What Makes Marlborough a Great Place to Live?

Marlborough has recently been included in both the Sunday Times’ best places to live and also Muddy Stilettos reader’s vote of the best places to live in the UK, where it came in third in the South West.

As a local Marlborough removals company, we at Britannia Quickmove know what makes Marlborough so popular. If you’re considering moving to this fantastic town, read on to find out why it’s such a great place to live.

Things to Do

Set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, there are plenty of things to do in Marlborough. Nature lovers can enjoy Savernake Forest, where one of the country’s oldest trees is located. There are also wonderful hikes around The Ridgeway and Avebury’s World Heritage Circular trail.

One of the great benefits of Marlborough is that it’s a rural town with an urban twist. A vibrant independent retail community has built up in the town, as well as a lively arts scene and chic café culture. From indie bookshops to luxury clothing, there’s something for everyone in Marlborough.

The town is also steeped in history, with period architecture to be found all around the town. Marlborough’s cinema, The Parade, is located in a converted Georgian building and the Town Hall is a centrally located Victorian building.

Events

Marlborough holds a variety of events throughout the year, which both residents and visitors enjoy. These include the annual Literature Festival, which has something for all ages and tastes, celebrating writing and books over four days.

There are also the traditional Mop Fairs, which have been held in Marlborough for hundreds of years. The town enjoys the fun fair over two weeks every year, with food stalls, rides and attractions for the whole family.

Marlborough also holds Open Studios each summer, where artists across the town open up their studios for people to visit, speak to the artists and view their work. The Open Studios usually run every week in July and are free to take part.

Safety

Marlborough is generally a very safe place to live. Research shows it is one of the safest small towns in Wiltshire and has a crime rate 19% lower than the Wiltshire average and 42% lower than the national average.

Schools

Marlborough has a number of great quality schools in the area. Overall, 12.5% of Marlborough students receive a strong pass in reading, writing and maths, far above the England average of 9.94%.

The most notable school is perhaps Marlborough College, a co-ed boarding school that has the Princess of Wales as an alumnus. It’s also where the wizard Merlin of King Arthur fame is said to be buried.

For state education, there are two local primary schools and one secondary school in Marlborough itself. St John’s Academy is seen as an excellent secondary school, with an Outstanding rating from Ofsted and 80% of students achieving a grade 4 or higher at GSCE.

Property

Marlborough offers a variety of properties, from detached Victorian homes, classic red brick terraced homes, quant thatched cottages, and riverside homes. The average price for property in Marlborough is £538,200, quite a bit higher than the Wiltshire average of £356,015. Detached homes have been very popular on the Marlborough property market recently, selling for an average price of £731,810.

Commuting

Marlborough doesn’t have its own railway station, but Swindon station is just a 30-minute drive away. From here, there are regular services to London Paddington (taking an hour) and Bristol (taking between 20 and 40 minutes). This can make it a great option for those who want to live the country lifestyle but maintain a job in the city.

For drivers, Marlborough is on the A346 road which connects to the M4. Driving to Bristol or Bath takes an hour and driving to London takes just under two hours.

Moving to Marlborough?

If you’re moving to Marlborough to enjoy everything this Wiltshire town has to offer, contact Britannia Quickmove for reliable removals. We have over 50 years’ experience in home removals across Wiltshire, providing a professional and friendly service to our customers. Get a quote online today for your removals, or contact the team for more information.