What's Lincolnshire/The Fens like as a place to live?

[CarinaMarina]

We are a couple approaching 50, looking to move to a rural/semi-rural area with plenty of country walking on the doorstep, but with good links to London (e.g the train from King's Lynn doesn't take long, I wouldn't mind driving there for the infrequent occasions I'd need to go). We've found some affordable detached bungalows around parts of Lincolnshire and the Fens that look ideal (perhaps not Boston, we drove through it and it found it a bit soulless). We have been further discouraged by comments from a family member that the entire area is bleak, dismal, dark, there's no decent walking as it's all farmland, and that "the people are weird".

It can't be that bad surely? We come from a coastal city in the south known for its rougher areas so we're not snobs, we just want a slightly more rural lifestyle out of town. Max price £200k.

Any suggestions for reasonable areas - and areas to avoid?

I would have suggested this one www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85234456#/ but I think Longhurst have put in an application to build houses behind it which is why it’s so cheap.
This house has walks down the river and along for miles.

@maddieella

Hello!

I grew up in a village close to Lincoln, now live in London. I’d love to live somewhere more rural again and the property prices around Lincoln are tempting (we could switch our small terrace for a Manor House). But I just don’t think I could handle Lincolnshire again.

The flat agricultural landscape leaves me cold. There are footpaths, if you don’t mind largely walking in straight lines across fields. There are nice villages and I do like Lincoln itself but it’s just such a long way from anywhere else, it’s just a vast expanse of nothingness.

There are some nice areas and some not so nice, can you rent first to see where you actually like? There's definitely a beauty to the big open skies but it can feel rather parochial and far from anywhere.

I'd suggest you check the flood maps... flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/long-term-flood-risk/map

and footpaths... with the fens being a largely manmade landscape, you don't necessarily get the ancient network of crisscrossing paths, and some areas can be restricted to very linier and limited walks.
httpss://footpathmap.co.uk/

Agree with avoiding Boston, it has definitely gone downhill in recent years; shame, as it could be and probably was, a really nice town in its heyday. In fact, anywhere south of Boston, I'd avoid. Flat and soulless...
Maybe look around the edge of the Wolds, Horncastle isn't bad - London still do-able in a day. I live nearby and it's got some decent walks in the area. Woodhall Spa is pretty but gets very touristy in the summer. Metheringham (small train station) isn't too bad and again, near Lincoln.

Sleaford isn't too bad either (train station, not far from A1 for decent roadlinks).
Branston isn't bad, lots of new building though - close proximity to Lincoln.
Wragby is close to Lincoln (beautiful) and the Wolds - best of both. 🙂

I always say I'm an hour from wherever I want to be! No motorways and not brilliant roads don't help though.

I can't agree with the healthcare negs, I've had fantastically speedy referrals on the few occasions I've needed them and our internet is fine.

One other thing - you'll never be 'local', even if you live here for 50 years! 😜

PM if you want further info! 🙂

Stamford
Grantham
Oakham

Agree with some of the above. Villages around Woodhall Spa are lovely. As are villages around Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford and Oakham - though I would avoid being directly in those towns myself. For various reasons: Lincoln is too busy. Grantham is too depressing. Oakham is actually a bit empty and and Stamford is too touristy at times.

Avoid Boston like the plague. No good will come of it.

Wherever you are, you will need to like driving slowly behind farm vehicles for a while to get to anywhere interesting. However, there is an abundance of walking and whilst some is of the 'across muddy fields' variety, much isn't.

Check carefully on fibre connectivity - if that's important to you.

Most people are friendly enough and the villages can be very friendly. But also a bit of the Brexit/don't like foreigners flavour, which I personally find difficult. Still, with so much space it's very easy to keep yourself to yourself, if you prefer.

In all honesty, we've found the healthcare to be excellent. Personal and super quick to get seen - but you do end up travelling to hospitals because there is unlikely to be one near you.

I live in a tiny hamlet, not far from the A1, kind of equidistant of Newark and Lincoln. There are some lovely villages around and good walks - there are always walkers going through my hamlet. Bungalows within budget, and Newark Northgate is approx 15 mins away, direct to Kings Cross in approx 80 mins.

