where to live in the midlands?
Discussion
Hello Midlanders 
Vast question I know!
I'm rapidly growing tired of commuting for hours on end to see my better half who lives just outside of Coventry, so in a bid to see more of eachother and reduce my sponsoring of Virgin Rail, I'm considering either buying a place a bit closer to her or just renting for a little while, most likely the latter initially so I get the chance to get a feel for the area before I sign my life away.
Not really knowing the midlands particularly well I was wondering if some of you might have some suggestions as to where the nice areas are. I'll be honest and say I'm really not a fan of Coventry though it does have a couple of nicer bits, so I'm not looking to be *that* close.
Anywhere within about 40 miles / 45 mins drive (sans traffic) would be ideal I suppose, give or take.
I'm not looking for anywhere in particular (so long as it's not hellishly expensive), no budget really but I'm not looking to spend a fortune in rent alone, I'm not really looking for any local features aside of the odd nice restaurant etc which most places have, I guess just somewhere not in the middle of a city, as I'm more into the quiet life.
So all in all I'm quite flexible really.
Any suggestions as to at least an area I should be looking at?
Been clawing through rightmove but I've not really seen anything that jumps out
Vast question I know!
I'm rapidly growing tired of commuting for hours on end to see my better half who lives just outside of Coventry, so in a bid to see more of eachother and reduce my sponsoring of Virgin Rail, I'm considering either buying a place a bit closer to her or just renting for a little while, most likely the latter initially so I get the chance to get a feel for the area before I sign my life away.
Not really knowing the midlands particularly well I was wondering if some of you might have some suggestions as to where the nice areas are. I'll be honest and say I'm really not a fan of Coventry though it does have a couple of nicer bits, so I'm not looking to be *that* close.
Anywhere within about 40 miles / 45 mins drive (sans traffic) would be ideal I suppose, give or take.
I'm not looking for anywhere in particular (so long as it's not hellishly expensive), no budget really but I'm not looking to spend a fortune in rent alone, I'm not really looking for any local features aside of the odd nice restaurant etc which most places have, I guess just somewhere not in the middle of a city, as I'm more into the quiet life.
So all in all I'm quite flexible really.
Any suggestions as to at least an area I should be looking at?
Been clawing through rightmove but I've not really seen anything that jumps out
Sort of depends on where you have to get to for work or whether you work from home.
When I moved from Yorkshire, I ended up in Solihull knowing that I was only going to be there for a while (renting) whilst I sorted out somewhere to buy. I must say that Soli is probably better than most areas in the Birmingham catchement and is not too far from Cov. If I wanted to have good rail coneections to Cov as well I would probably look for somewhere like Hampton in Arden - good motorway link and train to Cov/Birm/Rest of UK. I do like more rural living than city so depends on what you want.
I am moving to one of the satellites of Tamworth (can't say which one due to WFH) which would still be within your 45 minute requirement however you could also look towards Warwich, Leamington or Stratford.
Having been n the West Midlands for all of 6 months I'm not sure how valid my opinion is but its there for what is worth.
Bob
PS the local PHers are fairly friendly too.
When I moved from Yorkshire, I ended up in Solihull knowing that I was only going to be there for a while (renting) whilst I sorted out somewhere to buy. I must say that Soli is probably better than most areas in the Birmingham catchement and is not too far from Cov. If I wanted to have good rail coneections to Cov as well I would probably look for somewhere like Hampton in Arden - good motorway link and train to Cov/Birm/Rest of UK. I do like more rural living than city so depends on what you want.
I am moving to one of the satellites of Tamworth (can't say which one due to WFH) which would still be within your 45 minute requirement however you could also look towards Warwich, Leamington or Stratford.
Having been n the West Midlands for all of 6 months I'm not sure how valid my opinion is but its there for what is worth.
Bob
PS the local PHers are fairly friendly too.
Edited by Bob the Planner on Monday 16th July 20:14
sorry perhaps a bit too vague 
work is irrelevent as I work abroad / from home (less so), car will be in action so no more train, or so little it doesn't matter. Village would be great, town perhaps more practical, but I'm really open minded as long as it's not too busy an area really, certainly not any of the surrounding cities.
nothing too isolated, but I don't mind rural
I'm really flexible and don't have many requirements, a garage, broadband, and a nice place to relax is pretty much all I want.
