Loughborough, Nottingham or Leicester .

[eastmidlandsmove]

Have a job starting in Loughborough in October. Am not sure whether to move to Loughborough, Nottingham or Leicester. I've spent most of my life in London, don't drive and have a one year old! I'm not sure whether to stay in Loughborough which will be near work and have everything in walking distance, or go to one of the bigger cities which I'm more used to. Any advice would be great!

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Depends on what you want from your local area, how mich time you're willing to spend travelling (and how you'll travel), any interests or hobbies.

I've actually lived in all three, and have settled in Nottingham. Leicester is a bigger city and has more 'happening', but is also a little more segregated because it is a bigger city. Loughborough is very studenty, and has a small town feel, you get to know people quickly but there isn't a lot to do. Nottingham is a balance between the two - it has a lot of big companies (Boots, Experian) so has enough money to make for an interesting small city. It really depends what you're after in your home life! Some of the villages in Leicestershire e.g. barrow, Quorn, are very pretty and commutable to Loughborough on public transport but I think in Nottingham or Leicester you would need to be taking a train or bus from the city centre, so that would be worth bearing in mind too.

Yes if I was commuting I'd probably go by train.

No hobbies especially, I like swimming with my baby that's about it! Would want to live somewhere where there are other young families some activities for young children within reach.

Loughborough would probably be the more sensible option, and I'm limited to enjoying what city life has to offer with my baby anyway. Just a little worried that it maybe hard to meet people/ bit of a ghost town minus the students?

Hi considering a move myself and saw this post. How did you get on ?@eastmidlandsmove

@Rose

I went for Loughborough in the end due to convenience. Also that the nice areas of Nottingham and Leicester seemed a bit expensive.

Just to give you an idea what I'm comparing with...the towns I'm familiar with near my parents in the South West seem a bit dead - either run-down with boarded up shops ect, or super posh commuter spots, with a few boutiques. Either way, not many people actually live near the town centres - more in the villages outside, so they don't have a great feel. Also many amenities - schools, hospitals, are outside the town.

I like that Loughborough isn't like that - its quite condensed - people actually seem to live in and near the town and everything is within walking distance - schools, hospital, nice park, shops, leisure centre, library ect. I haven't needed to use public transport in the town once.

It feels like a mix of people, and people are friendly/ seem to know each other. It feels studenty, but not totally over-run - and it wasn't a ghost town in the summer which is what I worried about.

I live in one of the cheaper terraced areas due to tiny budget, but there are still half decent schools - my first choice primary and secondary in the town are within half a mile. The "forest side" is the more desirable bit, but as far as I can tell, it doesn't drastically change the situation for state schools, although the private schools are located in that area.

When I searched this on mumsnet lots of people recommend the villages outside, such as Quorn, but villages are a no go for me.

(Bare in mind I have quite a specific situation not being able to drive)

I go to London occasionally for work and there's a good train to Kings Cross.

Not sure if any of this is helpful!