what's Kettering like?

[allaflutter]

I'm about to go on a trip (by train from Lon) to Bedford and Market Harborough in one day, with a view of moving to the area, and have discussed these two in my other thread. I've now noticed that the train stops in Kettering inbetween, and having looked at rightmove, quite impressed with the value of houses there! They are also easy walking distance to the station which I like.
I realise it's probably not as nice as MH or Bedford but it's so near to both, and better value it seems.
So what's it like - any amenities, shopping, good parks or just plain greens? are there many commuters living there, or mainly a farming community (sorry if that' ignorant!). Worth stopping and looking?

[housework]

I don't know but when I try to imagine the most non descript place in the UK, the words Kettering and Corby come to mind.

[reelingintheyears]

Geddington is lovely.

[allaflutter]

well, house, I'm more inclined towards Market H and Bedford, so K. is not much in contention now. That's why MN is so helpful!

[reelingintheyears]

Corby is a dump.
Kettering's ok,is Wickstead park still there?

[reelingintheyears]

housework surely that's Milton Keynes.

[reelingintheyears]

There's an Eleanor Cross in Geddington.

Just saying.

[zipzap]

No, no, no reelingintheyears - Milton Keynes is a fantastic place to live. In fact I was just coming on here to say don't bother with Market Harborough or Kettering or Bedford - MK is much nicer and has tons more to offer than any of them.

It's definitely not nondescript - not least because it is different in layout from pretty much all other towns in the UK. It's actually been designed with people in mind, rather than just growing up haphazardly. Driving around is a pleasure as the main roads are all wide and have loads of trees around. Roundabouts make life very easy. The center has a shopping center, one of the best theatres outside of London, lots of places to eat and drink and a huge park that runs loads of events (or others use it as a place to run events, including the incredibly successful and enjoyable International Festival that runs every other year).

There are old villages and new estates (the grid square I live in incorporates an old village with a Norman church, as do several others), village greens with cricket games being played on them, loads and loads of park lands for walking on, redways to walk and cycle on away from the traffic, lakes and canals for sports and flood management (ie flooding doesn't really happen here to damage houses, there are balancing lakes with parks around to act as flood plains), good sporting facilities, great shops (both things like John Lewis, Debenhams, M&S, HofF, TkMaxx at the centre, to Ikea, and the country's first out of town centre Primark, loads of huge supermarkets, a fab market selling top quality fruit and veg at bargain prices and loads more). There are also great schools, some fantastic bits of history (Bletchley Park, National Museum of Computing and MK Museum are fab). OK so I've probably ranted on a bit much about it - but it's not just me, plenty of others like it too - there was this thread on mn about MK just recently...

I know MH reasonably well as dsis lives very close to it and uses it as one of her main shopping towns and dn goes to nursery there, Kettering not so much other than it's unfortunately the town with the closest hospital to dsis and her family haven't had good experiences with it, Bedford I've been to a few times but not been very impressed. Seems very cramped and pretty unappealing.

[allaflutter]

interesting, zip. I haven;t been to Mk, but mainly dismissed it as on rightmove it's all modern blocks of flats and new-builds, and just seems to have no charm when looking at ppictures. But it could be good once you witness the lively character which you describe. The other isssue it is more expensive that the towns discussed! I'm moving for the sake of spaace and doesn't look like it's worth the move to get a smallish 2-bed flat or a small 2-bed house. But if you know that there aer some period areas which are not expensive, then let me know. You don't actually say why you don't like Market H though - sounds like your sister quite likes it (apart from hospital).

[msrisotto]

What's your budget and specifications?

[allaflutter]

small budget of 250K (asking price could be more) for 3-bed (or 2 doubles and a loft), but receptions have to have high ceilings, small garden fine.

[OhOneOhTwoOhThree]

I have been scouring the property pages in the local newpaper every week for you flutter

[allaflutter]

thanks OhOne, that's really nice! you've pm'd me on that thread on Bedford, I'm guessing.
Yes, I'm on the lookout too, atm there is something in MH and Kettering but not Bedford - I'd go for a large flat or maisonette in Castle rd area(upper floors), not just a house.

[vix206]

Market Harborough is lovely. I live in Rothwell which is between Kettering and Market Harborough. MH is more expensive to buy in, but with your budget you'd be fine.

When we want to do proper shopping we just go to Leicester which has great shops. Each to their own but having gone to school in MK and knowing friends who live there, I wouldn't want to live there. I find it very soulless. Although there are (as always) some gorgeous villages surrounding it.

[allaflutter]

hi vix, yes, value seems to be quite good. can you tell me more about MH - everyne says it's lovely, but is that prettiness of houses, amenities, people? Is there a good park in town or very close (I mean proper park with trees not just a field) - not very clear on the maps.

[vix206]

Hok. Town is really pretty. Lots of historic buildings. Lots of lovely cafes, independent shops and good chains too (JoJo Maman Bebe, Joules, Zizzi, White Stuff, Fat Face, Phase 8) as well as conveniences like a good grocers, an old fashioned hardware store, butchers, bakers, deli, tesco, coop, sainsburies, waitrose, Aldi and lidl!!
Fantastic park by the river with a huge children's play area.
We spend most Sundays there. We couldn't afford to buy there but it's where we spend a lot of our free time because of the amenities and the nice 'feel' to the place.

[vix206]

Hok? iPhone randomness! It was supposed to say 'Ok...'

[vix206]

I would say that I don't like Kettering much at all. It is cheaper than MH and there are some lovely big old Edwardian and Victorian houses there, but the town is really in decline and feels very humdrum and rundown now. Full of pound shops and cafes and not much else.

Where I live is like a much smaller version of market Harborough with Kettering prices

[SweepTheHalls]

I love in Kettering and its great! Much better value for money than Market Harborough. The Headlands area is lovely, with a 'good'primary that is really community centred and an 'outstanding 'secondary on Headlands itself.
It is having lots of redevelopment, with lots of independent coffee she's and cafes, and the market place is fab in the summer with fountains that the kids can play in and lots of events. PM me with anything specific!

[sleepdodger]

Market harb and surrounding villages very lovely
Kettering ok but many more industrial rough parts
If its for commuting bear in mind not all the express services stop at Kett or mh, straight from leic to London
Also worth considering rugby, it's 56min from euston on virgin

[vix206]

Yes the Headlands area of Kettering is lovely. Some fantastic houses.

[vix206]

Ps never had any problems with people being unfriendly around here. Would say generally they are a friendly bunch in this area

[allaflutter]

thanks, vix - sounds really appealing! is you small place on the train line? if so, maybe pm me the name? if no rail, then sadly not an option for me. I'm going to visit next week and will report. Annoyed that they are now promisin grain on tues, but hopefully not the rest of the week.

Will visit K too, Sweep, the houses by the station aer nice, though a bit disheartened about the centre. I knew it wouldn't as nice as MH but though it was only 10min to there on the train, so wouldn't harm to have a look. Bedford too - will try to fit all in one day.
I don't commute daily, sleep, I think the trains that stop still on twice an hour (or at least one an hour).
Last question - is it mainly commuters living in MH (as it seems so in Bedford) or is there also its own community, maybe from the villages. What's the general age demographic. I wonder?

[allaflutter]

sorry for missing words!

[allaflutter]

oh God, too many typos, sorry, must never type when in a rush!

[vix206]

Loads of locals in MH, I know so many people there and none of them commute but work locally, for themselves, or in Leicester.

I did give the name of my town, it's not got a train station though