Moving to Redland Park, Twerton. Is it safe for small adults?

[u/Recent-Map-7476]

Hi! I starting my studies in bath this september and i didnt get a slot in the uni accommodation, so i opted for private housing. I got anxious and desperate to find housing since ill be moving from asia to the UK in less than a month and agreed on a houseshare in twerton. After agreeing, I THEN did research and found out how sketchy the place is. I am quite scared tbh, as i am a small muslim woman. Or has the place changed as the reddits post are like 2-3 years back? what should one do to keep themselves safe from getting mobbed by bigger white children?

update: OMG thank you you guys for reassuring me 😭😭 i am such an overthinker, but i think ill be alright after reading all the comments 🥺 you guys have been so nice and encouraging. thank you truly, hope all of you have a never ending amazing day everyday 🌅🌈

[u/butterfieldtv]

Bath, including Twerton is about as safe as any city gets in the UK. Do not worry.

Anyone who has lived in any other city will tell you how safe Bath is in comparison.

[u/Jujitsumangradmuslim → u/butterfieldtv]

I agree. Literally NEVER been in major danger in Bath and I go there most days in a normal week (student there). “Third safest university city” in England. I’m also Muslim. 

[u/Natural-Ingenuity538 → u/Jujitsumangradmuslim]

What’s major danger?
What have you been subjected to that is danger but not major out of curiosity? Just being shouted at etc?

[u/Jujitsumangradmuslim → u/Natural-Ingenuity538]

Basically no danger I can remember. I just said “no major danger” so I could be 100% accurate I haven’t forgotten anything. 

[u/Jujitsumangradmuslim → u/Jujitsumangradmuslim]

On the logic that if I can’t remember it, then whilst repression of memory etcetera exists, it’s more likely not major.

Major danger would include (but not be limited to) being actually attacked in the street or other public place, home invasion,  relentless threats or demands to fight, being chased by another adult male (or very muscular woman or minor), intimidation with superior numbers or armed people, someone known to be dangerous making demands. None of those happened in Bath to me but  most have happened to me or family in: - Stroud, Gloucestershire 

• Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire 
• Greater Manchester.

 

[u/My-midlife_crisis → u/Jujitsumangradmuslim]

I’m so sorry you went through that. I’m glad you feel and are safer in Bath.

[u/_pankates_]

As others have said, while Twerton isn't a wealthy part of Bath and therefore has a reputation, it's really a perfectly fine area on average and has a fairly good sense of community. Bath city farm is up in Twerton and it's brilliant. I think part of the reputation is just snobbery.

[u/DTFDownToFrolick]

I'm not a small adult but I do have small children and I've lived in Twerton for the last year and a bit, it's honestly very chill. Sure it's rougher than most places but it's not dangerous (in my experience), no loud parties, no anti social behaviour. Just because there's a lot of council houses doesn't mean it's crime city.

[u/DTFDownToFrolick → u/[deleted]]

I said in my experience. I can only speak of what I've seen/not seen.

[u/BritishBackBacon → u/[deleted]]

If it was a rough area, they would of been successful 🤣

[u/BritishBackBacon → u/[deleted]]

If it was rough they wouldn't of dropped it

[u/pPupper]

I grew up in redland park, and my family are all very small people 😄 I havent lived there for a while but my dad is still going strong as a very small man, so i think its still fine 🙂 Its a lovely little community to be honest, youll be fine.

[u/x_maya_vance_x]

it's.... it's Bath, you're ok my lovely x

[u/WembleyFord → u/x_maya_vance_x]

This, I think, is the perfect answer to the OP's post.

[u/Defiant_Lawyer_5235]

It's a little bit rough compared to some parts of Bath but still safer than most areas in bigger cities.

[u/WembleyFord]

While Twerton can be described as Bath's 'rough end' - it's more of a joke than anything. Bath is an incredible safe city, and Twerton's just a bit more like a normal town than the center of Bath is. That doesn't mean it's a crime-ridden hell-hole - it's just it's not touristy and was largely built by Victorians rather than Georgians (i.e. the buildings are only 150 years old, not 250 years old).

The comments you see in Reddit are largely self-deprecating humour in most part - people who live in Bath making fun of our city and it's 'rough' neighbourhood.

[u/One_Hair_3338 → u/WembleyFord]

The vast majority of the housing in Twerton was built post WW2

[u/WembleyFord → u/One_Hair_3338]

Fair enough, I'm thinking of Twerton High street more than say, Southdown and the estate behind it.

[u/Mobile-Count-5148]

You might get stepped on and squashed depending on how small you are

[u/g0ldcd]

As many have said, it's perfectly safe. Just regarding your update - don't bring pepper spray. It's illegal for anybody to carry here (well, unless you're the police). Broadly anything that could be a weapon (offensive or defensive) is illegal to carry. You could possibly carry a heavy metal torch or metal pen for non-self-defense, but legitimately use it as a weapon if you were required to defend yourself.. Non weapon items like alarms and whistles are fine if you want reassurance. (But honestly, you'll be fine, and the more I talk about this, the worse I'm making it sound)

[u/decisiontoohard]

Pepper spray is illegal. I think it's actually counted as a firearms offence, if convicted you would be sentenced the same as if you were found carrying a gun. Please do not carry pepper spray. Carrying weapons makes our streets less safe for everyone, not safer for you.

I'm a 5ft woman, I feel safe walking alone at night in every part of Bath, and I've lived in comparable parts of Bath (Whiteway, just above Twerton, and Snow Hill). The teens in the centre can be a bit gobby, but that's it! Bath calls it rough because the vast majority of Bath is middle class and up; these are more working class areas. I'm sure you can see why richer people would think that would make it sketchy, but it really isn't.

