Moving to Milton Keynes

Posted by money_talks123@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 31 comments

Hi everyone,

Probably a post thats’s been repeated but keen to get thoughts based on my personal circumstances.

I have secured a role in London and potentially looking to move to MK and commute 3 days per week.

I am moving from Scotland so MK does make it more convenient to travel back by car. I am moving with my partner and two kids aged 1 and 4 so access to nurseries and schools are important.

I have researched into MK West - Shenleys, TMA, Great Holm, Stony Stratford although generally houses seem out of my budget of £450k (4-bed).

Wolverton ticks my budget box and I have read predominantly positive reviews but how are the schools and are there parts of the area I should avoid?

Ideally looking something close to one of the train stations, within walking distance or a short drive away without significant parking costs.

Also keen to get your thoughts on other areas around MK that I should consider i.e Oldbrook, Newport Pagnell, Bletchley.

Thanks :)

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AdAppropriate2994@reddit

I myself is currently moving to Whitehouse and I think some of the houses should fit your budget in new developments down there. Particularly Crest seems to have nice ones. Its 8-10 minutes only just drive / cab to station as well and should have a high street built up for things over next couple of years (fingers crossed).

z_bnf_i@reddit

Hey, how much are you paying for cab from Whitehouse to the station and how many times a week?

phillippoMK@reddit

There’s a house in Bradwell village that is on the market.i’m not sure who the estate agent it’s with but I can find out.

Fickle_Bell_8052@reddit

Don’t be put off by Bletchley. The area west of the railway line is all good and schools are good too. Around the golf course / Bletchley park + the bit referred to as Far Bletchley should be on everyone’s list.

KarasieJedzoGuwno@reddit

I am living in chepstow bletchley. I recently moved in, close to station (10 minutes ride on bike). Nice and calm, lovely neighbourhood.

TH14sBoombox@reddit

You can't walk to the station from far Bletchley though. And parking is a pain.

Admirable-Debt-2352@reddit

Parking is alright where I'll be, but take your point if you're aware of parts that aren't as good for parking.

I'll just be getting a cab to the station when going into London as it'll only be 2-3 times per week I'll be doing that (more leaning towards 2) and it's about a fiver. If someone cycles about, then that could be another option for them to get to and from the station, perhaps.

I'm moving this weekend to Bletchley, right near the golf course. Some very nice streets and houses around there. I similarly anticipate to be commuting into London 2-3 times per week if I get a new job that I'm interviewing for (my current job is mostly remote).

nooknooks76@reddit

I live in Newport Pagnell and love it but there isn’t a train station and the buses aren’t the best. You would need to go into the city centre to get a train to London.

What vibe are you after? Wolverton does tick loads of boxes based on your description.

Comfortable_Ad_4267@reddit

Simpson Village (15 minutes by car or 30 minutes by bicycle to Bletchley railway station). Bow Brickihill ( Served by Bletchley - Bedford branch line) Caldecotte Lake on the East Side. Well served by redways into Bletchley depending on how fit you are it's 35 minutes bicycle ride you'd never know you were living in the city. All low crime peaceful areas with some stunning nature and history.

Jasedesu@reddit

There's a huge development planned between the rail line and Bow Brickhill, running right down to Woburn Sands, plus the Bedford-Bletchley line will be having a lot of down time for east-west rail upgrades. Simpson is very isolated these days - zero public transport and quite a long walk from everything. If reliable transport to London is needed, the entire south-east corner on MK should be considered off limits, IMO. That said, the amount of money they're going to spend down there probably makes it an attractive investment area.

LowHat5796@reddit

I live in TMA. We have really good schools in the area.

Out of curiosity, when are you looking to move?

I could be relocating soon and will be looking to rent out my house (furnished).

life_on_TARS@reddit

Wolverton resident here! Absolutely love it. Wonderful community, I've lived here for eleven years and it really feels like home.

kdnguyendl@reddit

What about Wolverton that people like so much, if I may ask (genuine question)?

