Is Uxbridge as bad as someone posted on this site? re: finding housing there

Hi guys!! I found this site just last night and I am really hoping to get helpful advice.  Last night I read a really long post by this guy Morris.  He did not like London for the most part.  And one huge reason was because he lived in Uxbridge.  That is where my dh's work is when we move there.  The school I'm hoping we can get our children in is the International school, Hillingdon, I believe, and his job is on George Street.  This guy morris mentioned that uxbridge was just students and chavs.  Obviously I don't know what chavs are so I looked it up. And needless to say, I'd rather stay away from these type of "gangs" if they can be called that.

Our kids are 7,6,3,and 3 so I would love to be able to take them out to a park or for a walk.  I like to be sociable and would like a lively place w/other families. 
Oh, I know I'm probably asking the impossible, particularly because the best thing to do is just see it for myself.  But if anyone can give me their perspective, that'll help me out.  Thank you so much!!

I lived in Uxbridge for 3 years (one of the students, not one of the chavs!) and would certainly not live there again.  Neither would I bring my children up there.  It's not really quite as bad as the lovely Morris says, but, put it this way - when we all lived there we agreed that the best thing about the place was that it was easy to get away from!

If you are working in Uxbridge and Hillingdon respectively, then depending on if you have a car or not, I would look at Iver further out of London, or Harrow which has some very nice parts.  Uxbridge isn't big on green open spaces.  Hillingdon itself also has some nice bits.

I think if you take a look at Morris' earlier posts then several of us advised him on alternative places to live which are easily commutable to Uxbridge.  There are lots of US nationals who work around there, and I would doubt that many of them live in Uxbridge itself.  Perhaps talk to the school and see where other families live.


Vicky

Hi nelly. I live just north west of Uxbridge and would suggest that you look in the areas outside of London as well. We're in South Buckinghamshire and it's very green, very quiet, very safe, and very family friendly. The way I look at it, I'd prefer to be a bit out of town for day-to-day life - it's easy enough to get into London if you want to have a day/night out.... But then I'm not much of a city girl....

Get out a map and check out anywhere from, say, Beaconsfield through to Iver (we're in Gerrards Cross - oh, there's also a HUGE American community out here) - any place along the A40 is going to be a very, very easy commute into Uxbridge. It's expensive to live in the suburbs, but I'd say it's well worth it....

I agree!  There are some nice little towns and 'burbs around the Uxbridge area that would be very suitable for families. If you want to stay within greater London I'd suggest checking out Pinner and environs, which is handy to Uxbridge, on a tube line to central London but has a bit of a villagey feel about it.

I am overwhelmed w/the responses.  YOu guys are so helpful.  Just two minutes ago my dh got the go ahead, so we are definitely going. 
I don't mind riding the bus or tube or whatever (I've read that kids under 11 are free  ) and dh doesn't mind riding a bike to the workplace, if it's not too far of course.  I know the company will probably provide a professional who'll help us find a place to rent so in reading your responses, I can tell this person some of the locations ya'll have recommended. And although we have 4 kids, we are willing to go w/2 bedrooms, so long as they are double (where we can fit a queen size bed). 

I'm just hoping the kids get accepted into this international school and hoping that wherever we live won't be too far.  There is another family there right now who we know from church and work and their kids attend this Hillingdon school. And since my children know their children, I thought it would be good to have them in the same school. So I'm hoping that we don't have to live in Uxbridge just to attend this school. 

Thanks a bunch again!

Are you talking about ACS-Hillingdon? (it's the international school I know)  It's a fee based school so you could live where ever you want and send your kids there.  It's a school with a good rep...my school plays them in sports.

Just my two cents worth ....  I have visited Uxbridge for work many times, and while I wouldn't say it was the most inspiring place I have ever been, I've never felt threatened or in any kind of danger there - quite the opposite!  There are always lots of families in the town centre, and it has a fairly good choice of shops and restaurants.  I guess it all depends on your point of reference!

I would agree with some of the other posters that if I had a choice, I might chose to live in one of the other towns and suburbs around that part of London or out in Buckinghamshire.

I don't mind riding the bus or tube or whatever (I've read that kids under 11 are free 

Having a quick look at the transport/oyster card fare sites, I believe children under 11 are free when travelling in the London area, but I don't think this is the case for everywhere else in the country (in case you were to visit other areas and use the buses there). In the area I grew up in (south west England), only children under 5 can travel free, but children between 5 and 15 get discounted tickets, but once they're 16 they have to pay the full adult fares.

Are you talking about ACS-Hillingdon? (it's the international school I know)  It's a fee based school so you could live where ever you want and send your kids there.  It's a school with a good rep...my school plays them in sports.

