Moving to Aylesbury
Discussion
Apologies if I've posted this in the wrong section first of all. My dad is currently in the process of selling our house in London and myself and him will be moving to Aylesbury with me purchasing the house there as a FTB. We've already got 2 properties we've booked visits for on the northern edge of the town in what looks like a quiet cul-de-sac and I've tried to do as much googling as I can but that hasn't been much help, for anyone with experience is there anything we should be wary of, areas not to live in the town and what is it like in general? I know rail connections to London are decent, and there seems to be a fairly well sized town centre with all the usual shops etc. Thank you!
Hmmm....
It depends where you are moving from - so what you are comparing it with.
Some areas seem less than good, but others are quite nice. Whilst my father was in Stoke Mandeville hospital we went through some areas which were a bit run down (that's being kind), but that is on the other side of town to where you are looking.
If I were you I would investigate the local area around the street/road you are looking at. A few minutes drive around should tell you what you need to know.
We live a few miles north of Aylesbury in a small village. We tend to dip into Aylesbury as opposed to spend a lot of time there. Pre-Covid it did have some benefits, the theatre, cinema, waitrose and a few others.
Personally it seems a bit rundown in terms of housing stock and shops in the centre, or possibly just a bit tired. Most of Bucks County Council services are now based there - if not all - moved from High Wycombe (or rather the southern half of them moved up there).
Train wise, the Aylesbury lines are the slow ones or possibly less frequent ones. If we go to London we use Haddenham & Thame or sometimes Bicester.
There is the new Berryfields area and some new development on that side of the town - but not sure where you are looking. This is on the NW edge of the town.
Personally, if possible, I would live in a village or smaller town around Aylesbury and dip in to the facilities there when needed. But it depends on you and your circumstances. Of course a similar property in a village may well be more expensive or smaller than a comparable property.
ETA : If moving to the North side of Aylesbury be wary of HS2 and the impact that may have - we knew it was coming, about 1.5 miles away from where we are, but it may be closer for you.
There certainly seems to be some investment in Aylesbury in certain areas, but then not much in other parts of it.
It depends where you are moving from - so what you are comparing it with.
Some areas seem less than good, but others are quite nice. Whilst my father was in Stoke Mandeville hospital we went through some areas which were a bit run down (that's being kind), but that is on the other side of town to where you are looking.
If I were you I would investigate the local area around the street/road you are looking at. A few minutes drive around should tell you what you need to know.
We live a few miles north of Aylesbury in a small village. We tend to dip into Aylesbury as opposed to spend a lot of time there. Pre-Covid it did have some benefits, the theatre, cinema, waitrose and a few others.
Personally it seems a bit rundown in terms of housing stock and shops in the centre, or possibly just a bit tired. Most of Bucks County Council services are now based there - if not all - moved from High Wycombe (or rather the southern half of them moved up there).
Train wise, the Aylesbury lines are the slow ones or possibly less frequent ones. If we go to London we use Haddenham & Thame or sometimes Bicester.
There is the new Berryfields area and some new development on that side of the town - but not sure where you are looking. This is on the NW edge of the town.
Personally, if possible, I would live in a village or smaller town around Aylesbury and dip in to the facilities there when needed. But it depends on you and your circumstances. Of course a similar property in a village may well be more expensive or smaller than a comparable property.
ETA : If moving to the North side of Aylesbury be wary of HS2 and the impact that may have - we knew it was coming, about 1.5 miles away from where we are, but it may be closer for you.
There certainly seems to be some investment in Aylesbury in certain areas, but then not much in other parts of it.
Edited by eps on Tuesday 26th January 16:44
Edited by eps on Tuesday 26th January 16:45
Aylesbury seems to be going through a massive growth phase, with new builds on pretty much every available scrap of land.
If you want a newish place the new builds are all pretty much of a muchness - Fairford Leys is a bit older and seems a bit better spaced out than the current higher density stuff.
Avoid Southcourt like the plague. Town Centre is very nice immediately around the church, rest of the town not so much, although there are some exceptions. Better as you get further out in general - even better in some of the nearby villages.
If you want a newish place the new builds are all pretty much of a muchness - Fairford Leys is a bit older and seems a bit better spaced out than the current higher density stuff.
