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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for your advice on moving to Leicestershire...

81 replies

HelpMeMove · 08/08/2019 16:15

My DH has been offered a job in Hinckley so I was looking for advice on where to move to around that area?
We have family in East Leicester so it would be nice to be close to them so maybe somewhere in between?
Google maps shows Enderby as half way?
But there's also Burbage, Barwell, Elmesthorpe, Stoney Stanton, Sapcote, Thurlaston, Narborough etc.
Can anyone tell me what any of those places are like to live in? or which to avoid?
I have a DD who is 2 so we'd be looking for an area with good schools, nice parks and things to do.
I don't drive so it would be nice to be in a little town (not too remote)with shops but also happy to catch the train into Leicester.

OP posts:
Juanmorebeer · 09/08/2019 13:53

I know @toddlerteaplease it is really sought after now!

user1471590586 · 09/08/2019 15:28

I disagree with the other posters. There are semi detached houses for 200 grand.

HelpMeMove · 09/08/2019 16:05

Thanks again everyone.
After a thorough Rightmove trawl of all your recommendations, I think Hinckley/Burbage may be our best bet as there seems to be lots to do in walking distance and obviously only a small commute for DH and a train station for me to get into leicester. (Apparently it only takes 20 mins)
I know our budget isn’t massive but I’ve seen a few houses I like within it so hopefully it’s realistic but I obviously don’t know what the streets are like so will have to do some more research.
Here’s a few I found..
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-83796101.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72875098.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64153959.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72969496.html

OP posts:
Juanmorebeer · 09/08/2019 16:18

I don't know Hinkley itself but looks like you've found some to be getting on with. Hope it all goes well with the purchase op.

Spudlet · 09/08/2019 16:30

Coventry Road is quite busy, it’s one of the main roads into town. So do bear that in mind! However, the side roads off it are quite quiet. Running parallel to it is Westfield Road, that has been partly traffic calmed so is nicer. The houses close to the school tend to be nicer, it gets a bit less nice (imo) as you head towards Strathmore Road.

On the other hand Coventry Road does have good wide pavements, with a shared cycle path and you have Clarendon Fields which is a big playing field with a playground. Lots of dog walkers use it.

Good luck with your search!

MulticolourMophead · 09/08/2019 16:34

I live in the town of pork pies, and commute in to Leicester, near Fosse park. The M1/M69 junction can be dire at times, to the point I sometimes flex my finish time to avoid bad days.

frizzattack · 09/08/2019 16:41

I love Hinckley. Nuneaton.... I live in Nuneaton and have done for about 20 years. Do not move here. It is depressing, particularly if you can’t drive... Everyday another shop/café in the town is gone. There’s virtually nothing left... The Weddington/Higham Lane/Long Shoot side of town isnmuch better as you can go up or down the A5 and quickly get to Tamworth (huge retail parks, cinemas, bowling etc) and Hinckley. But the house prices reflect this.

You can get a lot for your money in certain areas of Nuneaton but the schools are awful and bus routes are crap in certain places.

Hinckley however I love! Burbage too. I really do love Lutterworth but understand your budget may not stretch to somewhere there.

SurvivingCBeebies · 09/08/2019 16:47

Clarendon Road, street parking is a big issue,
Coventry Road gets a bit busy at peak times, ok the rest of the time,
Millais road is good for schools but there are some rough area's (Wykin)
Thirlmere Road leads on to Coventry road.
(I used to live in the middle of these houses) overall Hollycroft is a nice area with little trouble c

Spudlet · 09/08/2019 17:01

I think my dentist used to be on Clarendon Road [relevant face]

msmith501 · 09/08/2019 17:20

I've moved between Countesthorpe, Kilby, saddington, blaby and whetstone. All are very different and have different strengths. Depends what you want in your life. As a county, Leics is hugely rural and I love the villages to the south and east of the county (Medbourne, the various Langtons, Hallerton etc). Newtown Longford to the North is also lovely because of Bradgate Park.

AskMeHow · 09/08/2019 17:22

Oooh Bradgate Park. Loved it there as a kid. Not been back since I moved away, would love to see if it's as big as I remember Grin

msmith501 · 09/08/2019 17:26

As I've got older, Bradgate Park see sooo much larger... them hills!!

