Tell me about Alcester & Evesham

[ChinChilly]

Hi 👋

We are considering relocating in the new year, currently living in Birmingham but are looking for somewhere quieter and more family friendly!

Alcester seems like a good choice, commutable back to Solihull & Birmingham for work and the primary schools look good, but I would love to here some thoughts and experiences, without being from the area or near the area it's hard to judge.

Evesham is a second option albeit a little further out commute wise but again would love to hear some opinions!

Thanks 😊

Evesham is dire - seems to be dying.

I prefer Alcester over Evesham. It has a lovely grammar school at secondary age too.
Not much for kids to do as they get older though really. So you might find yourself driving to Redditch a lot!

I don't know Alcester (except for a few visits to Ragley Hall!) but I live near Evesham and it has really gone downhill.

It has an interesting history, a wide river and there are some nice parts - the Abbey bell tower (all that remains), the Almonry, a big Waitrose in the centre, a huge Tesco and an M&S food (and other useful shops, including Boots and Next) on a trade park near the railway station (quite central) and the houses on Greenhill (heading out of Evesham to the North) are generally nice.

But the high street is really depressing (betting shops, charity shops) and we hardly go there nowadays.

I think people are being a bit harsh about Evesham, not because it’s not going downhill but because it’s no different to any other high street in the country.

The riverside is lovely, it has a train station and there are some attractive buildings/decent shops. I don’t know much about the schools.

@ninjahamster Alcester is definitely our preferred option, I've heard good things about the schools! We're happy to taxi our daughter around as she gets older, although she's only 3 at the moment 🤣

@ApplesinmyPocket disappointed to hear about the highstreet, although I did hear the council are looking to 'regenerate' the high street, whatever that means these days. I do also think @secureyourbook is right, every high street has taken a hit, the one we live near was ok 4 years ok, now it is horrendous!

Our main priority is to bring our daughter up somewhere peaceful and safe, unfortunately Birmingham is neither of those things

Evesham town centre is a hole. The council have been on about regenerating for years. It won't happen.

I’d be very tempted by Alcester for the schools alone. The grammar is lovely if your DC proves that way inclined, and I understand the academy secondary is very good. A downside is no sixth form for that one, if that matters. The bigger downside is you might well do a lot of ferrying around - it depends on your priorities.

@ZoraBennett that's disappointing to hear, how about the surrounding areas? Do you mean its run down? Or there is high crime etc?

@RomanyAbbey it's difficult to say if she will be that was inclined as she is so young but I would definitely want to make that a viable option for her. I think the ferrying out is going to be the compromise but the crime, drug use etc in and around Birmingham is so bad at the moment it's a compromise I'm more than willing to make rather than bringing a family up exposed to that on a regular basis.

Have you considered Worcester? Computable to Birmingham, but has plenty going on without the big city crime.

I worked at the drug support place in Evesham. Massive problem there. Nothing else to do is the issue. PP being negative about it are right. I don’t even like visiting now let alone living there.

@ciderwithjosie oh wow, maybe Evesham is a no then as drugs is one of the issues we're trying to get away from.

@SwiftRecourse we haven't looked much a worchester, I'm not very familiar with the area so not sure where the nice and not so nice parts are. We are open to areas though as long as its commutable

I for one am always happy when people are harsh about Evesham.

It means we don't get people moving in here from the big cities and driving up house prices for our own children.

OP - definately don't move to Evesham it's horrible.

Worcester lovely UP and as yet, pretty much undiscovered by the rest of the country. Quite a few ex brummies. Barbourne, northwick nice and hallow or ombersley if you want more of a country village vibe, but close enough to town to get to the restaurants and cinemas etc. One train to get to Solihull/ dorridge and Brum. I have to agree with pp, evesham was lovely 30 years ago but it's really not a nice place nowadays - very run down and ' edgy'.

If you're interested in Worcester, my daughter has lived in the St. Peters area for 6 years. She's been very happy there, good schools, lots of footpaths and nice play areas for the kids, close to a big Tesco. She's moving to be closer to us, but I know she'd recommend it to other families.

@zipadeedodah that did make me chuckle! I'm sorry, we're just trying to escape the madness of the city! But you'll be pleased to know I think Evesham may be a little too far for us! It's roughly an hour back to Central Birmingham for OH and that's probably too much 5 days a week.

@SwiftRecourse thank you that's really helpful, I'm going to look into the areas you have mentioned! It's so difficult when you don't know the area's yourself so i really appreciate any input!

@Sirrah Thank you! Also going check this area out sounds like what we're after!

Worcester to Brum commute is very doable. DH does it from Malvern which is about an hour so less from Worcester.

Worcester is a lovely city with lots of decent areas to live but more of a big town than a city compared to Brum.

For all of those areas, really do your research about flood risks for any property you consider. A lot of floods plains are being developed around there and that whole area is guaranteed to flood to some degree every year - some years its been absolutely devastating and floods are only going to increase in the next decade - so just make sure you buy somewhere high.

@ciderwithjosie I did quickly look at Malvern, you seem to get alot of house for your money. I saw the commute was 55-60 mins i wondered if it was that or more like 1hr 30mins in reality with traffic etc.

@DuchessDandelion thanks, I hadn't even considored flooding risks

Have you thought about other areas in Warwickshire like Stratford, Warwick, Henley..

How about Pershore? Less than 10 minute drive to Worcestershire Parkway station which is a direct train to central Birmingham.

Reading along, because various friends have suggested Worcester/Gt Malvern to us.

Could you be persuaded to look at Stratford? Some fantastic primary schools and grammar schools. We love it and also ex brummies here. Honestly can see myself living here forever. Husband has to travel to central Birmingham sometimes for work and it is a good hour in the car.

Stratford is lovely- Alcester is very close

@ninjahamster we have had a look at those, especially stratford! I'm not verh familar with the area so it's hard to know if we're looking at a nice part or not. Also moving 4 years earlier than expected which impacted budget!

@clinellwipe That's really lovely to hear! Straftford is defo on the list, OH would have to drive back to Birmingham every day Monday-Friday due to his work, I'm based in Solihull and would need to go to the office once or twice a week. The schools are a big thing for me though I really want to give my little one a good start and the schools near us currently are shocking.

@CMOTDibbler I haven't looked into Pershore. I will do though! We both need to use our vehicles for work so it would depend on driving distance.

We live a busy part of Birmingham at the moment, which seems to be on a rapid decline, orginally we were going to hold off for a 3/4 years to put us in a better position, I don't think we can wait any longer the decline in the area is scary and the house dead opposite us being converted in a HMO has been the final straw sadly!

I was in Honeybourne recently which was lovely. I think the kids go to Chipping Camden for senior school.