Does anyone live in Ashbourne - Derbyshire - looking for advice please.

[Sunhouse]

Relocating in the summer for husbands job with toddler and then newborn. Considering Ashbourne - Derbyshire. If anyone sees this that lives there or knows. What would be rush hour commute times to Royal Derby Hospital? Is it a good place to live with toddler and newborn. Is there a good mum and baby, toddler community? Also are their good nurseries? Thank you. x

[WhatASmashingBlouse]

I don't live in Ashbourne so don't know about any mum and baby groups/nurseries but I live in Derby. Commute will take you anywhere between 45 mins-1hour in rush hour. There's roadworks on the a52 at the moment. You'll need to allow time for parking because staff parking is an absolute nightmare at the royal currently!

[WhatASmashingBlouse]

Ashbourne is a really lovely town though! Jack Rabbits is a lovely cafe/restaurant/bar in the centre.

[Rockbird]

Gingerbread!

[RitaConnors]

It’s known for its atrocious parking so you need to take that into consideration when you choose somewhere to live.

[SweetheartNeckline]

Ashbourne is lovely (albeit hectic and gridlocked on summer weekends!) but you'd be looking at an hour or so commute to the Royal Derby Hospital. Personally I'd be looking at Willington / Repton / Hilton which are good sized, well functioning villages (with several shops, pubs and primary schools) or if you'd prefer a town then Long Eaton is the wrong side of Derby but probably a similar commute and less touristy, or Belper is worth a look too.

[Sunhouse]

Thank you ladies. All good advice.
Anybody know what Mickleover is like to live in. Is there much community there or is it mainly just residential?

[SweetheartNeckline]

Mickleover is nice but Littleover has better secondary schools. Both have proper high streets.

[SweetheartNeckline]

Very suburban though - totally different feel to Ashbourne IMO.

[EverybodyKeepCool]

If you look at Repton be aware of a couple of things - the school and The Bulls Head pub! Both are the cause of awful parking through the village. It can take an age to get through to the A38 at times!
Ashbourne is nice but parking there can be bad too, there's a lovely library next to Waitrose and quite a few cafés. It can be touristy and busy in the summer though. It's got a good leisure centre with a swimming pool. If triathlons are your thing then they have one of those every year. Also it's hilly and depending on where you live you'll also want to be aware of Shrovetide Football...
Little Eaton is nice as is Duffield and they are both off the A38 for access to the hospital. Alternatively you could look at Aston on Trent/Chellaston/Borrowash as they are close to the A50.

[Anise7438]

Both ok littleover has better schools. Could always look out towards duffield?

[Sunhouse]

That’s the impression I’ve got from other people’s reports. We’re only there for a year so really I’m looking for somewhere great to live whilst being a stay at home mum with my toddler and newborn for that year.

[SweetheartNeckline]

In that case Mickleover might give you want you want. It is a popular family area and perfect for commuting in

[WhatASmashingBlouse]

Avoid Sinfin/Sunny Hill/Normanton/Pear tree/Allenton. Stenson Fields is ok but there are nicer area in Derby. Littleover borders onto Sunny Hill & Normanton Mickleover so be careful there. The Mickleover side is very nice.
Other places you might like - Oakwood, Duffield, Allestree, Darley Abbey,