Relocating to Lancashire

[werekitty]

Help, in the next couple of months I'm probably going to have to relocate from Surrey to Preston/Blackburn.

Which areas should I try and rent in and where do I avoid?

Thanks in advance

Do you really have to? Surreys quite different....

Having lived in both (Lancs 20 yrs; Surrey 10 yrs) I've probably a good idea but it does depends what you're looking for.

They've both got different strength and weaknesses and quite different sized communities. If you live in Guildford or Woking for example, then you'll find Preston much bigger (it's a city) and compared to virtually anywhere in Surrey Blackburn isn't going to impress.

If you want village life then (imo) Lancashire and it's countryside easily trumps Surrey (e.g. Barley, Longridge, around Forest of Bowland) and has lovely small towns - Clitheroe stands out, garstang too.

If working in Blackburn I'd suggest looking at Clitheroe, or possibly around Rossendale, Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom which give you the option of getting into Manchester too.

Lancashire generally does small towns/villages better than large towns - it's not like Yorkshire where you could be blown away by Harrogate or York.

Lancaster is a lovely city but I guess that's not close to your new work.

To counter the SE bias of the forums having spent 30 years across the two, I'd choose Lancs over Surry - oh and it's Prestonians ;)

I live in Lancashire and there are some lovely little villages outside Preston. I love Lancaster but am not that keen on Preston.
I live in St Annes on Sea, which is very quiet compared to Blackpool which is just down the road.

Clitheroe is nice :-)

I grew up in Chorley and have lived in London and Herts for the last 20 years. I agree up thread that around Bowland and Longridge are lovely. The villages are nicer than the towns.

Have a look at. Limbrick (Chorley) up through to Rivington and Belmont. Walk up Rivington through the landscaped hillside to the Pike and the dove tower and across the Nab. Wheelton, Brinscall, Heapey, Brindle, Withnell Fold, Darwen and Tockholes.

The countryside can look at little bleak at first - it's a lot of moors etc... compared to the fields of Surey, but it's beautiful.

Just remember there's no 'r' in bath! Good luck.

Most parts of Lancashire are very different to Surrey!I moved up to Lancs from Surrey/Sussex nearly 11 years ago. Places like Lytham/Clitheroe/Poulton le Fylde are probably closer in feel to Surrey. There are some nice villages around Longridge/Chipping/Whalley. Much less Boden and coffee/gift shops than Surrey. However, (most) people are so much friendlier than 'down south' although you may struggle to understand some of the local accents to start with, I still struggle with very strong East Lancs accents.

However for shopping (clothes/shoes etc) I go to Manchester or the Trafford Centre so you may want to factor that in. Motorways are much quieter than M25 except for M60 (Manchester equivalent to m25), so moving around Lancs can be quite easy if you're close to the motorway.

Nothing to add from a location point of view, but you will need to start learing the different names for varieties of bread/mufffns/teacakes. Tis a minefield of misunderstanding.

Bunnies anyone?

Agree with all above posts! Depends if you prefer the moors and hills of East Lancs, the coast of West Lancs or somewhere in between. From my personal experience Lytham's a great place to live, as are some of E Lancs villages mentioned above, Barley, Chipping, Forest of Bowland villages.

Congratulations - lucky you!
Where will you be working?

I'd go for Preston over Blackburn but should declare a bias.

My friend is in Euxton and her primary school is one of the best in the country. Lancashire is a lovely part of the world, on the a6 near Chorley is fredericks ice cream parlour! you must visit!

I lived in Blackburn with DH in the late 1990s...full time for about two years, one year visiting twice a month.

Have you actually visited either Preston or Blackburn before? I don't mean this in a sarky way at all. I am curious where you live in Surrey now too.

Pleasington which is down the road from Blackburn was a cute little village. Otherwise RCheshire's comments are, imo, spot on.

Getting yourself well positioned to travel into Manchester is not a bad idea.

Exit: barmcakes!!

Lancs tends to have good schools btw.

Ok I am from Preston but a lot of family from Blackburn.

I do not like Blackburn, it always rains when I have to go there. ALWAYS!!!

I no longer live in Preston I moved to Yorkshire but only for personal issues.

A few places inbetween Preston and Blackburn might be an idea ie Rivington (gorgeous hilly area) Horwich, Chorley.

Preston is a big city I know very well so if you want to know the best areas then just ask.

Also you will be able to get babyead a plenty.

A steak pudding if you're wondering from the chippy.

Depends on budget but Ribchester/Chipping/Whalley/Pleasington/Mellor all nice.
Some lovely areas around Horwich and also Belmont.

We're East Lancs but I am hankering after Ribble Valley these days.

Also from Preston here. Some central parts of the city are a big grim, I now live in a semi rural part of South Ribble which is lovely.

Where did you live Tea??

I live near Darwen. Do not move their. Do. Not. You have to be dragged kicking and screaming, not choose to live their.
I wouldn't recommend Blackburn that much, their are a few nicer areas, but overall, pick somewhere else.

Why did you choose Lancashire?

Hahaha

Not in this order

I have lived in Penwortham, City centre, Ashton, plungy, Leyland, Ribbleton, Fulwood.

My Grandad lives in Houghton. My aunties live in Bamber bridge and Lostock Hall my mum lives in Penwortham. Loads of friends live in Fulwood.

Ex is in Leyland. I hated Leyland!!! hated it!!!

(I know I've bloody outed myself now)

You'll be able to get scraps with yer chips too.

at Kate's anti Darwen I bet she'd think the same about accrington too

Oohh, now I'm very intrigued, Tea. Did you go to school in Leyland?

(only good thing about Leyland is my mum & dad still live there. And I can get a full head colour, wash & blowdry for £50)

The forest of Bowland villages are lovely. However, if you need to be closer into the city then you could consider Penwortham, Hutton, Longton etc.

I grew up in Ashton, now live in Hutton, kids at school in Penwortham. Don't know how long since you left Preston Tea but I've lived here all my life and it certainly ain't the place it used to be.!

No I grew up in Penwortham but lived in Leyland for 5 years when I had DS (only bloody stayed because ex said stay then fuckin left twunt)

I sang the day I moved out

DS went to St James' Pre-school though then we moved about a month after they started YR

I moved out of Preston about 18months ago but lived there my whole life.

For sure Penwortham isn't what it used to be but I haven't lived in Penwortham since I was 19. I'm 33 now.