Avoid Southcourt like the plague. Town Centre is very nice immediately around the church, rest of the town not so much, although there are some exceptions. Better as you get further out in general - even better in some of the nearby villages.
eps said:
Hmmm....
It depends where you are moving from - so what you are comparing it with.
Some areas seem less than good, but others are quite nice. Whilst my father was in Stoke Mandeville hospital we went through some areas which were a bit run down (that's being kind), but that is on the other side of town to where you are looking.
If I were you I would investigate the local area around the street/road you are looking at. A few minutes drive around should tell you what you need to know.
We live a few miles north of Aylesbury in a small village. We tend to dip into Aylesbury as opposed to spend a lot of time there. Pre-Covid it did have some benefits, the theatre, cinema, waitrose and a few others.
Personally it seems a bit rundown in terms of housing stock and shops in the centre, or possibly just a bit tired. Most of Bucks County Council services are now based there - if not all - moved from High Wycombe (or rather the southern half of them moved up there).
Train wise, the Aylesbury lines are the slow ones or possibly less frequent ones. If we go to London we use Haddenham & Thame or sometimes Bicester.
There is the new Berryfields area and some new development on that side of the town - but not sure where you are looking.
Personally, if possible, I would live in a village or smaller town around Aylesbury and dip in to the facilities there when needed. But it depends on you and your circumstances. Of course a similar property in a village may well be more expensive or smaller than a comparable property.
ETA : If moving to the North side of Aylesbury be wary of HS2 and the impact that may have - we knew it was coming, about 1.5 miles away from where we are, but it may be closer for you.
There certainly seems to be some investment in Aylesbury in certain areas, but then not much in other parts of it.
The area we're going to see the houses on Saturday is called Elmhurst but we're quite literally going to be on the edge of town, estate called Cleveland Park, we're moving from Zone 4 NW London, area called Greenford, we're currently on the borders of Greenford/Northolt/Harrow. Last week we went on a sort of recce run to Aylesbury, checked out the area we have visits for this week and liked what we saw but wanted some opinions before we make any concrete decisions, which might have to be done quickly as we had 4 visits for our house today and it was only put up yesterday morning. Right now anything is better than London and I'm in the habit of over-researching things.It depends where you are moving from - so what you are comparing it with.
Some areas seem less than good, but others are quite nice. Whilst my father was in Stoke Mandeville hospital we went through some areas which were a bit run down (that's being kind), but that is on the other side of town to where you are looking.
If I were you I would investigate the local area around the street/road you are looking at. A few minutes drive around should tell you what you need to know.
We live a few miles north of Aylesbury in a small village. We tend to dip into Aylesbury as opposed to spend a lot of time there. Pre-Covid it did have some benefits, the theatre, cinema, waitrose and a few others.
Personally it seems a bit rundown in terms of housing stock and shops in the centre, or possibly just a bit tired. Most of Bucks County Council services are now based there - if not all - moved from High Wycombe (or rather the southern half of them moved up there).
Train wise, the Aylesbury lines are the slow ones or possibly less frequent ones. If we go to London we use Haddenham & Thame or sometimes Bicester.
There is the new Berryfields area and some new development on that side of the town - but not sure where you are looking.
Personally, if possible, I would live in a village or smaller town around Aylesbury and dip in to the facilities there when needed. But it depends on you and your circumstances. Of course a similar property in a village may well be more expensive or smaller than a comparable property.
ETA : If moving to the North side of Aylesbury be wary of HS2 and the impact that may have - we knew it was coming, about 1.5 miles away from where we are, but it may be closer for you.
There certainly seems to be some investment in Aylesbury in certain areas, but then not much in other parts of it.
Edited by eps on Tuesday 26th January 16:44
Pretty thorough comments from eps - we also live in small village a bit further out possibly but share the views made.
Berryfields also has a station albeit a more limited service.
We lived in AB when first married then moved to a village then moved again ( and again ) but I was using AB to commute in most days -until March last year anyway !
AB not far from Bicester so when the village outlets reopen you have that on your doorstep too - if that's your thing -personally cannot stand the place despite my son working there !
Also motorway connections from AB really easy with both M25 and M40 easy to get to.
Berryfields also has a station albeit a more limited service.
