Living in Telford

What is it like living in Telford?

Dale End Park, Ironbridge

If you are thinking of coming to live in Telford but wondering what it’s like, then you’ve come to the right place.  Often the wrong end of jokes on TV and a perception that does’t match reality, Telford is a buzzing place with a lively range of attractions for young and old, families and single people.  Yes, it’s not Birmingham, but its not far on the train for a night out and if you are looking for a 24hr city life, then Telford probably isn’t for you just yet.

What we do have in spades is easy access to the great outdoors, including a great county landmark, The Wrekin, and the River Severn meanders through Telford at Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge and Coalport.  In the east of Telford we have a huge Town Park, unimaginatively named The Town Park. Pools and play equipment, bicycle shops (with hire), cafes and Wonderland for the small children. You don’t have to walk too far to find some quiet greenspace to enjoy.

You won’t have to wait long to hear a locals cries of there is nothing to do, but lets look at the facts:

  • Ice Rink
  • 4 Public Swimming Pools
  • Several Council owned and private gyms
  • Dry Ski Slope
  • Three railway stations
  • Large Shopping Centre
  • 10 Screen Cinema
  • 10 Pin Bowling
  • Mecca Bingo
  • Brand New Libraries
  • Free BMX Tracks
  • Several Multi Use Games Areas
  • Internationally Renowned Museums
  • Network of walking and cycle tracks (Silkin Way)
  • The Place Theatre
  • Lots of sports teams and clubs
  • the list goes on!

Housing in Telford

Telford enjoys a full range of housing types, from small flats and bungalows to larger than normal ex-council owned properties that have been bought and resold over the last 20 years or so.  Telford also has a very active house building program underway, so rent or buy, private or social housing, you will be sure to find something to suit your needs.

Got a question about living in Telford

If you have a specific question about moving to Telford, then jump onto twitter or facebook and we can ask the people who already live here.  Alternatively, leave a question below, and we’ll answer it!

 

51 thoughts on “Living in Telford

  • Hello Dear,
    Probably I will be in Telford this September, but am a bit worried of the social life at telford.
    Kindly tell me about Telford

    Reply
  • Craig Stevens

    I work in telford & live in the area & it is an awesome place to be.

    Reply
  • What’s it like on new Barratt site Lawley Village? Would it suit OAP?

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    • Thiny

      Yes Mrs P. It is quite and peaceful for elderly people.

      Reply
  • @kevtan1066: I would say only if OAP had own transport, bus service not exactly frequent up there

    Reply
    • Sara Skinner

      Wow, I totally agree with you. I am an outside and I will never fit here. Work is the worst place I have ever worked. I wish I were somewhere else!l

      Reply
  • I live in Wolverhampton and want a new start for myself and 3 children is telford good for excepting children in new school

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  • stacey

    I also live in w-ton and want to move to telford with hubby and two children seems a nice place to live??

    Reply
  • I have moved aound all my life with my husband,moved to Telford 8 years ago,and I can honestly say it is the worse place I have ever lived,unless you have ties hear you just wont fit in,im just about to leave Telford next month to build my life again.

    Reply
  • It can’t have been that bad Trudy or else you wouldn’t have stayed so long. Home is what you make it. I love Telford though I do get very sad that all the plentiful beautiful landscape is slowly disappearing by more new houses when there lots of derelict buildings and areas that could be regenerated.

    Reply
    • Telford is a rubbish place to live jobs are hard to find so you just can’t leave. It’s full of immigrants as well the place has gone down hill.

      The people are miserable as well.

      Reply
        • John Barnes

          I agree with you, Harry. Such negative people around !

          Reply
  • Moved here 15yrs ago with husband and young baby, only knew 2 other people….15yrs two children and a divorce, later….This is my home and i wouldn’t move, schools are good,local docs and hospital is also good, lots of opportunities for those who want to voulnteer,and get involved in community activities…i would like to see more independent shops in Telford town centre though

    Reply
  • “…moved around all my life…”
    Prehaps it’s a problem with you and not the town of Telford.
    Telford is an up and coming beacon of pride in the Midlands. Already had £450million spent on improving the area and town centre. It’s a place to proud of and respected, not critised because you can’t make friends yourself.

    Reply
    • It’s not a problem with her it’s bloody true you fecking retard.

