Hi everyone,

My wife and I are strongly considering a move to Chippenham, down from Sale in south Manchester. We're happy where we are, but we'd love to be closer to family, who are based in Somerset and Herefordshire.

We've got a four year old son (so we've contacted a few primary schools in the area) and a 9 week old daughter (she'll be going to nursery when she's about 1.)

We're visiting Chippenham for a week in mid-February (staying in Lacock), and if we do decide to move down, we'd be making the move in August, so not a lot of time.

That week is going to be busy - we've got three primary school viewings, and we'll have to cram in as many house viewings as possible. Our budget is 400-475k....

Any town gets mixed 'reviews' online - my main concern is that Chippenham is a little too quiet and insular. I'm not having a go here, but it seems the sort of place where teenagers complain about the lack of things to do. So, what's Chippenham like? What are its good and bad points? We'll be asking lots of questions when we're down, but it would be good to get some feedback. We need all the information we can get!!!

Thanks for any comments!

Hi Shane

Thanks for the post. Obviously i'm biased because I grew up here but I think Chippenham is actually a great place to grow up. Although I didn't aknowledge that unil I moved away for 3 years.

It's not as insular as some of the surrounding villages/towns and you have the benefit of having towns/cities like Bath, Bristol and Swindon a few miles away.

The schools have a fantastic reputation and the town centre itself caters for everything you need. A few big supermarkets, large big name chains, as well as independent shops (although less than there used to be)

As far as 'things to do' i think kids find their hometown boring wherever it is - but there's a pool, cinema, great parks, plenty of open space, sports clubs, organisations etc.

Like all town's there are good and bad areas but on the whole I think people would agree that the good far outweighs the bad.

If you'd like an opinion on specific areas or schools i'm sure some people would be happy to comment and help you decide!

Good luck!

I know im a bit late replying to this post because you have more then likely made your decision by now.
Like Lois im properbly biased because i have lived in Chippenham all my life.
But unlike Lois i can not say its a great place to grow up.

The primary schools are lovely how ever there is only really 1 decent secendary school which would be Hardenhuish, Sheldon looks good on paper but in reality there is alot of bullying and the school dosnt care as long as they get the results they want.

Pre-School wise, MoonBeams in Kinglsey road is absolutly amazing! i cant comment on the others as i havent delt with them but i have done 2 years work experiance at moonbeams and i adore it, when i have children i plan to put them there.

Things to do wise, as Lois says there is a cinema, swimming pool, plenty of open space,great parks ect. However the cinema has half its chairs missing and the floor is sticky, the parks are messy, graffitied and alot fo the equipment is broken.

It sounds like im being very mean to Chippenham, it does have its good points there are some great hidden bueaties in Johncols Park in town if your willing to walk a short distance beyond the park and golf club. The folk festival is allways a great source of entertainment and fun, as well as home made craft objects. The Saterday market is to die for we have american doughnuts, home made cakes, fresh baked bread, cltohe stools, jewlery stools,carved wood stools, memrobilia stools. and my favourte Pagan stool. Earlier this year we had a civil war reenactment which was amazing.

Like all towns it has its good points and bad points.
but honestly i find more bad then good

Chippenham town centre at night has become progressively worse over the years. In the days of the old Goldiggers nightclub people would come from miles away for the nightlife. Now, sadly, i make a habit of travelling further afield rather than endure a night out in Chippenham. I think the average age in the town's pubs and clubs on a Fri/Sat night is about 18/19 and there's always trouble. I might be getting old but things just ain't what they used to be!