Yes, that is the school.  I 'm really worried how my kids will do going to a new school in a new country so having the kids we already know attending that school I think will be a relief for me knowing my kids already know some kids there. 
What I don't know is how the transportation is near the school.  How far can we live and wherever we chose, will it be still convinient to take a bus or whatever that'll take us just a block or two away from the school. 

Just my two cents worth ....  I have visited Uxbridge for work many times, and while I wouldn't say it was the most inspiring place I have ever been, I've never felt threatened or in any kind of danger there - quite the opposite!  There are always lots of families in the town centre, and it has a fairly good choice of shops and restaurants.  I guess it all depends on your point of reference!

I would agree with some of the other posters that if I had a choice, I might chose to live in one of the other towns and suburbs around that part of London or out in Buckinghamshire.

I think after reading that infamous post by morrisguy, I have this picture of every public place in uxbridge filled w/the chavs.  And I did read some of the old posts and it just seems like everyone agrees that uxbridge is just not the place to live if there are other choices. 
I really would like to meet locals although I've heard that is a tough nut to crack.  So finding the right place: near work, near school, near locals, near a good market/shopping, and near good transportation might just be impossible.  BUT, I really appreciate all the pointers and remarks. 

Hi there,

I'm from just down the road in Slough and whilst my town isn't exactly 'fantastic' it's liveable and is very well located, although many people on this site will 'rubbish' it - its not as bad as people make out. That said, I'd recommend certain areas which usually just are on the outskirts.

Uxbridge is NOT as bad as having chavs running around 'everywhere' - it has it's fair share, just like any similar suburb/area throughout the UK.

For this area, along with some of the recommendations already posted - and of course dependant on how much you are able to spend you have a wealth of choices.

Iver - great area and literally 5 mins drive from uxbridge, Iver heath, Hayes and Hillingdon have pockets of better areas - have a look at Denham as well, Ickenham and Ruislip also have some really nice places too. A little higher up the pricey scale and you have Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield, the Chalfonts etc.

Dependent on how 'far' out of Uxbridge you want to be based also will play a factor. If you are on the top end of the scale in terms of finances, you'll easily find a great place to live and have the social aspects you desire - all close by or certainly within a few minutes drive.

As ever, in the UK, as everything is so cramped, you can travel within a couple hundred yards of £750,000 houses and be an at area that's a 1/3 of that. Flipside, by being flexible, you can find great places that don't cost say as much as the top end and still be in the same vicinity.

Any other questions - I'm sure we'll all respond!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Thank you Dennis the Menace for the info.  One thing I am confused about is-what are these places called? You gave me a great list of places to look into.  What I have no idea is what are these places called?  Is uxbridge a town or a city?  The other places you mentioned, are they cities too?  Is Middlesex a borough?  As you can see, I have no idea what is what.  I don't know what a borough is? 
I'm used to our American labels.  The state (in my case) Texas, the city Dallas, the suburb or city where we live is Sachse, the county Dallas. 
So do you mind pointing me to some site or something where I can learn these geographical labels? THanks again to all 

Get out a map and check out anywhere from, say, Beaconsfield through to Iver (we're in Gerrards Cross - oh, there's also a HUGE American community out here) - any place along the A40 is going to be a very, very easy commute into Uxbridge. It's expensive to live in the suburbs, but I'd say it's well worth it....

Oh, my husband is from Seer Green and my in laws still live there, one of my best friends is from Gerrards Cross. Its a lovely area! Very posh, and green. Lovely.

Thank you Dennis the Menace for the info.  One thing I am confused about is-what are these places called? You gave me a great list of places to look into.  What I have no idea is what are these places called?  Is uxbridge a town or a city?  The other places you mentioned, are they cities too?  Is Middlesex a borough?  As you can see, I have no idea what is what.  I don't know what a borough is? 
I'm used to our American labels.  The state (in my case) Texas, the city Dallas, the suburb or city where we live is Sachse, the county Dallas. 
So do you mind pointing me to some site or something where I can learn these geographical labels? THanks again to all 

While you are waiting for Dennis.
I'm sure these are cities and they are as close to each other as across the street. In some cases they can be a tube station but not in the cases you mention and you probably know they are all part of London (county). The City of London is only one square mile.

While you are waiting for Dennis.
I'm sure these are cities and they are as close to each other as across the street. In some cases they can be a tube station but not in the cases you mention and you probably know they are all part of London (county). The City of London is only one square mile.

THanks Jim! So there is a London city obviously but also a London county? is county used over there? or from what I read it is called London central? Sorry, just really confusing.  I'm sure once I'm there it'll be more clear, I hope LOL!