Best areas in Bath?

[Pulse]

I'm looking at buying a house in Bath in the near future. Never lived there - just fancy it! That does mean however I don't know the best areas.

My maximum budget would be £350k, but ideally less than that! I want at least two beds, and want a house; ideally a period place.

More importantly though, what are the best areas to live in? I'd like easy enough access to Bath Spa and the city centre. Access to the M4 would be ideal, as I will need to commute to Swindon daily.

Any advice really appreciated.

[miniman]

Pretty much everywhere is near the city and the station, your issue is going to be commuting to Swindon. I'd look on the east side of the City, perhaps Larkhall. If you go for Oldfield Park / Bear Flat you will be dealing with traffic twice a day just to get to the bottom of the A46 and the queue for the M4.

[Huff]

Definitely Larkhall / Grovesnor / London road at that budget and requirement.

[BFG TERRANO]

Fairfield park is good. Your budget is a little tight though. Avoid snow hill (sometimes disguised as Kensington) by estate agents. Avoid whiteway, fox hill. Batheaston or London road east/ London road west is good, with good access to A46 up to M4. Lower swainswick may be worth a look to.

[Pulse]

Thanks everyone. So something like this would be good? Or is the area not a good one?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

[miniman]

It's nice up on Camden Crescent and Camden Road, it's possibly a little close to Snow Hill for my liking. House is nice, though. Looks like it's been done to a good standard. Not sure about the front, but off-road parking in that part of town is a big advantage.

[Digitalize]

I used to live in Bear Flat, in the mornings it could take me 45 minutes to get to the A46 towards the M4. If you need M4 access I'd say top of town area, Lansdown, cut through the back roads to the M4.

[nail_it]

Digitalize said:

If you need M4 access I'd say top of town area, Lansdown, cut through the back roads to the M4.

Worth learning back roads/rat runs. Will save you loads of grief in surviving Bath traffic

[miniman]

Digitalize said:

I used to live in Bear Flat, in the mornings it could take me 45 minutes to get to the A46 towards the M4. If you need M4 access I'd say top of town area, Lansdown, cut through the back roads to the M4.

Agreed, Bear Flat to M4 is a long slog. I used to live above The Bear.

[Huff]

Second thoughts, don't make yourself reliant on the A46 - it can be hell on the morning commute up to jct 18. Look for somewhere with a choice of routes to the A420, so you at least you could get to M4 JNCT 17 as an alternative.