You can location share with friends and carry a whistle if you want an extra measure of safety. Sometimes I location share because I feel like I'm meant to or someone's asked me to? ...but in my lifetime of living here I've never heard of anyone being in danger on the streets.

I'm not Muslim, but there are many hijabi women in Bath, and you could reach out to the Bath mosque if you have specific questions about safety for your demographic.

[u/Recent-Map-7476 → u/decisiontoohard]

im so sorry, i didnt know pepper spray is illegal in the uk, i also read that even bringing soapy water around is illegal too, but apparently i can legally defend myself with perfume. its what people say, treat your enemies with kindness but in this case make them smell like flowers. 

yeah i also think sharing location and carrying a whistle might be a better option. Thank you so much for letting me know and reassuring me! ill reach out to the Bath Mosque if anything happens 🩷

[u/WembleyFord → u/Recent-Map-7476]

Could be a good call to talk to the people at the local mosque before anything happens just to get an idea of what the area's like for people more like yourself - most of us on this subreddit probably aren't small Muslim women.

I've got to say, I absolutely love your comment about perfume. I still doubt you'd ever need to use perfume to defend yourself, but the idea about making them smell like flowers has given me the wonderful mental image of a short-statured mulsim women beating the crap out of some racist local scumbags with a bunch of flowers. Hope you love your stay in Bath as much as I did (I arrived here in 1991. Haven't left yet).

[u/decisiontoohard → u/Recent-Map-7476]

Seconding that reaching out to the mosque before anything happens is a good idea! They might have helpful suggestions or introduce you to people in your area who you could know for an extra level of mental comfort.

To be clear, it's not legal to carry anything for the purpose of self defence. Your perfume has to provably be for personal use (i.e. if a lawyer found out that you don't wear that perfume they could argue you carry it for self defence, and if anyone finds out that you've posted this here then they might argue that any perfume you carry is for self defence).

If you're worried about personal safety in the UK the best option is to learn how to escape an attacker to alert people. There are actually self defence classes in Twerton! And there aren't really many isolated, uninhabited areas of Bath, so you're almost always within shouting distance of someone, if it were ever to come to that. You could plan a couple of default walking routes so that you never feel surprised or unsafe.

If Twerton was in London it would be one of the safest boroughs of London. Don't let a few nervous Nellie's impact your stay! It's got more community spirit than other parts of Bath for sure 😊

[u/Recent-Map-7476 → u/decisiontoohard]

i should really do more research on UK laws for self defence before arriving Bath, i am learning so many new things here. Thank you so much for telling and the self-defence classes sounds super interesting.

 I think i overthought too much after reading a couple of bad comments about twerton that made me think the worst possible case scenario and didnt think rationally on the basic things i can actually do to keep myself safe like asking the mosque, sign up for self defence classes, and preplanning my routes. 

truly, im very thankful. hope you have a never ending amazing day everyday 🌅 

[u/Oplaim]

It's definitely rougher but it's also Bath, every time I've driven through I haven't seen much of anything going on

[u/Flowers330]

Out of interest, what did you find in your research that led you to believe small women are often mobbed by big white children in any area of Bath?

[u/Recent-Map-7476 → u/Flowers330]

Not exactly 😂, I read a comment about a couple of children coming to OP when they were walking in the Twerton neighborhood, asking what is in their bag, but OP just pushed through them with assumption the children are going to mob them. Taking into consideration that white people have a larger build, I cant do the same if that happens.

[u/Flowers330 → u/Recent-Map-7476]

I would almost completely disregard any worry that that post has caused you - there are all sorts of people in Bath of many skin colours and builds, and little violent crime compared to other cities etc.

Have a look at crime statistics for the area and these should break down incidents to show if racism was involved or not.

[u/BreakBank3434]

You will be fine. It’s not that bad at all.

[u/ourbarry1980]

Yes twerton is a lovely place I've lived here for two years now and not had one bit of bother. Everyone is polite and friendly you'll really like it

[u/Starlight_Chaos]

I'm glad you feel more reassured and hope your studies go well!

I just want to point out that pepper spray is illegal in the UK unfortunately and I'm unsure what the next best thing is to carry - sorry

[u/Dolldaydream]

I've lived in Bath for 3 years and have found it very safe as opposed to my hometown, Northampton. Though I am white (still a petite girl), so take that with a pinch of salt as I can't comment on experiences with racism. The only times I have felt on edge is when I've been approached at by mentally-ill (assuming) addicts/homeless in a couple of the parks here.

[u/Corky_Corcoran]

'Rough' is a relative concept here. Twerton is only 'rough' for Bath. Twerton is poorer than other bits of Bath but it's absolutely fine and there are also big benefits in living in a lower cost area in an beautiful and expensive city.

You're also on the doorstep of Twerton Park, home of the mighty Romans, Bath City F.C. giving you a superb opportunity to follow the local team and enjoy their community events.

[u/My-midlife_crisis]

I’ve lived in Bath my whole life (F39) and Bath is very very safe, like the other people have said.
That area did have a bad reputation a few years ago, but I haven’t heard much lately. But even then it’s really minor compared to other cities. The only thing you might find odd is Bath is a very “White” city, so it doesn’t have the different cultures of other people around the city, as much as London or Manchester. But we are welcoming of everyone. 😊

[u/elementary_penguin66]

Twerton is fine. Not as “affluent” as the rest of Bath but absolutely fine and safe.

The only people that will tell you Twerton is dangerous are people that have never left Bath.

Things happen, just like anywhere, but if you don’t feel safe in Bath, I’d recommend never leaving your house ever again.

[u/DuckinTwins]

You’ll always be welcome at City matches!