Moving to Bath area, recs on where to live?

Bitsy_Beans

We are looking to relocate down to somewhere that is commutable to Bath.

Can anyone advise on best/worse places in the general Bath and Avon area?

We are looking at the following

Corsham
Frome
Midsomer Norton
Radstock
Peasdown St John
Melksham

Any advice most welcome

Savvy_Sue

My advice would be to look at where in Bath you're commuting TO, and try to avoid any obvious bottlenecks on your route.

Having said that, I think you'll find that being surrounded by hills, whichever way you approach it there's a potential bottle neck ...

If you're driving in then be aware that you cannot drive a car into the centre of Bath, it's buses only. If you've got car parking provided, you'll want to try and avoid crossing the city for that reason, IMO. There are park and ride services, no idea what they're like.

Bitsy_Beans

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

My advice would be to look at where in Bath you're commuting TO, and try to avoid any obvious bottlenecks on your route.

Having said that, I think you'll find that being surrounded by hills, whichever way you approach it there's a potential bottle neck ...

If you're driving in then be aware that you cannot drive a car into the centre of Bath, it's buses only. If you've got car parking provided, you'll want to try and avoid crossing the city for that reason, IMO. There are park and ride services, no idea what they're like.

My H will be the one commuting and he's been doing it since last October so I think he's aware of where the bottle necks are. Which like you say pretty much covers Bath :rotfl:

Browntoa

yes, better to get the train into the centre or the buses are good , cheapish and run late

lizziebabe

I live in Bath. It depends on where you are going to be working. Generally houses on the South side are cheaper. Corsham is nice but quite a way out and if you are driving in then you would have to use the London Road which gets very busy. There isn't a Park and Ride at that end of the city.

There is cheaper housing in Peasedown St John but again the road to Bath gets very busy, even if you stopped off at the Park and Ride at Odd down.

The Bath Chronicle comes out every Thursday and has the Property page. Or, look on Rightmove for houses to get an idea of the prices.

Frome has cheaper housing and lots going on, including markets. It is still quite a way to drive and you would have to use one of the Park and Rides.

Have you thought of areas towards Bristol, like Keynsham/Saltford. There is a Park and Ride at Newbridge if you live that way. Housing is cheaper. I like Keynsham, it seems friendly and again there are markets.

Let me know if I can be of more help.

Bitsy_Beans

Hubby is currently commuting from near Birmingham to Bath everyday so commuting from somewhere like Frome isn't a problem by comparison :rotfl:
Just not knowing the areas I mention I wondered if there were any places to avoid living in due to anti social problems, lots of crime etc.

lizziebabe

I think you can Goo*le crime areas. Are you looking for schooling, that might affect your decision. As I said I would look at Frome or towards Bristol, unless you want to live in Bath. Wells is nice too.

I have lived here for nearly 20 years and it is OK but am thinking of moving myself, to downsize.

All the best :wave:

Bitsy_Beans

Whilst Bath is lovely a) cannot afford a slice of Georgian architecture b) I would rather go bit more rural.
Haven't looked at Wells as wasn't sure if that was a wee bit too far out.

LEJC

wells would be quite a commute in my opinion...and in honesty probably not take much time off the commute thats done at the moment...theres no direct motorway link so its country road most of the way!

A lot will depend on what type of house you want...the areas around frome are cottagey with a bit of new build,you could look at westbury or possibly warminster...guessing that would be about 50 min commute

Peasdown is very new build and a lot of commuters live in the area

Misomer norton is an old mining area and quite nice but its one of those places I think you will love it or hate it....personally I found it lacking something!

Corsham and box are both very nice areas but starting to get quite expensive..

You could look around chippenham if you like corsham,its a little further out but prices are much more reasonable

Also have a look at Bradford on avon...very pretty and stiil close,also norton st philip,hinton charterhouse or even as far out as trowbridge which is still a reasonably managable commute to bath city centre

On the Bristol side there is keynsham and saltford,but rising prices might be an issue as its not very far out of town...try Wick and Siston or even oldland common and bridgeyate...all easily serviced by the park and ride.

Bitton might also be an option,semi rural but much more for your money than say frome.

Again on the Bristol side, you could look at Pensford and the surrounding area...sort of midway between wells and bath.

WestonDave

Of the places you mention:-

Only Frome and Melksham have train services - which might be worth considering if commuting for bad weather days or when the odd after work beer is in order. Of those Melksham at present only has something like one train per day and you'd have to change to get to Bath so I'd rule that one out. Its also a bit tatty!.

I'd be wary of Corsham at present as its on the A4 in to Bath which is massively congested with no Park and Ride option. Nice place though - real little town community.

Frome is further out so longer commute but quite characterful and not heard of any issues out there - obviously everywhere you need to pick your area to some degree.

Peasedown I'd personally avoid although its cheap and near plus on the Odd Down Park and Ride direction. Because its grown rapidly as a dormitory place it has its woes.

"Norton Radstock" is OK but needs a bit of regeneration as they've lost their way but there are plans in place. (Worth bearing in mind that they are all but merged and again its a case of pick your areas - some OK some effectively rural sink estates).

Others to consider - Trowbridge - plenty of cheaper housing there because of a lot of building a few years ago. Good 4 per hour train service into Bath. Bradford on Avon is nearer, posher (real nice old market town) and on the same train service as Trowbridge but not all trains stop there. On the other hand if he's fit enough he could cycle along the canal into Bath from there as its pretty level.

LEJC

Bristol side...rather than the area youve listed, but possibly more for your money and about the same distance travelling...although not that far from midsomer norton,just accessed by a different road..

Clutton,Timsbury,farmborough,high littleton,