Where would you buy a house if this was your criteria?

[location2021]

I need a real life Kirstie & Phil style intervention...

This time next year I should be in a position to leave London and could pretty much move anywhere in the UK (no significant family ties, no kids, self employed with work that isn't tied to a location). Currently live on the outskirts of London near a hugely polluted high street and high crime rates but overpriced housing... Main motivation for moving is to buy mortgage free somewhere quieter/cleaner/safer. I'm in my 40s so this is potentially a "forever home" at least for the next 20 years or so (I've moved a lot in the past 20 years and just want to settle down).

Especially interested in hearing about smaller places I may not have thought about?

Criteria:

• definitely a freehold house
• budget in the region of £200k-260k (have budgeted extra for moving costs, stamp duty etc. already so this is the price tag on the house itself)
• 3 bedrooms or 2 beds/2 receptions (to have workspace/office at home); ideally a semi or detached (although currently live in a terraced house and it's fine)
• not rural/isolated but not right in the centre either - an ordinary nice neighbourhood with basic amenities within walking distance would suit me perfectly
• open to considering different styles of houses from period property to new build

Other things I'd love to have:

• culturally diverse/open minded area (I'm not British although have lived here for nearly 20 years)
• no more than 3-4 hours on the train to London for the occasional (but rare) trip here for work or to see friends
• close to green space/nature or potentially a seaside location
• would love to be in an area with a creative/arts community or somewhere with thriving small businesses but this is not essential

Currently Nottingham is very high up on my list but have also considered the areas around Southport, Ormskirk and Preston. Yorkshire is also a possibility although I'm concerned about the flood risk areas of course. In the other direction, somewhere on the Kent coast? Not sure it's worth me paying the premium house prices to be in the commuter belt though as I'm definitely not going to be commuting...

But also agree go north for beautiful scenery not flat arable boringness and much more bang for your buck (yes am notherner now)

Think about the weather before moving north. If you can cope with that change then I’d agree with Manchester or Liverpool surrounds - particularly out towards Chester. Definitely not Southport or Ormskirk unless you know them already - imo not diverse.

It's been mentioned upthread but I was also thinking Shrewsbury. Maybe south Shropshire as well like Ludlow.

The areas around Nottingham would suit you I think. It doesn't get a very good press due to crime which is actually concentrated in fairly small areas, but there is loads going on all year round and property is cheap.

We used to live near Wirksworth, and whilst it is arty, it is definitely not diverse. There's very little diversity in the Derbyshire as a whole, other than in Derby. So if that is important, I'd avoid that area.

I’d be looking 2-3 hours from London by train - what about south coast, Horsham, Winchester. May be too expensive but I reckon you’d find something out of town.

Another vote for Folkestone .

Cardiff.although you will stretch your budget as it's quite rightly becoming very popular

York

I second Leicester it absolutely ticks every box. I lived there for 8 years it's great. It's very cosmopolitan.

Sheffield would fit your criteria, the art scene there is thriving and it’s right next to the Peak District. I’d have said Hebden Bridge as well but it’s had horrendous flooding in the last couple of weeks.

I would say around Hebden or Todmorden. But look carefully due to flooding.

OP said she wanted diversity... many (?most) lovely market towns like on previous link (eg., Alnwick) fail on diversity.

Have a look at Frodsham not too far from Chester,excellent commuting but also rural and very pretty still has weekly street market with farmers market.
Easy train to London easy to Manchester Airport and to Liverpool.

I love Harrogate. It's 3 hours on a train to London. You got Leeds, York and the Dales all on your doorstep.

Kenilworth
Has everything bar the arts and no floods. Plenty of countryside. Not much choice in price range though

I'd discount York, OP, as that is a very small budget for York!

Ditto Harrogate, and the bits of Leeds or Sheffield that you might actually want to live in...

I'd say Macclesfield would fit your bill perfectly. Friendly, artsy, good house prices (so you'll get plenty for that price), half an hour from Manchester by train and then 2 hours from there to London, plenty of green space, on the doorstep of countryside...

Otherwise, south Manchester (Sale, for your price range, although Cholrton and Didsbury would suit vibe-wise they're expensive), some bits of Leeds, or Lytham (although price wise I'm not sure what you'd get for that).

Oh how did I miss Lancaster? I lived there for a few years - diverse, absolutely beautiful, good direct transport links to London, very walkable, small friendly centre, good house prices, loads of good restaurants...

Definitely Nottingham. You could get something lovely on your budget in an area like Sherwood, which I think has the vibe you're looking for. Only drawback is you mentioned the seaside, which is at least 2 hours away.

For example, I used to live on this road and it was very nice - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-89661215.html. It needs work, but you get a lot of house for way under your budget!

I'd vote for Leeds - somewhere on the outskirts but easily accessible to both the Yorkshire Dales and Leeds City centre. Can commute to London in 2.5 hours or thereabouts.

Lincolnshire

Or, still under 200k and ready to move into with sweet courtyard and attic office space - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68008920.html. I really think Lancaster would suit you (as long as you don't mind a bit of rain).

Lincoln ticks most of your boxes; the population isn’t currently very diverse, but the university seems to be changing that. Culturally a mixed bag, very historic, but not fusty. Property prices are below the national average. Direct trains to London (two hours), Nottingham and Sheffield.

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