Lincolnshire - is it really that awful?

[GreatJoanUmber]

DH and I were just fantasising talking this weekend about how nice it would be to move to a bigger house; and how depressingly high the house prices around here (naice semi-rural Buckinghamshire) are. So he suggested we could move a little further up north to get more house for our money. I did a quick rightmove search and couldn't believe my eyes! Huge spacious 5/6 bed period properties for well under 300K!
So then I did a quick google, and my jaw dropped again, for all the wrong reasons. Amongst others, I found a MN thread of someone thinking of relocating to Lincolnshire and the replies were very disheartening - basically it's so cheap because it's bleak and depressing and socially deprived...
While I'm aware that when something is cheap, there must be a catch somewhere, I still can't believe it can really be all that bad? Surely there must be some families living there and not hate it? Same goes for neighbouring Leicestershire.
So I'd love to hear from MNers who live in this region...if it really is dreadful, please don't hold back; but if not, tell me!
FWIW, I pretty much love everything about where we live now, apart from the fact we could probably never afford a house as big as we need it.

We live in Rutland so right between Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. DH works in Lincolnshire.

The comprehensive schools in Rutland are all really good, and we decided not to bother with the grammars in Lincolnshire for our two. They both got all As and As at GCSE (DS1 got 100% in 3), and DS1 got AAB at A level. DS2 is predicted AAB, this Summer.

DH wants to move further in to Lincolnshire after DS2 goes to uni in September, but I don't. We're right on the A1 here which makes travelling easier. The further east you go, ime, the worse the travel links are.

I grew up in a village near Lincoln and although I like to play a bit of fantasy house hunting on rightmove to see the kind of manor houses we could afford back home, I wouldn't move there now. That said, it was a good place to grow up - excellent schools, childhood spent in fields, enough going on in Lincoln to keep us entertained through teenage years. I just find it very very remote now and the flatness rather bleak.

Leicestershire may be pretty but since moving here 9 weeks ago I hate it!

I feel like I am living in the back of fucking beyond and I spent 9 years living in the Scottish highlands (in the past) with more on my doorstep!!

Shopping and stuff for teenagers to do involves lots of driving and planning and there is no popping into town everything is an epic day out! The appeal of the chocolate box villages left me weeks ago!

The long drive to the motorway is another bug bear! There is a reason why it is cheaper than a lot of other places!!

Look at South Wales - Loved it there right on the coast. 25 minutes out of Cardiff but in proper countryside and beaches on the doorstep. Easy reach of motorway. Fabulous friendly locals..... Similar prices to around here.

Hi SKYTVADDICT.

I live just north in a village beginning with R that has a Tulip foods factory. Even they wouldn't give me a bloody admin job!!!

I could sell our modest terraced house in London, buy a large detached house in the village I grew up in and have no mortgage whatsoever!

Yes thought you did meow - easily identifiable by the academy schools.

The only thing that lets Lincolnshire down is the lack of transport links (if you don't like motorway driving you'll do really well here).

I love it here (Louth), the scenery driving through the Wolds is lovely. I'd be gutted to move.

I live in Southend on Sea. And before any of you roll your eyes it's not all kiss me quick hats!!!
We have a great rail link to London. We also have two of the best rated grammer schools in the country.
And if you like socialising the music scene is fabulous.

swazza makes very valid points.

When we first moved here it felt like we were on holiday. Then it quickly became a PITA, now I am used to it. If I have a hospital appointment it's an hour away, if the kids wanted to go out it was a bloody nightmare. You have to be so organised with your food shopping, you can't pop out for a pint of milk or a loaf of bread, it's just not cost effective to drive a 12 mile round trip to get it. Forget getting a takeaway, I can't remember the last time we had a Chinese or Indian because no-one delivers out here and it would be cold by the time it got here anyway!

Leics has stunningly beautiful villages and lovely countryside. Heart of rural England etc.

If you are after convenient rural living, and having grown-up close to both Leicestershire and Lincolnshire Leicestershire is probably more convenient for transport links and the countryside is more varied. Lincolnshire can be pretty but can also be remote and very cold (as the wind just comes in straight across the flat countryside) and it is less accessible in terms of transport.

Laurie - really liked the second link!! And it's not far from here... Just showed it to DH, who asked "Why is it so cheap?!"

IKnowRight - thanks, that's some good pointers. The public transport in our village isn't great either (bus goes twice a day) so I drive everywhere anyway. Not trying to start a debate but I'm pro grammar system, so that's not a bad point for me. Generally speaking, are most primaries good or do you have to search around to find one?

Where abouts in Lincolnshire are you considering?

Thanks everyone for your input. I guess a weekend trip to Lincs/Leics is in our near future!
I'll also have to figure out how serious DH is, but generally I feel this might be the way forward for us. Our house is bursting at the seams with three young kids and their billions of toys and I just can't see us ever being able to afford a good sized 5bed around here.

As with any location there are pros and cons (the transport situation is a con for most of us). It all depends what are the deal breakers for you and your family. Being in reach of a city (Lincoln or Peterborough) helps, I think, unless you really want the remoteness that the east coast can offer.

I think that Lincs/Leics/Rutland area has some lovely towns and villages. Hope that you have an enjoyable fact-finding visit.

Louth is beautiful. I like living near my family and don't like selection at 11+, but otherwise it would be a top choice for me.

Completely agree, Louth is beautiful.

Damn you all. I just spent a good hour looking at houses in Louth. It's so affordable!

I'm in a naice village quite close to Meow75 and SKYTVADDICT. About to move over the border into Notts but it's not because there's anything wrong with Lincolnshire, just found a nice house we can afford without a mortgage, Waitrose and an Indian restaurant deliver...

if you are looking at Lincoln or near Leicester, than why not also look at Derby? easy transport links to London/Birm/York, some culture (theatre, museums) and good shopping, and also very affordable (even if not in the very best patches) - it's just nothing like as PITA or remote as Lincoln or surrounds in terms of location. A beautiful cathedral too, even though not on Lincoln scale. Oh and it's not flat.

I love living in Lincolnshire. I live in south Lincs so near the A1 and Peterborough so good rail links. Our town has excellent schools and is lovely for parents as lots of play groups and very friendly. I'm currently abroad and I miss it

CalpolOnToast - it's all about choosing the right village. We have 3 Chinese takeaways and a restaurant and an Indian restaurant that delivers too.

But since Domino's arrived in Sleaford, I almost don't need to leave the house!!!

I have family in a village in Notts not far from the Lincs border - they have an Indian, pizza, Chinese, co-op & a train station. They love it there.

I find the scenery a bit featureless though- if it was me I'd go towards Derby and try to be on the edge of the Peaks. But then I'd also hate being so far from the sea. Tough choices!

Meow75 I think it's the same Indian if it's the one on the A17. I can't drive so needed to choose carefully, the new place (Collingham) has a railway station so that will be brilliant.