AIBU to move from Nottingham to Mansfield?

[MasterBeth]

Have lived in naice parts of Nottingham (West Bridgford, The Park, Mapperley Park) forever and am now considering our next house move now the kids have all gone.

Am I mad to consider moving to Mansfield? Only 15 miles away, and much cheaper for similar house types. We could pay off our mortgage, get a similar house with a much bigger garden and still live in a sizeable town with a cinema, theatre, town centre market etc.

My partner thinks I’m mad. What’s Mansfield like to live in? Are there any hidden gems in the town centre?

How about Ravenshead - half way between Nottm and Mansfield.
And a naice area.

Apparently there are so nice parts in Mansfield, Berry hill, as has been mentioned.

@YawnyOwl

Mumsnet snobbery out in force tonight...

Fair enough, but I grew up very close to Mansfield (and not in a naicer area either) and now I live in the Mansfield of London.

Both places where people who can’t afford different live, and most live ordinary civilised lives doing the best for their kids.

But this thread is about an alternative to The Park, by someone who wants independent shops and coffee shops…

So hard to recommend Mansfield in that context. And I wouldn’t recommend my area in London to someone downsizing from Richmond or Hampstead.

@MasterBeth you could probably buy the whole of Mansfield for £400K.
I don't think I've seen such a unanimous post!
I've lived in Nottingham & worked there, Newark & Mansfield/surrounding villages. Although Nottm has it's problems with drugs & gun crime, i think those issues are more prevalent in Mansfield & even Newark. The police have lots of dealings with the county lines drug problems in Mansfield, Newark & surrounding villages.
I think you would be shocked at how close the two cities are but yet so very different. Size down & stay in Nottingham would be my advice.

you could probably buy the whole of Mansfield for £400K.

Proper made me laugh!

I go to Mansfield now and then. It's pretty deprived. I prefer to go to Newark, definitely more independents than Mansfield. I live between the 2, in Southwell. Southwell is not cheap, but it is a nice place to live. Don't have to use my car very much, there's independent cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops in walking distance. Southwell doesn't feel village-y, although everyone does know your business. But I quite like that I can pop to the shop and it takes me 3 hours because I've bumped into 8 friends on the way.

Mansfield definitely wouldn't be my first choice.

Do not move to Mansfield 😱

No, just no. Mansfield is really at crisis point at the moment. No point in moving to Southwell either as house prices are higher/on par with the areas in Notts you mention. I'd downsize rather than relocate.

Bloody hell. No OP! We’re house hunting in Nottingham at the moment - moving home after a good few years away and we can’t wait to get back to city life. Looking at all the naice areas you’ve described. I’d rather go back to Forest Fields or even Hyson Green than move to Mansfield. Been there once and never again. Stick with Nottingham or consider somewhere just outside of the city. Even Lincoln (top of Steep Hill especially) would be better.

It was rough as when I lived there... I wouldn't. Houses are usually cheaper in certain areas for a reason...

Don’t do it! I say this as a former resident. Couldn’t wait to get out

Edwinstowe has a cafe culture on a small scale, but it’s definitely more of a village and not comparable with Nottingham. And you won’t get a mini mansion for £400k.

Of course there are nicer areas around Mansfield, which are not particularly cheap. Ravenshead, High Oakham, Kings Clipstone (the old part), Rufford, Cuckney, Whaley, Nether Langwith. But you can’t compare them with a city.

Definitely a lot of Mumsnet snobbery out tonight

Definitely a lot of Mumsnet snobbery out tonight

I would disagree, it's not a nice place. That doesn't make me a snob for not wanting to live there or St Ann's, Sneinton, Hyson Green etc. I'd live in Long Eaton if I was looking for a cheaper house. Bought my home back in 2013 when prices in Beeston were still reasonable.

I've lived in Mansfield, Sneinton and Bulwell! Mansfield was my favourite place by far.

Long Eaton is very nice in places, but my friend has had his car keyed outside his house.

I find Southwell a bit smug and creepy tbh...

It's certainly not in any way a comparable place to live from where you're moving from, and it has a real "poor neighbour" vibe to it. People complain ALL THE TIME about everything. The town centre needs sone serious investment - the residents voted 71% in favour of Leave, then everyone complained about how the market place (which was EU funded) no longer had any investment planned 🤷‍♀️

It has a lovely theatre and museum and the staff and volunteers there work tirelessly to energise the arts and bring interesting productions to the area, but they are fighting die interest.
Same with the library - a great space that is under used and therefore under invested in.
But surrounding Mansfield is the most beautiful countryside, and it has excellent transport links.
I know that's nothing to do with what you're looking for, I just wanted to promote that bit so it's not 100% awful.

