Bathford or Combe Down? Somerset mums ++++++++

[cosima]

Which is nicer / has better schools ?
Where else is nice around Bath? Tell me what its like please

bump

I lived in "Combe Down" 10yrs ago, so it may well of changed since.

Combe Down is part of he city of bath but if I am thinking correctly Bathford is a town/village outside Bath itself?

Combe Down (as defined by the Royal Mail) is actually divided in 2. There is a really expensive area of large comparativly older properties. Then there is a area known locally as "Foxhill". Foxhill properties were built to serve the Foxhill military base, so all built the same with much less character IYSWIM.

We were in FoxHill - which was perfectly fine - but just be aware that there are 2 distinct "zones" and Foxhill residents use the Combe Down name to give a better image IYSWIM.

I hope that makes some sense....

Oh and I don't know about schools as that was very much pre-children.

Bathford is slightly outside the city, reached mainly by a dual carriageway from the eastern end of the city (along the A4) of around a mile long. It's also not too far from Batheaston which has a little high street. It's pretty and quiet, a bit villagey - I don't know it well though. You'd probably want a car, though the bus links into Bath should be fine. Good links to A4/M4 and A420/M4.

Agree Combe Down has different areas, there are some really lovely almost villagey bits, and some nice 1930's family houses. You'd have to visit individual houses really to get a feel for the 'micro' areas! It's more part of Bath though than Bathford if that's important to you.

Don't know about schools I'm afraid, though Combe Down is near one of the city's main state secondary schools (Ralph Allen) which is supposed to be okay I think.

Why are you looking at these two areas in particular?

oh yes and another issue to be aware of with Combe Down is that there are a lot of old mines in the area!

PixelHerder - Combe Down has just been on the local news. They have just started a two-year project to concrete fill a lot of the mines, to prevent the subsidence of the village.

thanks all - Not looking for these two areas in particular, but the estate agent sent me a sample of houses and they were in these two areas.
I used to live in the centre of bath as a child, but won't be able to afford that now. am relocating there from London and want nice area with good primary schools, interesting people etc
Anyone know other areas, Larkhall, Twerton, I've heard of but don't know anything about them.
Where would you live?

How about the Weston end of town?

I live in The Circus for 2 years as a student (in 1983-5), can you imagine being able to do that now!! Mind you we had no heating except those portable gas fires

lived even

wow, thanks for the tips. is bear flat an area? is that near bathford?
is prior park still IN bath

oh it sounds fab! I can't wait to get out of London. Thanks for your help. Just got details of a house in 'Camden' is that nice?

Would really like to live in Bathwick but I guess thats mega bucks, right?

Camden is very pretty with period properties (mainly terraces) - close to city centre but very hilly and parking usually difficult.

Bathwick is also close to centre, much flatter but yes, pricey! Some nice 1930's houses. Parking also a bit of an issue unless the house has large drive.

Beware traffic: it could take you more than an hour to get in from Bathford, even on the bus, at peak times. Nice countryside, though. From Combe Down you can walk in about 1/2 hour (rather longer back up the enormous hill!) but look into house insurance prices because of the subsidence. Decide which side of the river you need to be most often and look for a house that side, as the bridges are real bottlenecks. Good luck!