Even just some towns and villages I can investigate further and discuss with her would be nice to be honest, and yes we shall be talking more about it tonight / this week before anyone suggests I ask her
Tamworth doesn't seem far from hers ( i really don't know the area sorry ) and would be fine if it's surrounding areas are nice, only thing I know there is the snowdome
work is irrelevent as I work abroad / from home (less so), car will be in action so no more train, or so little it doesn't matter. Village would be great, town perhaps more practical, but I'm really open minded as long as it's not too busy an area really, certainly not any of the surrounding cities.
nothing too isolated, but I don't mind rural
I'm really flexible and don't have many requirements, a garage, broadband, and a nice place to relax is pretty much all I want.
Even just some towns and villages I can investigate further and discuss with her would be nice to be honest, and yes we shall be talking more about it tonight / this week before anyone suggests I ask her
Tamworth doesn't seem far from hers ( i really don't know the area sorry ) and would be fine if it's surrounding areas are nice, only thing I know there is the snowdome
Edited by Stu R on Monday 16th July 20:35
I am originally an outsider being born in Scotland, brought up in the south east bu I have lived in four different parts of the West Midlands up and down the M42 corridor on and off for 30 years. It depends upon what you are looking for but: -
Leamington and Warwick - Good pubs, restaraunts clubs, night life, a bit of style, good road and reasonable rail links but accomodation not cheap.
Coventry - Less expensive than Leamington and Warwick but just up the road. Slightly better road and rail links (especially going north).
Solihull, Shirley, Knowle, Dorridge - Nice places but now part of Suburbia (I'll get shot down for saying that). Good for families, commuting, schools and road and rail links but expensive.
Warwickshire Towns/villages such as Kenilworth, Henley in Arden etc. Again good communications links more geared to the quiet life and tend to be in the highest price brackets.
All these areas are in the segment of the M42 corridor from the M6 down to the M5 which tends to be expensive. Accomodation costs tend to reduce west of the M5 and north A45 (i.e. Coventry, Rugby, etc) If you want to be able to get back and forth to the North East then somewhere up towards the M6/M42 junction provides a good compromise of road, rail and Air links.
Hope this helps
Leamington and Warwick - Good pubs, restaraunts clubs, night life, a bit of style, good road and reasonable rail links but accomodation not cheap.
Coventry - Less expensive than Leamington and Warwick but just up the road. Slightly better road and rail links (especially going north).
Solihull, Shirley, Knowle, Dorridge - Nice places but now part of Suburbia (I'll get shot down for saying that). Good for families, commuting, schools and road and rail links but expensive.
Warwickshire Towns/villages such as Kenilworth, Henley in Arden etc. Again good communications links more geared to the quiet life and tend to be in the highest price brackets.
All these areas are in the segment of the M42 corridor from the M6 down to the M5 which tends to be expensive. Accomodation costs tend to reduce west of the M5 and north A45 (i.e. Coventry, Rugby, etc) If you want to be able to get back and forth to the North East then somewhere up towards the M6/M42 junction provides a good compromise of road, rail and Air links.
Hope this helps
Doesn't this depend on which side of coventry you want to be nearer, unless you have some perverse pleasure in the ring road.......?
I hail from the southside, its kind of nice, one pub left after the other got burnt down for housing. easy access to the M69/A45/A46 always helps for a quick getaway. Close enough to Leam/Warwick/solihul where everyone else seems to meet on here.
I hail from the southside, its kind of nice, one pub left after the other got burnt down for housing. easy access to the M69/A45/A46 always helps for a quick getaway. Close enough to Leam/Warwick/solihul where everyone else seems to meet on here.
I lived in 4 addresses in Coventry in 4 years, (Next to the catherdral, coundon, foleshill, and whitney - near jaguar research centre)
1 address in Redditch for 9 months, (on a roundabout TBH)
1 address in Rednal, Brum (Between Longbridge and the Lickey Hills) for 5 years.
and my Wife lived in 9 addresses in Birmingham in 4 years including every Student Nurse Accomodation, plus rented houses in Edgbaston, Moseley, and Bournbrook.
and my mum and dad lived in Solihul for 13 years, between Lode Lane and Warwick Road.
All I can say is I wish I lived in Birmingham again. The people are freindler and more honest.