(however Ben Bradley. That would be a deal breaker for me. I hate him.)

Of course there are nicer areas around Mansfield, which are not particularly cheap. Ravenshead, High Oakham, Kings Clipstone (the old part), Rufford, Cuckney, Whaley, Nether Langwith. But you can’t compare them with a city. Definitely a lot of Mumsnet snobbery out tonight

Those places are NOT Mansfield and OP would not be getting a mini-mansion in them I don't think. It's not snobbery to say that OP can't replicate the lifestyle she has had in The Park, WB etc in Mansfield because she simply can't. It's a very deprived area and that's a fact and not snobbery too.

So much hate for Hyson Green here too! I loved living there, though it was a while ago now - walking into the city when ds was a baby in his pram, the Forest rec, some nice cafes, the tram, amazing shops with cheap fruit and veg, amazing takeaways...very nostalgic here - though it did have its issues too of course...

Mansfield is horrible. Don’t do it.

@CrimsonImp

It is surely the worst possible place in all of Nottinghamshire.

It's got some strong competition from Sutton and Kirkby

My hometown is Kirkby... It’s absolutely vile. The whole area of Kirkby/Sutton/Mansfield is vile. The attitudes of the people, Ben fucking Bradley - there’s a reason he’s voted in and why most people love him. Grim. As. Fuck.

I’d go for -

Beeston, Sherwood, Gamston.

I’m in Carrington which is cheaper than Sherwood but on the doorstep.

I was born in Bulwell and I think I've turned out ok! 😁😁

I agree Sherwood is also a good choice. I chose Beeston in the end as it's so close to Attenborough Nature reserve, Highfields Park and Wollaton Hall. The tram into the city is a bonus.

@KittyKel

Edwinstowe has a cafe culture on a small scale, but it’s definitely more of a village and not comparable with Nottingham. And you won’t get a mini mansion for £400k.

Of course there are nicer areas around Mansfield, which are not particularly cheap. Ravenshead, High Oakham, Kings Clipstone (the old part), Rufford, Cuckney, Whaley, Nether Langwith. But you can’t compare them with a city.

Definitely a lot of Mumsnet snobbery out tonight

Ho is it snobbery to state actual facts such as deprivation and poor health outcomes

Please do provide your evidence of the existence of the cafe-culture the OP is seeking in Mansfiekd (not any of the other villages you've mentioned)

The OP is going to feel a shock moving anywhere from the places she’s lived to somewhere cheaper, there’s a reason they are cheaper.

If it was me and I had the budget I’d try a change maybe somewhere like Farnsfield, has shops and cafes, close to Southwell and in the countryside but I am more of a country mouse than a city one

Veterinari

Mansfield town centre doesn’t have a cafe culture, I never said it did. High Oakham and Berry Hill are probably the nicer areas but they are not going to give her what she wants.

I was just trying to suggest some nicer areas for the OP to try that are still close by, rather than slate a whole area and all its people.

We have around £400k to spend. We could get a Manno mansion!

You really wouldn’t. Have you even looked at Rightmove?

Yes, you’d get a nice house but not a Mansion for £400k.

If you want a “Manno Mansion” you need a half of your budget again.

@Whatliesbeneath707

Although Nottm has it's problems with drugs & gun crime, i think those issues are more prevalent in Mansfield & even Newark.

Hahahahh, guns and drugs more prevalent in Mansfield and Newark than in Nottingham city. Okay hun

Never seen a gun in Mansfield, never heard of anyone being shot, nobodies kids are knifing each other to death on the way to school. You do see the odd smack head in the town centre but most of them a strong gust of wind would blow over. Drunk people occasionally have a fight, but they do everywhere. I was burgled three times in two years as a student in Forest Fields and never have been in Mansfield.

@KittyKel

Veterinari

Mansfield town centre doesn’t have a cafe culture, I never said it did. High Oakham and Berry Hill are probably the nicer areas but they are not going to give her what she wants.

I was just trying to suggest some nicer areas for the OP to try that are still close by, rather than slate a whole area and all its people.

Where has anyone 'slated' Mansfield? Or do you object to reality?

You're slandering posters for providing factual information. To be a snob means to only like people of a high social class. No one on this thread has critiqued the people of Mansfield for not being 'high class' enough. So your insult isn't even accurate. We've simply pointed out the realities of deprivation in the area. Are you suggesting that we shouldn't have answered the OP's question truthfully? Would lying about Mansfield have made us less 'snobby'?