Where to live in stafford

[Cloverclan]

Hi, hoping you knowledgable locals can help us out here!

My husband and I are looking to move to Staffordshire so that we are closer to our families (some in lichhfield, some bham and some Shropshire) although we know these are places we don't want to live so considering Staffordshire!


We are a mid 30's couple currently living in London so looking for somewhere where there's still things going on but doesn't have to be majorly busy as this is one of the things we are looking to get away from. We are looking to have a family soon so would be considering areas where families tend to live, good schools etc although this is not a major at the moment with obviously not having kids yet but interesting to know!


Anyway advise please!

 

[Carole]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to Staffordshire.

If you are currently living in London then you are going to LOVE Staffordshire prices!

There are some things that will depend on which area to choose.......


Do you want to be within walking distance to Restauarants/bars/theatre or are you happy to be within a 5 min drive?

Or would you like to live in a village where you become part of the community but perhaps have a 15 - 20 minuite drive into town?

The more you tell us about you then the more help we can give you.

 

[John Marwood]

For 200k you can get a three bed semi in a village location within ten minutes of the M6 and 15 minutes from Stafford which has a train journey to London time of one hour twenty, thirty minutes to Birmingham.

 

[darben]

For 200k you can get a three bed semi in a village location within ten minutes of the M6 and 15 minutes from Stafford which has a train journey to London time of one hour twenty, thirty minutes to Birmingham.
Ps

I do classes in the class system

For nearly half of that you can live in Stafford, be within walking distance of pubs, cafes, resturants, shops & supermarkets, walk to the train station with direct trains to Lichfield, London & Brum.

 

[John Marwood]

For nearly half of that you can live in Stafford, be within walking distance of pubs, cafes, resturants, shops & supermarkets, walk to the train station with direct trains to Lichfield, London & Brum.

Yeh, but the town is full of motorcycle museums and grown men dressed as babies

 

[kyoto49]

For nearly half of that you can live in Stafford, be within walking distance of pubs, cafes, resturants, shops & supermarkets, walk to the train station with direct trains to Lichfield, London & Brum.

Agree with this

North end, brilliant cycling using the old railway line, MASSIVELY less traffic than the south end, loads of open space - Doxey Marshes nature reserve and Stafford Common, good schools, 15 - 25 mins walk to the train station and town and good bus service. What's not to love!!!

One warning though, you really really will find Stafford very quiet compared to London. My sister now lives in London and despite our far superior quality of life she just thinks Stafford is dull and deadend. Bit harsh perhaps, but it is a bit of a no-mark kind of place!! Although that is actually what I like about it!

 

[markpa12003]

Staffordshire has a number of lovely villages if that's what you are after. If you are wanting to live in an attractive town I would opt for Lichfield or Stafford. if you want something that offers more than a village but is not as congested or a busy as a town, Stone might be a good option.

Good luck.

 

[Wormella]

Agree with this

One warning though, you really really will find Stafford very quiet compared to London. My sister now lives in London and despite our far superior quality of life she just thinks Stafford is dull and deadend. Bit harsh perhaps, but it is a bit of a no-mark kind of place!! Although that is actually what I like about it!

She'll return at some point, judging by the amount of my friends that grew up here, moved to a big city for a while then came back to get a quality of life.

I didn't grow up here - although went to uni here having grown up in Cardiff and similarly moved back here having lived in Liverpool for 3 or so years. I though I'd miss city life, and I do a tiny bit, but nowhere near as much as I though I would, and If we do Brum is 40 mins on the train, Manchester and Liverpool and hour away and London and hour and a half - and as a bonus we've made an amazing circle of friends in Stafford (not to mention brought a house, had a child etc)

Think about what you want, there aren't really and bad bits to Stafford, or the surrounding areas - there's a couple of unloved estates dotted about but it really depends on what you're after.

 

[Cloverclan]

Thanks guys, in answer to Carole I guess we are looking for somewhere we can move to and become part of the community as this is something we miss about London (we don't even know the people upstairs!!)
We both drive so not a huge problem not having the station right on our doorstep although I intend to become a childminder so somewhere that families live and then commute (if that makes sense) We are currently renting and so will probably do that at first to make sure we find the right place.

 

[Cloverclan]

What is water houses like? There are several very nice properties coming up there

 

[kyoto49]

What is water houses like? There are several very nice properties coming up there

Very far from Stafford!

 

[John Marwood]

If you like cement its a dream

 

[Carole]

What is water houses like? There are several very nice properties coming up there

Waterhouses is North Staffordshre and I don't know it personally but its on the edge of the Peak District which is beautiful.

I know that you asked about " Staffordshire" which covers a huge area but most people on this forum are based either in Stafford itself or on the outskirts so most of the answers will most probably be about "local to us" places.

There are some lovely villages around with lots going on...I live in Bednall which is tiny but we have a huge sense of community. Nearby is Acton Trussell and Church Eaton is also to be reccommended.

Good luck with the search.

 

[number9]

Church Eaton is also to be reccommended.

Church Eaton is tiny, great community spirit, but that would be a hell of a culture shock from London. the lanes to it, are annoyingly long for whats there.
that would be getting away from it all completely.
Stafford is a decent size place, a place that you appreciate the longer you are here.
other places I've thought of 'if we needed to move' in no order, would be
Uttoxeter, smaller town, tho I have no experience of living there
Weston, very nice village too. small, great community spirit, the sort of village I like as there are no lanes to it

 

[darben]

Eccleshall is really lovely, beautiful small town with a village atmosphere , independent shops and a good selection of pubs & restaurants. Not sure what it's like on the rental front.

 

[Carole]

Yes, good point about Weston, lovely village and good community spirit.

@Cloverclan has specified somewhere where they can be part of a community and you just dont get that in a town really.

 

[darben]

Yes, good point about Weston, lovely village and good community spirit.

@Cloverclan has specified somewhere where they can be part of a community and you just dont get that in a town really.

I feel part of the community in Stafford, love my friends & neighbours. I think the town centre ( walking distance ) is quite good for getting to know folk, I think the suburbs are possibly less community focused. Friends, neighbours and being so close to town are the main things that hold us back from moving.

 

[kyoto49]

I feel part of the community in Stafford, love my friends & neighbours. I think the town centre ( walking distance ) is quite good for getting to know folk, I think the suburbs are possibly less community focused. Friends, neighbours and being so close to town are the main things that hold us back from moving.

This! Where we live I know all my neighbours, my friends live close by, all our kids went to the local primary and then on to the local secondary rather than being driven on the school run merry-go-round, and 'm on first name terms with the local shop keepers. We have a community centre, a library, the Docs a park, a pub and many social events

Anyone who says u can't get very good community in town is chattin shite really!!

 

[Carole]

I feel part of the community in Stafford, love my friends & neighbours. I think the town centre ( walking distance ) is quite good for getting to know folk, I think the suburbs are possibly less community focused. Friends, neighbours and being so close to town are the main things that hold us back from moving.

Thats lovely @darben and I am happy to be corrected.

 

[darben]

She'll return at some point, judging by the amount of my friends that grew up here, moved to a big city for a while then came back to get a quality of life.


Think about what you want, there aren't really and bad bits to Stafford, or the surrounding areas - there's a couple of unloved estates dotted about but it really depends on what you're after.

So true, I never thought I'd be back either x
It was my 20 year returnee anniversary last month