Anyone want to help us decide where to live? :)

[SpritzH]

Hi,

Already posted this in Property/DIY, but posting here too for traffic. Cheeky, I know!

Currently in the cambs area, but we're all desperate for a fresh start and would like to move further north once dc has finished GCSEs next year, so our 16 year old needs very much need to be taken into account.

Wishlist is:

Large village/small market town.
Plenty of art, indie and coffee shops.
Nice pubs and restaurants.
Pretty countryside views or at least nearby.
Easy links to nearby cities, but don't need to be right next to a train station.
Within an hour (ish) and a half from Nottinghamshire.
Close to good art colleges.

Absolute max budget is 600k, but that may be pushing it after last night's calculations 😬 With that we need somewhere with at least 4 bedrooms, detached and with a large garden. Ideally a bit of land (possible wishful thinking, I know)

Places already considering are Malton North Yorkshire, Stamford, Matlock, Bakewell and Leek.

Anyone with any experience of those areas or new ones I haven't mentioned, please share :)

TIA.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE%5E1145&insId=1&minPrice=300000&maxPrice=600000&minBedrooms=3&numberOfPropertiesPerPage=24&areaSizeUnit=sqft&includeSSTC=true&_includeSSTC=on&googleAnalyticsChannel=buying

Sorry if it doesn't work

Saltaire!

Amazing art gallery/restaurant/cafes in Salts Mill. Good independent businesses, coffee and restaurants directly in the village. Right on the moors, amazing walks! 15 mins on the train to Leeds, so very close to Leeds Arts uni.

I am a designer who lives here and I went to the art college, and my partner owns a restaurant here too. I love it and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

Yeah I used to live in Leek. Peak District around is lovely, leek not so much!

Forgot to say the original houses in the village are amazing but you won't get much garden at all, but areas such as Nab Wood and Moorhead (5 min walk from the village) have some grand houses with good gardens which will be well within your budget.

My mum and dad used to live in Barlaston too near the wedge wood factory/museum (so outing but never mind.) That's a nice area. 600k would have got you loads a few yes ago but not sure how much now, the new builds they put up there were much pricier than I expected.

Holmfirth, Penistone

Hope Vallley villages (not sure how far £600k will go) - Hathersage, Hope, Bradwell, Bamford, Edale, Eyam, Tideswell

Wirksworth, Cromford

Glossop, Marple - possibly a bit far from Notts

I'm a Notts girl originally so this depends- lots of people are suggesting places that are nothing like an hour from Nottinghanshire (I don't know why that's important but have to presume it is)

My suggestions would be Bakewell or Ashbourne (neither are cheap) - derbys

Southwell or Bingham - Notts

Market Harborough or Melton Mowbray - Leics

Other possibilities a bit further out would be Lichfield , Hebden Bridge, Louth ,

Confetti arts/new media college in Nottingham are great if your DD is interested in that kind of thing. They have really supported my anxious DS.

Can't speak for villages as I've been converted back to city life. But for future proofing make sure to be near a rail station.

Thanks so much for all of these! Lots of food for thought.

Keep them coming please! :)