Best Nottinghamshire villages for families commuting to Loughborough and Nottingham?

[RelocationAdvice]

We are relocating to the Midlands from North Somerset due to my partner's work. This is based in Loughborough but I'd prefer to be in a village within reach of Nottingham. Completely new to the area and considering options such as Ruddington, West Bridgford, Keyworth, Castle Donnington, East Leake. We'll be moving with a toddler and baby so keen to be within walking distance of amenities and primary schools with a community feel. Any other areas to consider/avoid?

If you can afford it then west Bridgford … best area IMO …. Albeit I live there lol … kids went to school here, great vibe, loads going on and
just a good place to live !
what’s your budget / house needs?

West B is lovely but ££

The other places you mention are smaller I would say (don’t know Ruddington well tbf). Cas Don is v near the airport if that’s a factor.

If WB is affordable and the commute is OK then that’s a winner. Beeston is also nice, good community feel, on the tram line, railway station. Not sure how far to Luffers but can’t be that bad.

West Bridgeford had/has a good reputation for young families. Very popular. I have a few friends there. Do check out school catchment areas though as a few years ago there were too many kids/not enough places

Ruddington is lovely if you can afford it. East Leake is supposed to be nice too.

Both Leicestershire, but Ashby de la Zouch is nice and Newton Linford is lovely.

All those options above are worth considering - although West Bridgford is more of a suburb of the city than a ‘village’. Excellent schools and good amenities though, of course. Bit pricey for housing.

Maybe look at Radcliffe-On-Trent as an option?- schools at all ages, great village feel, albeit a large one - loads of local activities, events, groups. A great place to bring up a young family imho; well, I certainly enjoyed it. (And there’s the expected level of local village whinging and whining, of course, if you check the local FB page 😉)

Also look at Quorn, which is on the outskirts of Loughborough

West Bridgford or Lady Bay

There seems to be a big difference in house prices between the two. Trying to figure out if it's worth the extra price tag

I think you’ll get better schools in west Bridgford

I think @RelocationAdvice it depends what you want. I agree with a PP actually that WB is not a village. But you say you want to be near Nottingham (which a PP's suggestion of Quorn is not, or at any rate Lboro is nearer) – which implies to me you want to be near the amenities it offers.

So WB may be an excellent compromise. Or indeed Ruddington, also very near Nottingham. East Leake otoh is a genuine village not that close to Nottingham. I don't know the public transport situation but it's worth bearing in mind that as your DC grow up, they may wish to be able to get a bus to town or the city. I grew up in a small, isolated village and as a teen it was not good.

Lots of these suggestions aren’t villages - especially not West Bridgford. Even East Leake, Keyworth and Ruddington are being over whelmed by new housing. Try Hickling, Kinoulton, Upper Broughton, Willoughby or Wyneswold. Easy access to Grantham for London trains, close to Loughborough and Nottingham, also Melton Mowbray.

Loughborough itself has some very nice parts - particularly on the outskirts. It’s hard to match up “villagey feel” with amenities. Sutton Bonington is nice, if a bit rural. Hathern, Quorn and Rothley if budget is healthy.

There are some lovely and very commutable Villages just over the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border, near M1 Junc 25.

East Leake is prone to flooding

Wymeswold is worth a look

Sileby and Barrow are nice - though nearer Leicester perhaps. Shepshed isn't beautiful, but is reasonably-priced and very close to the M1 for Nottingham access. Newtown Linford if you want thatched cottages. Bunny is fab, if only to be able to tell people you live in Bunny! (Not to be recommended if your surname is e.g. Rabbit, Easter or your first name is Peter.)

I always wanted to live in Bunny for the name alone 🐇 😄

Didn't Brian Clough used to live in Bunny?

An old mate of DS2's lived in Bunny. He does not speak that well of it (apart from the name which indeed always raises a laugh). It’s a very small village indeed. I guess it depends what you want your village to offer @RelocationAdvice

Brian Clough lived in very posh Quarndon (not to be confused with Quorn, tho similar level of poshness tbf) near Derby.

Ah. Thanks for that - but now I'm wondering who famous lived there that I'm confusing with Cloughie!

Of course, the other place with an interesting name round there is Gotham, though sadly not pronounced the same as the Batman one

The Batman one is named after it tho (true story) - all the villagers there were mad. Apparently. Apols to any Gotham-ites.

Wysall ticks a lot of boxes.

Ruddington has charm and a country park but is small. East Leake is a nice, large village/small town with everything you need. Both have new building or a limited supply of older houses. Personally, in your position I would look at the villages around Loughborough as they are better value being a bit further away from the M1 corridor.

Hemington and Lockington are beautiful little secrets tucked away right by Castle Donington.