Advice on Shrewsbury areas.

YoungBlueEyes

Hi all.

I'd appreciate any advice you have on which areas of Shrewsbury are decent and which to avoid.

I'm considering moving there, I'll be down there next week viewing a good long list of houses. I've done some research online but if anyone could share some first hand experiences of Shrewsbury (and a few miles outside) I'd be grateful for your suggestions

Thanks in advance.

Edit - I'm also viewing in Telford, if anyone has any hints/tips to share?

todayisagreatday

We relocated from Cheshire to Shropshire - Whitchurch so more rural. I love Shropshire.

It's 25 minutes on the train to Shrewsbury and a little more rural, but gogous countryside, independent pubs and shops and good for transportation links.

YoungBlueEyes

A period terrace in a nice market town, that has lovely pubs and some independent shops, in a rural-ish area is what I'm after

I've looked at so many houses, but I fear the ones that fall in my (small) price bracket are cheap for a reason.

todayisagreatday

YoungBlueEyes wrote: »

A period terrace in a nice market town, that has lovely pubs and some independent shops, in a rural-ish area is what I'm after

I've looked at so many houses, but I fear the ones that fall in my (small) price bracket are cheap for a reason.

I can't comment on Shrewsbury itself but have you looked at Whitchurch? I can say that the pubs are lovely, no Weatherspoons or chain pubs and they have a couple.of lovely independent restaurants too, like Etzio an Italian and Docket 33, another restaurant. Whitchurch is a traditional market town, and omg the bakery's are to die for and the pies, oh the pies

If it's market towns, the train will take you to Nantwich in less than 10 minutes or to Shrewsbury in 25 mins. Chester is easy to drive too.

Edit: I remember you were looking at Cheadle weren't you too and I'd made a few comments there. Hope you get sorted.

Pop down this weekend, it's the Whitchurch Food and Drink Festival and if you want to pop in to see me I'll make you very welcome and make you a cuppa :A

TamsinC

YoungBlueEyes wrote: »

A period terrace in a nice market town, that has lovely pubs and some independent shops, in a rural-ish area is what I'm after

I've looked at so many houses, but I fear the ones that fall in my (small) price bracket are cheap for a reason.

Telford itself is not so good for those types of houses - very much an industrial town - right on the M54 and full of new estates. Wellington which is nearby is a bit older but I don't personally like it. Shrewsbury is lovely, but more expensive than Telford way.

victoriavictorious

We're hoping to move there soon, waiting to exchange contracts.
Beautiful town - we fell in love with it at first sight.
Properties of the type and location you describe go under offer very quickly and there is very little available to buy. We found we were having to make separate trips to view just one house at a time; there was no point in booking a couple of days away for house hunting as there was never more than one available to view - and even those were challenging to book viewings for.
Here goes with my take on the best/worst parts of Shrewsbury town itself - these are just my own views,/ experiences and no offence intended to anyone living there! I'm sure you'll find conflicting opinions, so do explore the town yourself if you havent already, to get a feel of the areas.
I'm only familiar wIth the town and its immediate surroundings. I have no idea about the wider region - although I'd avoid Telford and take a look at Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale or Bridgnorth instead.

BEST PARTS OF SHREWSBURY: Belle Vue, Frankwell, Cherry Orchard, Coton Hill, parts of Monkmoor (Abbey foregate end), Abbey Foregate area itself.
All within walking distance to the town centre; Cherry Orchard is a bit further away. I personally like Castlefields very much too - it's quite high density Victorian terraces but a nice community feel and a 5 min hop to the riverside, town centre and station. The big downside of Castlefields is parking, which atm is a complete nightmare, and why we didn't choose to buy there. In fact most of central Shrewsbury has severe parking problems.
Frankwell is lovely but some parts are prone to severe flooding from the Severn. Do your research.
WORST - Harlescott, Ditherington, Sundorne, northern end of Monkmoor.
Higher crime and deprivation. However, if you are after cheap ex-local authority house, you will find them there.
I will also add Greenfields to this list. It's quiet, lower crime, has some nice Victorian terraces at good prices and is about a 10 min (not altogether pleasant) walk to the town centre but to me Greenfields feels a bit desolate and abandoned. It's probably the 'least worst' of the 4.

diggingdude

Most of Shrewsbury is nice though it does have its rough areas like anywhere. I went to sixth form college and loved it there, live in oswestry now. Deffo be aware of flood areas and don't be pulled in by cheap Telford prices, there is a reason it's so cheap

YoungBlueEyes

These are brilliant replies, thanks guys

I keep finding nice looking houses, then check the surrounding area on a map and on streetcheck.co.uk and go off them.

I've got a load to view tomorrow round Telford, then Shrewsbury on Wednesday, and Thursday is empty for possible second viewings or new discoveries...

FloweryCurtains

Personally I’d search for SY3 to ensure a good area. The central parts of SY1 and SY2 are lovely but if you search those areas and find a nice Joie for what seems to be a good price, you can be sure that it’s in one of the less premium areas.

I’m not a Shrewsbury local but love it and would struggle to live anywhere else now. Even the ‘rough’ areas are nothing like rough areas in other cities I’ve lived in so in a lot of ways you can’t go wrong. South of the river is your premium though.

FloweryCurtains

*nice house

Struggling with edit!

TheGardener

If you want to look a bit further out of town it also worth looking out along the A53 which leads eventually to the Potteries and Leek. This is for most part is a good road and reasonably straightforward access to M6 and A50. Market Drayton has a reasonable mix of old and new property but like so may rural market towns is struggling economically but that means property is cheaper.
If you can find something in your price bracket - in the opposite direction on the A49 Bishops Castle and Church Stretton put you at the heart of an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'