Can't really suggest anywhere in particular, except that in Birmingham estate agents STRETCH the boundaries of NICE areas into not so nice areas.
1 address in Redditch for 9 months, (on a roundabout TBH)
1 address in Rednal, Brum (Between Longbridge and the Lickey Hills) for 5 years.
and my Wife lived in 9 addresses in Birmingham in 4 years including every Student Nurse Accomodation, plus rented houses in Edgbaston, Moseley, and Bournbrook.
and my mum and dad lived in Solihul for 13 years, between Lode Lane and Warwick Road.
All I can say is I wish I lived in Birmingham again. The people are freindler and more honest.
Can't really suggest anywhere in particular, except that in Birmingham estate agents STRETCH the boundaries of NICE areas into not so nice areas.
I lived in Leamington Spa when I was at Warwick Uni. Because the place is full of students (proper well spoken ones not the rough scum that went to Cov Uni ) it had a fairly good night life and plenty to do. However that could have been just cause I was at uni.
However if you want to commute into Cov from there I would advise a motorbike, the roads are full, bloody students....
) it had a fairly good night life and plenty to do. However that could have been just cause I was at uni.However if you want to commute into Cov from there I would advise a motorbike, the roads are full, bloody students....
Talksteer said:
I lived in Leamington Spa when I was at Warwick Uni. Because the place is full of students (proper well spoken ones not the rough scum that went to Cov Uni ) it had a fairly good night life and plenty to do. However that could have been just cause I was at uni.
However if you want to commute into Cov from there I would advise a motorbike, the roads are full, bloody students....
It was a POLYTECHNIC when I went to Coventry, and I never met any 'rough scum' . In fact I remember that the people on my HND (turned it into an honours degree) were quite posh. ) it had a fairly good night life and plenty to do. However that could have been just cause I was at uni.However if you want to commute into Cov from there I would advise a motorbike, the roads are full, bloody students....
1 guy called Parnaby, whose dad was director of technology at Lucas Industries and President of the IProdE
1 guy called Seddon, whose dad was big in the Nuclear Health and Safety Inspectrate.
And a guy called Luckhurst whose brother was a Solihul Dentist.
Ludwell's dad owned a Trucking firm with 12 HGV's
Honeysett's Mum was a Barrister and Dad was a Top Civil Servant
The M40/M42 area is probably the most expensive around, but some lovely villages and towns. The M6/M42 area is a little cheaper (northside anyway). I lived in Brum all my life - east side not too far from the airport and in general there aren't many "nice" areas left and even those are dropping - I think it's a fact of life that people are nastier and less likely to be cheerful, smiley, approachable than in the past - or maybe I'm turning into my father (NOOOOOOO!). Recently nmoved to a nice part of Redditch (I didn't think there were any either) and it is better but you pay for it. You need to be very careful of agents and wherever you shortlist make sure you visist a good few times at differnet times of day and weekends to see what it's really like, and speak with the locals if you dare, but then you should do this with any house purchase.
Coventry is a bit like Brum with a lot of iffy areas and a few nice ones. My best advice would b e avoid city centres and closeby but ensure you're on a route to get in if you need for the best of both worlds.
FFG
Coventry is a bit like Brum with a lot of iffy areas and a few nice ones. My best advice would b e avoid city centres and closeby but ensure you're on a route to get in if you need for the best of both worlds.
FFG
Stu R said:
Hello Midlanders
Vast question I know!
I'm rapidly growing tired of commuting for hours on end to see my better half who lives just outside of Coventry, so in a bid to see more of eachother and reduce my sponsoring of Virgin Rail, I'm considering either buying a place a bit closer to her or just renting for a little while, most likely the latter initially so I get the chance to get a feel for the area before I sign my life away.
Not really knowing the midlands particularly well I was wondering if some of you might have some suggestions as to where the nice areas are. I'll be honest and say I'm really not a fan of Coventry though it does have a couple of nicer bits, so I'm not looking to be *that* close.
Anywhere within about 40 miles / 45 mins drive (sans traffic) would be ideal I suppose, give or take.
I'm not looking for anywhere in particular (so long as it's not hellishly expensive), no budget really but I'm not looking to spend a fortune in rent alone, I'm not really looking for any local features aside of the odd nice restaurant etc which most places have, I guess just somewhere not in the middle of a city, as I'm more into the quiet life.
