areas of the UK that are cheap-ish for houses now but bound to go up in value? + why is Nottingham so cheap?

[allaflutter]

This would have to exclude South coast (Hastings and so on), and also the North proper, as I need easy access to London and other parts of the country.
Just find myself really hankering after space and a house or large maisonette, without other people living on top of you or on both sides (3 good size beds semi-detached ideally, or a flat on two top floors with loft space), having only lived and looked at flats in London and SW - I'm increasingly finding that a nice area doesn't compensate for the lack of space anymore. I think the older you get the more space you want!

The area has to be reasonably nice but not chi-chi, i.e. low crime levels and must have a train station with access to london ideally in 1hr but could stretch a bit. It also has to be quite green with nice surrounding country. Town or city. I can't do cottages or modern boxes, used to live in high ceilinged London flats.

So far I found a couple of nice looking places with cheap houses, but usually too far from London (i.e. around Harrogate - just great old houses there, small towns in SW). Or places like Abingdon in Oxon but no train station.

Well, there is Nottingham - some nice spacious period houses on rightmove, MUCH bigger than what you can get in many places. What I don't understand is why it takes so long on the train - are there plans for faster trains there? York is much faster even though further out. What's Nottingham really like? Is it likely to go up in value? Is it better than Sheffield which I know a little?

What about Stamford/Northampton to compare with Nott? In sw there is Chippenham and Swindon that are cheap but not attractive, are these places better in comparison?

I need to buy somewhere where prices are not going to drop and ideally rise as my cash income is low atm and it's important to invest well. My mum may well need to move in with me when a bit older too, so somewhere with buses a bonus. Oh and reasonably nice, friendly people a big bonus. School cattchments are not important.

If anyone is selling something like this, PM me - and maybe introduce me to a new area!
Sorry for the long saga...I'd be grateful for someone to help put an end to this frustration!

[Sushiqueen]

Don't know too much about Nottingham apart from the fact that the A52 can be a right pain to use if you drive there from our area. Shops are ok but I know it has had problems, but like any city it will depend in the area.

Stamford is lovely but not cheap and there are no direct trains to London. You have to change.

Can you afford to go and look at some of the areas you fancy? We did a similar thing and found it really helped to get an idea of an area. We moved from the south east and ended up in a village near Grantham. I still do the commute to London several days a week as do loads of others.

Bear in mind the cost if travelling to London if you need to travel in regularly. You may have cheaper housing and a lovely area to live in but the commuting costs can be very high.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Nottingham isn't nicer than Sheffield. Some areas of Nottingham are very rough. Nicer areas like West Bridgeford tend to be expensive.

Nottingham is a big city and if you're finding really cheap houses I'd reckon they're not in the best of areas. Though will be cheaper than down south even in the nice areas.

How about Newark? On the main east coast line and about 1hr15mins to Kings X?

[financialwizard]

Spalding/Peterborough. Be careful of area though.

[MrsPnut]

Newark is nice, and the transport links are pretty good to get around the town.

Nottingham has a pretty high crime rate, and some very undesirable areas. My brother lives on the edge of the meadows which is rough as boots but he has a beautiful house overlooking the river that he couldn't afford otherwise.

[Salbertina]

Chippenham not attractive? From yr list looks best option imho. Not picture postcard perfect but not grimy big city like Nottingham
V good train service too and v affordable compared to surrounding area.

[Jaynebxl]

Sadly there's no guarantee that prices won't drop anywhere.

[Mondrian]

Didcot (near Abingdon) has reasonably priced housing and less than an hour on train. Not sure what your budget is but if you can afford more that the offerings in Didcot you should look at Chilterns, Herts, Cambridgeshire & Essex.

[defineme]

It's all about perspective though isn't it? I think of Nottingham as a small pretty city with a low crime rate compared to Manchester and London where I used to live. I agree with those that have suggested Newark/Peterborough and so because the East coast main line gets you to London faster.

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

We looked at Bedford, Royston and St Neots.

[NotjustaMummy]

Could you consider Rochester in Kent? Historic High St, 40 minutes to Kings Cross, 1hr to Victoria, 1hr10 or so to London Bridge? Affordable housing, but avoid Chatham & Strood.

[stainesmassif]

The fast train from rugby to London takes 50 minutes. We are in a nice market town 5 miles away. 3 /4 bed detached houses are up at 200-220k.

[stainesmassif]

work but what a bargain!

[juniperinNZ]

Leicester has some really nice areas, particularly south of Victoria Park, it's had a lot of regeneration work since I was there at university 11 years ago and it never used to take me long to get to London from there. I think it's a lovely city with lots going on. Lovely semi detatched houses south of Clarendon Park and in Knighton but still close to centre.
Nottingham has had some problems with gun crime, when I lived in the midlands in late 90s/early 2000s it was starting to get a bit of a dodgy reputation in parts, not sure of situation now, although there are some lovely areas.

[stainesmassif]

link fail!!

[wonkylegs]

Nottingham has a relatively high crime rate. My sister lived there for uni, and despite living in various areas (admittedly none of them too posh as she was a student) she got burgled every year, including one home invasion as well as having a neighbour murdered outside her door! (she was late to my wedding as she was still giving a statement ) I have no fond connections to the city although I believe she was particularly unlucky.

York has faster connections because it's on the East coast mainline which is a fast direct route into London. We love this as we live in Newcastle (which is fab) but can get into London for work/family/friends relatively quickly and easily.

[WhoWhatWhereWhen]

I was going to say Newark, but someone already has !! Newark has a Waitrose as well as a station

[hellsbells99]

There is a newish station in the midlands called Eastmidlands Parkway. This is outside of Nott'm - more rural. Are there any areas around there that would appeal or are you looking for a city?

[stainesmassif]

Oh FFS I give up you can imagine. 5 beds, needs updating, massive garden and driveway. £200k.

[lilystem]

I'd second Bedford and st Neots. The former has fast trains to London in 35 mins.

[flow4]

What about Wakefield? It's further than you'd like, but direct and quick on the East Coast main line. There are really lovely areas, tho' I just drive/sit on trains through them and don't know them well enough to name!

[Melissakitkat]

Try Bedfordshire - arlesey, shefford, flitwick, henlow, Langford, campton.

[PiratePanda]

Definitely Grantham or Newark - nice market towns on the very fast East Coast mainline into London, and just over an hour. Peterborough and Stevenage on the other hand both a bit grim.

Wakefield is 2 hours!!! You might as well go for lovely York, also 2 hours (and not that cheap).

You could also look at Ely - just over an hour from Kings X and some truly lovely property at very reasonable prices. Close to Cambridge for good shopping too.

[PiratePanda]

(Also Nottingham - gun crime and drug capital of the Midlands.)

[flow4]

York is 20-30 mins beyond Wakefield, plus all the areas you'd want to live in are 20-30 mins from the station. And house prices are much higher than Wakefield! I wouldn't want a 2 hour commute myself, but lots of people do it, because the cost of living is lower and the quality of life is higher. :)