Should I move to Market Harborough or Stamford?

[Mum917]

👋🏽 Hi! New on here. Was just looking for any useful insight into the areas of Market Harborough and Stamford? Looking to move in the summer and can’t decide between the two. Will visit both soon but any advice from those that know the areas would be fab. Our baby will be 1 when we move. Have family in Leicester hence looking at these two areas as they both look lovely. Thanks! 😀

Stamford IMO is much nicer but it’s expensive - more expensive than MH I would expect. Lots of people cashed in big properties in London and moved to Stamford as you can commute in 45mins from Peterborough into King’s Cross and it’s driven up house prices. Lots of good primary schools but only one secondary for the size of town which historically wasn’t highly rated - it’s now an academy and the only other secondary is a private and the fees are exorbitant (even before VAT). The state secondary school doesn’t have a sixth form (or didn’t - pretty sure that still the case). Not sure of the school situation in MH.

Can only comment on Stamford as I live a couple of miles just outside. It’s a really lovely area to live in. There is a great vibe in the town itself, lots of beautiful shops, bars and restaurants to choose from. The immediate surrounding areas are just wonderful! You have the Burghley estate on your doorstep, Rutland Waters a short drive away, and some lovely towns and villages close by. It’s a great base for many places, as it’s a fairly central location in terms of travel links…the A1 is like a ‘magic road to everywhere’! 🤣

Trains to all directions is a real bonus…eg London, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester all easy to get to (and comparatively cheap if you pick the right time to travel!)

Wishing you all the best OP 👍🏻

A few years ago there was a poster on here that jumped on any posts about MH to say what a crime ridden hole it is, it was comical how persistent she was, I wonder if she’ll be back today!

Stamford is a beautiful town to visit but the traffic does my head in and I just couldn’t justify the price in Lincolnshire when you can get beautiful places with better schools much cheaper close by.

I don’t know MH as well as Stamford but assume it’s cheaper so I would start my search there in terms of schools, train links etc and whatever else you need.

Trains to MH from St Pancras were about 55mins last time I used them, about 5yrs ago. Thought it was a nice market town with some independent shops as well as Waitrose etc. My sister lived there for ages and we visited regularly. Some pretty villages nearby, which can be expensive and some pretty countryside. No idea about schools though.

Thank you, very helpful. Yes schools and the quality of them (public schools) are the most important consideration for me, so think I will need to research both primary and secondary schools in both areas more, as it seems both Stamford and Market Harborough are nice places to live, so schools will be the distinguishing factor!

My sister lives in MH, she loves it. Schools have been great, very good gcse and a levels.

Yes I saw that! I don’t think the posts were an accurate representation of Market Harborough, it seems a nice place from everything I’ve read!

Will consider the traffic in Stamford if it’s that bad! Schools are the biggest consideration for me so need to research these more for both areas 😀

Perfect, thank you. Will look into the schools more! 😀

I used to live near MH, and would choose Stamford over it in a heartbeat.

MIL lived in MH, it was nice but did seem to be a bit of a retirement enclave.

Public school as in independent? Or do you mean state? Stamford has its own good Indy plus near to Oakham, Oundle etc for the bigger ones

I don’t know about MH, but the state schools in Stamford aren’t much to shout about presumably due to the private schools in the area. Bourne has a grammar school which isn’t too far away.

Thank you. Any idea of school names at all? Not to worry if not 😀

I meant state schools sorry. It seems Stamford has good private schools but need to research the quality of state schools there and Market Harborough.

Yes I have read a few comments about Stamford being known for its private schools more than its state schools. I think state schools would be more realistic for us. I have seen the grammar school in Bourne but it seems depending on where you are in Stamford, you might be out of the catchment area and the closer to Bourne you are, the better the priority given to you for the school. I will take a look at Market Harborough schools also.

Also on a side note, saw a recent article in Lincs Live stating a recent survey showed 84% of patients advised they struggle to get GP, dentist and hospital services appointments in Stamford. But maybe that’s just the country all over!

Getting a doctors appointment is a real nightmare in Stamford. There was always 2 main surgeries but then there was issues with 1 for years and there are loads of complaints about access to appointments for the other as well

Also for the size of town historically ….all the money gets spent on other towns in the county …no investment in the one leisure centre for decades for example

Bourne Grammar has always been highly competitive to get into - even more so now with people being priced out of Stamford School.

the town used to have a really nice community feel about it - everyone knew everyone else… kept big chain shops/pubs/w etc out for many years but with the influx of London money it’s become a little ……soulless - most ordinary Stamford born and bred can’t afford to buy in the town and so have moved to Bourne etc. the people I know who are left hate it. But that’s because they remember what it used to be like before whereas a newcomer to the town will just be awed by the picturesque buildings and vibrant (chain filled) high street