Tell me about Marlborough as a place to live
Discussion
My family and I are looking at relocating from Swindon to Marlborough, primarily for the secondary school.
We have found a property that we really like in a new development, just on the outskirts of the town.
Do any Pistonheads members live in or near to Marlborough? It would be nice to gain an opinion of the town, any areas to avoid and an overview prior to investing in our dream home there.
Thanks.
We have found a property that we really like in a new development, just on the outskirts of the town.
Do any Pistonheads members live in or near to Marlborough? It would be nice to gain an opinion of the town, any areas to avoid and an overview prior to investing in our dream home there.
Thanks.
Morning Ray,
I live just outside Marlborough (between Marlborough and Pewsey) so can give a pretty good picture as to what its like. You are fairly close so I guess you will know the area a little already.
The town is lovely and has survived the recession fairly well with hardly any vacancies. Cath Kidson and Jigsaw have recently opened shops here and that is very much an indication of the demographic which I would say is on the whole fairly affluent.
The market is a strong point of the town and happens weekly on a Wednesday and a Saturday. There are several good pubs but better ones in the surrounding villages.
St Johns I guess is the school to which you are referring, it has a great reputation now and the facilities certainly rival those at some of the better independent schools around.
Marlborough lacks a station but there are mainline stations at Great Bedwyn, Pewsey and obviously Swindon. Otherwise there are bus links to and from Salisbury and Swindon and I think you can probably go East/West as well.
There is a newly opened Tesco up at the business park and there is a particularly good Waitrose in the High Street.
Anything specific you wanted to know?
Tim
I live just outside Marlborough (between Marlborough and Pewsey) so can give a pretty good picture as to what its like. You are fairly close so I guess you will know the area a little already.
The town is lovely and has survived the recession fairly well with hardly any vacancies. Cath Kidson and Jigsaw have recently opened shops here and that is very much an indication of the demographic which I would say is on the whole fairly affluent.
The market is a strong point of the town and happens weekly on a Wednesday and a Saturday. There are several good pubs but better ones in the surrounding villages.
St Johns I guess is the school to which you are referring, it has a great reputation now and the facilities certainly rival those at some of the better independent schools around.
Marlborough lacks a station but there are mainline stations at Great Bedwyn, Pewsey and obviously Swindon. Otherwise there are bus links to and from Salisbury and Swindon and I think you can probably go East/West as well.
There is a newly opened Tesco up at the business park and there is a particularly good Waitrose in the High Street.
Anything specific you wanted to know?
Tim
Tim -> Excellent first response - thank you.
I was looking at gaining a inside look at Marlborough. We only visit in the daytime (as we have young children). Are there areas that are to avoid? Or areas that are less 'nice' than others?
Does Marlborough have any issues with bored young people causing problems?
What are the local amenities like i.e. Surgeries, dentists etc.
Where do you go for home/clothes shopping - Do Marlborough folk come to Swindon or goto Salisbury/Bristol/Bath instead?
Are the local council good - are council tax rates high?
We are looking to buy on the old St Johns school site and from Google maps can see some industrial units and sewage works not too far away. Do these cause any issues?
Also, within the development, there are a number of affordable homes. Without sounding pompous - do these cause any trouble? When i am spending close to 1/2 million on a home, the affordable housing across the road must be factored in.
I hope that gives a little more scope to my original question....
I was looking at gaining a inside look at Marlborough. We only visit in the daytime (as we have young children). Are there areas that are to avoid? Or areas that are less 'nice' than others?
Does Marlborough have any issues with bored young people causing problems?
What are the local amenities like i.e. Surgeries, dentists etc.
Where do you go for home/clothes shopping - Do Marlborough folk come to Swindon or goto Salisbury/Bristol/Bath instead?
Are the local council good - are council tax rates high?
We are looking to buy on the old St Johns school site and from Google maps can see some industrial units and sewage works not too far away. Do these cause any issues?
Also, within the development, there are a number of affordable homes. Without sounding pompous - do these cause any trouble? When i am spending close to 1/2 million on a home, the affordable housing across the road must be factored in.
