Life in GLOUCESTER.Help!

Salz

Yes

Gloucester is pretty similar to any other city the same size. Yes it has it's problems, and I wouldn't want to live in the city centre, but I work in Cheltenham and rent in Kingsway - private tennant not HA! It takes me 5 mins to get to the motorway, and about 25 mins to get to work in the centre of Cheltenham. There is a Tesco, Aldi, Lidl And Sainsburys within a 10 minute drive, an excellent nursery, and I am lucky enough to live on a good road in Kingsway (yes, believe it or not there are some!) The primary school is good, our neighbours are friendly, and very often the weather is better here because the River keeps the clouds on the other side.
I was born and brought up in Cheltenham, and would still go there for High Street Shopping, but I don't believe that Gloucester is as bad as everyonee makes out. I would rather live here than Bristol any day:D

Wickedkitten

Yes

The High Street in Cheltenham is a funny old thing. It's like going through some weird time warp on either side that doesn't quite match the middle, Love the shops in Montpelier although I much prefer the high street shops in Bristol. It's about a half hour by motorbike from our house into Cheltenham town centre or Bristol anyway. The joys of living right off the M5.

gld73

Yes

I think cidersid's posting gives a very good summary of what are considered the good and bad areas of Gloucester. It's a city similar to any other - i.e. good areas and bad areas. There's a huge amount of investment being made in it, and the areas which made certain parts look a mess are all either being developed or have plans in place to develop them. The docks area now has a 'designer outlet' shopping centre, and if you can afford a flat there, that would be a good place to live if you want somewhere central.

Overall, there's a decent mix of older style houses and modern housing estates, so you'd be able to find something to suit your taste. A specific question to ask about any property is whether it's been affected by flooding - of course the majority of properties haven't been affected, but some were badly affected about 2 or 3 years ago when the River Severn burst its banks, so if you don't know the area, best to ask the question to be sure.

As for the comments about Cheltenham - yes, it is viewed as being more upmarket than Gloucester (though it's worst areas are probably worse than Gloucester's), but that makes its equivalent houses much more expensive, despite being just 8 miles or so away. I had a nice 4 bed detached house in Gloucester (Abbeymead) for the price of a 2 or 3 bed semi in Cheltenham.

RabbitMad

No

geri1965 wrote: »

All you need to know about Gloucester is that Fred & Rose West lived there.

... So lots of the houses will have really nice patios?

I think the OP will need to know a lot more about gloucester before buying a house there.

Here's my top trivia about it
1. Harry potter is filmed at the cathedral.
2. It has a rugby team
3. Its cricket clubs grounds are actually in bristol (although I might have made this last one up)

Nicklt

No

I recently moved to gloucester from Birmingham, with my girlfriend and daughter, we live in a flat right in the middle of gloucester town (next to wilkinsons if anyone knows it) i have to say the "ruff" of gloucester isn't a patch on Birmingham, but then again i am from a pretty affluante area of Birmingham and have to say the centre of Gloucester is a disgrace, was completely destroyed by the council over the years letting companies build god awful buildings next to nice old buildings, the Wilkinsons and Sainsburys buildings in the centre of town are an absolute disgrace most disgusting buildings in the world. I live in right by Wilkinsons which is located at the bottom of the high street, this is probably the horrible part of the high street, full of HA people who are not very nice (expect to see heavily pregnant women smoking away and shouting at other kids everyday) but further up the high street is ok, and the docks is nice, Gloucester Quays (the upmarket shopping centre) is nice but was a complate mistake should not of been built there, they built it to try and attract the Cheltenham crowd i think, Gloucester lives in the shadow of cheltenham unfortunately, it should be a beautiful city but due to god awful mistakes with building and high level of unemployment it is not the niscest of towns, we are hoping to move to the docks soon and this is quite nice and is kind of a little town on it own in Gloucester, there are alot of drunks about. The council are very good though, they have been very supportive of me and my partner since we moved here, probably because since moving here 9 weeks ago i have got a job and help with community things, whereas people who lived here their whole lives most likely drive the workshy train. ANYWAY! lol its not too bad despite what i said, there are plenty of shops and all the big name shops aswell, the people are nice (not the drunks or chavvies though) the council are good, the docks is nice and there is alot of money being pumped into the city.

If you move here let me know and ill bring you a house warming present!

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Yes

Goodmorning all. Thank you for all the information and advice that you have shared. Its a real eye opener for me and it proves once again that the better informed the decision you make is about such an important part of life -where to buy a home- the better the outcome. Or at least you minimise the risk of a nasty surprise once you have signed the dotted line. I have some good pointers now to work on. The poll results are definitely saying something but lets see how it pans out in the end. Keep it coming please....:T

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Yes

Nicklt wrote: »

If you move here let me know and ill bring you a house warming present!

I will keep it in mind mate

squirrelchops

Hi, I am at Uni at the campus at Longlevens. I now live in Fairford in the Shire of Gloucester!! but originally are from Worcestershire so am relativley local.

I used to work in Chletenham and loved it there but as others have said to get a property in a nice area you need a lot of £££3.

I went into Gloucester town itself recently and thought it was absolutely awful to be honest. Not a nice shopping town. Yes a lot of money has been invseted in the Quays area ( i thought it was the most money anywhere in EU but could be worng). Anyway, all the money appears to have gone there but the city centre appears to need a hefty injection too.

As others have said have a look at surroundign areas/villages.

Cidersid

Yes

Another problem with gloucester, especially around the dock area, most of the buildings were listed years ago, to protect the historic ambience of the city. The trouble was no one was prepared to pay for the up keep and they deteriorated over the last few years. The town centre is gradually being shifted towards the docks.

Again, like most have said Gloucester has it's Bad/Good areas..which city doesn't?

And after driving into a 'larger city' Bristol, Birmingham, cardiff etc.. i always come away thinking 'Thank Christ i don't live here!'

2 sayings come to mind,

The grass is always Greener.....

You can't polish a turd!

Wickedkitten

Yes

I wouldn't live at the docks for the world. Obviously it would have a hell of a lot to do with the quality of the double glazing they used, but the amount of constant noise, and foot traffic in the area would do my head in.