Newark in Notts, pros and cons please!

[allaflutter]

Had a thread before but haven't settled on those places, Newark was mentioned but I want to bring it up separately. I've seen a couple of houses I really like there, great value, and the commute to London is shorter to compare with anywhere in Yorks/Drebyshire. I was previously inclined towards Derbyshire, so how does it compare? Is it pretty much similar as it's so near?
I'd love to live in Cambridge or Ely but the prices are to high for me. Is there a connection to Cambridge?
My other question is the parks, are there any within the town, as it looks a bit sparse on map? What's public transport like, if it exists.
Where would you go to entertain yourself or to shop (by train) within, say, 30 min. Well, Nottingham of course, but anywhere else? I realise there isn't much there, but what are food shops like, and which supermarkets? Thanks!
Schools not an issue atm.

There's a Waitrose in Newark. I like the Pizza Express there too. It's very close to Nottingham.

It's an anagram of wanker.
(Childish)

Also Lincoln.

There's a park near Newark Castle station, but that's all I know.

Also close to Lincoln I meant!

I think Newark is lovely, we moved here because of the ease of train access to London, there are a range of smaller shops in town or Nottingham is about 45 mins away and Lincoln about 30 mins away both good shopping. There are a couple of supermarkets, morrisons, ASDA and a lovely big waitrose. There is a small retail park too.

We have a few parks, there is one over the river from the castle, there is a big sand play area, a large green space to walk through and another smaller play area there. I like walking over the lock on the river between the park and castle and we have a picnic in the castle (ruin) grounds. There is a small park in centre of town and another with a large green space further down the river.

We have found lots of restaurants and pubs suitable for children and some more for adults both in Newark and in the surrounding villages.

There is plenty of countryside to explore, there are a couple of walks we like along the river and a nature reserve but to be fair it doesn't compare with the scenery in Derbyshire which is beautiful. Newark and surrounding area tends to be quite flat (good for biking) whereas Derbyshire has lots of hills and valleys and is known for being beautiful. I used to work out that way and really liked Ashbourne and Bakewell.

Hope this is useful, if there is anything else you want to know pm me.

Newark is lovely! Just over 1hr to London (connection to Cambridge is via Peterborough), Southwell, Grantham, Stamford all lovely. Clumber Park to the north (national trust). And houses prices are amaze really good.

Can you tell I like it?!

Ps- Strays Cafe, Prince Rupert Pub and the Greek Steakhouse are all lovely restaurants/eateries.

I know you say schools aren't an issue. But will they be at some point?

I only ask because it's one of the main reasons I'm leaving.

That and I struggle with the small town mentality sometimes.

Oh and being 'duck' :o

Newark has lovely parts but it also has a problem with large areas of travellers.
Great for train to London though.

Also big traveller community and not so great schools.

We are not far from Newark, it's a lovely market town, kids love the castle, river and sand park. Newark castle station is close to town, Newark north gate station is just out of town but has good connections to kings cross. We enjoy the theatre there, also my dh likes the French restaurant cafe bleu. Lincoln is only a short drive away. Lots of nice villages too. We often visit national trust places, belton house near Grantham is great also clumber park and tattershall castle.

Choc - honestly I haven't thought if that (..nice!)

thanks for the info on big waitrose, useful.

Thatnotmychicken - may pm you later, but as far as parks go thanks for the details, aer any ofthem nice parks with trees or when you say 'green space' it's just a flat green? how far isit from there to that nice Derbs countryside - is there a good train link? Generally where the trains aer going from N quickly (apart from Lincoln and Nottingham?) or is it all faff if you want to go elsewhere, like Cambridge, Derbyshire even though they aer near on the map.

Also if you do know good places in Derbyshire but faster link to london than Derby itself, let me know please! being stuck in the SW and being so hot, it's impossible to just go and look around

of that

Nice to see so many people liking Newark!

We should have a mini meet up

Are you interested in Newark itself? or do you drive? would the local villages/suburbs be any use?

I have a small Sainsburys, tesco local, co-op, dr, nhs dentist, library (part-time with weird hours), swimming pool/leisure centre, playpark and cricket ground all within walking distance, and we could walk into Newark centre, but its easier/quicker to get the bus. There are 2 primary schools, both good or better from ofsted although the secondary schools aren't anything to get excited about that I've heard, but they've got a few years to improve before we need them! The A1 makes it really easy to get away, and the improved A46 makes Nottingham really close!

I've got no idea about Derbyshire I'm afraid, but what about the Lincoln wolds/coast if you like countryside?

seemed to have mised a few posts, not sure how that happened (too hot )
Olivia - thanks, out of all these which one's your favourite?
travellers - do they cause trouble? are they in town a lot and affect crime levels ?
Yorky, I'm not interested in the coast. I mainly want good connections to London and Derbysgire and geberally as many pladesas possible as I travel, any coast is too far from places. I don't like driving and much prefer a train, but not when they aer hugely expensive or badly run (no conditioning), obviously the main train to London matters more than for the short trips. I would be interested in an ara walking distance to station (a few on rightmove!) or a convenient bus up to 10 min, so definitely recommend suburbs like yours as there is no way I could be digging on internet for the bus info! Pm me if you like about your suburb.

