Moving - But where?

[DecisionDilemmas]

Hello,

I don't know if this is way to general but I just need to share my thoughts and ask for some help.

Myself and and partner are 30 and we have a 1 and a half year old not planning on any more children.

We want to relocate for the following reasons:

1. We live in Bolton in a beautiful house, when we bought the house we were both working full time in Manchester so we were focused on different things now our priority is family time and neither of us work in the office full time. Not to worried about jobs as we can work from home ect or hopefully get new jobs if required.

2. With the cost of living rising we think our current mortgage stretchs our budget (now the interest rates have risen, we pay for childcare and I only work part time).

3. All of this has happened along side with us becoming more minimal and feeling the house is too big for the three off us.

4. We are craving a different lifestyle for us and our child. We want to be in a village or small town where you can mostly go on walks from your doorstep and walk your child to school.

The problem is the max we can afford is about £200,000. We would be willing to do ALOT of work to the property we have even looked at making a tiny home haha!

I just wondered does anyone live in a small village in the UK that they feel has a good quality of life that isn't ludicrously expensive?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Yes! And not far from you.

I live in the NW Lakes, I bought a 4 storey, 5 bedroom large Victorian terrace overlooking the sea for only £150k!!!
For 200k around here you can get something really lovely.

I work in Wigan, and the drive back and forth is very easy if you wanted to see friends and family.

Im in a village between Workington and Whitehaven, with a bonus that we’ve a train station which connects us to the Cumbrian west coast.

its amazing here, sea, beaches, lakes, mountains and cheap cost of living, Cumbrian people are also really welcoming and friendly.

Have you looked at the south Yorkshire/west Yorkshire border?
Edge of Barnsley over towards the villages around Holmfirth. Also the Barnsley/Wakefield boarder.
There's good schools, lots have the pennine way going through and not to far from motorway if needed. Some villages will be more affordable than others, but if your willing to do some work I'm sure you'd find something.

Thank you already for these recommendations already exactly what I needed just some completely different areas to look onto!

I also know it sounded ridiculous to say only £200,000, I just meant in relation to current property prices it's still a great amount to be working with!

I know it isn't far from you but have you considered Darwen? It fulfils many of your criteria, expecially if you live around the edge. Easy access to countryside and wonderful parks and woods.

Any of the other small towns/villages along the M65 would really and the property is good value.

You will get more suggestions if you have this thread moved to Property/DIY.