Any thoughts on Tamworth?

agrinnall

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31148570

This story has brought Tamworth into consideration as a possible location for my relocation later this year. It's geographically pretty good for me - I work mainly from home, but easy access to the M42 is good for when I do need to travel. And a quick browse on Right Move looks like I would get more for money there than in many of the other places I've been looking.

However, I've never been there (well, I went to Drayton Manor Park and Zoo but that was probably 45 years ago so it's a bit vague in the memory) so if anyone has any comments on it's good and bad points that would be great.

Dan-Dan

hmmmm

http://www.knowhere.co.uk/Tamworth/Staffordshire/Midlands/info/worstthings

ManuelG

Tamworth is pretty nondescript tbh. I don't know any areas well enough to give recommendations or specifics, but North Warwickshire (Tamworth is right, RIGHT on the border) is a place of contrasts - a former mining area with some pretty villages at cheap prices relative to the South of the county (go for dinner at the pub in Baxterley while looking, that's nice!), but also some deprived areas too.

Do your research and you'd get plenty for your cash. Have a holiday in the area for a week maybe? Could also go to Lichfield, ArburyHall if a bank holiday etc, while combining it with checking out a few areas?

Arthurian

HS2 planned east of Tamworth.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/362089/hs2arp00drrw05000issue3.pdf

Linton

Small old centre with interesting castle but it's overwhelmed by swathes of modern housing and modern industrial estates. Some of the surrounding towns and villages are more attractive - depends what facilities you want.

agrinnall

Thanks for the info (not sure whether to thank Dan Dan or not :eek:). Manuel, I will be spending some time around the area next month, I've already had one visit to look at some other areas, really just getting a better idea of what neighbourhoods are like than the stats and Street View can tell me.

ManuelG

Baxterley, Baddesley Ensor, and Wood End all seem pretty pleasant (but FGS, don't confuse Wood End with the Coventry estate - you'll never get out alive!) and I quite like Atherstone myself.

All as a visitor though, not as a resident, so who knows if there are any skeletons!

Linton

Another vote for Atherstone. Lichfield is OK too.

phill99

I used to date a girl in Hopwas, just outside Tamworth. I really liked it there, a couple of canalside pubs where you can sit and watch the boats go by. Some really nice houses there.

downhillfast

You don't really mention what you are looking for regarding potentially living there?

Having lived there (and a little further out) for 3 years a couple of years ago these are my thoughts...

Pros

Great transportation links (M42, M6, M1, A5, A38, Raillinks to Birmingham)
Value for money property.
Lots of interesting little places to drive to within easy reach - Lichfield, Birmingham, Lots of little villages.
Good leisure facilities within easy reach - Drayton Manor, Snowdome, Kingsbury Water Park (lakes, not big swimming pool slides!)
Main shopping outlet lies out of town on a well established retail park with large outlets of major brands.

Cons

As a mostly ex-mining community a lot of the outlying villages, that on Google maps look to be in perfect country locations, are predominantly made up estates of terraced housing (ex-council type)
The town centre itself is dated with only small mainstream type shops - very few (in any) boutique type designer shops.


Areas to avoid: Amington ('Amington Village' is nice though), Kerria Estate, Glascote Heath
Better areas: Dosthill, Wilnecote.

Better areas but further out and more expensive property-wise: Hopwas, Whittington, Lichfield, Clifton Campville

Colin_Hunt

I live in Burton, and I rate Burton above Tamworth.
My son will be looking for his first house this summer, he wont be looking at Tamworth or Burton.
What sort of budget are we talking ? What sort of property ? What sort of community ?
"Good" places IMHO, Lichfield, Whittington, Alrewas, Barton, Fradley, all are probably more expensive than Tamworth.
Up and coming, and good VFM - Albert Village, Castle Gresley, Swadlincote.
Where I fancy ? Repton, Melbourne, Aston on Trent, Weston on Trent, Ashby, Yoxall, Kings Bromley, Abbots Bromley.
hth.