Lincolnshire is like everywhere else but 20 years ago although the Roysten Vasey comment is pretty spot on

TBH if you're looking for somewhere with good transport links to London, it rules out most of it. It can be a bit of a culture shock, living here for so long (I was born in Lincs, but I have lived elsewhere, I've been back for over 25 years) I have no concept of what Nandos or Pret a manger are. We are expecting our first Mcdonalds in our town to open next year. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but stuff that other people take for granted (like Uber) just don't really exist here. I'm solidly in the middle of the Wolds though, I hear there's a KFC in Skegness

I'm joking (mostly), but also pay attention to where the amenities are. The main hospitals are Boston, Lincoln, Scunthorpe and Grimsby. Skeg and Louth (Grantham too possibly but I'm not sure) are much smaller (old cottage hospitals really) and don't have full a+e services. So most outpatient stuff is still dealt with at the main hospitals. If you're near the coast, you can be a good 3/4hr away from them in the car.

I don't feel I'm selling it well It is a lovely place to live, honest.

I grew up in Bourne and a lot of my family still live there, but I would never go there if they didn’t. It wasn’t until I was an adult I realised how little there is to do, you have to drive to go to decent shops, cinema etc. There’s a distinct lack of culture and the whilst I like the big skies, the landscape is bleak. Look at Norfolk perhaps.

DH lived most of his childhood near Spalding.

He says the ONLY places worth living are Stamford and Lincoln.

Stamford is nice enough.
Honestly. It just felt like a never ending Sunday afternoon living there.

Norfolk is DEFINITELY more scenic than Lincs but gets packed out in the summer months with Londoners.

Some nice villages just north of Lincoln; Nettleham, Welton and Dunholme all have some facilities and regular buses into Lincoln (though they probably stop running around 6-7). Lincoln now has regular direct trains to/from London - around two hours, it’s slightly quicker to change at Newark.

[[Lincoln Road, Dunholme, LN2 3QL
www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-97655606.html]]

www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-97655606.html

I grew up just north of Peterborough and it was fine. Peakirk, Market Deeping (and the other Deepings), Glinton, Helpston, Barnack, Bainton, Pilsgate - all nice.

Cambridge and London quick and easy to get to.

Grantham will suit your budget and there’s some lovely but equally fun down areas, it’s also excellent for secondary schools but I know you’re not after that. You have Belton House, Belton garden centre and just up the road you have strawberry, pumpkin etc picking. Lots of local walks also. I hour to King’s Cross also.

Sleaford is too one horse town.

Boston...no.

Stamford, lovely but expensive and no direct train line.

Newark still has a thriving town centre but can be a little rough.

You will find the village’s lovely but expensive.

i live in rural lincolnshire by the fens its idyllic and peaceful, i think you should be booking the removal van as soon as possible, yes its quieter shops are far and few between but for a peaceful and quieter life you cant go wrong, i would always pick a small village over the towns theres no crime rate what else can i say apart from it was the best move i ever made

Have a look around sleaford, cranwell, billingborough and surrounding areas, forget Oakham, Deeping if you only have £200k, the further north towards Lincoln the cheaper it’ll be, but be quick searches for property in Lincolnshire have gone through the roof with people who can now work from home and don’t need to commute

My mil moved from Greater London to a village outside Boston about 15 years ago. Politically they are a bit to the right of hitler so fit in fine.

They really like it and have made good friends with their neighbours but are quite anti social otherwise. They are a few miles outside Boston so I think are a bit shielded from the worst of the crime. They have a lot of health needs and have nothing but praise for their care.

One thing I do worry about is transport as they age. Mil is 75 and fil is almost 80. Mil does most of the driving and they have to drive everywhere. If this is ultimately a retirement move that's worth considering.

I must say I'm not a fan of the area but I grew up in the cotswolds so I do need a hill....

Stamford is lovely, my mum in her 70's lives there abs belongs to a few walking groups
But it is expensive
Bourne and it's surrounding villages is more reasonable
I'd have look at Norfolk on the south part of the A11 corridor past Attleborough
Also have a look at Diss/ Stowmarket area

I've been on holiday there. Lincoln is nice. There are some good air shows and a few pretty towns. BUT there is nothing else to do. The countryside is flat and there are no features to it, hence why it is good for air bases.

I won't go back for a holiday and could definitely not live there.

There are much nicer rural areas, more attractive and more places to visit in the area.

I think that's why Lincs is cheap.

Try North Yorkshire instead. Easy links to London from York.

Sorry all, been out for part of the day while the first viewings were happening at our house.

And we'd better pull our finger out, because we've had an offer at full asking price from the 2nd viewer!

Jeez, I wasn't ready for that. Thank you everybody so much for the fascinating insight into Lincolnshire. Having had a mini breakdown earlier at the thought of 4 viewings but no plan, DH and I had a bit of a discussion and I think we are going to move away from Lincs and more towards North Midlands/South Yorkshire. Guess I better start a new thread for that area!

But I appreciate everybody's comments, genuinely. I was all for that side but DH not so much, so a rethink is in order...