Bracknell - Whats it like/where to live? ( mon-fri for work)

[amir_j]

Help!

Will be working in Bracknell from Tuesday for 3 months or so, had a look at the town and didnt seem like the nicest area. Used to live in Slough though so similar.

Would it be best to live in Reading or somewhere else? Will be looking for a room to rent.

[VerySideways]

Plenty of rooms around Reading - my area is dead easy to get to Bracknell or Reading, i live in Lower Earley. Everyone around here seem to work in IT along the M3/M4 corridor or in London.
Safe for the car, nightbus to and from Reading, and a quick hop on the A329M to Bracknell.

Similar situation on the otherside of Bracknell is Ascot.
Slightly further afield are Bagshot and Camberley.

[SVTRick]

And down to the Belvedere near Ascot to get waisted

[james_gt3rs]

Avoid the Bracknell estates if possible, they are known to be quite rough (Great Hollands and so on).

[amir_j]

Thanks all, currently negotiating a nice looking room in West Reading, wanted closer but according to the new TomToms online planner, rush hour commute should be 30 mins door to door so not too bad.

VS- my roles tend to be half IT half business , that way nether side knows how little I know about the another

[SVTRick]

If you watch Road Wars it's easy to see places to avoid.
And where not to leave your car

[john_r]

amir_j said:

VS- my roles tend to be half IT half business , that way nether side knows how little I know about the another

You'll fit in perfectly in the Thames Valley!

[VerySideways]

amir_j said:

Thanks all, currently negotiating a nice looking room in West Reading, wanted closer but according to the new TomToms online planner, rush hour commute should be 30 mins door to door so not too bad.

Where in West Reading? I can't think of anywhere round there which would get you to Bracknell for 9 if you left at 8:30... not even close.

[john_r]

VerySideways said:

amir_j said:

Thanks all, currently negotiating a nice looking room in West Reading, wanted closer but according to the new TomToms online planner, rush hour commute should be 30 mins door to door so not too bad.

Where in West Reading? I can't think of anywhere round there which would get you to Bracknell for 9 if you left at 8:30... not even close.

Tis true - I used to commute exactly that route; frequently closer to an hour in rush hour... Although if you're very close to the M4 then it wouldn't be too bad I guess? It would take me longer to do the 3 miles to get on to the M4 than it did the next 12'ish miles to Bracknell!

[amir_j]

Now im worried! Its near Tilehurst station.

According to tomtom routes its 30 mins which is supposed to include the IQ routes ie typical traffic at the time (put in Friday at 9am)

click pic to enlarge

Edited by amir_j on Friday 1st May 11:02

[VerySideways]

Judging by the location on that map, at that time of morning you'd be quicker to get out to junction 12, get the M4 down to J10, and then go into Bracknell that way. Nowhere near 30 minutes though. 45 at best i'd say.

[lawrencec]

yea id would say 45 mins i often exit reading that way on way home can get chocker what ever you do dont go through reading will take an age

[alanruss]

Bracknell isn't great, but its a new town, it was fields in the 40's housed people who lost theirs in the blitz, and now is the home to massive corporations / congolmerates, so you can't blame it really. Milton Keynes is another New Town for example!

However, this is around the area I grew up. If you want somewhere nice, look for the smaller places. Wokingham for example. Not Woking, Wokingham. Parents still live there. If you want more posh go for Ascot, Sunningdale, Binfield.

Your commute will be better, your car will be safer and the pubs will be nicer. Ok, it can be a pain to get around as the public transport is a bit poo.

PM me or reply here if you want any more info.

Edited by alanruss on Friday 1st May 11:14

[VerySideways]

Wokingham - very good point, good idea. A bit more money, but worth it for sure.

[amir_j]

Thanks guys, will have a re-think about that room. My total blind trust in tomtom will also need evaluating

Alan- many thankss but not so bothered about the area as just sunday night to Friday morning short term. Always lived in poor chavvy areas (currently in salford) so not too fussed, would be more an issue if had kids. Car has a Clifford alarm and Disklok at all times so cant be nicked and leave glovebox empty & open to put off sat nav thieves; never had issues (touch wood) and park anywhere and everywhere. Work has a car park which is a big plus.

Priority currently is cheap as possible as long as clean and relatively peaceful- Im a freelancer and in the best of times only so many jobs with my skillset so taken a few months to find this job and need to keep head firmly above water.

Edited by amir_j on Friday 1st May 11:26

[zhead]

That's pretty much my route to work. Believe me, TomTom has no idea about the traffic in the morning . However, during school holidays, you'll breeze it in 45mins.

Otherwise, I would imagine it's about 20/25 mins to J11 of the M4 (much better option than J12 in the morning from Tilehurst) and then about 15/20mins down the M4 and A329M to Bracknell.

Wokingham's a good idea but if you're a hungry social man, Wokkers (or the 'Nam as known to us locals) has a good few pubs but nothing after 11pm. Well there is but just don't go there

Pete made a good shout with Lower Earley for commuting and reasonably well connected to Reading and Wokkers. It is a large housing estate though so not much near (other than the worlds biggest chav magnet Asda.

Where is it in Bracknell you're working? If close to the station, you could save a lot of hassle using the train from 'ding to Bracknell. There's a fast option which would save time over the commute and if you can find a place near the centre of town, allow for some post work shanty.

All the other advise is spot on. Namely, don't live in Bracknell......

Good hunting.

[Steveskii]

I live in Warfield. Two minutes out from Bracknell. I've also lived in Martins Heron.

The Warfield area is a nice place but comes at a premium. I'd also consider looking at the Martins Heron, Forest Park estates. I've lived there and never had any trouble and they're relatively scum free.

Gt Hollands has a reputation but it's not that bad to be honest, just council really.

I guess the way to put it is i'd live anywhere in Bracknell and not have any real worries about my personal safety or that of my vehicle.

I will say though that the town itself for shops, entertainment etc.. is pretty dull. Reading is only a couple of stops away on the train though.

[funwithrevs]

I think Tilehurst is too far from central Reading to have any night-life advantage over Bracknell.

Another Lower Early resident here, been living here about 15 years now.

Bracknell:
http://www.upmystreet.com/local/neighbours-in-brac...

Tilehurst:
http://www.upmystreet.com/local/neighbours-in-rg30...

Lower Earley:
http://www.upmystreet.com/local/neighbours-in-rg6....

[funwithrevs]

Just peeked at the crime figures on upmystreet (not played on there for ages) and Tilehurst was actually worse than I expected, Bracknell comes up average which is better than I expected.

[Revs_Addiction]

VerySideways said:

Judging by the location on that map, at that time of morning you'd be quicker to get out to junction 12, get the M4 down to J10, and then go into Bracknell that way. Nowhere near 30 minutes though. 45 at best i'd say.

+1

The route shown would be MURDER at rush hour!!

PS - I live in Martin's Heron, (on the east edge of Brackers), it's fine. On my estate there's 2 fezzas and an aston!

Bracknell town centre is absolutely ghastly though, proper scumsville. We NEVER go in there for shopping/nights out, only ever for banking once in a blue moon...

Ascot is 2 miles away, and much better, nice bars/pubs, and plenty of posh totty!

I'd look at Crowthorne, Wokingham, Ascot, Sunningdale, or if you do go for Reading, take the train into work!