Where to move in North England?

[ThatPlumPoster]

Hi 😊,
Just wondering any nice places to live or a 'good middle class town' in North Of England (maybe in North West, I am not too bothered). I want to be a 20-50 drive from Burnley (but can stretch a bit further 10/20 mins).

I have a 5,2 and 1 year old so I would like good schools and activities. It would be nice for the place to be in a small nice town (maybe a bit of countryside) but near a city (possibly Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool). My budget is around 600k but I am flexible and it would be nice to be near the coast but it is not necessary. I have looked into places like Cheshire, Buxton, Formby, Ribble Valley.Please give me any suggestions 😊😊 Thank you

Thank you so much !!

Towns in Cheshire look beautiful so I will have a look thank you !

Sorry to repeat myself, but some posters seem to not realise the travelling times. York!!! It's a 2hr drive. Poynton would be over an hour in good traffic. Lancaster is about an hour on a clear run - all motorway. All of south Manchester in theory is about 50mins, but in morning traffic could be 11/2 hrs.
So it really depends when and how much you are travelling. If you were happy to go to an hour to an hour and a half then obviously that open up a much greater area. Also, Manchester is a huge city, Lancaster is not. How much does the coast or countryside matter? Lots of questions to narrow down your search.

Agree with @mateysmum

If it's all about accessibility to Burnley, some of these suggestions are just too far away, particularly for driving most days for a commute - Leeds, south Manchester, Lancaster IMO too far away

@ThatPlumPoster let us know how much travelling you will be doing. This is my fantasy house hunt, if I ever move back up north

Crosby and Formby are a short drive apart.

Both great places to live with Formby being more semi rural and has more of a village feel.

Formby is a great place to raise kids. Great schools, lots of activities/kids clubs during school holidays, every sports clubs you can think of etc. Most childminders/nurseries are booked up until next year so that’s something to consider (but you could look at the surrounding areas of Ainsdale, Crosby etc).

It a ten minute drive to Southport which is a traditional seaside town, very up and coming and plenty of activities for kids.

Liverpool city centre is 30 mins to drive or by train (an hour by bus).

The beach and National Trust pinewoods are beautiful but difficult to park on a nice day during weekends/holidays. So I’d advise living within walking distance but be prepared for your road to be busy on these days with lots cars parked from people visiting the beach (furthest part of Formby can be up to an hour walk away from the beach). Bit of a catch 22 but worth it imo.

The village itself has nice independent shops (and lots of charity shops!), lovely bars, restaurants, a Waitrose and M&S Food hall. There are a few nice pubs dotted around Formby but none of them have play areas for kids.

It’s about an hour to Burnley.

Id have a look around the motorway junction at Bamber Bridge for easy access to the M 65. Farington and New Longton not far from there, or Whittle le Woods etc the other way.

Re Lancaster v York. York further, seems very expensive although alot of nice houses. And very busy. Lancaster is alot smaller near the sea and Lake district half hour away and lovely canal. I am near Lancaster, alot of nice villages along coast - Hest Bank, Bolton le sands, not sure how far from Burnley though.

Ha ha. I was going to say this too.

Someone previously suggested Ramsbottom - I went there for work not so long ago, that looked very nice.

I'd definitely stay north of Manchester/the M60, and west of the Pennines. Some of these places might be under an hour from Burnley in ideal driving conditions, but add in rush hour traffic, which on parts of the M60/M56/M62 seems to last most of the day, or winter conditions, could be twice that, or completely impossible, or at best, quite unpleasant in winter when it's dark for 16/18 hours a day.

People making recommendations should check journey times now when there's morning traffic!

Clitheroe is an obvious choice, Garstang might be just about within your range. Or near Preston - I'm in a village just north and it's pleasant , with good access to the motorways so we can get to all sorts of lovely places easily. Preston is better as a town than many people think, lovely parks and ok for shopping (better than Lancaster for that ... I like lancaster but it's a very small city). There's a heck of a lot of new build in various parts which is pushing prices of existing down.

That's a good shout. New longton is pleasant, and near Penwortham which has quite a lot of amenities and I think decent schools. From there you can fairly easily get to Southport and Formby for a day out at the coast.

Traffic in and out of Glossop is horrific. Not recommended!

💯agree with @Bjorkdidit

Stay north of M60, west of Pennines.
One of my worst journeys of my life was getting stuck on the M62 in the snow near the farm in the middle of the motorway 🤦

Looking along the M65 would be a good transport corridor for Burnley

@Notaflippinclue

Ssssshhhhhhhhh! Don't tell people about this gem! Let them carry on further up the M6 to the Lake District with the rest of the masses.
Love the Trough of Bowland.

Thank you, yeah most the places have a lot of traffic nearby making it a long journey but Im thinking South Manchester because it would be like 1 hour 10 minutes maybe or possible Ilkley area but they are totally different atmospheres too me
The coast isn't necessary but I would like to be located in a place with alot of green space but not to the point where the town is very isolated (the reason why I want to be near a city to not feel bored)
thank you

Haha, I've never been to the Trough of Bowland what towns are located there

Beautiful area of Darwen surrounded by countryside

Thank you, I've been thinking about Formby alot because it's an ok distance to Burnley and of course it has a beach.
How is Southport I visited about 3 years ago but didn't get to see everything.

Thank you I think it's around an hour from Burnley so Im considering it

Thank you so much I haven't heard alot about North Manchester only south Manchester, how are the towns in north Manchester are they nice

Thank you alot have been suggesting Clitheroe

In Southport you have the traditional pier, arcades, fairground etc that you’d expect in a seaside town. There is a retail park that has a large swimming pool/splash park, a Vue cinema and bowling alley.

There are shops, Atkinson theatre has lots of family friendly shows and activities, nice restaurants, an indoor food market that again has loads of activities on.

Formby itself also has a swimming pool and several gyms.

Also known as the Forest of Bowland. Quite a big area. It's rural. AONB. If you want a town Clitheroe and Skipton are probably best

Ohh yes they are nice places

Thank you!

Haha, I've never been to the Trough of Bowland what towns are located there
None, only a few small villages- that's kind of the point! it's also probably the biggest area in England with no A roads. So, for your needs you'd do better to live near it than actually in it.

Theres lots of green space up here... places you can get to easily even if you don't live in them. Being fairly near a motorway or good A road obviously helps with that. To give an idea, where I am (village a bit north of Preston, not far from m6 junction) we can easily go out for the day or half day to Formby, Southport, Lytham, lancaster/lune valley, silverdale/arnside, southern and eastern lakes, Ingleton, Bowland, Ribble Valley, Bolton Abbey area, Pennine moors, (inc Clowbridge for the sailing club), plus Manchester is pretty accessible as the 'big city' for shopping, theatres, airport etc . If you live somewhere within bowland or out towards the sea it's harder to get to other places...Dunsop Bridge may be the centre of Britain but it's the middle of nowhere!