Relocating up north - looking for recommendations!

[Relocationlady]

This is my first time using mumsnet so hope I’m posting this in the right way but I’m after some advice please!

My husband and I think we’d like to relocate up North (currently in Sussex) for better quality of life, house prices etc but all our family and friends are local to us now so we really don’t know where to start!

We have a 1 year old and would like to continue growing our family so somewhere suburban, family friendly with good schools, parks, nearby towns as well as green space would be ideal, bonus points if it’s within a reasonable driving distance from the beach.

Has anyone got any recommendations of nice areas we could research? Or has anyone ever done a move like this with new prior connections and might be able to share their experience/some tips etc?

thank you in advance!

Wow! I've lived in Leeds for 10 years and not met a single northerner with a chip on their shoulder. I find southerners think a lot more about the north/south divide, northerners being "different", "it's grim up north" etc etc. It's all a load of rubbish. In 10 years I've never once heard a northerner say anything disparaging about southerners or the South but I've heard LOADS of southerners be disparaging about the North. I'd be happy to live in Yorkshire for the rest of my life.

But some of the recommendations she's getting are crap. Some are from people who obviously don't live in the areas they are recommending. And some are from people who think her budget will work for Ilkley etc.

The type of thing you are looking for is no cheaper than in Sussex imo. The 'cheap' North is a myth of bygone years - like cheap Cornwall

A bit like your Sheffield comment!!

Some parts of Northumberland are nicer than others. Here is a rural property in a nice area in your budget: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124285799#/?channel=RES_BUY

Fair enough, but I was mainly meaning Keighley and Blackburn when I quoted that poster.

I find that when Southern English folk refer to 'up North' they aren't thinking of Scotland, and certainly not beyond Edinburgh...

Do you mean SCOTLAND
DO you mean BIRMINGHAM ???

up north?

Really OP
Stay in Sussex.

Places close to me in NE that might be suitable, Sedgefield, Yarm and Wynyard. From those especially Sedgefield you have easy access to A19 & A1. Yarm is easy access to A19 and a train station. All are close to a variety of nice parks and not far from the beach.

you clearly do not know much about Sheffield which is not remotely in that category! England's fourth largest city with a thriving economy.

Fourth largest city? Really? Bigger than London? Birmingham? Manchester? Leeds? Liverpool? Only if you stick very closely to the unitary authorities rather than thinking about the actual metropolitan area.

Odd how in the MANY Mumsnet discussions of this question, no-one ever suggests Bradford. Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, etc. but never Bradford. Why is that ?

@naomi81 best of luck getting a nice four bed detached in a decent part of Chester for £400,000! You’d probably get something of a decent size for that money in Warrington/Crewe/Runcorn in Cheshire. I wouldn’t pick to live in any of those places though!

@Relocationlady where have you been that is more north of Sussex that you have liked? What did you like about them?

@Isleoftights is it because it's pronounced 'Bratford' by locals 🤣🤣🤣?

what a weird selection! Knutsford, Nantwich Hebden Bridge and Harrogate are madly expensive and you also suggest Keighley and Oldham, which should be affordable but don't exactly tick OPs requirements. Salford and Manchester are now very expensive, and very little housing available - mostly new build apartments.
Lancaster and Ribble Valley are best bets - not cheap thou!

So what? Population contributes to the economy. Population was certainly bigger than Manchester and Liverpool the last time I checked.

Eaglescliffe, Yarm or Ingleby Barwick on Teesside (North Yorks/County Durham border). Half hour max from beaches and Moors, Stockton and Darlington close, Durham and York within easy reach and Newcastle and Leeds an hour away. Glorious countryside in all directions. Good schools.
Could easily get a lovely four bed detached for your money. Lovely villages too.

Right in middle of UK. Good transport connections. A long way from where you are now.

And why not? At least our beaches are clean!

Tynemouth is out of your price bracket. Try hexham

The North doesn't want any more southerners also depends on how far north Scotland is lovely and your child would get free University too

Exactly, posters love to paint a false narrative, you will be able to buy a 4 bedroom detached house in Leeds area, Darlington, Yorkshire dales area.

I moved from the North to the South and if it wasn't for the wet and cold would have happily stayed in the North. I miss Northern people and the many regional dialects and traditions and still feel a bit out of place in the South.

@Relocationlady We moved from Kent to rural Shropshire 9 years ago. We had the choice of anywhere in thencountry where we could afford a house, so quickly ruled out certain areas. We had a list of ‘must have ‘ and ‘would likes’. When we decided on the area we spent a couple of years coming and staying at different times of the year to get a feeling for the area. We did not know a soul and it was very very odd at first especially in the town when I felt quite lonely. We all joined local groups very quickly and now have a massive circle of friends BUT it takes time and effort. You need to be the one going out and getting involved, people will not really come to you.

@SallyWD
*
"Wow! I've lived in Leeds for 10 years and not met a single northerner with a chip on their shoulder. I find southerners think a lot more about the north/south divide, northerners being "different", "it's grim up north" etc etc. It's all a load of rubbish. In 10 years I've never once heard a northerner say anything disparaging about southerners or the South but I've heard LOADS of southerners be disparaging about the North. I'd be happy to live in Yorkshire for the rest of my life*"

Yes, definitely no people on this thread from "The North" with a chip on their shoulder 🙄
No one on here is going to be offended for it being called The South or being called a southerner ("but where do you meaaaaan?" or "FFS Op do you mean Scotland? Do you mean Birmingham?" Etc etc.)

I suspect they'd just say something like, "could you be more specific?"

And just as your post is anecdotal. I can tell you just the same story but reverse... I work for a company that has offices across the country and even a hint of negativity about the north is viewed as being insensitive to northerners but slate anything south/southern/London it's seen as fair game.

Cheshire? There are some nice towns and villages, with lovely countryside and nice walks. Just avoid Crewe and suchlike !