We lived in AB when first married then moved to a village then moved again ( and again ) but I was using AB to commute in most days -until March last year anyway !
AB not far from Bicester so when the village outlets reopen you have that on your doorstep too - if that's your thing -personally cannot stand the place despite my son working there !
Also motorway connections from AB really easy with both M25 and M40 easy to get to.
Thanks for the replies so far, haven't been told to steer clear of the town in general so it's looking ok. Plus the benefits of easy access to green open spaces like the Chilterns, decent enough town centre and transport links. Will get to see more of it when we go for our viewings on Saturday and hopefully get a much better idea of the area.
smn159 said:
Aylesbury seems to be going through a massive growth phase, with new builds on pretty much every available scrap of land.
.
Yep, vast estates being built on every side of the town now....But not mnay Doctors surgeries, schools or hospitals to service these vast numbers of people.....
Aylesbury used to be a nice little market town, but the time theyve finished building it will be monstrous.
Thankfully, we live further up the road....
Check out the schools carefully if you have kids. Aylesbury has three excellent grammar schools which is great if your kids are bright enough or you can invest in coaching, but taking out the brightest kids in the area is not without its impact on some of the other schools.
In terms of Aylesbury being a 's
thole', some parts are but it's probably no different from any other similar sized town. Pick one of the good bits. If you walk, run or cycle it's a great part of the country and there has been some significant recent investment in the town itself.
In terms of Aylesbury being a 's
thole', some parts are but it's probably no different from any other similar sized town. Pick one of the good bits. If you walk, run or cycle it's a great part of the country and there has been some significant recent investment in the town itself.I guess it really depends on your budget.
As has been said, Aylesbury has a lot of building going on all around it. If you look at the builds and development plan there is an outer ring road going in that will help alleviation some of the traffic delays closer to town.
If you can justify the cost, come further south at Aston Clinton, Tring and the villages, but that will be like falling off a cliff in terms of the business / bustle of Greenford etc and around here.
Links to London, A41 a stupidly fast dual carriageway to the M25 and Tring Station gets you to Euston in 40mins.
As has been said, Aylesbury has a lot of building going on all around it. If you look at the builds and development plan there is an outer ring road going in that will help alleviation some of the traffic delays closer to town.
If you can justify the cost, come further south at Aston Clinton, Tring and the villages, but that will be like falling off a cliff in terms of the business / bustle of Greenford etc and around here.
Links to London, A41 a stupidly fast dual carriageway to the M25 and Tring Station gets you to Euston in 40mins.
eps said:
We live a few miles north of Aylesbury in a small village.
Me too 
.Central Aylesbury doesn't have much to recommend it. From what I've seen the estates around Aylesbury are like new estates everywhere, they have no particular characteristics of their own. Watermead doesn't seem too bad, lots of open space and lots of water too, and ducks etc.
VEX said:
I guess it really depends on your budget.
As has been said, Aylesbury has a lot of building going on all around it. If you look at the builds and development plan there is an outer ring road going in that will help alleviation some of the traffic delays closer to town.
If you can justify the cost, come further south at Aston Clinton, Tring and the villages, but that will be like falling off a cliff in terms of the business / bustle of Greenford etc and around here.
Links to London, A41 a stupidly fast dual carriageway to the M25 and Tring Station gets you to Euston in 40mins.
I was born in Perivale very near the Hoover factory a long time ago and near Greenford. The area then was nice but now VEX is right - no comparison with almost anywhere in Buckinghamshire. Try Princes Risborough area. Dearer but less urban. As has been said, Aylesbury has a lot of building going on all around it. If you look at the builds and development plan there is an outer ring road going in that will help alleviation some of the traffic delays closer to town.
If you can justify the cost, come further south at Aston Clinton, Tring and the villages, but that will be like falling off a cliff in terms of the business / bustle of Greenford etc and around here.
Links to London, A41 a stupidly fast dual carriageway to the M25 and Tring Station gets you to Euston in 40mins.
Edited by motco on Tuesday 26th January 20:30
Turn7 said:
VEX said:
What is the pull of Aylesbury?
Is there a reason or just a pin in a map?
Its better than Greenford I guess..... Is there a reason or just a pin in a map?
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