Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Milton Keynes from London yay or nay?

32 replies

1234sam · 23/04/2018 21:57

Hi all.
Firstly hope I've posted in the correct section.
I've seen a few threads regarding MK but nothing recent.
We are planning on moving out of London possibly Milton Keynes as in not too far ams can easily commute.
We went on the weekend to have a look around and I quite liked it. Really liked the West belt and really likes the new builds. I've also got 4 children, 1 in secondary 1 in primary and 1 going into reception on September and a baby, so most important are schools. Where are the best schools and is it difficult to get into outstanding schools as they are probably oversubscribed? That my fear as all my girls are now in outstanding schools. The reason for moving is being able to afford a bigger place and hoping for a better lifestyle.
I know a lot of people have moved from London, I'd you e moved from London any regrets?? Would you move back to London?
Thank you all Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 08:36

Anyone??

OP posts:
DairyisClosed · 24/04/2018 08:38

I would never voluntarily live there. One of the most depressing places I have visited. But if you like it why not?

ItchyKondera · 24/04/2018 08:48

Hmmm MK is one of those places that can be a hideous concrete jungle and a maze of roundabouts and the grid system of roads. I would avoid the main part of MK but there are lovely villages round and abouts. Stewkley and nearby is nice. If you wanted to be on the same train line, Tring, Berkhamsted are nice with decent schools. If you come closer to Aylesbury you have the grammar schools but the train line is slower in to London

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Primary education
Almostthere15 · 24/04/2018 08:54

Have you tried the commute? It isn't great, the trains are packed if you need to work regular hours. Also parking at the station is limited so you need a plan for getting there and back (if you can go early it's fine).

I don't get the hatred for it personally, the centre is a bit soul less but they are trying to address that.

I think the best bet is to pick a couple of areas and get busy on Ofsted site - it'll be difficult to get everything lined up in terms being amazing across the board I suspect.

Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 10:12

Almostthere, yes the centre was a bit soulless but everywhere else seemed nice. I don't get why everyone hates it am I missing something?
We don't actually need to commute for work as we can transfer but I meant it's close going into London driving or train for visiting family .

OP posts:
ItchyKondera · 24/04/2018 10:43

I think if you live round here, its just got one of those reputations that are probably unfounded and based on us going there for shopping and getting lost in the many many roads that look the same, with the houses that all look the same off of roundabouts that look the same with a massive concrete shopping centre and concrete cows. As most of it is new-ish / purpose built its all the same look developer houses in rows and rows.
I imagine if you live there in one of the estates out of the centre its quite different to how it looks from the main roads

AnnPerkins · 24/04/2018 11:07

I live not far from MK. It seems a great place for families because you have everything you need close by. We have friends who live in MK Village and are really happy there. There's a definite village feel and they are walking distance from Oakgrove and Middleton schools which are very popular. Don't know what their Ofsted ratings are though.

Also walking distance from canals and Willen Lake if you like running/outdoorsy stuff. Friend cycles to work.

I think it's quite well situated; you can easily get to London, and to the Midlands. Friends usually fly on holiday from Birmingham, rather than bothering with Heathrow, Luton or Gatwick.

Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 11:31

Itchy, yes I think your probably right, it does look the same, as for the shopping centre im just assuming it will develop and 'look' better as MK is developing at a fast rate it seems.

OP posts:
Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 11:33

Annperkins that's good to hear, I liked Oxleypark. I like the fact everything's close by as we live with everything at our doorstep here in London. I will look into the schools but I guess it's hard for in year transfers.
I guess im worried in case I regret it once I've moved as I was born and always lived in London so scary to move

OP posts:
FridgeCut · 24/04/2018 11:38

Oxley has just built a second Primary so space maybe ok there, I think you'd have to call and ask about the likelihood of spaces for in year transfers. Commute to London is fine, going from Wolverton or Bletchley might be easier for parking. Loughton is popular as you can walk to the station in a reasonable time and there are quite a few good and outstanding schools.

I've lived here for 8 years, DH commutes to London every day and we have a good quality of life here. The red ways for cycling are brilliant for leisure or commuting, lots of good schools and lots of opportunities with businesses moving here.

TheSpottedZebra · 24/04/2018 11:41

Arf at the MK hate. If you you do move there, you'll get used to that, I'm sure.
My sister lives in MK, and loves it - finds it really family friendly. It's also really green with loads of parkland although it's quite often linear rather than in big squares, so I guess you might not notice it if you zoom on past, on the dual carriageways.

It doesn't have much in the way of town centre life, so if you like that, it's not the place for you. What it does have is the big centre with is very commercialised - the shopping 'mall' is basically the centre. Then there are lots of retail parks and local shops dotted round on the estates. It is a real car town though, and it is super easy/convenient to live in - if if you drive.

The best secondary school is Denbigh currently and they're making a Denbigh 2 on one of the new estates nearby. There are lots of outstanding schools in general, with some of the best first/middle schools being the Catholic ones, and the ones on the west bit. Schools in the more deprived parts if the older towns - Bletchley, Wolverton - are not surprisingly rather worse by Ofstead.

Godotsarrived · 24/04/2018 11:51

I live very near MK and it is a fantastic town. Superb facilities for families, great schools, brilliant parks, lakes, canal side walks, canal side pubs... safari park on its door step. A town in which you have Ofsted excellent schools and your kids can learn to ski, sail and horse ride with 10 minutes of each other... what’s not the like. Ignore the misplaced snobbery of people OP... it’s a great place the live.

Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 12:06

Thank you guys that sounds great and luckily me and DH do drive and have 2 cars between us, I also noticed you need to be able to drive in MK

OP posts:
Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 12:07

Thespottedzebra do you know bear what estate they are making denbeigh 2? Also when it will open ? Thanks

OP posts:
FridgeCut · 24/04/2018 12:10

You really don't need to be able to drive, there are cycle routes and places to leave them everywhere, the cycle routes are car free. Also we have decent buses and a plethora of taxis :)

Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 12:12

Fridgecut thank you shame it's in 2020. Perfect for my middle daughter but older one is in year 7 already and if we move we aim
For August so they can start in new school year .

OP posts:
MrsSchadenfreude · 24/04/2018 12:12

I used to live in one of the villages outside, and commute from Wolverton. The commute was grim with packed trains and delays. Not a big fan of MK itself, personally, particularly the big estates.

FridgeCut · 24/04/2018 12:12

www.whitehousemk.co.uk/location/ it's going on this new estate.

Original poster
1234sam · 24/04/2018 12:14

Fridgecut we went to see Whitehouse and I looves it I now remember the last telling us about the school that opens in 2020 . That's good to hear about buses, o didn't really notice many when we around on Saturday.

OP posts:
FridgeCut · 24/04/2018 12:18

Lots of them are electric so they aren't noisy or smelly.

snewname · 24/04/2018 12:20

There is a pop up advert for MN local appearing on my screen, about what it's like to live in MK. Have you seen it?

Original poster
1234sam · 25/04/2018 08:33

Snewname no I haven't seen that pop up must watch out for it 🤔👍🏼

OP posts:
MilkyCoffeeAndSkinnySyrup · 25/04/2018 08:35

I live near MK and I personally wouldn't move there.

babycakes1010 · 25/04/2018 17:54

I live in mk and think it's great....couldnt imagine living anywhere else

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.