AskMeHow · 09/08/2019 17:26

Also the trains to Leicester are only one an hour or so as most trains don't stop at Hinckley. However, it's a useful service to have, just be aware of it's limitations.

Pemba · 09/08/2019 19:31

I am guessing your DH is a teacher, if he doesn't want to live in the same area where he works? Which I can completely understand!

BoswellsBollocks · 09/08/2019 19:35

My DB used to live in Quorn, it’s the nicest place in the world! I’d move there in a heartbeat, particularly if my DC were little.

puddleduckmummy · 09/08/2019 19:41

Don't move to Nuneaton whatever you do. You would be much better to live in Hinckley or areas surrounding Hinckley. Nuneaton is not a great place.

WingingWonder · 10/08/2019 00:09

I wouldn’t buy those houses because of the roads they’re on
For £200k I’d go for these which also have better schools-
Azaelea drive Burbage 219k
Beams meadow 215k
New Redrow development- has some help to buy properties in tucked away corner

TriciaH87 · 10/08/2019 00:32

Hi I live in hinckley well on the edge of it in Burbage. Moved up from Essex 16 years ago. It's improving with the amount to do now the crescent is open.

TriciaH87 · 10/08/2019 00:35

Infants and junior wise in hinckley ki would say Westfield in Burbage I would say Burbage and sketchley are both good. Ideally Burbage as you would want Hastings High over Hinckley academy when getting to secondary school. If you get the end of Burbage near Hinckley your close to the train station

TriciaH87 · 10/08/2019 00:45

Cov Road and thirlmere fine, clarendon Road is terrible for parking as in good luck no one has a driveway, but minutes from town. Mallias or what ever it is called is wykin area avoid at all costs.

ImADadButThatsOKIsntIt · 10/08/2019 01:06

I moved to Hinckley about 12 years ago and there are certainly worse places to live.
I would probably avoid Barwell and Earl Shilton as secondary schools especially poor and generally on the rougher side, however if you’re used to inner city poverty it’s fine. Burbage is basically a suburb of Hinckley but still retains bit of a village feel, however excellent motorway links push up house prices. Nuneaton can be good value but sociodemographically can be quite variable with patches of severe deprivation while in truth Hinckley mostly middle class homeowners.

Primary schools are all similar quality and I would have no qualms about my kids going to any, as a pp said though some years are quite full, the LEA will find you a place. About 4 years ago they moved from a middle school system to traditional primary secondary split so secondaries still finding their feet, in the long run I suspect Hastings and St Martins will be most desirable, Hastings selecting via house price and St Martins by religion.

There is an adequate local bus service around the town and 2 buses, trains an hour to Leicester. It’s fairly flat so walking not too taxing. Connections to the outlining villages poor by public transport though. Don’t discount proximity of Coventry, all the born and bred forget about it because it’s Warwickshire but it has as much culturally as Leicester and just as close, and IMO better employment opportunities.

Hinckley has all the amenities you would expect of a mid sized English town. Cinema, theatre, leisure centre, parks, markets, typically stagnating town centre, all 4 big supermarkets have a branch and new Lidl and Aldi both due to open shortly. Not much of a nightlife mind.

You probably need to come up for the a weekend to have a look around, but PM me if you have anything specific you want to ask.

bethankfulforwhatyouhave · 10/08/2019 20:25

@multicolourmophead, me too! Nice to see a fellow meltonion!

Jimdandy · 10/08/2019 23:37

@BrainFart Barwell has always been known as a dive. I was born in 1983 and I remember my Mum calling it when I was a child.

BrainFart · 11/08/2019 07:14

@Jimdandy

We are contemporaries, as I was born in '82 and left Barwell for Leicester in '94 (but still visit relatives in Hinckley on occasion).

My parents too said that Barwell was a shitehole, but I honestly don't remember it being noticeably worse than Hinckley, or many of the other places mentioned, and always thought it was a lot better than Nuneaton. Perhaps it's just the rose-tinted view of childhood, but I had a great time there.

MardyMavis · 11/08/2019 09:01

Don't do it.......