      Reply
  • Telford is a great place, lots to do and some amazing places to walk etc. Like any town there are some bad streets but probably less than other towns. People are friendly, house prices are good.
    Nightlife is crap though if you want a proper night out, but for a night in a pub there are plenty, if not jump on train to Shrewsbury.

    My wife grew up in albrighton, went to Uni in hull, lived in tettehall and now works in Staffordshire but loves living in wellington and would never go back to wolves to shop or live.

    It’s a great place to live and would never see it being put down.

    Reply
    • Hull is a pretty far place from Telford, but there are universities close by like Priorslee University or University of Wolverhampton

      Reply
    • HI we are planning to move to TF10 7Bx is this particular place good? please help

      Reply
  • Slip Digby

    Settled here after serving her maj for 10 years and think its a great place, decent people and well placed for all extra curicular activities. I’d only swap shropshire for the coastline of dorset but,without the sea,shropshire is just as beautiful as there. Good shopping oppotunities and excellent local produce. I will never leave now.

    Reply
  • moved to telford thro work.horsehay 1st then madeley,woodside then dawley.loved it,but very mich with the good bits nd bad bits of a city,nd lovely countryside.i had my problems there,but also made great friends.nd for a new town,its the best.
    wheres the bist jockey, dawley, nd the pig at the parade.loved it.
    then theres the lizzy,had a bad name,what a great bunch of people,some rough diamonds,but loyal friends if you were straight up,nd lesley and phil are diamonds.

    Reply
  • I cannot wait to witness for myself the amazing community pulling together at the Hands Around The Wrekin Charity Event on Sunday 21st September this year. Will be a memory for the future.

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  • Hi everyone,
    I might be moving to Telford (or area) as I’ve been offered a job there (still considering). Looking for a place near a train station. Which areas would you suggest (since there are several train stations)?

    Any help is much appreciated, cheers.

    Reply
    • Near Telford Central Train Station is, Priorslee, Hollinswood & Malinslee.

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  • hi shana. the trains in telford are wellington and telford central. central is better and the clisest areas around it are randley hollinswood and malinslee all of which are ex council estates close to town for shopping and have great local centres for pint of milk you just ran out of. the houses are all big and there are alsorts from 1 bed flats to 3 story 5 beds so plenty to choose from but in fairness u could live inywere in telford and get to the train station in no longer than 10 mins.

    Reply
  • Hi I might be moving to telford is there much of a town centre there other than the mall I lived in Walsall and even thou was small always people walking round in town is telford a busy centre

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  • Hi I’m planning to move to telford from London with my 12 year old for a new start. What are nice areas to live in.

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    • rebeca simoneli

      Lawley, allscott, Shawbirch, admaston, lawley

      Reply
  • Clara Clock

    Hi, looking to move to the area, with 2 children aged 6 and 3. What is Newport like? TIA

    Reply
  • Hi, newly arrived in Telford. Got a job in princess royal hospital. Would like to know about some safe areas with primary schools.

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    • Hi,

      Leegomery is perfectly safe and very handy for everything, including Wellington centre, railway station and there is a primary school there too. Welcome to Telford!

