Thinking of relocating from London to Cardiff - Advice please

[Sycamoretree]

General disillusionment with career, family unfriendly lifestyle, ridiculous West London mortgage and crappy catchment area lottery has resulted in our wistful musings becoming a more realistic plan to up sticks and move our family to Cardiff. DH's family are all in the general area, and it would work for us both career-wise.

Can anyone advise on nice areas to start doing some tentative house hunting/pricing in? I wouldn't want to have to commute more than half an hour. DC's are both pre-school age, so we'd want to be close to a good state primary school.

Also, what kind of price bracket would we be looking at for a 4 bedroom house with a garden in a nice area?

I'm trying to ascertain whether moving to another popular city would actually give us a better lifestyle, or if I'm just kidding myself.

Mossy don't worry I was joking about you winding me up. Sorry. You have to be far more offensive than to criticise Splott to seriously get to me.

Izyboy, ah yes, the Royal Oak and Kitty whatsername. Pre DS, we used to go in the Royal Oak every Thursday evening - a whole group of us from around Splow. Those were the days... Such a shame about the Vulcan too. Crikey, we like some classy pubs don't we

Yes - but I only frequent country inns now dont you know!! (snooty emoticon). Apparently members of the Manics can be seen enjoying a quiet pint at the Vulcan.

Here's another little gem for walks with kids 'Coed Hills Rural Arts Space' near St Hillary (just before Cowbridge). Lots of interactive open air art instillations. I think they have a teepee field aswell. Check out the website for opening times and events.

Then, retire to The Bush Inn at St Hillary a lovely thatched inn, for a pint and glamorganshire sausages.

A teepee field

Thanks for that, I will indeed check out the website. Any opportunity to go the Bush.Pub walks just seem such a nice way to spend a Sunday, now we're not just recovering from Saturday night in the Oak, so I've bought a map and am trying to gather ideas. A couple of weeks ago we did Caerphilly mountain and The Travellers Rest.

What do you think's happened to the OP? Jolly good of her to start this thread, I think!

Yes hopefully she's not been put off! If you like country pubs tho' the best ever is indeed the Plough and Harrow in Monknash it's just up a bit from Llantwit Major along the coast.

There is quite a nice walk down to a rocky cove, back along lanes and through a wooded dell. The pub itself it cracking - part of an old monastery (lots of history about involvement with shipwrecking as well).

Just the most amazing fireplace. Great beer and good food (actually had part of my wedding reception there). Nice pub garden that catches the late evening summer sun (when we get any!) Lovely!!

Not that I am obsessed with pubs or anything!!

Plough & Harrow is very gorgeous. Would be very envious of having a wedding reception there - except we had ours at The Bear in Crickhowell and other assorted pubs around the village Some very fine establishments there!!!

At least the OP now knows there are a number of good pubs in the area, if she does decide to relocate. Think of it as a public service announcement.

Good Lord, I don't recognise the place I grew up in (and visit frequently) from some of these posts!

I'm Cardiff bred (living in sarf London now) and yet have never had much of a Welsh accent - I've never come across any anti-English attitude, except for a bit of joshing about the rugby. As someone pointed out, I've heard much worse stuff from Lancastrians about Yorkshiremen and vice versa.

And although I'm from a posh bit of North Cardiff, I'm no stranger to its rougher parts, having worked in loads of McDonald's round and about the city in my younger years.

Cardiff's a great place to bring up children and a lovely place all round. Good luck, OP.

Am loving all the pub talk

Oh and agree with mosschops about the Juboraj in Rhiwbina - yum!

Califrau this must be killing you all this Cardiff talk, but you're not fooling anyone with your lower lower llandaff talk, you upper Gabalfa girl!!!

Best country pub not mentioned so far though is the Maenclwyd Inn - lots of open fireplaces, lovely lovely food - bliss.

OP - are you getting the idea that we like Cardiff?

the delights of splott for Mary

Oh yes the Happy Gathering is class for a good night out. But I do love the Summer Palace, have never had a bad meal there.
Agree about the Maenclywd, tis lovely

Oh, the Happy Gathering - place of my childhood! We got taken there if we got a good school report.

Califrau - am too.

What an excellent idea Oldest Cat a treat for everyone of the back of your hard work! Of course Cardiff is not just about pubs - but we do some bloody good ones!

What do we think about Cardiff Bay then ladies? Lots of money being lost on flats at the moment due to credit crunch. Do you think its a good place for kids? There is Techniquest (science museum) of course. Is the barrage accessible now?

off

Sorry Sally just noticed you mentioned Cardiff Bay in your post. Anything you think is particularly of interest down there?

LOL mossy, I bet you were dead chuffed when you saw that Sadly, yes, it is true though. Certainly at the Adamsdown end, we did see quite a few of them. Bizarrely, we've had more problems from anti social behaviour since we moved to the 'burbs though. And I thought we were moving somewhere posh!

Anyway, much more importantly, I've never been to the Maenllwyd. Hmm. I think that needs to be rectified as soon as possible.

Cardiff Bay? I think the place is sort of great and sort of souless. Loads of restaurants and family things to do during the day, but no real atmosphere, if you see what I mean. I hear you can now walk around the whole barrage, and the pirate playground is great in the summer. Kemi's Cafe is lovely too.

And Pearl of the Orient is a good rival to the Happy Gathering.

Mosschops,

Have you tried the Riverside Cantonese on Tudor St?

We used to be dedicated HG eaters, but now we've converted and I wouldn't go back

OP, come and live opposite me!

www.chrisjohn.co.uk/fe_property/property_details.asp?property_id=1122

ooh missblythe you lucky, lucky lady!!