Is Rugby a Nice Place to Live? – Full Guide

Rugby is a charming market town in the English county of Warwickshire. There’s approximately 77,000 people living there, making it the second largest town in Warwickshire.

Key travel Distances In Rugby

• Fastest Train to London: 50 minutes
• Distance to Nearest Major Airport: (Birmingham Airport) 30 mins by car or train
• Distance to nature. 8.7 Miles
• Distance to Natural Parks and Wildlife. 13 min walk (Caldecott Park)

Travel Costs In Rugby

Travel costs in Rugby are higher than other commuter towns around London.

A full rail ticket to London for the year costs £5,900 – a considerable amount. On a monthly rail ticket this is higher at £570.

When we look at location guides our work also looks at any options train companies give to customers wanting a shorter ticket for flexible working. This is becoming more important, as more workers are looking to work remotely for part of the week.

We normally see a large discount for a ‘remote working schedule’, which assumes travelling into London for 2 days per week (one of our top commuter towns for flexible train ticket discounts is here).

Rugby only currently has a small discount of 20% for a ticket that reduces travel to 2 days per week (being £460 per month).

Because train fares are high for commuting to London, it’s not always feasible for someone to live in this town and maintain a (relatively) low salary for a London job.

However some still see Rugby as a good commuter town because the housing is much more affordable than being in larger cities.

Area

Is Rugby a Pleasant Place to Call Home?

Rugby is a lovely and serene location to live. Throughout it’s years it has evolved its own distinct character.

The area was previously a former industrial district helped out by a main railway line close by (which now offers great transport links). Traditional manufacturing industries declined began to decline in the area, but were replaced with modern engineering facilities.

So along with good paying jobs in the area (the average wage in Rugby was higher than the UK wage) Rugby is also an excellent area to live for both young and elderly people. It’s bustling with dining and entertainment options and offers a more relaxed lifestyle to those who choose it.

House Price Trends in Rugby

The average house price in Rugby stands at £274,000. Like many regions in the UK, the area saw prices rise fast during the lockdowns from COVID, with prices sometimes rising over 5% in one year!

Flats

A flat in Rugby costs around £150,000. Typically these can be 2 bedroom flats, but if you go for a more expensive area in Rugby the £150k price point won’t get you as much.

Terrace

Moving to a larger property, the average price of a terraced house in Rugby is listed for £204,000. This is a steep 36% premium to a flat – which is a big jump when comparing housing types.

Semi Detached

Semi-detached properties are slightly more than terrace homes (£249,053).

Detached

At the premium end of the scale a detached house in Rugby costs £392,000 (over twice the cost of a flat).

First Time Buyers

According to the Land Registry, the average cost of a first-time buyer property in Rugby was £220,000. This reflects the fact that first time buyers in Rugby are buying a mixture of flats and larger houses as a first purchase.

Best Neighbourhoods In Rugby

Some of the most popular areas in Rugby to live in include:

• Dunchurch
• Clifton upon Dunsmore
• Ashby St Ledgers
• Kirby

Outstanding Schools

Rugby as a town and community is blessed to have a variety o outstanding primary and secondary schools for prospective parents to choose from.

Rugby is also famous for the independent school that has been based there for hundreds of years.

Future Rugby Developments

Houlton Development

The Houlton Development is an enormousdevelopment project that is due to be complete over the next 15 – 20 years. It is expected to transform the local area with 6,200 new residences developed, along with three primary schools, a high school, a primary care clinic, 31 hectares of commercial space, and 299 hectares of open space.

It’s a big project – in the first phase alone there 3 individual developers working together on it.

Expect lots more to be announced on this project as time goes by. Just recently a new David Lloyd Leisure centre which will include a health, fitness and racquets club was approved by the council in September 2020.

Major Connecting Roads

Rugby is easily accessible from a number of major motorways. The M1 motorway links Rugby North to Leicester and Nottingham and South to Northampton and Milton Keynes. The M6 motorway connects Rugby through to Birmingham and Coventry.

There are also major A roads connecting Rugby to smaller towns around the local area. So it’s pretty easy to get around Rugby in a car!

Natural Parks & Wildlife

Ryton Pools

Ryton Pools Country Park is a fresh 100 acre expanse of natural beauty only a 12 mile drive from the centre of Rugby.

The open hilltop topography offers fantastic views of the Anker Valley and is an ideal site for a family ramble. The park even has its own lake inside.

Key Attractions In Rugby

Rugby is a great town, with a rich and eventful history. If you decide to live here then you won’t be short on fun places to visit. Check out our top 5 attractions to visit in Rugby.

1. Rugby Art Gallery & Museum
2. Draycote Water – great for walks and bike rides
3. Rugby Theatre
4. Elliotts Field Retail Park Rugby
5. The Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum

Local Rugby Events

Rugby is host to a lot of events throughout the year.

Warwickshire Bear Ultra

The Warwickshire Bear Ultra is a new ultramarathon in Warwickshire’s gorgeous countryside. Rugby is both the beginning and the end point of this 60 kilometre ultra-marathon. It’s a real test for even the athletic entrants. On the plus side, the journey runs through fantastic scenery.

BENN Hall

The BENN Hall runs a host of events throughout the year, from bingo, bands, stand-up comedy to Christmas pantomimes. There really is something for every member of your family.

Top Restaurants In Rugby

On the Rocks

On the Rocks is a steak house restaurant consistently rated highly by customers. They also serve non-meat options available too. All ingredients are locally sourced.

La Casa Loco

If casual dining is more of your thing, this non-chain Mexican restaurant brings a bright and fun environment to your dining experience.

La Casa Loco has individual dining menus in addition to tapas, group dining and kids menus.

Located in the centre of Rugby by the Churchside Arcade, this is a convenient option for almost any meet up.

There is something on the menu to suit every pallet, so don’t be concerned if you aren’t up to the challenge of trying anything too spicy.

Bacco Lounge

This colourful and eccentric bar is a great choice for those looking for a delicious breakfast, a delicious vegan lunch, classic pub food or even a selection of cakes,

It’s also a dog-friendly pub that welcomes families with children.

The Boat Inn

At The Boat Inn you dine for a special occasion. The restaurant was built in the 1800’s but has undergone a full refurbishment to keep with modern times. With perfect views of the river, diners can sample delectable meals, artisan beers, and traditional ales while taking in the breath taking scenery.

Try to sit outdoors on the terrace and soak in the charming wooden bar and fairy lights.

Town Centre Regeneration Scheme

The council is committed to regenerating the entire town centre, with a focus on the refurbishment of important town centre properties. Plans also include boosting commercial resilience, creating a mix of retail and recreational activities, upgrading the town centre atmosphere, focusing on pedestrians and public transit, and building greener streets.

Rugby Central intends to home in specific areas too, including on the Caldecott Square development on the site of the former Herbert Grey College.

Safety

Rugby has been criticised previously for being ‘unsafe’. Although it’s true that in recent years the crime rate has been higher than other towns in Warwickshire (the main county) Rugby does enjoy a safer environment compared to major cities such as Coventry and Leicester.

Conclusion

Rugby has a lot of benefits for its local people.

The fast trains and road network ensure you’re not cut off from the rest of the country. But living here is a wonderful experience for many because of the ability to relax and unwind into a rural setting.

House prices are much more affordable than other metropolitan areas – and that can make a big difference to your quality of life.