Broxburn

[Melabells]

Hi there Mumsnet, we are looking to buy a house in Broxburn which ticks all our boxes but we don't know much about the area. Is anyone happy to share their experiences of Broxburn? To live with children.

Yes! We have lived here 15+ years now after moving from Edinburgh.

We love living here, we have 2 school age DC. It has a great community feel and is a good size of town. There are lots of local amenities; brand new large Lidl, Home Bargains and Aldi on the way. Local butchers in Uphall/Broxburn is amazing and we also have plenty of other shops, hairdressers, fishmonger etc. Dobbies and Williamson's are just up the road. There are plenty of parks and walks. Almondell Country Park very close by too.

BUSC offers so much; kids football, lots of adults classes and different programmes for all sections of the community. JHM dance studio and plenty of clubs like rainbows, brownies, beavers etc. Also fitness centre and swimming pool.

We have always found it to be a very friendly place. Like everywhere, it has its issues with anti-social teen behaviour and less desirable places to live. On the whole, it depends where you live and I'd say the nicer streets and estates far outweigh the less nice areas. We have been happy with schools, there are 4 primaries in the locality and Broxburn Academy. St Nicholas is a feeder school for St Margaret's in Livingston if you are Catholic.

Location wise it's perfect for the M8/9, airport, bridge and you can be in Livingston centre in 10 mins. St John's also very handy. It really helps to have a car but the bus service is much better since Lothian Country (LRT) took over some routes. Uphall train station is close by and takes you to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Commuting to work in Edinburgh has been much better since lockdown - I'm now into work at the Gyle in 20 mins as opposed to 45mins. Don't know what it will be longer term.

If it has a downside, it has to be that there is no local nice family pub. Most of the pubs are typical working men's pubs and not where you'd really want to go. Restaurants and takeaways are good though - Gianninos Italian is excellent as is The Dine if you like Indian.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'm happy to answer.

Thank you so much that all sounds great. The street where the house is looks lovely and not too far from a large park I can't remember the name. Hopefully hubby will like it 🤞🏻how often are the buses do you know? And how long roughly would the journey to west end of town be?

There are two bus companies, First Bus and LRT. Between them you are likely looking at buses every 20mins or so through the day and around 30mins or so after 6pm.

Depending which end of town, it's around 35mins by bus into the West End. Also bear in mind you could have a walk to the bus stop - from my house it's 10-15mins.

Houses have been moving very quickly out here (with the exception of a few at £400-600k +). Sellers recently have been selling within a week so it will be worth getting a viewing quickly. Give me a shout if you need to know about the street/area you are looking at.

Thanks so much this great info! The house is near station road which from what I see is not too far from the main "high street"

Right in the heart of the town, not far from all the shops and the main road through. Bus stop at the post office just a few minutes walk away.

It can be a fairly busy road as it cuts through the town to the A89 but it's a nice street. There are high council flats nearby (Almondell Rd) which don't look very nice but having known lots of residents through the kids school they shouldn't be much of a worry. Some are used for temp housing/homeless accommodation. It wouldn't put me off however as the housing estates either side of station road (Parklands and Erskine Rd) are absolutely fine. Good luck!!

Sorry to jump on this but we are thinking of moving to Broxburn too (Henderson crescent) does anyone know what that area is like?? Please help, we love the house but know nothing about Broxburn or the good/bad areas. Ty

@Shan1993

Sorry to jump on this but we are thinking of moving to Broxburn too (Henderson crescent) does anyone know what that area is like?? Please help, we love the house but know nothing about Broxburn or the good/bad areas. Ty

I lived round the corner from Henderson crescent until last year.

Most of Broxburn is ok tbh, there are really only a few small areas that are definitely not great. It’s not desirable like Linlithgow, but it’s also not an area of deprivation like some of the further out ex mining towns.

Henderson crescent is ex council housing, so nice big houses and gardens for the money, there’s a small play park at the end of the road and an adventure playground on park terrace - it’s very easy walking distance to the nearest primary and secondary school, and the doctors. You’re further from the shops there, but they’re still walking distance and there are corner shops nearby.

I’ve just been and looked at what’s for sale and if it was me I’d also look at the one on Kelso street and Fivestanks court, Kelso street has a better garden and the road will have less through traffic... and you’re not paying extra for the new kitchen they’ve put in in Henderson crescent (I don’t like it, lol) . Fivestanks, smaller rooms and garden, but detached, garage and that street is a cul de sac so I know kids play out there and it’s right next to the adventure playground.

Thank you for your message, it was actually one on the steel frame houses we were looking at but didn’t get, we are still looking in Broxburn so I will go view the fivestanks one and Kelso street. Can I ask what areas aren’t good just so I know to avoid it. Ty

That side of the Main Street from the canal down to just past greendykes road and the street on the other side of the Main Street right behind the shops aren’t great, but tbh, I don’t think many properties on any of those streets come up often because I don’t think many of them are privately owned.

Uphall, is similar in that there’s a couple of streets right behind the main part of the Main Street you’d probably want to avoid, but the rest of it is mostly ok.

Because they’re basically the same town my DP who’s from Broxburn disagrees, lol, but there’s no gap between them... so...

Hi, i know this post was a couple years ago, but we are looking at a house in uphall - Houstoun gardens? Anyone know what this area is like?

Same as most of Broxburn and uphall tbh, not mumsnet naice 🤣 but fine, cul de sac and the whole estate only has one road in and out so no through traffic, wee play park nearby. Walking distance to the Main Street, there’s a scotmid, butchers, post office, chemist and what have you there. Walking distance to the train station - not ultra close, but about a 20 minute walk Max.

Bit of a trek to the primary school if you’ve that age children though and no buses.

Hi there, bumping this thread yet again in case anyone still in Broxburn happy to advise? House on Strathbrock Place. Has flats next to it on almondell Rd, and obvs not the poshest biit but looks like a great doer upper. I grew up outside Falkirk so familiar with a lot of the ex mining villages/tiwns in forth valley but not so much Broxburn. Any advice? Many thanks in advance.

Weirdly I saw that online yesterday…

Honestly, it’s not great, That street is a wee cut through to the traffic lights, on a hill… so basically permanently running engines right outside. The streets round it aren’t the nicest at all and it’s opposite a couple of big blocks of flats and it’s right off the busiest part of the Main Street.

I don’t know how easy it’d be to get on and off the drive, I suspect not very.

It is very cheap though 🤷‍♀️ obviously some of that is because it needs completely renovating, but some is because of where it is.

Could be a nice house when it’s done to be fair, but I wouldn’t want to live there and I’d live in most parts of Broxburn - that area and the one on opposite it behind the other side of the Main Street are the bits I’d avoid.

Thanks so much for the insights Tabulah. It seems like such a bargain even for a dodgy bit! Appreciated 🙏

Hi all, I have lived in Uphall 8 Years now and I would personally avoid. The anti social behaviour is tearing the town apart especially Broxburn. I own my home and the council houses by me are occupied by total nightmares. Livingston.. Linlithgow and newer build areas in Brox are ok, avoid anywhere close to Main Street, good luck !