      Reply
  • Anne-Marie

    I have to say that I must align my viewpoints with those who have a negative opinion of Telford. I moved here after the sudden loss of my partner in 2007. I was living in North London. The glossy pictures of Telford in a brochure produced by Telford and Wrekin Council alongwith what seemed very attractively priced housing I admit did attract me but of course Telford sells itself based upon the apparent amenities and its proximity to green open spaces of which there are many; so long as you’re prepared to ignore the huge volume of litter. I chose a house in Aqueduct which seemed quiet and reasonable. I soon came to understand that I was living in an area dominated by residents who have major historical and geographical connections with the original towns which ultimately made up Telford. From the outset it has always been made clear to me that I am an ‘outsider’. Those few residents I know are all from other towns in the UK and only a handful of natural Telford people ever speak. You can walk along Majestic Way or Castlefields Way (the two main thoroughfares) and although wishing the time of day to everyone you pass : the locals will ignore you. Only outsiders from Birmingham and suchlike bother to speak. If you have a neighbourhood issue then the local population seemingly gang-up. I had an encounter walking my dog a while ago when he was attacked by a local person walking hers. It was made wholly clear to me that I was not a real Telford person and basically I was told in no uncertain terms that those with the historical association rule!
    It does seem that if you work for Telford and Wrekin Council or either of its main emanations such as The Wrekin Housing Trust or TWS Waste Services then you are guaranteed a good life here. Equally working in a factory or through an agency seems to elevate you to acceptability. As does working at what the local population call the “Tan Senta” which in English is the Town Centre. I work in medicine which the local population thinks is rather strange as it is none of the above.
    I have now detected ways of knowing you are in the presence of a natural Telford person. They use what seems to be a small vocabulary when speaking and have set phrases namely:-
    Good-Bye is either “Cheers” or “See Ya Later(s)”
    Thank you is : “Cheers”
    Conversation opener: “Where d’ya drink?”
    Mysterious word which seems to have no real meaning is “Sound”.
    I am particularly troubled by the terrible anti-gay mindset which pervades in Telford. I know two gay men (both professions one in law and the other in medicine) who like me want to leave this town. It is hard to sell a home in Telford once you have acquired one. I would certainly say to anybody exercise great caution before buying certainly in my area Aqueduct. A neighbour of mine lives in a fabulous 4 bed detached home and has failed four times to sell it. At only £210,000 ! Then again I think most people like me who are from outside Telford have come to realise it’s not the nice place it pretends to be. Unless you have the Telford accent – you will never be accepted.
    By all means come to Telford especially if you’re from Shropshire or have family or close -friends already here but otherwise – avoid this town like the proverbial plague.

    Reply
    • What an absolute load of rubbish,you have wasted many people’s time with this awful hate and lie filled over long rant,they say don’t feed the trolls but you need to be told what a ridiculous person you are

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    • What a ridiculous thing to write, as I read this I thought you must be anti social and that’s probably why your neighbours don’t like you, absolutely nothing to do with your accent or where you are from. But then again go around bad mouthing the way telford people speak and where they work is never going to win you any popularity competitions is it?
      you’ve come across anti-gay people and decided to tar everyone else with the same brush, how very intelligent of you.
      I’ve lived in telford all my life and I’ve never heard anyone start a conversation with “do you want a drink”. We usually start conversations with “hello”
      Maybe with the attitude you have being in the medical profession isn’t a good idea

      Reply
    • I’ve lived in Telford for seven years and don’t recognise any of the negative comments you have made about local people. I moved here from Yorkshire and I’ve been made welcome by every person I’ve ever met. I’ve never been made to feel like an outsider! Life is what you make it! My outlook is “I you want a friend, be a friend”. It’s a lovely area to live! Our Town Park has been voted top park in the country! We are surrounded by beautiful countryside! We have a nice town centre! We’re not far from Birmingham if you want a big city centre for your shopping! Every area of the country has its own ways and its own idioms. I think you have a closed mind! Try being positive and you’ll make plenty of friends!

      Reply
    • Anne-Marie

      Telford is a amazing town and is very fun.i have lived here my whole life and no one has been rude to me. People from all over the country and world to live here and treat it like a dump and your one of them. Telford is a friendly town with many thing to do. Don’t waste time on reading negative comments like Anne-Marie comment, she doesn’t know what life is.

      Recommend Telford 100 percent

      P.s we don’t say where d’ya drink that’s Birmingham

      Reply
  • hi, we are from outside UK …I am from Poland and my husband from Chile….our daughters – one was born in Chile the other in London… .. curentlly we live in Chile but seriously thinkng of coming back to uk…and Telfod
    we don´t know nothing about this place people life… but we search in web and we like it already… 🙂
    I hope we will be welcome there….

    Reply
  • I have found it hard living in telford. I moved here 2 and a half years ago .. i think it is a difficult place to meet people when in your 20s than other places I have lived purely because of the lack of night life here. The people I have met my age are married or have children. The pubs here are hardly the type you could stroll in to and have a drink on your own and hope to socialise. Bubbly outgoing 25 year old is happy to meet new people and open to suggestions.

