but obviously quiet and buses etc aren't great. Stonehouse is nice if your close to the High street but definitely a bit rough around the edges.

Thank you but Stroud really isn’t my bag. Far too left and eco centric.

@myphoneisbroken I’m thinking this might be the end solution also. Either more affordable/rougher parts of Bath or somewhere on the outskirts with a train. Frome is ok just feels isolated and unconnected.
Or outskirts of London though it will lack culture if on the west side.

Without a car, or desire to have one, I think you’ll be limited. Train services are expensive and unreliable and that doesn’t seem to be improving. Bus services would be cheaper, but lengthy. It’s probably less expensive more remotely, but then you have a problem with public transport.

As I said car isn’t an option.
I am aware of the cost of trains but if necessary at some point, commuting is what many people do near big cities !

You think 550K is a struggling artist budget?! 🙄 you seem to have some inverted snobbery about exclusivity and gentrification but with that budget you will be a part of it

Who said I was a struggling artist. Just because I don’t like an area that is already gentrified doesn’t mean I am being a snob in disguise or that I am part of “the problem”.

You sound very judgmental, please back off or do one, take your pick.