To ask where in the Midlands or North would you would live if…

[movvrjm]

You have a toddler and can move anywhere? Budget around 550k. I am very remote at the moment and don’t like it but also don’t like being very central to a city. I’d like to be close ish to one though.

I’d go NW coast to Cumbria, just outside the Lake District.

You could afford stunning large detached house, there’s some lovely towns like Cockermouth, Keswick, White Haven.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140777306#/?channel=RES_BUY

You make it sound so nice @JenniferJuniper80

I always thought Cradley Heath was a bit run down, although admittedly I haven’t been for a while.

York for sure. My brother lives a few miles outside. Great countryside for walking, etc. close enough to the coast. There’s good schools near him. The city is lovely though traffic sucks.

We live in the SE now but previously lived in Wilmslow in Cheshire. Accessible to everywhere including Manchester and spectacular countryside. Before living in Wilmslow we lived in Woodford/Bramhall area which is on the outskirts of Stockport. Stockport had amazing primary schools but if we still lived there I’d move to Trafford to access the grammar schools for seniors. They have some of the highest performing schools in the entire country. Our ‘good’ school down here isn’t a patch on the schools up there. But then, we’re less urban here which has its advantages but urban schools in general tend to be far more dynamic.
Your budget would get you a nice semi or small detached in those areas I think but I haven’t looked in a while.

If you like the seaside, Midlands is furthest away possible. East Midlands tends to be windy roads to the East coast and kids me quick hats of Skeggy. South Midlands is not too bad for Dorset.(traffic) otherwise it's quite a bit of travel to North or South Wales.

Another vote for cheshire - stunning countryside and directly linked to Manchester

Liverpool. My favourite city.

I live in the east midlands. The peak district is lovely but too rural for me.

Harrogate

South Ribble. Some lovely semi rural areas.
Twenty minutes from the coast. An hour to Liverpool, Manchester and the Lakes. Great schools and pretty affordable.

I'm biased but Shrewsbury is beautiful and an hour on train to Brum and Chester and 1.5hr to Manchester with lots of amazing countryside on your doorstep.

Another one for Cheshire. I live here and have lived in many places from London to Sydney. Cheshire is by far my favourite. I can be in a forest, a city, a country pub or a Michelin starred restaurant so no missing out on city life. I live a 10 minute drive to a train station for access to Manchester and Liverpool. Best of all though is Chester - a fabulous city

Here's an example of a house in a pretty and vibrant village

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86295675

And one on the outskirts of Chester

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139807475

That's such a huge area. There's plenty of Cathedral cities like Chester, York, Ripon, Durham with vibrant student populations and plenty of property choices. And lovely market towns although often public transport is limited. Cheshire has loads of choices. Nantwich, Northwich, Wilmslow. Frodsham. North yorks too such as Thirsk or Northallerton. Yarm is super pretty and has good schools but traffic is a nightmare.

Southwest Sheffield, close to city and Peak District

The Vale of Belvoir

Clitheroe

Harrogate or Ilkley. Great schools, good transport.

Morpeth in Northumberland. We always stop there on way to our holiday in Seahouses. Has a train station and is on the A1 so its easy to get around.

Lytham ( Lancs ) has a lovely town centre and a wee bit of a drive to Manchester but decent shops / supermarkets etc but if you look on Rightmove plenty of nice houses for your budget.

Northumberland! My favourite place.

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140054450

The Wirral. This is walking distance to the beach, good schools and easy access to Liverpool etc.

Not Scarborough or Whitby and not Whitehaven or Cockermouth all 4 have problems for one reason or another. Decide say 5 things that are non negotiable and then we can be more help.

What, all of it? Peak District is pretty different to Birmingham.

Upon reflection, York