I go to Wolverton quite often for a meal (Church street), but the restaurant I go to seem to be in a rundown area, so I don't get to see the part that everyone loves so much. I did drive around another area but in that area the parking seems horrible, narrow streets and all. I sometimes wonder if there are nicer parts of Wolverton that I should explore?

hamsterbasher@reddit

I live in Wolvie for 16 years, it's great!

My only complaint would be parking.

I've now moved somewhere else with a driveway, I'm in heaven!

Federal_Sun_2749@reddit

The old part of Bletchley around Rickley Lane/Church Green Road is nice. Very walkable to Bletchley Station, there are a number of fast 36 minute trains in/out of Euston.

catetheway@reddit

Yes, lots of nice places in Bletchley. I’m in Fenny Stratford and I love it, also very walkable to supermarkets, schools, shops, etc.

Alobsterdoesntdie@reddit

Consider leighton buzzard bud. Similar house prices and a better commute into London.

winterproject@reddit

Accept Linslade. It’s a premium around the station. 15 years I lived in Linslade, eventually sold the 3 bed Victorian terrace and bought a detached house in a village for not much more.

You’re not wrong. I live on the other side of town and the bus route is fantastic and currently only £3 return.

Bdlwaller72@reddit

I brought my children up in Wolverton. It is a great place, my youngest went to Radcliffe and did well. Parking is an issue, but houses are amazing. My husband commuted without too many issues. We moved 2 years ago to CMK, and tbh prefer it, but for the 21 years I lived in Wolverton we loved it.

violetliberty@reddit

For that money you may be better off looking in Bedford area? I’ve recently moved from MK to a new build estate in Bedford and it’s still convenient for London without ‘city prices’

noobzealot01@reddit

consider commute from places further from main trains station longer. Where Inlive in MK I cycle 12 min to train station. If you live further away like wolverton you need to either drive to central MK which means more traffic and high parking cost and much longer or use wolverton station and accept fewer and slower trains to London.

Diving to MK station the morning becomes more and more like a pain because we have more commuters year over year - traffic is becoming and issue and you may get stuck in it for way too long and miss a train

ggharami@reddit

Been here for a year and prefer NP to everywhere else. I thank Lord everyday I didn't end up in Wolverton. Every time I go there, I either get abused or I witness some odd nutcases

_CuSith_@reddit

Hello fellow Scot! When we moved to MK we discovered most of MK is accessible within 15 minutes by car, 10 minutes from us at Fairfields/Whitehouse side to the central train station. MK central station has plenty parking but it is much cheaper to park at Bletchley and get the train from there. We still haven't fully discovered MK yet so others here will have better advice!

House prices, anywhere close to a school does get pricier due to ease of walking distance. Fairfields has a primary school(also a nursery within the school I believe) and due to get a small supernarket soon, Whitehouse has secondary school, GP surgery and cafe and plenty bus options.

Only place I have heard to avoid so far is Fishermead.

Add to that Beanhill, Tinkers Bridge, Netherfield and Coffee Hall. Fishermead could be amazing, but is riddled with poorly managed HMOs

Bitconfused1288@reddit

Other than housing and areas, it's worth also looking at how much it'll cost you to commute to London. I had a look online and if I bought return tickets for tomorrow it's about £50. I wish that it were cheaper since it's half an hour on the train, but alas it's not!

IndefiniteLouse@reddit

Everyone loves to hate on Oldbrook but I lived there for 5 years and it was fine. The school is an infants school, so 4-7 and absolutely brilliant, could not recommend it more.

andrewh2000@reddit

Bradwell Common is nice and I know there's a nursery and school here but I've no idea how good they are. It's about 20 mins to half hour walk to the central railway station and the same in the other direction to the city centre shops and the Hub restaurants. Perfect if you don't want to drive.

Firesequence@reddit

I put 2 kids through Radcliffe school, it was good school and they did fine and no issues and they got the grades and the basis to do 6th form and then to get them onto their chosen UNI courses . Also parts of Wolverton are quite nice. I've walked around Wolverton a lot and late at night walking back from Train station and I've never had an issue