Moving to Belfast - help?

[Olliephaunt4eyes]

So, looks like DH and I are moving to Belfast from London. He is from NI but moved away at the age of 12 and I'm English, which means we're totally clueless about where to start looking.

Needs to be in commutable distance to Queen's University, and have primary schooling for DD, ideally non religious schooling. We would be renting for now, probably not buying until we know if we are staying long term. I also will need to be able to get around on public transport as I can't drive, so that's relevant too.

Any advice welcome.

I'd suggest asking on here if a house is in an OK area before signing a lease

Very good point- most towns are cities are very small by UK standards and a street or two can make the difference between a lovely area and one that’s a bit more run down.

Would Helen's Bay be a possibility. It seems a lovely area with gorgeous view of Belfast Lough and there's a train station but I don't know much about the area re schools, rent and proximity to Queens.
I passed through it a couple of times. Other, more knowledgeable on the area Mumsnetters might let you know if it's suitable.

I would consider somewhere like Holywood, Helen's Bay, somewhere along the train line. Train directly to Botanic station. Great schools, with integrated options. Lovely place to live.

When moving to NI we chose a few schools and then house hunted in the surrounding area. Generally schools are very good though. There can be issues getting a primary place in South Belfast from what I've heard unless you want to pay for prep but it seems easier the further south or east you go.
If you head south or out towards Holywood you'll be able to use the trains or buses. The east side has decent buses and now the Glider which seems to be working well. Parking around QUB can be a nightmare so unless your husband has guaranteed parking he may want the option of using public transport too.

I just noticed you mentioned Lisburn. You'd probably get a decent place to rent for less than £1000 and an annual train pass into Belfast is less than a grand. Have you had a look at the PropertyPal website? Some bits of Lisburn are still a bit red, white and blue so maybe ask here if you're unsure of the area!

OP you need to decide what your priorities are. Do you want something suburban, a detached home in a development and don't mind driving to do the school run? If so it's probably a good idea to go outside Belfast to Lisburn or Holywood. They have good public transport routes into Belfast and you'll get more for your money house wise.

If you want to be in the thick of everything without having to use the car much then I would suggest South Belfast, around the Ormeau Road area (upper side of the bridge) Houses are more expensive, unlikely to have drive way and/or garden unless your rental budget is £1k+ and nearly all terraced. Great schools in that area within walking distance. Lots of children cycle.

Your husband is going to likely have to take transport into QUB wherever you live. It takes years to get a designated parking space (and it's very expensive) and public parking is few and far betweeen, unless he goes in very early (7am)

Knockbreda/ Rosetta, at the top of the Ormeau Road. Half hour walk/15 min bus journey to QUB, and loads of schools. There is Forge Integrated Primary (which is probably moving site in the next couple of years but not too far), but the other non-Catholic schools are all mixed nowadays even though they don't have Integrated status... there's Rosetta Primary and Knockbreda Primary in that area. Close to a great shopping area (Forestside Mall and Drumkeen Retail Park), 3 parks close by and Belvoir Forest Park not far. Lots of local churches and bars, if either are your thing Tons of cafes and Ballynafeigh Community House on Ormeau Road is great for info of local stuff happening

This house is in a lovely street, close to all that I've mentioned

www.propertypal.com/22-galwally-park-south-belfast-belfast/597228

Another rental, this is further down Ormeau Road in a much busier area

www.propertypal.com/60-rushfield-avenue-ormeau-road-belfast/599030

Ex-QUB student. I am so jealous! I’d love to live there (Home Counties now). Malone road for easy walk to the uni and lovely and leafy.

Malone Road is lovely if the job is highly paid! I'd go for a place with a bit of a garden at the front and rear - a lot of places nearer Queens have very little space around them and car parking can be difficult.
DD will have a brilliant Belfast accent and every noun will have wee before it!

I can't drive for medical reasons so def need school which we can walk to/get the bus to. DH is going to use public transport if pos - we have been living in London so don't even own a car at present, although we could buy one if needed.

I think at the moment I'm leaning towards somewhere that isn't rural - so I have access to more of a social network. My job is one I can transfer with me, but it's WFH so easy to get isolated which I would prefer to avoid! Thanks for the propertypal website advice - it's been really helpful.

DH already has a Belfast accent so I'm quite fond of it. Gonna be weird when DD starts speaking that way, tho!

If you can't drive OP I'd avoid Malone area, there are only two schools in that area: St Bride's which is a very over subscribed catholic school and then Fane Street which is Lisburn Road side and also tight for space I believe. With no car definitely avoid surrounding towns such as Lisburn and Holywood. The two links a pp posted are Ormeau area and great.

Commuting to QUB is a nightmare from anywhere in the east (Dundonald) lisburn etc. The trains are pretty packed in the mornings. So another person suggesting you look at upper Ormeau, Stranmillis etc. QUB is on the metro 8 route, so actually somewhere on that would be super handy for commuting and getting around in general. It goes right out to Erinvale Avenue in Finaghy so I would assume there's wiggle room on budget as you move further out on that route.

I think ormeau road is great idea and you will have fun hanging out there. It’s walkable, bus-able, cyclable etc.

I moved back from England to Holywood, it is great and I love it but I worry it can be a little bit cliquey and insular, not in a mean spirited way at all, but because a lot of people have lived here for several generations and don’t really need new close friends. The BIG exception to this is if you’re thinking of having another baby - there are baby and toddler groups on every day at various places, and they are very very friendly and sociable. I know lots of people who’ve established strong networks that way. There are regular buses and trains into Belfast and holywood primary, st Patrick’s primary and the grammar school prep (Sullivan) are all in the town and easily walkable. The beach and seaside walks are right there too.

South Belfast used to be quite studenty but I know 30/40something professionals who have moved there from london and love it - I really like the whole south Belfast vibe and was just thinking the other day that part of me wishes we’d moved there! Amazing secondary schools too if you think you’ll be there that long.

Sorry ormeau road used to be studenty is what I meant, south Belfast is pretty varied from some of the most expensive properties in the province down leafy avenues to a couple of fairly basic cheap rental areas around botanic. There is something for everyone I’d say, and the university itself is very attractive and provides a sort of hub for the area.

I live in south Belfast near the Ormeau road in a lovely 3 bed house and the rent is £725 a month (with driveway and garden!). Don’t know much about schools as don’t have kids but The forge is near me and my friends’ kids go there.

Would totally recommend south Belfast rather than further out but I am biased!

Don’t think you’ll need to go over 1000 either

If you were coming from London, wouldn't pretty much anywhere in Belfast be considered commutable to queens?

Here's a pretty nice house in Fortwilliam Park, North Belfast for 1000 a month.

www.propertypal.com/38-fortwilliam-demesne-north-belfast-belfast/600037

Fair point on commute times. I really want some of our life back though - DH has a 90 min commute some days. That does fuck up our capacity to do anything as a family during the week.

Traffic is a bit rubbish here so i’d definitely be looking somewhere walkable if it’s an option. You will get a bigger house north side tho!

For a newcomer from London I'd definitely stick to the south. Schools are much better too, more diverse as well.

Which faculty will he be working in? It's not that spread out, but it would help to be closer if he's walking! Also if he can avoid nine o'clock lectures he'd avoid the worst traffic!

I think he'll mostly be based in the University Square area, so pretty central but I might be wrong - he's out tonight so I can't ask.

Wish me luck - we are flying over on Sunday to visit in laws and do some intensive house hunting. I've had some useful chats with a couple of primary schools and am optimistic. Sorry for vagueness - trying not to out myself totally! Very excited.