Coolguy100
New Member
I had a look on Rightmove and it seems like a cracking little place. Is there much for teens to do ? Is there also an indoor shopping centre ?
Hi I am new to this forum. has anyone from London made a successful move to Birmingham ?
- Thread starter Coolguy100
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I had a look on Rightmove and it seems like a cracking little place. Is there much for teens to do ? Is there also an indoor shopping centre ?
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
couple of nice pubs as well - weavers and seven stars in town, and loads outside. the Wyre Forest is an absolute jem, walking and cycling to the hearts content. the venison is very good too
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
it has, but its tiny - Kidderminster has suffered terribly from the loss of industry (and the building of the regional shopping centre at Merry Hill..) and the town centre shows it, i won't try and suggest otherwise - in the 1950's Kidderminster had some 30+ carpet factories and the employment and wealth that came with them, now its 3 or 4... theres some regeneration, lots other industries are about, and its not got 50% unemployment or anything, but yeah, its not Ludlow by any stretch of the imagination.
Merry Hill is 20 minutes drive, Worcester 20 mins on the train, Birmingham 35mins on the train - Bridgnorth is worth a good explore, as is Ludlow.
King Charles I comp is very good, if you've got teenagers you'd be doing well to get them a better school.
Are you talking about Redditch or Kiddy?
Manter
Lunch Mob
Ludlow is very expensive. That bit of Shropshire was fashionable before the crash for Home Counties types to retire to- it pushed prices up very high compared to the rest of the county.I always got the impression Ludlow would be really expensive. It's pretty though. If you're going that far out though, maybe Hereford
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
depends - if you want to buy a house on Dinham, then Ludlow is v expensive, but you can easily buy a 3 bed semi in Ludlow for £130-£150k.
ludlow has started to suffer some empty shops recently - not something i thought i'd see. De Greys has gone, as has the outdoor shop.
Craven Arms is relatively cheap, not the most picturesque town centre in the world, but lots of decent sized family homes. a look on right move finds a 3 bed for £120k...
ludlow has started to suffer some empty shops recently - not something i thought i'd see. De Greys has gone, as has the outdoor shop.
Craven Arms is relatively cheap, not the most picturesque town centre in the world, but lots of decent sized family homes. a look on right move finds a 3 bed for £120k...
Manter
Lunch Mob
God, you're right, prices have moved- I remember when my parents moved up there from Hampshire there was a startling differential north or south of Shrewsbury. Same property would be nearly twice the price depending on where it was (it was so extreme it was funny) But I've just browsed rightmove and discovered property looking *more* expensive near Market Drayton, which I never thought would happen! I guess there must be a glut of it round Ludlow.
I spent a year in Kidderminster as a teen, it was really bloody dull.
Coolguy100
New Member
I know what you mean about soulless, the pics on Rightmove do not do the area any favours either. It seems pretty peaceful though with some good value properties. I cannot find a proper shopping centre there though.
Coolguy100
New Member
I was referring to Redditch. I have not looked up Kiddy yet.
Coolguy100
New Member
Thanks I will google these areas.
free spirit
more tea vicar?
you're so going to regret that user name in 10 years time.
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
I always got the impression Ludlow would be really expensive. It's pretty though. If you're going that far out though, maybe Hereford
I've lived in hereford, its a lovely little town, but really not much going on. I imagine it would be nice to bring up kids in, but when they get to 16,17,18 I think they'd get fed up of it.
Its cheap to live though, and its real binge drinkey on the weekends.
I lived up on folly hill, but the older part of hereford is lovely. I think its got a fairly solid train link to birmingham..... the drive there is a bit of a shit though.
Coolguy100
New Member
I will be up Birmingham this weekend. I will have a good look around, time permitting. I am also going to bring the kids to the zoo in Dudley so will have a quick drive around there also. Thanks
purenarcotic
Conveniently Pocket Sized
Dudley zoo is the most depressing place, it's a great example of how not to do a zoo.
purenarcotic
Conveniently Pocket Sized
In fact Dudley in general is a great example of how not to do, well, anything.
Coolguy100
New Member
The zoo has got some very good reviews. I will give it a go all the same.
Coolguy100
New Member
Kids will enjoy it hopefully !! LOL
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
west mids safari park (kidderminster/bewdley) is much better that dudley zoo - about 20/25 mins south of dudley. saturday markets at Bridgnorth (go on the cliff funicular railway, £1 each) and Ludlow (have lunch in the Church Inn or the Rose and Crown, then walk up to the castle, turn left and walk down the hill. have an ice cream at the cafe on green next to Dinham Bridge) are well worth seeing. Ludlow has a decent book and craft fair on sunday as well.
