Help me find our family home - Bath area

[getoutofmyhead]

We are looking for our family home in the West country, ideally a 2-bed property with character, whether a flat or a cottage. We dont mind small space, as long as the layout work fine. Being close to a high street with local amenities is important and we would like it to be somewhat commutable to London. Our budget is up to £375k though £325k would be ideal. We love Bath, and probably avoiding anything as big as Bristol. A good primary (state) school nearby is a must for our kids. Thank you for any recommendation :)

You will be lucky to get a family sized home in that area on that money . DS and partner have a small two bedroom flat over a shop. It cost £300,000 2 years ago.

Chippenham might be worth a look. It’s about 15 mins on the train to Bath. It has pretty bits (and less pretty bits). Nice enough town centre and close to lovely countryside

How about Bradford on Avon?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146555669#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148555001#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153214247#/?channel=RES_BUY

If it the West country rather than specifically Bath, Sherborne might work. Good schools, lovely high street, mainline station to London. Plenty of properties in your price range.

This house is in a nice location, right by the park and just at the bottom of the high street.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150152204#/?channel=RES_BUY

Thank you so much all. Great recommendation.

North Somerset? You could get something in Worle, Nailsea or Clevedon for that?

I live in Bath- these would be my picks- here are several in Bath and several in Frome- Bradford on Avon is very nice too - but you will get a bit more for your money in Frome though - with plenty going on , has a slightly more'youthful' vibe. - I would personally pick Bath but it's a tight budget for Bath for anything 'period with character ' AND in nice order and in an okish area.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151341989

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153344969#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129950759

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153200150

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147122381#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151242428#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152189342#/?channel=RES_BUY

@Chickenkorma64 not true- I've just posted some - she isn't after a 'big' family home

@Suddenfeelingofsadness Welove Clevedon. The coastline is lovely there and many Victorian flats (which I love). I would worry about commuting to London every so often as you would have to drive to Bristol I’m guessing.

@startingoveragainagain oh lovely Bradford. Those are gorgeous 🫶

@Chickenkorma64 yes you are absolutely right. We are after a simpler life without a heavy mortgage. We don’t mind small spaces.

@getoutofmyhead not necessarily. There are trains to London from Worle.

Cirencester!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151942619#/?channel=RES_BUY

Cirencester has the same beautiful golden stone and old buildings as bath. It’s flatter and train station about one mile outside.

These are amazing. I want to move to Bath now.🤣

www.whitakerseager.co.uk/cirencester-has-been-named-the-best-place-to-live-in-the-south-west-by-the-sunday-times/ www.whitakerseager.co.uk/cirencester-has-been-named-the-best-place-to-live-in-the-south-west-by-the-sunday-times/]]]]

nice town!

Frome

www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/68371906/?search_identifier=154c3d57c895cdffff3f5f0a03d99e3a

Another Frome one

www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/67998049/?search_identifier=154c3d57c895cdffff3f5f0a03d99e3a

Of these I would recommend Cirencester - it's by far the nicest of the towns mentioned (other than Bradford-on-Avon, perhaps, but this is a much smaller town, so less amenities).

Frome is ok. Avoid Chippenham if you can - it's a super bland commuter town.

@Bobbyelvis4ever I think it depends what OP wants 'vibe wise' it matters to some but not to others- I like Cirencester too and at 62 could happily live there, if I was younger I would find it a bit dull and quite old.

We picked Bath for the fact it has plenty going on and nice countryside on doorstep and good connections but I fully acknowledge it won't be for everyone. At various times of year it's very very tourist heavy, bad traffic and we have issues with homelessness and odd balls in town - it's not a panacea for all the UKs ills- so mentally we have to balance that out with the stuff we really do like. Frome too has quite a youthful 'alternative' vibe, as does Stroud- but again that can bring a bit of scruffiness and edginess with it and often attracts a fair bit of transient people.

Went to Exeter the other week- liked this too, but same situation.