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!

@Mushypeasandlemonjuice there are FB pages such as HEFA which are great for seeing which LAs stick to the law and which don't and demand the impossible 😊 Lancashire is a good LA

Yep, a few years on Garmoyle as it happens so perfectly qualified to comment on Smithdown. No, it’s not the quietest, but the location can balance that out for some people. And while there are issues, plenty of families live on and around Smithdown quite happily, that’s one of the reasons Archbishop Blanch high school was relocated there - as so many of the students attending lived in the area!

I always discount fazak because of Dixon school, but you’re right, worth a look for OP. Especially by the cemetery

I’m guessing you were a student when you lived there. If so it is quite a different experience when you are living there as a non-student.

I live in Saltaire on the edge of Bradford.
As pp says some parts of Bradford are grim, however a few nice areas are Saltaire (of course!), Baildon, Wilsden, Bingley, all round the edges too, though maybe out of budget.

Do look at Sheffield!
Look at Walkley (S6), and Crookes (S10 - pricier), parts of Upperthorpe.
Look at G maps for 'location' within the city/proximity to edge of countryside (north and west). Look at 'satellite view' - the greenery/parks etc.
Close to university.
Great transport links into city - 10 mins max on bus.
Hills, therefore views.
Brilliant for climbing.
Big home ed community.

@AelinAG I'm right by the cemetery! Lovely area.

There is also Archbishop Beck HS in the area. Not a bad sixth form collage.

You’d be guessing wrong but never mind. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, including you to yours and me to mine.

No way would I move a multicultural family to Fazakerley or north Liverpool. Stick to south Liverpool as it's more diverse.

I think that if OP is looking for a 3 bed around the £200,000 mark most nice areas of Bradford are going to be a stretch.

Yes HeatonGrov definitely, that's why I mentioned perhaps out of budget. Just looking on Right move myself as I'm nosy haha and prices have rocketed in the eight years since I last moved house.

I just did the same😂

Absolutely do not look at L4 or L9 for your home schooled children.
If you're looking at liverpool stay south, L7 is not nice either.. I saw mention of L15, its nicer towards Childwall/Allerton Road but anywhere between Picton clock and city centre is a no go in my opinion and I grew up there.

Loads of nice properties, in particular, cottages in Swansea.

It was just a hunch @AelinAG

I could agree more. I can’t believe someone has suggested L4.

Hi OP, I am an incomer to Bradford and have lived here 20 years. Of course people will slag Bradford off on here and there are parts of Bradford I wouldn't want to live in, but there would be access to quite a lot of activities for your children and it is affordable. Some areas are mono cultural and others are more mixed. With your budget and requirements I would consider north or north west Bradford specifically bingley itself and also areas such as cottingley and sandy lane perhaps. Parts of Shipley towards bingley also. Your family may well be very happy here. I can't comment on the other places you've shortlisted, but good luck !

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153905609#/?channel=RES_BUY
This is in bingley

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150861740#/?channel=RES_BUY
Baildon (on a busy road though)

Based on what you said about your kids I’d definitely recommend Swansea. I’d personally be looking at Morriston or Sandfields with your budget.

There’s at least three mosques. If you decide on Sandfields you will have a few mosques within walking distance. Swansea is pretty diverse, and welcoming.

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/houses/wavertree/fieldway/?beds_min=3&price_max=350000&price_min=200000&property_sub_type=semi_detached&property_sub_type=terraced&property_sub_type=detached&radius=1&baths_min=1

Barry Island!
so close to Cardiff, better than Swansea ;)

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/69556710

If you can up the budget slightly, Childwall would be a fab option too, I thought it would be dearer tbh

That is not the case any more, times do change!