Bridgnorth 20 mins from Dudley, Ludlow 45 mins from Kidderminster.
if you think a bit of persuasion is needed to get your kids to move out of the centre of the universe, and you can spark an interest in history in them (i'd use a cattle prod myself....), Edward IV and Richard III both grew up in Ludlow, as did Edwards sons, who Richard bumped off in the Tower of London. Henry VII (who killed Richard III) sent his son, Arthur, Prince of Wales - and his wife, one Catherine of Aragon... to live in Ludlow. he died - and his heart, lungs etc.. were buried in the big church, and the rest of him at Worcester Cathedral. Catherine then went on to marry ArthUrs little brother, a chap called Henry VIII.
Bridgnorth 20 mins from Dudley, Ludlow 45 mins from Kidderminster.
if you think a bit of persuasion is needed to get your kids to move out of the centre of the universe, and you can spark an interest in history in them (i'd use a cattle prod myself....), Edward IV and Richard III both grew up in Ludlow, as did Edwards sons, who Richard bumped off in the Tower of London. Henry VII (who killed Richard III) sent his son, Arthur, Prince of Wales - and his wife, one Catherine of Aragon... to live in Ludlow. he died - and his heart, lungs etc.. were buried in the big church, and the rest of him at Worcester Cathedral. Catherine then went on to marry ArthUrs little brother, a chap called Henry VIII.
Saints Alive
Well-Known Member
Okey dokey, I looked through the thread that some others have mentioned when I moved up to Brum just before Xmas. But, this thread encouraged me to actually sign up and join U75. We decided to relocate because of my wife's work. To be fair, we sold up in Bath (I know, I know....), so came with plenty of cash. I'm a lecturer at the University and Mrs SA works at the Mailbox. We looked at places like Solihull and Sutton Coldfield but have to say they felt a bit soulless. We ended up in Moseley which is, admittedly, very middle class, but is lovely. It is surprisingly similar to a lot of the outskirts of Bath - leafy and green, quiet (i.e. no traffic noise) and full of lovely, period housing. However, we aren't getting much more for our money than we had in Bath, so you pay for it. Kings Heath is a nice little town which seems quite a bit cheaper than Moseley, but with a lot of similar property. I would especially recommend Vicarage Road and Kings Heath Park.
As for secondary schools, we have two kids in primary, but be warned, Birmingham has a grammar school system which is ultra selective. There are grammars dotted throughout the city, but it seems that only about 10-15% of kids actually get into them. They have this crazy system where kids seem to traipse all over Birmingham to get to their chosen grammar school/the one they could get into. Otherwise, you're taking pot luck with the secondarys. Some seem very good (e.g. Queensbridge near us) but then there is the Trojan Schools thing to consider. We have all this ahead of us!
As for secondary schools, we have two kids in primary, but be warned, Birmingham has a grammar school system which is ultra selective. There are grammars dotted throughout the city, but it seems that only about 10-15% of kids actually get into them. They have this crazy system where kids seem to traipse all over Birmingham to get to their chosen grammar school/the one they could get into. Otherwise, you're taking pot luck with the secondarys. Some seem very good (e.g. Queensbridge near us) but then there is the Trojan Schools thing to consider. We have all this ahead of us!
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Coolguy100 Redditch is on the railway line to one of the universities in Birmingham. Be prepared for you children going somewhere else for uni.
I lived in Redditch until I was 18 (weltweit when were you there) and at the time there wasn't a lot for teenagers to do, that said there have been a lot of changes to Redditch since I left and there are plenty worse places for you to live with your children.
I lived in Redditch until I was 18 (weltweit when were you there) and at the time there wasn't a lot for teenagers to do, that said there have been a lot of changes to Redditch since I left and there are plenty worse places for you to live with your children.
weltweit
Well-Known Member
I was there 87-88. I did most of my socialising further south though. With all the roundabouts it kind of reminded me of Milton Keynes, but not a bad place all things considered.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
We were there at the same time then, although I was 14-15 then, so it's not like our paths would have crossed. Unless you taught at my high school?
kittyP
Pluviophile
Personally I found Kidderminster to be the most God awful place I have ever visited.
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