I need some good avide so I thought where better than to ask the STW massive first... 😆
Going up there for a Job interview next week. It means a re-location away from Dorset - but I won't quite rush into that.
But apart from Shakespeare and all that tat - what's the place actually like to live and and any good cycling from the doorstep?
Also what areas are good to live in? I've a youngish family (6 & 10) and are all pretty active.
Let's get this straight: I don't live in S-u-A, but do live within 20 mins and visit relatively often.
It's a nice part of the world. Little in the way of 'mountain biking' but pretty rural pretty quickly and lots of bridleways to choose from. Cotswolds not too far either.
Downside. A big downside: Don't go anywhere near the town during the summer. It is [i]full[/i] of tourists. Absolutely, walking in front of your car, full. I hate it.
Second m)nster2 my wife's from S-u-A and it's mental in the summer (and any 'special' day), riding's average.
Quite a sleepy town, in a good way.
Some nice bars for a night out, the park next to the river is great for kids, our two love it there for a day out.
Does attract bus loads of American tourists in the summer, as mentioned above, avoid town when the Bull Dog Bash is on as well, unless you like bikes 😉
If you into motorbikes, some great local routes on your doorstep.
Saying that you are equal distances from Cannock/Malvern/Cotswold/Wyre Forest/Bredon which are all within a reasonable drive, traffic permitting.
I could think of far worse places to live locally 😉
It's a nice place, but it's VERY rough at night for some reason! Been out there a couple of times, seen lots of fights going on and it's full of Chavs. Completely different to how it is in the day. When I lived in Leamington I used to meet lots of people on nights out in Leam from Stratford "getting away from" the crappy Stratford nightlife. Full of tourists in summer as already stated too.
But I suspect the nightlife isn't your primary concern. Riding wise, it's a pretty flat area, but as Ski said, you're within an hours drive of quite a lot of half decent riding. Stratford is also a very central location for just about anywhere in the UK. It is an expensive place to live though, as is anywhere with such a rich tourist industry. That said, it's expensive to a Midlander, to a Southerner it might seem cheap! 😉
I used to live in Leamington ( really nice place and close to Stratford) but did have to drive ( Cannock, Forest of Dean, Cotswolds ) to ride. Plenty of quiet lanes but no hills, but you don't have to go far south of stratford for cotswold hills but house prices are higher.
i'd look to live further west
lickey hills etc is good price and plenty of great riding nearby, pretty close to south/mid wales as well
living near the lickeys and warwick, for riding i'd say lickeys (bromsgrove/rubery) and for living i'd say warwick area, little hills near lickeys and lots of bridleways, warwick (v close to stratford) is flat with very few bridleways, but both are close to good motorway networks
email me if you want more info