Where are the best places to live in north England?

[GooseWhiskers]

I currently live in an absolutely gorgeous town in Cheshire, but with a little one on the way we're going to have to think about moving within the next few years.

Unfortunately in our area, the price difference for the houses we'd want is too big so we're looking at other towns in the UK.

Ideally we'd like:

• Strong sense of community
• Nice town centre with shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs etc.
• Not too far from a good train station (roughly 1/2hr or so)
• Near motorways (my family live in south west London, husband travels around for work)

What are your favourite northern towns?

I'd suggest York but not sure of your budget - how much are you looking to spend?

Grew up in Hartlepool and while no-one is going to say it's great, it's really improved these last few years.

• two train stations and you can be in Newcastle or York in about an hour
• close to good road transport links (a19, a1)
• a few outlying villages that are lovely but not so far out you have to drive for ages to go shopping
• good range of shops (though the shopping center is pretty dire)
• culture- has a fantastic living history type museum called the Historic Quey, historic ships, the only WW1 battlefield in England with a great museum, and a theater

-fantastic beaches -huge choice of living areas- you want to live by the sea? You can do that. You want to live in town? You can do that. You want to live semi-rurally? You can do that too.

Not Lytham - very expensive, no sense of community and full of TOWIE style wannabes!

Unless you already live there, Macclesfield? On the train line to London so good transport links, and it's lovely.

I recommend the Colne Valley or Holme Valley which is near Huddersfield, wirh a station, and a short drive to the M62 between Leeds and Manchester.

I second this. Some of the villages in both valleys have a train station too -Marsden, Slaithwaite, Honley...

@GuyFawkesDay

You want Lytham.

Not St. Anne's, just Lytham. 30 minutes from Preston mainline station, great little town, scenic....lots going on....

I came on to say pretty much exactly this. It's not even really half an hour to Preston station (west coast main line just over 2 hours to London) more like 20/25 mins in good traffic and only 10 mins to get on the motorway.

Straight away my immediate thought was Nantwich or Sandbach, which are both in Cheshire, nice ‘villagey’ feel but cheaper than other areas and very close to Crewe train station.

We now live in Warrington which doesn’t sound amazing but we really like it here. Great transport links via train/motorway and there are some really lovely areas, especially in the west and south.

New Mills?

• Nice little arty cafes and trendy things with proper country pubs mixed in
• Train station
• 30 mins off the M60

I like Northallerton in North Yorks. My dad lives near to it and I think it’s got a lovely high street. Also on the mainline Edinburgh to London. The station is in the town.

Penistone is nice.
Small market town
Good schools.
Train station in town and Sheffield Mainline station 30 mins away,
30 Mins drive to Leeds and 40mins to Manchester.
Close to M1 and M62.
On the edge of peak district/Pennines
Close to Holmfirth where they fil last of the summer wine to give you a picture.

Penistone. Lovely place, unfortunate name!

PS. Durham is fab

Davenham
Hartford
Marple
Altrincham
Alderley Edge
Bramhall

Absolutely Durham!

@Deelish75

I like Northallerton in North Yorks. My dad lives near to it and I think it’s got a lovely high street. Also on the mainline Edinburgh to London. The station is in the town.

Very limited train service though.

York is a great place to live. And a strong sense of community within the different 'bits' of York e.g. Heworth, Fulford, Rawcliffe.

My Ds lives in Holmfirth. I love it but it's pricey

@Bearlyawake

York is a great place to live. And a strong sense of community within the different 'bits' of York e.g. Heworth, Fulford, Rawcliffe.

It is -very expensive though. The only place that makes Harrogate look cheap.

Beverley.

Saddleworth

Another to say Lytham, although would depend on your housing budget as it can be quite expensive in that respect. Lots of events through the year too.

Durham

Again

East coast mainline. Durham and up would be ideal. It's very beautiful but don't tell everyone 😉

Todmorden- or a little pricier, Hebden Bridge. Amazing scenery, great alternative vibe, restaurants and bars, good schools and mainline to Manchester Victoria.

If you want to keep in Cheshire but more house for your bucks look at Nantwich or some of the nicer dormitory villages for Crewe. Or look at the M56 villages between Chester and Manchester- great transport links and Frodsham and Helsby have character

Less great transport but good value would be the Cleveland Hills area. TS postcodes are still cheap (apart from Yarm) Guisborough or Stokesley are super cute. I 'd love one of the North Yorks towns- Thirsk or Ripon but they are expensive. Whitby is divine but traffic is a nightmare

Penwortham, just outside Preston. It’s a couple of minutes drive or a half hour walk to the station which will get you to London in 2 hours or Edinburgh in 2.5 hours, nice bars/restaurants, within an hour of Manchester, Liverpool and the Lakes, outstanding schools and a nice community.

Durham is definitely beautiful and ticks those boxes but the main high street has suffered badly in the last year or two and its nowhere near as vibrant as York. Its a lot cheaper though. I love it here but I would look carefully.