Where to live: West Midlands

[Snails]

I am hoping somebody can help. My girlfriend is considering taking a job in Wolverhampton and i can get a transfer to my company's Birmingham office, however neither of us know where is nice to live and have absolutely no experience of the area.

Can anybody recommend anywhere nice to live in the hashed area? Good transport, including, but not exclusive to things like park and ride (!!?) into Birmingham and Wolverhampton would be ideal.

We would prefer to live in a town rather than a city if possible, but again we have no idea about the area so are open to suggestions

Thanks

[Munter]

Anywhere else

Apparently Harborne is nice but a little out of your hatched area.

edit: Also Wolves isn't exactly a "city". More large town sized. And you get Trains and Trams into Birmingham. Direct trains to London as well. You might want to consider Penn.

Edited by Munter on Thursday 30th May 19:53

[Snails]

Thanks . It doesn't necessarily need to be in the hatched area as long as both of us can easily get to work without to much hassle everyday.

[slinky]

Where is your Birmingham office?

[Billyray911]

Hagley is quite nice.Very low crime and semi rural.Easy access to Birmingham city centre via the A456 or to Merry Hill for shopping and close to the M5.
Stones throw to the Clent hills,which is nice for a walk.
Kinver is also quite nice as well.

[dudleybloke]

whats your budget?

[TheEnd]

Sutton Coldfield/Streetly might be the nicest, unless some of the other areas had little hamlets in them.

[garreth64]

From your shaded area I'd consider Hagley to the south, or near Sutton Coldfield to the North.

I live in Solihull, bottom right on your map, and commute to Wolves every day. It's not a great journey, 45 mins on a good day, 1 hour plus on a bad day not including accidents. However, I'd rather live in Solihull and put up with this than move to Wolves which I find generally very depressing, though I understand there are some decent areas somewhere there too.

[DanoS4]

Kinver is nice too.

[Snails]

Cheers for the suggestions. I will take a look at all of them

Our office is pretty much where the 'A' marker is. It will be our first house purchase, if she decides to take the job, with a modest budget of around £150k.

[old'uns]

anywhere left of the Stourbridge area, you definitely don't want to be North side if commuting to Wolves unless you go the long way via Cannock area or through the wonderful Walsall Ring Road

[VVOODY]

I'd head out west of wolves to east and north of Telford. Good links both motorways and train service from Telford central station to wolves and Birmingham.

I say that because that's what I did 9 years ago. used to live in Wolverhampton and got fed up of the 6 miles to the office taking 45mins and 30mins at least to a motorway. the areas Priorslee, Shifnal and Muxton, where I am now are all very pleasant with great shopping and great country side on the doorstep. Would never go back to living in Wolverhampton....ever.

[Frances The Mute]

I live in Stourbridge (non native) and find it very nice indeed.

There's plenty of areas around the town that are quiet with the benefit of local amenities and a decent roadwork, quite literally, on your door step. It's pretty much half way between Wolves and Brum, too.

[Shaw Tarse]

Frances The Mute said:

I live in Stourbridge (non native) and find it very nice indeed.

There's plenty of areas around the town that are quiet with the benefit of local amenities and a decent roadwork, quite literally, on your door step. It's pretty much half way between Wolves and Brum, too.

Commuting to Brum on train great. But to Wolverhampton not good?

[Frances The Mute]

Stourbridge Junction gets to Wolverhampton in no time at all.

[Shaw Tarse]

Frances The Mute said:

Stourbridge Junction gets to Wolverhampton in no time at all.

Shows what I know about trains. I thought it involved a change of train & a wait!

[Nigel Worc's]

The "black country" has some very nice areas, and of course some not so nice ones.

I suggest the nicer areas will be well outside of your budget I'm afraid.

There are a lot of "brown field" sites being developed around the Tipton, and Wednesbury areas, places that used to have a lot of heavy industry, forges and the like.

West Bromwich, Smethwick, Handsworth etc are well worth avoiding.

Have a drive around, look in some estate agents windows to get an idea of pricing.

[Snails]

Cheers for all the suggestions, they are all much appreciated. I think we need to make a trip down sooner rather than later to work out if we really want to make the move.

[BE57 TOY]

I would suggest visiting wolverhampton - it really puts your problems into perspective! Really not a nice place.

I would recommend Priorslee in Telford, it will take you 20 mins in the car to get to wolverhampton or there are trains to Telford and Birmingham

No doubt wolverhampton or bham will be easier for commuting but it might be a bit depressing!

[Snails]

I am amazed how much house you can get in Stourbridge for ~£150k! I am surprised how much more expensive car insurance is!

Edited by Snails on Friday 31st May 21:39