advice on where to move- best villages in the east midlands?

[NoFucksImAQueen]

hi all, we are hoping to move within the next year and i want to start narrowing the search on areas. i would love to live somewhere a bit more rural but with enough amenities that you dont feel totally stranded. we have 3primary school aged dc so good schools are also a must.

Oadby

I live in one of the villages mentioned by 40something I they are very friendly lots going on, pre lockdown, village in bloom, scarecrow festivals, arts, culture, pubs cafes, shops, etc you get village life and Nottingham and Derby under 10 miles away and Leicester not far either, plus excellent transport links. The Peak District and Nottinghamshire Leicestershire countryside isn't very far away either

I would add ockbrook to the list too

Have relatives in East Leake and they're happy. Has school, shops & leisure centre. 15 mins from M1 and Nottingham close enough for when need a city.

mondaypolomint I always forget ockbrook :) I’m local too

Thanks everyone this is really helpful. Monday that sounds exactly what I'm looking for, how lovely!

@40somethingJBJ

I'm in the "scarecrow village"

Someone mentioned East leake - it seems really nice too.

@NoFucksImAQueen come up and check them out. Go on right move - I'm happy to advise on houses streets etc in this area. Schools seem good too

@mondaypolomint me too :)

I live just outside of Newark which is a pretty market town with lovely independent boutiques and cafes.
Towards sleaford there are some lovely villages on the ridge, Caythorpe, Navenby, Fulbeck etc. Easy access to Lincoln and Grantham, as well as a good train to Nottingham.
Great grammar schools in Sleaford and Grantham. Independent schools in Lincoln. The local comp at Welbourn is excellent too.
Lived here for 15 years having moved up from the south, and wouldn’t change a thing.

@MeadowHay Oadby!! That's not a village, it's just outside the city, no nice scenery and sort of half suburban, half urban.
I went to school there, couldn't wait to escape!!!
There are lots of lovely villages further out of Leicester though op.

@40somethingJBJ what a coincidence! I might know you

@mondaypolomint quite possibly; it’s not exactly a huge place! We’ll have to develop a Mumsnet wave or something

Southwell is not a village by any stretch! Neither are Bingham or Eastwood. And Eastwood is a dump!

I'm local to Eastwood. I admit it isn't really a village but there are a lot surrounding villages that are lovely--moorgreen, Brinsley, underwood.

Burton Joyce and Lowdham are really nice and have a good community feel for having young children.

The East Midlands is made up of several large counties though, so you'd need to narrow your search.

Eastwood is definitely a dump. Avoid anything in the Erewash area too.

North Leicestershire or South Derbyshire would be my picks. I love Woodhouse Eaves.

There's a good school called Lady Jane Grey but I'm not sure of the catchment boundaries. The surrounding villages of Market Harborough are nice too but can be pricey.

We're South Leicestershire (just above Lutterworth) and we really like it here. There are lots of nice villages around here too maybe look at Broughton Astley or Whetstone?

@DerbyshireGirly
"avoid anything in the Erewash area"
That's a massive generalisation- do you know it well??

Waves from Southwell! Love living here. It's a small town, great amenities and schools. I'm local to the area originally and very pleased we moved here to raise my DC, it's wonderful for them. We love pottering about the town and nature trails. The town has really pulled together during Covid too. House prices can be a bit eek in comparison to other villages nearby and avoid the latest new build estate like the plague! It's built on a field called Springfield...needless to say it's been interesting watch them trying to dig it up for the foundations

Market harborough area maybe even Lutterworth- great rail and motorway links

North Leics is lovely but you might struggle for a four bed at that money

Care with Nottingham some of it is awful.

I love a lot of the villages that happen to be within Peak District National Park.!! The only thing is a lot of those are likely conservation areas so you'd be restricted with what you can do and the materials you can use to renovate extend etc!

Slushy there was a lovely house in southwell for sale on rightmove but it was snapped up within a week during lockdown where they couldnt even view as well. I imagine nice character properties in southwell go quick

Care with Nottingham some of it is awful.

Parts of everywhere are awful...

@mondaypolomint as well as I want to!