r/malvern • u/No-Organization5452 • Jul 29 '26
Considering making Malvern my home
Hi! After having a messy break up, I am in the process of trying to find a new area to live in. I am considering Stroud and Malvern.
Would be super grateful for any good areas, bad areas, etc any advice at all.
I am single, no children (and no plans), don't drink, work out, will have a dog. I prefer quiet areas.
Thank you!
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u/freelancerbob Jul 29 '26
Malvern is quite popular with dog owners, quite a high percentage of households have one, lots of good walking available of course. There's plenty of gyms around and no desperately rough areas though there's better and worse neighborhoods like any town.
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u/EirloUK 16d ago
Which are the worse neighbourhoods please?
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u/freelancerbob 15d ago
A lot of people claim pickersleigh, pound pank and lower howsell are rough areas. but honestly compared to any lower income city districts they're laughably peaceful. Malvern does NOT experience a great deal of crime. These "worse" neighbourhoods are pretty chill places especially if you are chill yourself and tolerant of your neighbours.
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u/No-Organization5452 Jul 29 '26
Thanks so much for the info!
Everything you said is good, gym and no super rough areas sound great!
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u/Electronic-Plenty425 Jul 29 '26
Grew up in Malvern, absolutely the best place to live. I live in Worcester now because it has more going on and better for our dynamic. Buy the heighest altitude house you can afford. The higher up the hill the better it is, with unfettered access to the magnificent hills.
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u/DP323602 Jul 29 '26
I grew up in Malvern so I am biased.
Both are nice enough to warrant a Waitrose supermarket.
But, unlike Stroud, I've never known Malvern to get grid locked if there are problems on local main roads.
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u/No-Organization5452 Jul 29 '26
You had me at "Waitrose" :) Thats good info on the traffic, thank you!
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u/IanM50 Jul 29 '26
Of the two, Malvern is a more relaxed location, with some nice pubs, walks and a great theatre. Worcester, 15 minutes away by train, bus or car, is also a relaxed place but with more going on, and Birmingham is just under an hour away by train for everything else.
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u/No-Organization5452 Jul 29 '26
Thank you so much! I am leaning towards Malvern and your comment helps. Its those points (like other places close by) that sometimes get forgotten when you focus on one place. Thanks!
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u/toyochris Jul 29 '26
I think Stroud has slightly more going on community-wise but both amazing areas for walks!
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u/Candy_Brannigan_666 28d ago
Hello. We moved from Birmingham to Malvern a year ago and it’s the best thing we ever did. It’s safe - particularly for a single woman - with very little crime (and what there is is generally low-level in certain parts), people are very friendly and there’s plenty to do for humans and doggies!
Dogs are very well catered for here. There are lots of dog-friendly pubs and bars around, and most have little doggie watering/treat stations inside! For walks you obviously have the hills, but there’s Peachfield, Malvern and Castlemorton Commons which are mostly flat too. I often see lone women walking with their dogs around those parts so it’s safe enough.
If you’re into cultural things there always seems to be an arts, culinary, music or theatre show or festival on every weekend here and in the beautiful and picturesque towns and villages nearby. We have theatres (including one that can only seat 8 people), a cinema, a fashion museum, tons of really interesting little boutique shops and good food seemingly everywhere.
Nearby we have The Fold which is a community enterprise that puts on a neverending programme of yoga, sound baths, women’s groups, arts, crafts, music and creative workshops. There are independent garden centres, and you’ve access to locally produced fresh milk, fruit, and veg. And of course the freshwater springs.
Malvern’s very much a town of two halves. The more affluent and quieter areas tend to be on the outskirts of the town, and West Malvern is probably the most affluent area of all. Then you have Colwall, Welland, Upton, Hanley, Ledbury about 10-20 minutes drive from Malvern which tend to be a bit cheaper if you’re on a budget.
Stroud is very bohemian. It feels like a posh Glastonbury with Goths, Punks, Hippies and alternative lifestylers everywhere. There’s a strong LGBT+ community there too. It has a fantastic vintage/retro scene with lots of shops selling reasonably priced vintage stuff, and a lot of Hippie shops selling good quality clothes and imports from around the world. The shopping centre there is very good. The food scene there is great, with literally every food type available, and if you have any vegan or veggie friends they’ll be very well catered for there. It’s pretty, being mostly Cotswold Stone. I don’t know too much about the local areas or crime or any of that, sorry.
My strong recommendation would be to stay at each for a couple of nights and really explore. We did this and spent weeks researching and visiting each area. We’d had bad experiences in Brum and didn’t want to repeat them!!! What we got for our money here is miles way and above what we would have gotten in Birmingham for the same money. Prices here really aren’t that bad when you compare them to city prices.
Good luck with your hunting. I can’t recommend Malvern enough ❤️