Should I move to Cheltenham?

[Haggleburyfinius]

Hi Guys,

Any advice would be much appreciated


We currently live in Birmingham and to be honest I absolutely hate it. There are a few reasons for this:

We live in the City Centre as that's where my company is based. It's a st hole; full of s and wannabe innit gangsters and general degenerative scum.

The nicer suburbs are pretty much filled with chav done-good, orange people with white cars.



So we've decided to look a little further afield. I refuse to move north of Birmingham as things just get progressively worse and London is just too far to travel four days per week (my future work schedule) for a few hours per day at work. Therefore I think that Cheltenham may be the answer.

I have a penchant for Regency towns and buildings and quite fancy renting one of those Lansdown period apartments for a year or two before deciding whether to make the move permanent and buy in the area. Is this a good part of town to live or would you guys recommend anywhere else?

1) Is this romantic notion of moving to "real England" just that, a fantasy?

2) Does anyone get the train north to Birmingham? I would be travelling off peak and would like to work on the way? Is it quiet/comfortable/etc enough to do this?

3) I am too old (31) for late night clubbing or anything but are there plenty of decent restaurants/pubs around?

4) What are the general attitudes to toy dogs?

5) My girlfriend is half African and is worried that she will be the only non white person in the town; will this be an issue?

6) What are the local roads like? I would buy myself something fast and Italian as a moving present (another reason for leaving Brum; driving a supercar around a city is the preserve of twits). Would it be safe to park on the road overnight?

7) Any other pros and cons to living there?


Any help much appreciated folks; thanks for taking the time to read this and for any subsequent replies


P.S. Sorry if I sound like a snob...

[snowmuncher]

Haggleburyfinius said:

Hi Guys,

The nicer suburbs are pretty much filled with chav done-good, orange people with white cars.

PMSL

Haggleburyfinius said:

1) Is this romantic notion of moving to "real England" just that, a fantasy?

Yep

What you're looking for, and large towns/cities are mutually exclusive, imho

[fatboy69]

Ooiii.

That's my home city you are slagging off.

However.....


I couldn't have described the place any better. I avoid Bham like the plague because it is a st hole. Always has been.

Always will be.

Live in Gloucester now - not much better tbh. Cheltenam is a little more 'upmarket' has better shops, better pubs/restaurants, better night life.

However it too has its stty area's & more than a few wannabe gangsters.

Saying that I like Cheltenham very much so would recommend it. Anywhere is an improvement over Bham!

[blueg33]

Haggleburyfinius said:

Hi Guys,

Any advice would be much appreciated


We currently live in Birmingham and to be honest I absolutely hate it. There are a few reasons for this:

We live in the City Centre as that's where my company is based. It's a st hole; full of s and wannabe innit gangsters and general degenerative scum.

The nicer suburbs are pretty much filled with chav done-good, orange people with white cars.



So we've decided to look a little further afield. I refuse to move north of Birmingham as things just get progressively worse and London is just too far to travel four days per week (my future work schedule) for a few hours per day at work. Therefore I think that Cheltenham may be the answer.

I have a penchant for Regency towns and buildings and quite fancy renting one of those Lansdown period apartments for a year or two before deciding whether to make the move permanent and buy in the area. Is this a good part of town to live or would you guys recommend anywhere else?

1) Is this romantic notion of moving to "real England" just that, a fantasy?

2) Does anyone get the train north to Birmingham? I would be travelling off peak and would like to work on the way? Is it quiet/comfortable/etc enough to do this?

3) I am too old (31) for late night clubbing or anything but are there plenty of decent restaurants/pubs around?

4) What are the general attitudes to toy dogs?

5) My girlfriend is half African and is worried that she will be the only non white person in the town; will this be an issue?

6) What are the local roads like? I would buy myself something fast and Italian as a moving present (another reason for leaving Brum; driving a supercar around a city is the preserve of twits). Would it be safe to park on the road overnight?

7) Any other pros and cons to living there?


Any help much appreciated folks; thanks for taking the time to read this and for any subsequent replies


P.S. Sorry if I sound like a snob...

I live near Cheltenham and the kids go to school there. Depending on yoru budget and where you choose to live its can be very nice or pretty dire. The council estates are not nice, pretty much all of the rest is.

To answer specific questions

I regularly travel north of Birmingham by train, if you are heading towards Manchester and dont want to change at Birmingham, its one train an hour. Cross Country trains so expensive and not properly cleaned!

Lots of decent restaurants, wine bars and pubs

Attitude to toy dogs! really cant help you with this one. I am sure it will fit in fine in the posh bits of Montpelier and Pitville

Not many non whites, but wouldn't see it as an issue unless you are in the dire areas

Roads are badly maintained, my sports cars jar like mad especuially on the centre, but plenty of people have Ferrari's and Lambos and some of the nearby roads in the Costwolds are amongst the best driving roads in the country. Parking on the street in a nice area appears to be fine.

Other issues

Madly busy during the cheletenham festival when the entire population of Ireland descends on the town
Planning department are numpties
Shopping is limited compared with Brum
When you dont know the place navigation when driving is a nightmare
average sports centre in a dire area
Trains are expensive to anywhere
Too many traffic lights that are not linked to allow flow, so city centre rush hour is bad
arrive at the station after 8am and you wont find a parking space

Good points

Good schools if that matters to you
Great regency architecture
lots of nice parks and open space
great roads around
near to Prescott
Race course if you are into the horses
safe and secure generally

We like Chelt and I have developed lots of upmarket property there, but we decded to live in a village nearby as that suited us at the time.

[Haggleburyfinius]

Thanks for the answers so far.

Preferably I would like to live in the most upscale part of the town itself; somewhere where the Mrs can stroll around with the Chihuahua (don't laugh ) in safety and within walking distance of the station. Where would that be, given that I really want to live in a period apartment or town house?

Fatboy, I am from just north of Birmingham myself...I've lived in the City Centre for 8 years now and just cannot handle any more

Blue, thanks for the long reply; really useful stuff.

[blueg33]

If you want to walk to the station and be upmarket, you need to be looking at Montpellier and Lansdown. Both posh, both full or lovely Regency splendour.

[lee st]

I am a fan of Cheltenham. Visited there a few times now. Recommend a look at Tewkesbury though if you want a ace with a good "feel" to it.

[Haggleburyfinius]

blueg33 said:

If you want to walk to the station and be upmarket, you need to be looking at Montpellier and Lansdown. Both posh, both full or lovely Regency splendour.

Lansdown was my first choice. Thanks for confirming it's ok around there

[snowmuncher]

Great Malvern is a little bit like a mini Cheltenham

ps

Why not take a weekend break in Cheltenham - could even think about renting short-term to see if you really like it.
That way you get some feel of place and its different areas before committing.

Edited by snowmuncher on Saturday 9th March 14:49

[Haggleburyfinius]

We've booked somewhere for next weekend when I'm back in the UK. There are a surprising number of dog friendly hotels in and around Cheltenham; a good omen