So all in all I'm quite flexible really.
Any suggestions as to at least an area I should be looking at?
Been clawing through rightmove but I've not really seen anything that jumps out
Stratford upon Avon is a great place to reside, you will never leave the place
Vast question I know!
I'm rapidly growing tired of commuting for hours on end to see my better half who lives just outside of Coventry, so in a bid to see more of eachother and reduce my sponsoring of Virgin Rail, I'm considering either buying a place a bit closer to her or just renting for a little while, most likely the latter initially so I get the chance to get a feel for the area before I sign my life away.
Not really knowing the midlands particularly well I was wondering if some of you might have some suggestions as to where the nice areas are. I'll be honest and say I'm really not a fan of Coventry though it does have a couple of nicer bits, so I'm not looking to be *that* close.
Anywhere within about 40 miles / 45 mins drive (sans traffic) would be ideal I suppose, give or take.
I'm not looking for anywhere in particular (so long as it's not hellishly expensive), no budget really but I'm not looking to spend a fortune in rent alone, I'm not really looking for any local features aside of the odd nice restaurant etc which most places have, I guess just somewhere not in the middle of a city, as I'm more into the quiet life.
So all in all I'm quite flexible really.
Any suggestions as to at least an area I should be looking at?
Been clawing through rightmove but I've not really seen anything that jumps out
Stratford upon Avon is a great place to reside, you will never leave the place
FlipFlopGriff said:
The M40/M42 area is probably the most expensive around, but some lovely villages and towns. The M6/M42 area is a little cheaper (northside anyway). I lived in Brum all my life - east side not too far from the airport and in general there aren't many "nice" areas left and even those are dropping - I think it's a fact of life that people are nastier and less likely to be cheerful, smiley, approachable than in the past - or maybe I'm turning into my father (NOOOOOOO!). Recently nmoved to a nice part of Redditch (I didn't think there were any either) and it is better but you pay for it. You need to be very careful of agents and wherever you shortlist make sure you visist a good few times at differnet times of day and weekends to see what it's really like, and speak with the locals if you dare, but then you should do this with any house purchase.
Coventry is a bit like Brum with a lot of iffy areas and a few nice ones. My best advice would b e avoid city centres and closeby but ensure you're on a route to get in if you need for the best of both worlds.
FFG
Just had an offer accepted today on a house in (hopefully) the nice part of Redditch, between Redditch & Bromsgrove actually. In terms of location it appears to be well connected to the M42/M5/M6/M40 so I can get anywhere quite quickly, Brum airport is only 20 odd minutes away and the Worcestershire country roads are not far away either! Also being on the west side of the Midlands you can have hoons into Mid Wales great Coventry is a bit like Brum with a lot of iffy areas and a few nice ones. My best advice would b e avoid city centres and closeby but ensure you're on a route to get in if you need for the best of both worlds.
FFG
roads! The problem with all the nice places around the Midlands is the property prices are astronomic 
blueyonder said:
FlipFlopGriff said:
The M40/M42 area is probably the most expensive around, but some lovely villages and towns. The M6/M42 area is a little cheaper (northside anyway). I lived in Brum all my life - east side not too far from the airport and in general there aren't many "nice" areas left and even those are dropping - I think it's a fact of life that people are nastier and less likely to be cheerful, smiley, approachable than in the past - or maybe I'm turning into my father (NOOOOOOO!). Recently nmoved to a nice part of Redditch (I didn't think there were any either) and it is better but you pay for it. You need to be very careful of agents and wherever you shortlist make sure you visist a good few times at differnet times of day and weekends to see what it's really like, and speak with the locals if you dare, but then you should do this with any house purchase.
Coventry is a bit like Brum with a lot of iffy areas and a few nice ones. My best advice would b e avoid city centres and closeby but ensure you're on a route to get in if you need for the best of both worlds.
FFG
Just had an offer accepted today on a house in (hopefully) the nice part of Redditch, between Redditch & Bromsgrove actually. In terms of location it appears to be well connected to the M42/M5/M6/M40 so I can get anywhere quite quickly, Brum airport is only 20 odd minutes away and the Worcestershire country roads are not far away either! Also being on the west side of the Midlands you can have hoons into Mid Wales great Coventry is a bit like Brum with a lot of iffy areas and a few nice ones. My best advice would b e avoid city centres and closeby but ensure you're on a route to get in if you need for the best of both worlds.
