Moving to south Lincs... advice needed on areas to live. Holbeach/Spalding/Long Sutton/Moulton/etc.

[goingtosa]

DH will be working in Holbeach and he wants to live within a short commute to his work (ideally 20 mins drive or less). We have never been to that part of the UK and have no idea what are good areas and which to avoid. Would really appreciate any advice regarding this. Currently I'm looking at Long Sutton, Holbeach, Moulton, and Spalding. I don't drive and go everywhere by public transport or taxi, but I think I might have to learn to drive again once I'm there. (failed my practical thrice 2 years ago and gave up on driving)

I have 2 DCs in Primary and 1 in Secondary, so schools will be a consideration. I know the area operates an 11+ system and am a bit worried for my eldest DC as she is not quite Grammar material where we live currently ?there is only 1 Grammar here and it is extremely difficult to get into), but she is quite able academically and if we weren't moving, I was going to send her to a good local Comp. She is also very soft-spoken and shy. Really worried about her settling in a new school in a new area, but that's another matter...

Can anyone offer any advice regarding schools there as well as good areas to live in?

By far the nicest village in that area in my opinion is Stamford, but unfortunately that would be about a 45 minute drive. Apart from that, I would say avoid Spalding.

Thanks JustaCigar. If you don't mind me asking, could you tell me a bit more about what you know about Spalding? I have not been there but it seems to have most of the amenities in that area in terms of leisure facilities, shops, public transport and schools, so I was actually swinging more towards that rather than the other places I mentioned. I would be happy to consider somewhere further afield if that is not ideal and hope my husband will reconsider.

One thing is that we're not moving there straight away. DH will move there at the start of his new job, rent a room in Holbeach for a month or two to check out the surrounding areas, then we'll decide on which area to move the whole family to.

Spalding is OK, there's a really nice out of town shopping centre called Springfield's, within the towns bus service. Wisbech is also OK. Boston used to be nice, the people were really friendly but since there was a large scale eastern European migration the atmosphere in the whole town has changed for the worst.
Holbech has nothing there, it really is dire.

There are lots of lovely villages in the area: Moulton, Pinchbeck (just north of Spalding), Weston.

Town wise Long Sutton and Holbeach very small, Spalding is much bigger with better amenities. The Deepings are nice towns and the senior school there is well thought of. Spalding's grammar schools are sought after, but I am not so sure about the other secondary schools.

I lived in Long Sutton for 6 months when I was a student years ago- not much there, but nicer than Sutton Bridge next door. Not much at Holbeach or Moulton either. If you don't drive I would suggest Spalding is your only option out of the places you mentioned - or Wisbech, or is that too far? I don't know where you are now, but South Lincs is very 'small town' - hope it won't be too much of a culture shock! Have no advice at all about schools etc.

Spalding isn't awful, I suppose, it's just a bit grim. The town centre is dominated by charity shops and in the evening there is a lot of drinking and fighting. It does have decent shops like Boots and WHSmith plus a water taxi to take you to Springfields. Springfields is a faceless Outlet mall and again it's okay but nothing to write home about. Weston is a suburb of Spalding and its very quiet and rather boring.

Stamford on the other hand is quite naice with property prices to reflect that, although the whole area is pretty cheap compared to the rest of England.

Notjust Stamford is a town not a village! OP I know that area very well as was bought up there, my family all still live there and my ma is a councillor , Spalding is still a lovely town with a good bus route (unlike when I was growing up) to Peterborough (the big place to go to !) and kings Lynn, Stamford,or Boston. Moulton (and is only 10 mins foot your dh to get to work) is by far the best village,lovely proper English village still and a great primary school. All of the Towns above save for Stamford have been changed by immigration who do the land jobs that students used to do, but that is unavoidable and just needs to be worked with. If you want to ask me anything else presser send me a message and good luck on your move.

Bourne is nice and not far. 2 great senior schools - one of which is grammer. The primary schools are good too. There are lots of toddler groups etc and the town is within walking distance no matter where you live.
There are good bus services to Peterborough etc too.

I live in Holbeach (on the outskirts) and I love it. We were originally from out of area, been here a year now and don't regret it.

Where we live there is a bus stop at the end of the road (ish) which goes to Kings Lynn or Spalding. My son goes to the local "Academy' and I have found it to be quite a good school, and my daughter should be starting primary later this year.

It is true that there is not much in Holbeach and that you will need to travel further afield for your entertainment, but to be honest that is one of the reasons I like it. You will definitely need to learn to drive.

The people are friendly and have welcomed us from the day we moved in.