Moving to NI, where to live

[Norrisville]

Morning all! Cross posting from Living Overseas forum as advised 😊 I've been offered a role in Belfast and I'm looking into where we'd live.

It would be a long term let as the role is for a couple of years. Currently live in a fairly large town within walking distance of the centre but also close to countryside, so best of both worlds. We have a teenager and a pre teen plus dogs, so need entertainment for them and space to exercise. I work in the cultural sector so would love some kind of local culture scene - nothing particularly fancy, just something where I can enjoy a bit of creativity. Happy to commute to Belfast.

Thanks in advance!

We did think Donaghadee was beautiful actually!

Also we really wanted to check out the North coast and ran out of time so that's def on the list for Easter

Beside Kilmaine there is also Balllymagee that is also a very good school.

I love living in Bangor, I walk the dog on the beach or in one or the parks every day. My kids are at Ballyholme primary and I really rate it, we've started looking at secondary schools for my eldest and the options are all outstanding.
I would advise to think about how often you'll be going to be going into Belfast for work, while the trains from Bangor are fast and frequent they're expensive, £9.70 for a peak day return on a journey of about 12 miles. If you need to be in an office by ,9 expect to spend an hour in the car due to traffic, the congestion getting into Belfast is terrible.

Lots of love for Co Down, but I'd like to big up Co Antrim. The roads are (imo) too busy in Co Down. Whitehead is good value for money, and also on the train line. The Antrim east coast beaches are a lot less busy than north coast, (though no use for surfing). In Belfast I think I'd live in Stranmillis.

Shopping in Bangor is absolutely terrible, no question, but then it's so easy to go to Belfast.

Trains are relatively expensive, although you can buy a monthly season ticket which saves you about a third or thereabouts.

Ballyholme is a great primary school, I don't know much about Kilmaine other than it's quite large (by our standards). Central is good and a bit more multicultural than most in the area, but will potentially be moving to a new site soon, so could be disruptive??

The north coast is beautiful, but I imagine the tourists might drive you round the bend in the summer if you actually lived there - the roads are quite small and get very congested.

If you're commuting, I'd definitely suggest train not drive... the traffic into Belfast at rush hour is horrendous! Check parking near your station, some don't have commuter parking or very limited.

Dregs? Children who don t get good marks? Or perform as well as your kids? Children who may have been less fortunate when incomes and backgrounds were being dished out? Kids with additional needs?
Appalling throwaway reference.

There’s a reason parents spend two fortunes on tutors to get into the Belfast grammar schools instead of avoiding all the stress of the transfer test. Go have a look at the sporting opportunities alone offered by the likes of Inst and Methody, and compare them with Breda Academy or Malone Integrated.

I’m against any kind of selection at 11, frankly. Children that don’t do well in the transfer test deserve access to facilities and opportunities that’s every bit as good as those offered to those who do well, and that’s not the case in Belfast.

You sound like you think I'm arguing with you @DazzlePaintedBattlePants but I'm really not. I would be very happy to see the back of the transfer test, despite my own kids getting through it no bother. I am very familiar with Methody and Inst, and the opportunities they offer (although I think the focus on sports, especially bl**dy rugby, is actually a downside, given the culture surrounding it). My original point was just that outside Belfast and parts of co Down it's less important because there are fewer selective schools.

Anyway, not to derail the OP's thread, if your child has recently moved to NI they can avoid the transfer test altogether and apply for a place under special circumstances, so depending on your kids' ages, you may not need to worry.

In terms of services, having lived in Cambridge and parts of London before moving back 2 years ago I'd say the services are better here. My English dh is impressed (as he thought it would be shit!). Bins more regular, streets cleaner, cheaper access to swimming pools. Sports clubs are cheaper. Food is cheaper and restaurants are better quality (imo). I commented upthread already about the traffic towards Bangor - it put me off. We live on the Antrim coast. 10 mins to Belfast and traffic is fine.

There are also lots of good non grammars also. Like others said you can apply for special provisions (for grammars)of your dc gas spent more than half of educating outside of NI.

And if you specifically want integrated education, Glencraig Primary at Seagull (between Bangor and Holywood) is fantastic.

@ThisIsClearlyMe you must be near me! 🖐

The area around Belfast Castle is really nice, and I love Whitehead despite it not being at all posh!
You might find secondary schools in the North divided in several ways...religion, gender, class. Check with potential colleagues which local schools they have kids in.
There are loads of dog friendly places to walk, our dog loves visiting NI!

Just FYI Op area around Donaghadee is beautiful however you really need to see it when the flags go up in late spring/early summer. It’s an area which is very much one way and that can be confronting for those not used to it.

How often have you to be in Belfast? Would you consider Derry? With the new road should be a lot shorter commute,right beside donegal,the most beautiful county in Ireland

I'm sure we have @ThisIsClearlyMe , probably in Maxol or on the coastal path! My kids went to Grange a few years back.

North Down generally isn't too bad for the religious/political divide, it's majority Protestant and unionist/alliance voting. Integrated schools like Glencraig are deliberately balanced but because there are specific Catholic schools, the other schools are mainly Protestant by default. There are areas where you'll get flags and murals but they're fairly contained.

If you need to enrol children at schools then I would focus on that first. Belfast has some great schools but very heavily subscribed. There are also great schools close to Belfast, such as Bangor, and also further out, in fact you'll probably be pleasantly surprised at the quality of schools in general.

I lived in Belfast before I got married and then also stayed in Belfast after I got married when my kids were small. I loved it and there was loads going on. We moved out of Belfast just before our first child started primary school, mainly because we wanted a bigger house and more space. We now live about 20 minutes north of Belfast so have the best of both worlds, more space, a lovely town and great school, but no problem to drive into Belfast for any activities for the children or for the odd night out.

We recently (last week!) moved away again after living back in my home area for the last 5 years. While it was an awful time personally in many respects ((expected) family deaths, DHs business struggles post-Brexit) I loved the time I spent there. Walks, bike rides, swimming, fantastic support from neighbours through difficult times. It felt like a holiday at times :) but we're delighted to be moving on too.

Do pay special attention to the schools, with respect to science subjects though if your kids are interested in that path for A-levels.