Liverpool/Bradford/Swansea or where?

[Mushypeasandlemonjuice]

Happy Saturday everyone.

looking for some location advice. We’ll have a budget of around £200,000 and need a 3bed. Property could be either a flat or house & we’d be ok being more rural if there are safe public transport options.

i last lived in Scotland but for different reasons that’s not an option now so I’m a bit stuck where to move to & we’re coming back from time abroad so visiting to decide isn’t an easy option.
i’m familiar with and like Liverpool & Swansea but wondered about Bradford also? (Don't know Bradford at all but its been recommended & within budget)

Wish it didn’t matter but it’s relevant to add that I’m (white) British but visibly Muslim (hijab) & my husband & children are olive skinned.

Aware the budget isnt high but we don’t need schools (for continuity kids have been/will be homeschooled) & are happy to buy a fixer-upper.

kids are teenagers & are interested in active hobbies (rock climbing/gym/water-based stuff), chess, science, music..they want to be actively engaged in groups etc so that’s a consideration.

any ideas about which city/area might be a good match? Open to other suggestions if there’s somewhere i haven’t thought of - WFH so totally flexible.

thanks!

So much useful advice on this thread thank you everyone!

I don't know it well to be honest. I think closer to the city centre (Princes Park) you get post grad students, creative types etc. moving further away from the city centre it's a bit more deprived.
There is an amazing girls' school with a sixth form in Princes Park, The Belvedere School, but even for sixth form places can be difficult.

I think a lot would depend on whether you want a vibrant city area (with the good and bad that brings) or a quieter suburban area a bit further away from the action, but with possibly a garden etc (which will inevitably be less diverse/multi cultural in Liverpool). I prefer quieter suburbs which are not too far from the city rather than being in the centre of the action, so that might be making me a bit biased!

I would reiterate that I could not imagine any discrimination (in fact I generally find people to just be very welcoming) in any of the areas that have been mentioned, they just aren't as diverse in their populations.

I hope that's helpful!

very. Thanks again!

Another vote for Liverpool.

Have a look at L4 and L9. Good transport links into the city centre for teenagers and family friendly areas.

Can you suggest any good areas of Toxteth?

I’d look around the Toxteth side of the park, Ullet Rd side.

But if you don’t want to necessarily live within the Muslim community I’d advise you to look at what you can afford in S.Liverpool. I have young relatives in Woolton Primary and there are loads of non-white kids in their class. It’s not a completely white area. It’s a beautiful place, and wonderful for children. We’re spoilt with numerous fantastic parks and green spaces, and still only 15/20 minutes from the city centre.

Look at Halifax and also Huddersfield.
Multi cultural, easy access to both cities and countryside
Still quite nice areas where you can get decent properties for £200k, although £250 is more like it for a 3 bedroom

I would not move to Toxteth if I were you. Sorry, but with so many other options I would look elsewhere. Liverpool is a good city but the bad areas are really bad. I wouldn’t chance bringing up teenagers in Toxteth. It’s too risky.

Aintree and orall park are both nice places to live in your budget. Typical houses like I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157965050I this and found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157463978 this there are great transport links, retail parks etc. Tbh most of Liverpool is multi cultural.

Aintree and Orrell Park are nice enough but there is no Muslim community there. The OP would be in a tiny minority and personally with options available where she and her family wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, I wouldn’t move to either of these places in a million years.

I've just looked at houses in Halifax and there are some great options! anything you can tell me about living in the town? do you end up going into Leeds a lot or is there enough in the town itself? would teenagers be easily occupied?

interesting. would you worry about discrimination or..? where would you suggest?

I grew up there but live somewhere else not too far away now. My Mum lived there until she died a couple of years ago and I still have friends and family there.
The town has actually really improved recently and become a bit of a tourist destination, which is a bit mind blowing for those of us who grew up there!
There is plenty to do and there is more or less everything you need but you can go to Leeds easily if you want to (or Manchester). I am actually going this afternoon to The Piece Hall.
Feel free to ask about any specific areas. The one below is the kind of thing you could get and that area is ok and close to Town

4 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Abbey Walk, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3

Yes I would worry about discrimination @Mushypeasandlemonjuice
I’ve suggested Bolton simply because j have lived in a lot of places in the UK and I always feel it’s the place where different communities not only live alongside one another but integrate and accept each other the best. Having said that in another life I would move to Halifax in a heartbeat. I’ve never lived there and have no experience of what it would be like as a Muslim but it’s an exceptional town. I would definitely check it out if I were you, subject to there being houses in your price range.

I’d look at Sheffield. It depends what you want - having had a quick look at 3 beds houses, you could probably get a terrace closer in or a semi a bit further out. The areas like S26 are likely to be very white, whereas areas like S6 will be much more mixed.

Some neighbourhoods will be more secular inclusive than others - much of the centre and immediate suburbs are very mixed indeed but there are some where particular communities dominate. Lots of Muslims and mosques but I’m not sure if Muslims tend to congregate in particular areas these days - I haven’t lived in Sheffield for some years so my knowledge is a bit dated. As a city it has good public transport. Great for people who like rock climbing!

Sheffield is a terrific suggestion

Swansea all the way.
A stones throw from some of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the world.
Relatively low cost of living.

Look at Gowerton, Gorseinon, Loughor, Dunvant.

Despite quoting the entire OP, you seem to have forgotten to read it.

Everyone on mumsnet always slags off Bradford but I live here and love it. Like everywhere, there's some areas which are rough and I'd avoid but there's also lots of lovely areas, with great culture and good schools, opportunities for young ones and amazing countryside.

Have a look at Shipley (very close proximity to Saltaire), Bingley and surrounding areas.

There is a perception that Bradford is an awful place to live but I have found it to be the complete opposite and I'm so happy to be raising my kids here.

Thirded.

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158161151

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158088809

If you're happy with a flat you might find something by Sefton Park like that first flat.

The second one is right near the water and close to City Centre.

There is always one ..

Thanks for the input :)

Ooh hadn't considered Sheffield but have just have a quick look online and it does look like it might be a great option. Looks quite community-focused? Tell me more about the rock climbing! Looks to be super popular!

Nice to see a different perspective. I know it's seen as quite multicultural but do communities mix much or do groups tend to stick together? I don't want to feel like we need to mix mainly in the Muslim community, especially as we don't speak Urdu, iyswim.

People on Mumsnet talk about “multi cultural” Northern mill towns. I think that is a bit of a myth. They are not “multi cultural” in the sense that London is “multi cultural”. Some are mono cultural in the centre (Mirpuri Pakistani or Bangladeshi) or bi-cultural if you add in the white British/Irish population with a smattering of East Europeans. There are relatively few people of African/ Afro Caribbean descent there. The communities often live parallel lives with little mixing, particularly among women and girls. What they do have in common is that most of them are poor.

So if OP is looking for a Moslem community into which she can easily integrate, it will be an uphill struggle unless she/her family comes from one of these communities. I would definitely go and visit - spend some time there before considering buying.