I like NT and country walking to be not far so thanks for these MrsStar

Terracotta, are there very few ex londoners then? do most people call you 'duck' ? Have you found a better place? please share. But I need it to be good value. Do you know Derby, is it less 'small town mentalty' or the same? Tbh after london any place seems a bit like that, maybe not Manchester but I haven't been there.

as many places

yorky I can guess where you live from that description! My older DC have just left one of the 2 schools there. I live a little way up the A1 to you :)

The travelling community ime don't really cause any issues so I wouldn't let that worry you at all.

There's a good mix of a lot of different people generally but also a lot of generations of families that have never left the area which gives it the small town feel sometimes. It's the locals that do the duck thing - I was a bit wtf the first time I heard it! Afraid I don't know Derby that well but it's a bigger place so doubt it has the same feel. I'm moving back home to build a house as it's the only way I'd be able to afford one! Near Stamford which someone mentioned up thread.

The secondary schools are the big problem here. One was so bad it was absorbed by another. A lot of parents bus their kids out of town. I'd like to think things will improve one day but I moved here when my eldest was 11mo. She's enter Year 6 in September and the schools have probably got worse in those 9 years.

Whoever mentioned Cafe Bleu...my mouth is watering now :o

Terra, so does this mean that demographic is mainly oldere people or pre scholler families, due to bad schools? not that I mind.
Are you saying that Stamford hasn't got a small town feel? quite surprised as I thought it was quintessential iykwim, a model town kind of thing - andit is small. Thought if anything, Newark was more neutral with more transient people.

No, the demographic is still across all ages. Primary schools are absolutely fine on the whole. It's just the secondaries that are atrocious. And whilst a lot of kids go to the local schools a fair amount of parents bus their children out of catchment or even county. They still stay in Newark though.

I'm trying not to be rude about Newark so thought small town mentality might cover it!! Most people in Newark are lovely, those who have lived there all their lives along with generations of their families as well as those that choose to move to Newark. But there is a close-minded feel to the town at times. I think that's the best way to describe it. Something which Stamford doesn't have (but Stamford can veer on snobbish). It is something I have struggled with about the town since I moved here. It may be something that you never encounter but my job means I see all walks of life.

Stamford is a lot smaller with a lot less going on in the town I agree. I shall miss the ease of nipping to the Boots at the retail park here, parking for free, knowing I can easily get a parking space and completely avoid going into town! Oh and not driving the 8 miles to get to it either! And driving to Lincoln. I shall miss how easy it is to get there. Lincoln is lovely. But home is where my heart is and it's not, and never has been (for the 9 years I've lived here), Newark.

I love Newark but I love Derbyshire better. Ashbourne, Wirksworth and Matlock are lovely although less accessible to Nottingham/London. I'd go to Derbyshire. Some lovely houses in Newark though. Not so lovely traveller culture though both seem to co-exist comfortable and the market in Newark is great and there are some lovely cafes and places to eat. Jazz festival. Waitrose, Newark does very well at pretending to be middle class and lovely.

PeriodFeatures, well that's the problem, I MUST have good connection to London. I was considering Derby (some really nice period houses there too) but it's really two far travelling by train even twice weekly, especially as the nice aeras are not walking distancece to station. I'm not sure whether the attitude to ex londoners is friendly, is it? Are there any other towns that are within an hour and a bit train journey to Lon? I must say, intuitively it really appeals to me.

Terra, I'm really surporised about Stamford not having small town mentality, I wonder how didthis come about as it is a small town after all. And regarding 'snobby' - is it MC snobby like Surrey (really dislike), or a horsey set snobby, which I think is fine as it's much less in your face than mc snobbery purely as there aren't the numbers of upper class peopl so not likely to come in conac much unless you ride!
I now need more info on Stamford - as that IS within good commute time. I will pm you with questions, if you don't mind, or do share here if you prefer! thanks for your help so far.

Go for it alaflutter. I actually think it's a nice place. Anywhere you live will have it's pros and cons. Newark has a lot going for it AND is affordable. You could rent for 6 months in case you don't like it. There are some gorgeous little period places down on Millgate by the river. Nice bars and things on the doorstep...

Actually. I'm quite jealous now!

thanks, PeriodF. I must go and visit. I take it, there are no such places as I've descibed in Derbyshire? Would be goo to see a few places if I'm making a trip in that direction. Will visit Stamford too - what do you think of it?

Not with accessibility to London. Ashbourne is nice though. Smaller than Newark and more rural.

Not sure about Stamford. I've never been there.

Good luck. I hope you find somewhere you like.

thanks, PF. Will visit and try to decide soon. Just fed up with the lack of space! I so love nice Victorian/edwardian houses with proper ceiling heights and fireplaces, don't eve nmind if they are dated as far as kitchen and bathroom are modern!