I hope that gives a little more scope to my original question....
Hi Rav - see below - I'll help where I can!!
I was looking at gaining a inside look at Marlborough. We only visit in the daytime (as we have young children). Are there areas that are to avoid? Not particularly, but less desirable estates are probably those at the 'top' of the town on the way into Marlborough from Swindon or the little estate opposite the TH White store. There is a big estate at the other end of Marlborough which is 90's in development, but I don't know it that well. It seems OK though. Even then, bad for Marlborough is not that bad in reality. I doubt at £500k whether you'd be looking at these options anyway. Or areas that are less 'nice' than others?
Does Marlborough have any issues with bored young people causing problems? Like all semi rural towns you occasionally get kids hanging out, but I've never found it a problem and most of the time they seem to keep themselves to them themselves. The 'Mop' is probably worth avoiding (the annual fun fair when they shut the high street, but that not often Marlborough residents!)
What are the local amenities like i.e. Surgeries, dentists etc. I go to the doctors in Pewsey, but I've asked my other half about doctors in Marlborough as she knows the town better than me, and she says there is a big practice on George Lane which is pretty good.
Where do you go for home/clothes shopping - Do Marlborough folk come to Swindon or goto Salisbury/Bristol/Bath instead? Mixture, we go to Swindon Outlet sometimes, otherwise the town itself is really pretty good for most things you need. We do all of our food shopping in Marlborough either at Tesco, Waitrose or the market. Winchester is nice and thats only about 45-50 mins too.
Are the local council good - are council tax rates high? Not sure compared to other areas, but generally Wiltshire Council have been pretty good to deal with.
We are looking to buy on the old St Johns school site and from Google maps can see some industrial units and sewage works not too far away. Do these cause any issues? Not sure on the Sewage Works!
Also, within the development, there are a number of affordable homes. Without sounding pompous - do these cause any trouble? When i am spending close to 1/2 million on a home, the affordable housing across the road must be factored in. Can't really comment as I don't know the development well enough. Also think about some of the villages around too?
I was looking at gaining a inside look at Marlborough. We only visit in the daytime (as we have young children). Are there areas that are to avoid? Not particularly, but less desirable estates are probably those at the 'top' of the town on the way into Marlborough from Swindon or the little estate opposite the TH White store. There is a big estate at the other end of Marlborough which is 90's in development, but I don't know it that well. It seems OK though. Even then, bad for Marlborough is not that bad in reality. I doubt at £500k whether you'd be looking at these options anyway. Or areas that are less 'nice' than others?
Does Marlborough have any issues with bored young people causing problems? Like all semi rural towns you occasionally get kids hanging out, but I've never found it a problem and most of the time they seem to keep themselves to them themselves. The 'Mop' is probably worth avoiding (the annual fun fair when they shut the high street, but that not often Marlborough residents!)
What are the local amenities like i.e. Surgeries, dentists etc. I go to the doctors in Pewsey, but I've asked my other half about doctors in Marlborough as she knows the town better than me, and she says there is a big practice on George Lane which is pretty good.
Where do you go for home/clothes shopping - Do Marlborough folk come to Swindon or goto Salisbury/Bristol/Bath instead? Mixture, we go to Swindon Outlet sometimes, otherwise the town itself is really pretty good for most things you need. We do all of our food shopping in Marlborough either at Tesco, Waitrose or the market. Winchester is nice and thats only about 45-50 mins too.
Are the local council good - are council tax rates high? Not sure compared to other areas, but generally Wiltshire Council have been pretty good to deal with.
We are looking to buy on the old St Johns school site and from Google maps can see some industrial units and sewage works not too far away. Do these cause any issues? Not sure on the Sewage Works!
Also, within the development, there are a number of affordable homes. Without sounding pompous - do these cause any trouble? When i am spending close to 1/2 million on a home, the affordable housing across the road must be factored in. Can't really comment as I don't know the development well enough. Also think about some of the villages around too?
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