Never been to the North really but pls tell me where to live

[TheFirmLurker]

Technically I am lying. I have been to random Northern cities but mostly for night outs with friends who happened to be there for whatever reason.

Dh and I have decided to leave London. It’s too expensive and we are killing ourselves for an expensive mortgage which sucks the living life out of us. We were hoping to find a cheaper house in a home county but once rail cards and commute times get factored in I’m not sure we’ll be much better off.

So I’m just curious if you have any recommendations. Dh has to be in the office 3 times a week (I luckily don’t). He has the option to work out of Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool.

I would love a village location where we aren’t on top of neighbours but can easily commute to a large town/city.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

I would choose Tynemouth, sea views and metro access to Newcastle.

i would buy this, slowly referb and not let it!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149392262#/?channel=RES_BUY

We have a dog and I’m a dog person in genera so that would suit me just fine.

Depends where you’re starting from, OP is in London so pretty much most of it is Up North

I always think up North is North England not Scotland, ‘cos otherwise OP would specify .

Commuting to Liverpool (if you want to go by train) would be better from the Wirral though.

I say this as someone who used to live in a flat near the station (I could see the platform I needed from my window) but gave up on getting the train straight in to Liverpool because it was cancelled so many times. Instead I drove to Hooton and parked there.

Or without sea views, this https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150874820#/?channel=RES_BUY

Echo Lancashire/West Yorkshire. Ramsbottom and Hebden Bridge are towns I particularly like; no time at all into Manchester.

Clitheroe then - amazing little town with a grammar school.

Needs updating but look at the price and look at the gorgeous features

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86855703?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Too many gorgeous Tynemouth properties to choose from.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119817551#/?channel=RESBUY

Direct train from Newcastle to all of those cities, though Manchester is the closest. Worth it for quality of life - surf school every Saturday, fish shack lunch…😆

Another vote for rural Lancashire - Rossendale/Ramsbottom/Darwen/Turton or Chorley/Clitheroe, lots of nice semi rural villages but an easy commute to Manchester or Liverpool.

Marple Bridge is a lovely village near all these places!

Tynemouth is way to far to commute to Manchester every week

But it's over 3 hours from Manchester!

Each of the cities you mention has quite a different feel. And with your budget, you'll be able to afford somewhere decent in easy commute distance to each (as you can tell by pp!)

Can you book a couple of weekends away to visit each and decide which you like best? Or look at your DH's career goals, is one office better placed for that than another (eg bigger offices with more senior staff Vs small regional hub)?

All these places are fab. I have a soft spot for Darwen and Turton.

This place needs a bit of vision but look at the space plus a aview of Darwen Tower!
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148422434?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

I don't know what the schools are like in the Wirral, but if you are looking at Liverpool, you'd need to focus quite closely on Aigburth ime. Schools in the North of the city are dire.

4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Aigburth Road, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17 (rightmove.co.uk)

I’d take a look at North Worcestershire. There are lots of nice villages and small towns that are less than a 30 minute drive or train journey from Birmingham.

Given where you have friends, seems Nantwich or somewhere near could be ideal.

I am assuming you would not need to be travelling to London very often, say to visit older relatives.

Greenfield has a station.

Durham? It’s a small city so you won’t lose the city feel but still surrounded by rural areas. It’s also on the east coast main line so London in less than 3 hours

Marsden or Saddleworth! Both an easy commute into Manchester (direct train goes via both), some of the best countryside in the NW, loads of walks and dog friendly pubs and coffee shops 😊

As PP said, Chester is fab and has a direct train to London if you're looking to stay in your current jobs.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139218848#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147817304#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.propertypal.com/crofton-128-warren-road-donaghadee/945925

Twenty mins from Belfast city airport with easy flights to any of the cities, and access to the best schools in the UK.