Where in Nottingham (+5miles) is a nice place to live?

[FuschiaEmerald]

Hi all. We are currently living in overseas on a military posting and looking to buy a house back in the UK.

We aren't bound to any area in particular but based on our price range and where our parents are etc and jobs for DH (when he leaves the military) we have decided on Nottingham +5miles.

We have 2 DS ages 4 & 1 and our 4 year old has some SEN so it must be somewhere with an excellent primary school. We also want somewhere semi-rural with countryside or big parks nearby. Transport links would be great but we have a car and I wfh so not a hill I'm willing to die on.

We currently have an offer on a house in Burton Joyce, but there are some issues with the property so are starting look elsewhere. Below are some of the areas we are interested in, we would be so grateful if anyone can offer any advice on which of these are good places to live and where the best local schools are.

Ruddington
Castle Donington
Wollaton
Bestwood Village
Any more?

Just off J27, there's a few lovely little villages. (Although not as quaint as Burton Joyce!) I live in one of them, it has a large lovely park, good public transport links, close to motorway. Think Underwood, Brinsley, Selston etc areas. About 30 min drive from Nottingham city, but also 30 mins away from Derby too. There's some good local schools too, especially Underwood school, rated highly by parents in the area.

Bestwood Village meets your criteria, but can feel a bit 'neither nor'- it's a bit urban, and a bit parochial, and the bus service is poor.

Libby/Papplewick is very nice and very expensive. The edge of Hucknal called Papplewick Green is well positioned and good for walks.

The edge of Arnold near Bestwood Country Park is good- Deer Park, and the area around the lodge, woodchurch rd, Cedar tree road area.

When we lived in Nottingham, we lived in The Park. It was very nice.

Ruddington is lovely but schools not as competitive as West Bridgford.
Castle Donington feels a bit like somewhere you drive through. They have a college that’s smaller than most secondaries if that’s what you’re after - I think you have to start in Yr5 though.
Wollaton nice, well linked with fantastic schools.

If you’re thinking of Castle Donington, Melbourne etc nearby are very well linked to schools and the Swarkestone side has some gorgeous countryside.

Long Eaton has a decent private school if that’s your thing but Long Eaton itself isn’t that nice.

Ockbrook/ Sawley side of things - nice villages with good schools. I think Ockbrook links to the better secondary.

I would rent before buying, particularly if considering Burton Joyce. I had friends who purchased in the village, they moved out after 14 years as they never truly felt accepted and part of the village.

Have you considered West Bridgford, Bingham and Beeston?

West Bridgford by a mile. Great schools, great restaurants and shops, good vibe and safe. Close to countryside, good running and cycle routes, nice markets monthly - I've lived here 15 years and it's lovely

Castle Donington is a nice village in a very useful location next to the M1, M42, A50 etc, but it is at the centre of a huge amount of commercial development. Obviously, it is next door to East Midlands Airport which is the second busiest cargo airport in the U.K. A massive new UPS terminal opened last year which together with the existing DHL terminal and the ever expanding distribution warehouses generates a lot of air & ground traffic 24/7. The air cargo industry is busier overnight than during the day.
New housing estates, roads & schools are currently being built to the west of the village to cater for the growth in local employment and a new Aldi will open later this year.