Looking for info on Bracknell and there-abouts

Kamlan 28mm F1.4 MF for APS-C

06/14/2005 07:37:53 AM · #1

The date to move back to Old Blighty is drawing nearer, I have now been offered a job in Bracknell but have no real idea of what it's like around there.

To be honest we were avoiding the idea of being in (or near) London, prefering to be more rural based but from what I have read so far there seems to be quite a few nice old towns and villages in the area.

So, any advice would be more than welcome, I'm happy to be 30+mins drive away from work if it means living somewhere we like, please pass any comments - feeling a little lost and confused at the mo!

Manic

DJI Mini 3 Pro

06/14/2005 07:43:21 AM · #2

Bracknell itself I've never been that impressed with, seemed like a bit of a soul-less town the few times I've been there, but the surrounding area is very nice - the little towns and villages are quite pleasant, and even Wokingham a few miles down the road is a nice small town (even has a good little camera store!). TBH, as long as you don't end up living in Bracknell itself, anywhere there would be good.

Message edited by author 2005-06-14 07:43:43.

Chez

Nikon D100

06/14/2005 07:46:45 AM · #3

Soul-less is right, horrible place, crappy modern houses, and concrete, yuk yuk yuk, I used to work there. Try to communte into Bracknell if you can.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/14/2005 07:53:37 AM · #4

I think that commuting to Bracknell is a must, we currently live in a small Swiss village in the Jura mountains, in total there are 900 inhabitants spread over 4 areas, we live in the smallest (total: 12 people), soul-less town/city life is not for us.

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

06/14/2005 07:54:03 AM · #5

I've known a few people from Bracknell, and they hate it. It's a very fashionable place to hate! Nobody has ever said a good thing about the place.

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/14/2005 07:54:51 AM · #6

I can't imagine where you'd commute from in the Thames Valley that has soul, unless you've got over Â£1,000,000

Message edited by author 2005-06-14 07:55:13.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/14/2005 07:58:50 AM · #7

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

I can't imagine where you'd commute from in the Thames Valley that has soul, unless you've got over Â£1,000,000

This is what worries me, we would be renting for at least 6 months, we found this place that looks quite interesting:

//www.hook.gov.uk/index.shtml

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

06/14/2005 08:24:52 AM · #8

What are you hoping it's going to be like?

amber

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/14/2005 08:29:47 AM · #9

we currently live in a small Swiss village in the Jura mountains, in total there are 900 inhabitants spread over 4 areas, we live in the smallest (total: 12 people),

Can't you claim political asylum? I'll be dragged kicking and screaming back to the UK end of next year - I won't go without a fight or some strong valium;)

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

06/14/2005 08:30:16 AM · #10

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

What are you hoping it's going to be like?

Ok, ideally I'm looking for the following:

- Rural setting
- Community spirit
- Local activities (folk clubs, sports clubs, theatre companies)
- Good schools
- Low crime (currently, our front door is never locked, even when we are out)
- Good pubs :)

Am I dreaming?

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

06/14/2005 08:32:56 AM · #11

Nope, you're not dreaming. There are plenty of place around Bracknell that meet and exceed your expectations. Bracknell itself is due to undergo major rebuilding soon...there are good areas of Bracknell.

If you want more info, just ask. I live 3 miles from Bracknell, my daughter and her husband live there.

Steve

06/14/2005 08:33:24 AM · #12

Originally posted by amber:

Hehehe, it's beautiful where we live, truly idyllic, but after 5 years we feel it's time to move on.

bpickard

Fujifilm FinePix S3000

06/14/2005 08:44:00 AM · #13

I believe this should help....

...or this..

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

06/14/2005 09:43:26 AM · #14

bump

moodville

Nikon D100

06/14/2005 10:43:42 AM · #15

I've been to Bracknell a few times but I can only tell you about their ice rink :( They have (or had) pretty good hockey teams, tho!

PeterC

Canon EOS-7D

06/14/2005 11:18:13 AM · #16

Hook is quite a nice area my brother lived there for a while although prices in thames valley and around Basingstoke can be rediculous, there are large areas of boring housing estates which then mean homes with character and location are very sort after, that said there are lots of smaller towns and villages in easy reach of bracknell.

I think the main thing is to decide especially while renting if its worth saving on travelling and accepting the norm that is Bracknell which has all the main facilities etc, and then getting out to the local country side in which there is plenty of in your spare time with camera in hand.

I live in staines and I'm pretty sure most people don't have anything nice to say about the area in general (traffic is hell) but i'm less than 150m from the Thames and can walk either direction to lovely village/river side pubs, so do some surfing of areas check estate agent property details a lot have post codes on the prperty details excellant for multimap and see what you come up with.

If you come up with other specific areas I might be able to impart my local knowledge I have friends in Bracknall, Maidenhead, reading and travel a lot in the area.

Good Luck

Message edited by author 2005-06-14 11:20:04.