Is Rotherham an ok place to live? Or chesterfield?

[VivaLeBeaver]

We are still house hunting in the Sheffield area and can’t find anything we like for our 300k budget. (Three beds, detached).

So are thinking of widening the search area. Rotherham seems cheap. I’ve never been there in my life. Commuting into Sheffield by public transport seems ok and I read there’s a new tram line about to be set up from Rotherham. I ideally need to be somewhere where it’s easy to get into Sheffield by public transport as parking an issue at work.

Then started wondering about chesterfield as thought could get a train from there? But I read chesterfield is quite rough? As long as the area I live in is ok though guess not too bothered, won’t be planning nights out in local bars.

We’re both quite outdoorsy, so somewhere with good access to dog walks, cycle trails would be good. We love the Peak District and in an ideal world would live there but again out of budget. Don’t need to worry about schools/kids.

Yes, that’s true. Not such a problem in s7 and s8.

Parts of S10 very studenty though. I wouldn't go for either Rotherham or Chesterfield tbh, would rather a smaller house in Sheffield if that's possible.

Really don’t want a semi. That house in Beauchief needs gutting and is also small.

bikerunski. Is Penistone nice? Know nothing about it apart from the transpennine trail is close by and there’s a Tesco.

Guess I’m not too bothered though what the town centre shops are like because firstly I don’t do town shopping trips very often and secondly I guess sheffield or Meadowhall is close enough for such excursions. But if it is nice it’s a bonus.

I really like Penistone - it’s a small market town, with plenty of local services, and - you’re right - a Tesco, Not massive, but not a local either. Lovely community run leisure centre. Still has a PO, nice gluten free Cafe, library, 2 primaries, we’ll respected grammar school and an independent cinema. Lots of outdoorsy stuff, not far from the now famous “spotty Cafe”. Quick trip into Sheffield or Meadowhall, now also a smaller retail park at Fox Valley - only about 10 mins away, which I like because it’s outdoors and has a big bike shop! Weekday trains are hourly into Sheffield. People either tend to get into a routine with these or use the Meadowhall Park and Ride. It is rural though, big agricultural show every Sept. If you like rural, it’s fab.

I do like rural and have family Huddersfield direction so tha would be good. House prices seem better there am finding a few I like the look of. Any areas to avoid? Thanks.

I will have to stop pronouncing it Penis-stone with a smirk like I currently do if I move there though!

Penistone is nice. Bit rural but I think it’s lovely. Make sure you’ve got a shovel for winter snows.

I'd also say careful in Crookes, some parts of it are quite rough (think knife crime). And Woodseats isn't great, lots of antisocial behaviour on the 'strip'
User-I guess it comes down to personal taste. SW Sheff tends to be more educated, more independent shops, better schools, lovely old houses, amazing parts and lots of culture. The Hallam voting district was (?still is) the area with the most degrees per head in the country.

Whereas South East Sheffield ( I have extended family there so know some areas quite well) is much more deprived, very pro brexit, anti expert, poorly educated. The sort of place you would never find a loaf of sourdough bread in a shop (My personal marker for an area I would live in!)
The north of Sheffield again is much more deprived, poorly educated, some areas with very high crime (Southey green, Parsons cross) and less 'cultured', i.e. much more football culture (Hillsborough) and about Meadowhall.

But, I'm sure someone will be on soon after who has a completely different view. I guess it's about giving a mix of opinions, so the OP can decide.

Not rural, but if you could find an extra 60k down the back of your sofa OP!
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69139919.html

You will always get the s10 and South West of Sheffield suggestions on here but lovely as they are, they come with a price tag to match. As others have said there are some nice parts of Rotherham with some stunning countryside nearby too. Thorpe Hesley is lovely as are Wickersley. Whiston, Wentworth areaand Bramley
On the other side you have Todwick which is popular and pretty.
If you need a train station Swinton has its nice bits. I personally didn't like Wath but I lived in a crappy part of Wath which made a difference.

In Sheffield itself Oughtibridge and Bradway are gorgeousand really near some beautiful countryside.

I would definitely rent before you buy though as you will get a better idea which areas are a good fit for you

Penistone isn’t big enough to have bad areas!

@ChequeredPasta that will be a bugger to park at! Beaut of a house tho.

That semi on Eccleshall road is very similar to current house. But hours is worth nearly 200k less and is much more modern in decor with nicer kitchen, log burner, etc. Plus eccleshall road would be far too busy for me.

And am currently in bed on far side of my semi and can hear next door neighbour bellowing in their kitchen, have said I won’t live in a semi again. Even a big one with the hallway/landing on the party walls.

But I could fall out of bed into work which would be a bonus!

And you could easily obtain a loaf of sourdough bread

Hallam constituency was the area with the highest number of degrees per capita, I suspect largely because as demonstrated here, it's considered the only place to live in Sheffield by some. Part of north Sheffield falls into the Hallam constituency though.

Sheffield is also one of the places with the biggest jump in house prices over a small geographical distance.

This thread really shows the cultural split of UK. What is football culture? Do they talk lacrosse in Dore?

Why don't you find a couple of properties you like the look of in each area OP. Then book viewings and have a mooch around.

Neither Rotherham or Chesterfield are very big. You could have a drive around, some lunch maybe in a pub local to the properties you like.

There are lots of areas mentioned that are pretty different and what one person thinks is fab another can't imagine anything worse.

I wouldn't want to live in sheffield personally. Bloody hate driving through or around it, don't like the city centre, hate meadowhall. Don't like how busy it is everywhere or the students or the bustle.

It is close to the Peak District which is beautiful but it wouldn't be enough for me.

Rotherham has a bad reputation. The town centre is a shit hole. But I only go once every 8 weeks for the hairdressers. Plenty of retail parks to go to instead. Some of Rotherham is pretty and unspoilt. Especially on the outskirts of Rotherham towards Barnsley.

Barnsley is nice. Or the town centre is nicer than Rotherhams anyway. Some nice villages.

I don't know Chesterfield that well. Have always thought it was a bit rough but I live in Rotherham so the bar isnt that high.

I am pretty sure you could get rural village type feel with trains to sheffield for your budget. Have a look on rightmove at rotherham, barnsley and chesterfield then put links on here.

Bet the hive mind will know the areas and be able to help.

I live in Penistone - moved here a year ago. Agree it's not big enough to have any bad areas, lots of new houses being built near train station.

It's stunningly beautiful round here, really good if you're into running or cycling.

All the primary schools are at least good ofsted if not outstanding and grammar school gets a good ofsted and good results (It's a non-selective secondary school as well).

I help out at the leisure centre which is volunteer run and great for the weekend roller skating sessions.

I used to play roller derby, partial to a bit of roller skating. Penistone s soundng better and better. Dh has just said his dad was from there which I never knew.

That semi on Eccleshall road is very similar to current house. But hours is worth nearly 200k less and is much more modern in decor with nicer kitchen, log burner, etc.

Sounds lovely! I can see why you aren't excited by 70's semis

It’s a sign Viva!

That’s what I reckon!

Don’t know Penistone but do know some lovely people there! Not heard a bad thing about it.

I grew up in S10 (Broomhill) and have family/friends who live Chesterfield and Rotherham.
The Peak District side of Chesterfield (Holymoorside) is nice but I wouldn't live in Rotherham ....
Crookes, Fulwood, Dore, Millhouses lots of nice areas with good schools and easy access to Peak District.

Personally I would rather have a slightly smaller house in a nice area with a good school - some of the bad schools are really really rough.