areas of the UK that are cheap-ish for houses now but bound to go up in value? + why is Nottingham so cheap?

[allaflutter]

This would have to exclude South coast (Hastings and so on), and also the North proper, as I need easy access to London and other parts of the country.
Just find myself really hankering after space and a house or large maisonette, without other people living on top of you or on both sides (3 good size beds semi-detached ideally, or a flat on two top floors with loft space), having only lived and looked at flats in London and SW - I'm increasingly finding that a nice area doesn't compensate for the lack of space anymore. I think the older you get the more space you want!

The area has to be reasonably nice but not chi-chi, i.e. low crime levels and must have a train station with access to london ideally in 1hr but could stretch a bit. It also has to be quite green with nice surrounding country. Town or city. I can't do cottages or modern boxes, used to live in high ceilinged London flats.

So far I found a couple of nice looking places with cheap houses, but usually too far from London (i.e. around Harrogate - just great old houses there, small towns in SW). Or places like Abingdon in Oxon but no train station.

Well, there is Nottingham - some nice spacious period houses on rightmove, MUCH bigger than what you can get in many places. What I don't understand is why it takes so long on the train - are there plans for faster trains there? York is much faster even though further out. What's Nottingham really like? Is it likely to go up in value? Is it better than Sheffield which I know a little?

What about Stamford/Northampton to compare with Nott? In sw there is Chippenham and Swindon that are cheap but not attractive, are these places better in comparison?

I need to buy somewhere where prices are not going to drop and ideally rise as my cash income is low atm and it's important to invest well. My mum may well need to move in with me when a bit older too, so somewhere with buses a bonus. Oh and reasonably nice, friendly people a big bonus. School cattchments are not important.

If anyone is selling something like this, PM me - and maybe introduce me to a new area!
Sorry for the long saga...I'd be grateful for someone to help put an end to this frustration!

how does Huntingdon compare to Bedford?

btw isn't Huntingdon in flood area from Ouse?

No, train is 1 hour and 15 mins, maybe up to 1 hour and 20 mins depending on how many stops it does between here and kings cross.

We're incomers, and we live over the border in Lincolnshire so can only go on visiting Newark but it seems to be friendly enough. All the people I know that do live there like the place and there are a number of people that commute to London, daily in some cases.

banbury?

[http://www.commuterguide.co.uk/counties/oxfordshire/banbury#.UYwTYL8Ttz8 72 minutes]]

72 minutes

Allaf the house you linked to is in a lush area of Notts - very quiet, but within 10 minutes walk from town, and serviced by lots of buses. There is a Lidl (referred in an Observer quote about canny middle class shoppers dontcha know!) Co Op, coffee shop, sandwich bar, micro brewery and decent pub within 5 minutes walk. It is easily accessible by bus, and there is a kids playground (Pirate Park) and two municipal parks (Woodthorpe and Arnot Hill) within 5 minutes drive.

Thanks, MrsP, newark is on the list of places to visit this month alng with Market H as promoted by Matilda . That guide is very useful, especially with the precise areas for period houses etc. Still nothing like the knowledge from locals!
eyestight, thanks, it was te best on rightmove, good to know the area is right - what would you call that area?

ivy, I'm surprised that Banbury is relatively cheap. Not much on rightmove in my taste there atm but will keep an eye. The one you linked is a great size but it needs a lot of redecorating, all a bit too dark and tired (outside too) - but look at all these dolls!

Allaflutter, it's Mapperley Park. If you put in a postcode of, for example ng3 5dt and a search criteria of 1/2 a mile and a price range of 170-250 they are all good areas within walking distance of town.

Banbury is as ok as rugby from what I have seen but with great links train and m40, not sure why so cheap when oxford is so expensive.

There was another house but 5 bedroom and larger but much more modern - still under 250k - though i did notice closer to the motorway so possibly the noise factor is reflected in the price

I think it's also cheaper than Abingdon (without train station) thought I think A is just much prettier. Somehow I'm not feeling excited about Banbury, possibly read about it on MN and something negative was said. I now remember that someone mentioned Rugby, so are these two very similar, or Rugby better?
eyestight, so this is pretty safe, even though near town centre? is the centre not attracting crime? jury still out on Nott. I wonder if Derby has lower crime rates.

Imo

Rugby is oksih, the town is okish but nothing special and not the sort of place you would go to to do shopping.

banbury much the same pleasant enoguh but not a happning place

Huntingdon is ok but right next door is Godmanchester which is nicer and has parks.

Luton?

I haven't read the whole thread, but have you looked at Rugby? Great train links into London, cheap housing available, and a planning application for a new shopping centre has just been approved so it could well be on the up.

Good schools, including grammar schools if your dc's are brainy, nice surrounding countryside.

Just seen, lots of talk about Rugby

Bedford has some lovely bits, especially by the river or prime ministers. There are 6 private schools in Bedford and others get close by so it means the state schools are a bit crap. It also has quite a high pop of ex Londoners for that reason although most of them seem to live in the villages. There are some lovely parks: Bedford park and Russell park. A few nice places to eat. Big Italian population so some nice italian restaurants. St Neots is v similar but much smaller although quite a bit prettier is a lot more provincial.

Old Town is the top of the big hill and station is at the bottom. But there are lots of buses up it!

I think the crime rates thing is difficult-I'd be put off too.
However, I have lived in Lenton, St Anns(bit rough to be fair but I had lovely neighbours and no bother), Sherwood and West Bridgford in Nottingham and I've never been burgled, always walked home at night on my own, never felt nervous in town of a Saturday night.
I do know lots of people that have been burgled, but then that was the case everywhere I've lived: Newcastle, London, Manchester.

Still don't think you should live in Nottingham though because the train is 1 hr 55 to London.

Bedford town centre is like going back in time though.

that's a beautiful, light interior, Matilda! and I like the layout, wider than the norm! even though the outside is not so special but in good condition. The only thing, the street view is not so nice. Don;t think anyone mentioned yet what's the parks/green spaces in MH like? doesn't look leafy from this street view, but maybe it's all nearby.How does MH compare to bedford iyo?

Yes, define, the train journey is putting me off, Derby slightly better, how does it compare?

The point is though, maybe Bedford is up and coming (re town centre)? and do you mean like going back to say the 80s , or going well back, i.e. period character? Italian population - sounds quite nice, lily!

Talking of comparison, one general question - how does this whole all area of east Mids that we discuss compare to the SW? I mean in vibe, people? where is more friendly would you say?

I find SW nice in some ways (chilled out, a bit of a foodie place, slightly boho) but also I find people are quite narrow minded, in the sense of sticking to own tribes..so hippies don't socialise with non hippies, families stick to families, etc, a bit suspicious of newcomers and those who a bit individual, after London where you just mix it's noticeable, plus educated classes seem a bit too obviously up themselves ( by no means everyone, but I get this impression often). This is by no means cast in stone, just my earlyish impressions. What's the character in areas we discuss, being closer to Lon?