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    • Where do you live in Telford? Would say bars in Newport are friendly and many your age group

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  • Just visited Telford recently for an event at the international centre and really liked the look of the town centre and surrounding areas. Looked like there was stuff to do, nice outdoors areas, but not too big as to be busy like Manchester or London etc. Considering for the future maybe relocating, what kind of jobs/industries are available in the area? Telford itself though, not Birmingham or other towns. I’m not a fan of commuting to different towns/cities having done it far more often than I liked! Thanks

    Reply
  • Moved to Birmingham from Telford at 18. Then to London at 20. Decided to return to Telford at 32 to bring up my young children. Having said at 18 I would never come back ( lack of nightlife/ too many right wing people) I now love it. It’s great for families and getting a better range of bars and restaurants…. Just need to improve the politics 🙂

    Reply
  • Sadi Hussain

    My parents are looking to move back to the Midlands area after moving away 20 years ago down south to Plymouth. Moving back up would be a big thing for my family. Finally dusting things off with the ridiculous mortgage my parents had taken out for a 2 bedroom flat to end up have 6 living in, me and my 3 other brothers have been born and raised in Plymouth in one of the more frowned upon areas as an asian family also. I am pretty sure our upbringing in such area couldn’t have gone any better even with the living circumstances of the area and the counsel estate we were in. We have excellent links to the city centre, travel with busses and trains are very good also. However now we are all prepared to move on and go forward with what my parents want, which is to go back to the Midlands. Thing is they want somewhere different from the big city (Birmingham). Telford seems to be somewhere we could consider due to having similar range of features and things to do, apart from the seaside but who needs that 24/7 all year round. Is Telford a place considerable for a family with a soon to be pensioner, house wife mum, couple young adults, a teenager and a younger one?

    Reply
  • Best move we ever made moving here. By far one of the friendliest communities we’ve lived in. Excellent for raising children. The school’s are brilliant. The town centre development is good, as it’s still growing. The community do get a say for ideas, unsure if always listened to but input is received and acknowledged. We are lucky to live in a lovely neighbourhood. Lots of people are relocating from London to live here for its countryside, and opportunities. There’s plenty to do from walking up the Wrekin to visiting museums, world renowned Ironbridge and the national trust places are closeby. So much for children and families to do. It’s diverse, and up and coming. Hope we don’t lose all the countryside to new housing but if anyone’s considering moving here I would say, do it. Just research the area first, as certain areas are good and some not so much like in every town.
    Overall a great place to live.

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  • I lived in leegomery in private rented, whilst there a neighbour got stabbed by an Asian. I myself was terrorised Also dmy 12 month old twins. These people on benefits, backwards. They did everything bad you could do to a person,also stole our pet rabbit smashed the car. Rang the police on me,when I’d done nothing wrong.they were dumping rubbish in my garden on a daily basis.

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  • I live in Barcelona, and I want to move to England. Is Telford a cheap pace where to start?

    Thanks

    Reply
  • Richard

    In my experience, Telford is a horrible place to live if you are working age and in urgent assessed need of accessible housing. I am still waiting for a suitable property after 8 years. 2 properties were offered, but both were unsuitable for a wheelchair user. Even though I am retired, full time wheelchair user, amputee, chronic neurological condition who has to crawl up and down stairs (in considerable pain) and even in/out of the front door, neither the local housing authorities nor local Lab/Con politicians think that is unacceptable.

    None have offered any help and all have refused to answer why they support a policy that excludes me from all retired living properties simply due to my age, even though I am retired, whilst giving such a bungalow to my 65+ neighbour who is fit enough to walk his dog every day. I have been abandoned to rot when all I have ever asked for is equality. Nobody will tell me why of 300+ properties, NuPlace have zero wheelchair accessible houses. I still maintain that medical need should be the only criteria.

    The sad result for me of all of this is that I will (unnecessarily) lose my independence leaving only residential care or Dignitas within the next year or two, if nothing changes. My experience of Telford is that (with just a few exceptions) it has become a very uncaring town.

    Reply
  • Mary doll

    Mmmm, what can I say, I live in Leamington spa, it’s great. My partner, same sex couple we are, would concur with the description of their encounters of the Telli wellies met, the “born n bred” ( bred being the oprative ) Royston Vasey springs to mind!!!! I do hope all who unfortunately, through limited choice and sad circumstance endure the misery only for a week while now.

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  • Mary doll

    That’s totally outrageous, do you have any family in other area so you could apply to their council for appropriate housing and support? I could help you to explore alternatives and speak to agencies to triangulate hopefully a positive outcome. Take care.

    Reply
  • Steven Telford

    Are there still any Telfords living there?

    Reply
  • I currently live on the Isle of wight qith my husband and 3 children. Looking to move to telford. Would like people’s views

    Reply

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