Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Never been to the North really but pls tell me where to live

144 replies

TheFirmLurker · 13/08/2024 13:02

Technically I am lying. I have been to random Northern cities but mostly for night outs with friends who happened to be there for whatever reason.

Dh and I have decided to leave London. It’s too expensive and we are killing ourselves for an expensive mortgage which sucks the living life out of us. We were hoping to find a cheaper house in a home county but once rail cards and commute times get factored in I’m not sure we’ll be much better off.

So I’m just curious if you have any recommendations. Dh has to be in the office 3 times a week (I luckily don’t). He has the option to work out of Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool.

I would love a village location where we aren’t on top of neighbours but can easily commute to a large town/city.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Yerroblemom1923 · 13/08/2024 14:43

Greenfield has a station.

LlynTegid · 13/08/2024 14:42

Given where you have friends, seems Nantwich or somewhere near could be ideal.

I am assuming you would not need to be travelling to London very often, say to visit older relatives.

NewoIkkin · 13/08/2024 14:41

I’d take a look at North Worcestershire. There are lots of nice villages and small towns that are less than a 30 minute drive or train journey from Birmingham.

Pipsquiggle · 13/08/2024 14:34

Pyreneansylvie · 13/08/2024 14:17

Another vote for rural Lancashire - Rossendale/Ramsbottom/Darwen/Turton or Chorley/Clitheroe, lots of nice semi rural villages but an easy commute to Manchester or Liverpool.

All these places are fab. I have a soft spot for Darwen and Turton.

This place needs a bit of vision but look at the space plus a aview of Darwen Tower!
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148422434?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Check out this 4 bedroom farm house for sale on Rightmove

4 bedroom farm house for sale in Manor Road, Darwen, BB3 for £799,999. Marketed by Proctors Estate Agency, Darwen

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148422434?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Butterflyfern · 13/08/2024 14:25

Each of the cities you mention has quite a different feel. And with your budget, you'll be able to afford somewhere decent in easy commute distance to each (as you can tell by pp!)

Can you book a couple of weekends away to visit each and decide which you like best? Or look at your DH's career goals, is one office better placed for that than another (eg bigger offices with more senior staff Vs small regional hub)?

Pipsquiggle · 13/08/2024 14:25

AmiesLana · 13/08/2024 14:14

Too many gorgeous Tynemouth properties to choose from.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119817551#/?channel=RESBUY

Direct train from Newcastle to all of those cities, though Manchester is the closest. Worth it for quality of life - surf school every Saturday, fish shack lunch…😆

Edited

But it's over 3 hours from Manchester!

Nw22 · 13/08/2024 14:22

Tynemouth is way to far to commute to Manchester every week

Lmnop22 · 13/08/2024 14:18

TheFirmLurker · 13/08/2024 13:42

Thanks so much for advice. Feel much less anxious. Have had an awful few weeks tossing and turning in bed at night.

We know people in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Altrincham so that general area seems natural if we decided on Manchester but still seems pricey.

Could anyone share what Nantwich is like?

Thanks

Edited

Marple Bridge is a lovely village near all these places!

Pyreneansylvie · 13/08/2024 14:17

Another vote for rural Lancashire - Rossendale/Ramsbottom/Darwen/Turton or Chorley/Clitheroe, lots of nice semi rural villages but an easy commute to Manchester or Liverpool.

AmiesLana · 13/08/2024 14:14

Too many gorgeous Tynemouth properties to choose from.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119817551#/?channel=RESBUY

Direct train from Newcastle to all of those cities, though Manchester is the closest. Worth it for quality of life - surf school every Saturday, fish shack lunch…😆

Check out this 4 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove

4 bedroom terraced house for sale in Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 for £725,000. Marketed by Signature, Whitley Bay

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119817551#/?channel=RES_BUY

historyofbritishdesign · 13/08/2024 14:12

Echo Lancashire/West Yorkshire. Ramsbottom and Hebden Bridge are towns I particularly like; no time at all into Manchester.

StripyHorse · 13/08/2024 14:12

waterrat · 13/08/2024 13:20

Chester. Fantastic place.

Commuting to Liverpool (if you want to go by train) would be better from the Wirral though.

I say this as someone who used to live in a flat near the station (I could see the platform I needed from my window) but gave up on getting the train straight in to Liverpool because it was cancelled so many times. Instead I drove to Hooton and parked there.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/08/2024 14:10

Vettrianofan · 13/08/2024 14:00

Aberdeen - that is up north.

Inverness - up north.

Dundee - again, up north.

Edinburgh - up north.

Liverpool - down south🤣

Show quote history

Depends where you’re starting from, OP is in London so pretty much most of it is Up North

I always think up North is North England not Scotland, ‘cos otherwise OP would specify .

Original poster
TheFirmLurker · 13/08/2024 14:10

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

We have a dog and I’m a dog person in genera so that would suit me just fine.

OP posts:
Ihateboris · 13/08/2024 14:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Mirabai · 13/08/2024 14:09

I’d go for S of Birmingham towards Stratford.

VictoryCity · 13/08/2024 14:06

Have a look along the cross city line run by West Midlands railway which is basically the commuter line for the West Midlands/ Birmingham based folk. Starts in Lichfield (lovely villages near here, Lichfield itself is nice) and goes through Birmingham and out again. I think further south Barnt Green is supposed to be nice. Also branches off.

Or perhaps Coventry and surrounds which has the fast train into Birmingham. Warwick / Warwickshire is lovely for example although not cheap.

If you need to be in the office every day it does have it's issues like so many railways. Coming from London originally public transport or lack of takes some getting used to.

CuteOrangeElephant · 13/08/2024 14:02

TenderChicken · 13/08/2024 13:14

If I were you I'd move to Marsden and commute to Manchester.

I looked at a house there, but it was just a bit too far from Leeds, where we would be commuting to. Loved the area though!

I was going to mention Marsden too. It's lovely around there.

TooMuchRedMaybe · 13/08/2024 14:00

If you have friends in those three towns then I would look around there. Little Bollington is lovely, so is Prestbury and Lymm. Mobberley is also really lovely but quite spread out.

Vettrianofan · 13/08/2024 14:00

Wwyd2025 · 13/08/2024 13:45

None of those cities are up north. 😂

Aberdeen - that is up north.

Inverness - up north.

Dundee - again, up north.

Edinburgh - up north.

Liverpool - down south🤣

LoseMeLikeAnArrow · 13/08/2024 14:00

Liverpool all the way (biased Scouser here 🥳). It's a great city for working in with a number of connected trainlines into the city. The city centre is small and a lot of it is pedestrianised so you don't get that hostile commuter in a hurry vibe. It's pretty chilled.

For villages, your budget will get you an amazing house even in places like Formby and Crosby to the north or Woolton or Hale Village (thatched cottages!) to the south of the city or as previous posters have said, the Wirral or Cheshire. We are next to Wales and the Lakes isn't far (get yourself a holiday home with your change from the house sale).

We have an amazing coastline, a vibrant social scene for all ages and tastes, stunning architecture and beautiful parks, fabulous sports and arts, amazing public events all year on a par with any major European city and it is so friendly with loads of diverse established communities. Bloody cheap too. Reduce your days! I love it here! Born and bred ❤️