Interested to hear about living in/near Preston!

[PrestonBound]

We need to move closer to my husband's family to offer support to elderly parents. They live in a village 30 mins or so East from Lancaster. We don't want to be on their doorstep but within an hour's drive. Have been thinking about moving back up to his neck of the woods for quite some time. We are thinking about Preston as a potential place to move to? Going up next week during half term to have a good look around. Would be interested to hear from those of you who live there about good areas to consider?

Some info about us:

Moving from Newport area S. Wales.
Husband is IT homeworker so no commute.
I would be looking for employment in University sector.
One daughter currently Year 3 so thinking about secondary schools.
Max budget for house £240K. Happy with 2 bed or 3 bed.

Why are we considering Preston?
Good transport links.
Like to live in the proximity of a city for its facilities but have easy access to countryside (which is what we enjoy here).
Do not want to be a taxi service in the teenage years (so village is out).
Not too keen on Lancaster due to Grammar and Religion entry requirements to the good secondaries.

Having read a lot of previous threads about Preston, Penwortham seems to tick a lot of boxes? Wondering about the girl's school? Is the catchment v tight?

Would be very interested to hear from anyone with up to date local knowledge. Thank you!

Bumpity bump

Longton is a nice village and in the catchment for Penwortham Girls High.

Plenty of buses from the village it’s not like a rural village.

Io have lived north of Preston (Garstang - excellent award winning market torn, and Whitechapel - quiet country hamlet near Beacon fell) and now in Croston. Britain in bloom winner every year and runner up in village of the year two years ago. Longton is nice as someone has said. I would ask yourself a few questions eg if you like walking, it's nice to have rivers, hills, woods etc. On which case below and to the left of Preston is flat. Garstang On the other hand is almost the perfect place in terms of scenery, great village feeling, small independent shops, near to lakes, Lancaster and the trough of bowland. PM me if you need any specific advice - lived up here from the midlands for 19 years.

Thank you @MyDcAreMarvel and @msmith501.
Will add those places to the viewing plan!

Catchment for Penwortham girls is South Ribble, would be as far as Longton.

Penwortham is on the up. It's amusing having moved away but my parents are still there and enjoying how "naice" it's getting.

Longton lovely.

Croston nice but will depend where you get work? It's not a quick commute into Preston.

Bretherton would be my choice, personally.

Thanks @GuyFawkesDay Didn't realise Penwortham is on the up. Interesting!

It's always been the nicer end of Preston. But add in lowering the traffic via the bypass and some recent openings of new bars, micro brewery etc and it's a lovely suburb.

Croston has a train to Preston that takes 12 mins and runs every hour. Penwortham is quieter now the bypass is operational and has some great independent shops.

This thread may be helpful: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3601675-Preston-Vs-Edinburgh

Thank you @cologne4711 - a very interesting thread. Wonder if she made the move from Edinburgh to Preston? Two very different cities? One of my friend's in the South East seemed to think a move to Preston from Newport would be a step up for us Newport, like a lot of places has it's pros and cons. Will miss it, and Wales v much.