FFG
roads! The problem with all the nice places around the Midlands is the property prices are astronomic Cheers,
Tony
blueyonder said:
Just had an offer accepted today on a house in (hopefully) the nice part of Redditch, between Redditch & Bromsgrove actually. In terms of location it appears to be well connected to the M42/M5/M6/M40 so I can get anywhere quite quickly, Brum airport is only 20 odd minutes away and the Worcestershire country roads are not far away either! Also being on the west side of the Midlands you can have hoons into Mid Wales great roads! The problem with all the nice places around the Midlands is the property prices are astronomic
Well done chap ! Not quite far enough north for a quick visit to my new address from next week (nr Tamworth) but a step forward. roads! The problem with all the nice places around the Midlands is the property prices are astronomic Hope it all goes well. Got the Tuscan back in the new colour !!! Has to be seen to be believed, especially in the full sun. In my opinion even better than Chameleon Blue !
Bob
We're looking to move to Ashby de la Zouch, Silly name, but pretty market town, easy to access A42-M42-M1 and you can get a detached 4 bed with double grage for the aston for £250k.
You could also look at Market Harborough- nice market town, good links via the train, enough to do in/around it.
I moved to the midlands from kent, and the amount of space you have (and empty roads) is a real eye-opener
You could also look at Market Harborough- nice market town, good links via the train, enough to do in/around it.
I moved to the midlands from kent, and the amount of space you have (and empty roads) is a real eye-opener
jacko lah said:
I lived in 4 addresses in Coventry in 4 years, (Next to the catherdral, coundon, foleshill, and whitney - near jaguar research centre)
1 address in Redditch for 9 months, (on a roundabout TBH)
1 address in Rednal, Brum (Between Longbridge and the Lickey Hills) for 5 years.
and my Wife lived in 9 addresses in Birmingham in 4 years including every Student Nurse Accomodation, plus rented houses in Edgbaston, Moseley, and Bournbrook.
and my mum and dad lived in Solihul for 13 years, between Lode Lane and Warwick Road.
All I can say is I wish I lived in Birmingham again. The people are freindler and more honest.
Can't really suggest anywhere in particular, except that in Birmingham estate agents STRETCH the boundaries of NICE areas into not so nice areas.
To right, I've lived in Brum for about 10 years now and according to Estate Agents, Edgbaston, Moseley, Bournville and Harborne now cover most of the city. 1 address in Redditch for 9 months, (on a roundabout TBH)
1 address in Rednal, Brum (Between Longbridge and the Lickey Hills) for 5 years.
and my Wife lived in 9 addresses in Birmingham in 4 years including every Student Nurse Accomodation, plus rented houses in Edgbaston, Moseley, and Bournbrook.
and my mum and dad lived in Solihul for 13 years, between Lode Lane and Warwick Road.
All I can say is I wish I lived in Birmingham again. The people are freindler and more honest.
Can't really suggest anywhere in particular, except that in Birmingham estate agents STRETCH the boundaries of NICE areas into not so nice areas.
Personally when I start looking for another house in a couple of years I'd probably think about a period property in Leamington. The only thing I would say is the nightlife in Warwick/Leamington is OK, not any better than that.
I live in cov and it's much nicer than it was 5 years ago, I've also lived in towns all over the uk but came back to cov.
North warwickshire is full of inbreds (think that is just a war between bedworth and nuneaton) and south warwickshire is expensive but I would look at alcester if I lived in warwickshire as it's quite cheap but still a nice large village/small town
Roads in warwickshire are a nightmare, lit up with christmas tree type LED signs telling you everything like stop picking your nose while driving or pebble in road slow to 10 mph and I think they have share in Gatso.
Centre of cov has changed so much over the past few years and is a great place again
North warwickshire is full of inbreds (think that is just a war between bedworth and nuneaton) and south warwickshire is expensive but I would look at alcester if I lived in warwickshire as it's quite cheap but still a nice large village/small town
Roads in warwickshire are a nightmare, lit up with christmas tree type LED signs telling you everything like stop picking your nose while driving or pebble in road slow to 10 mph and I think they have share in Gatso.
Centre of cov has changed so much over the past few years and is a great place again
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