Moving to Leicester

[FlowerPower25]

Hi all,

DH's job is taking us to Leicester at some point over the next year. The plan was originally to rent for 6months so we could get to know the area (and rent out our house), but now we are expecting! So instead looking to buy straight into the area, and avoiding moving twice whilst pregnant/with newborn.

What areas would you advise living in? We have budget of £350k, give or take, no other children yet so 2-bed/3-bed is fine.

Obviously will visit the town and try to get to know it as much as poss, but always grateful for MNer thoughts!

Thanks in advance! X

Stony gate is the nicest part of town. The new redraw development is also nice. And there are lots of lovely villages on the outskirts.

The area around the uni is nice enough too.

How about Quorn, in between Leicester and Loughborough?

Oadby is nice closer to the city. Not sure about the school situation in Leicester though.

My mum and dad live in Thurmaston. It's not really a village any longer. But it's a decent area with good transport links and a shopping centre.

Knighton is close to town and a nice area, as is Oadby.

I’ve just moved from Thurmaston and honestly wouldn’t recommend, it’s gone downhill.

Syston is also ok, there is a busy shopping Main Street but busy.

Are you looking to be close to town or slightly more into the country?

Getting across town is awful at rush hour. Look at your DH's new job address and head out of the city from that side.
Will you be looking to stay for 5 years or so? If so, consider schools. A pp mentioned Stoneygate (stamping ground of my undergrad years) but I don't think you'll find much in budget there.

Quorn is lovely as are lots of north of the city villages and I like Syston as a bit of a cross between city and village. I don't know south of the city well to be honest. I wouldn't personally live in the city but it's a great place to visit brilliant museums, good parks and a premier league winning football team

Thanks everyone! We're heading up in about a month, so will take a look at the places you've all mentioned x

Hi, we were in your position many years ago! It is a good idea to visit and rent.
The best area in the City boundaries are Stoneygate and South Kinighton. It is a 2 mile straight road into the City centre and railway station. Lovely family areas and great green spaces of Knighton Park and the Botanical Gardens.
The school catchment is not so good for Secondary, but that might not bother you.
Best schools primary and Secondary are in Oadby which morphs on from South Knighton and Stoneygate, but is outside the City boundary. It has a good variety of housing and a little village area of shops with M&S food, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.
But, two South Leicestershire villages are very popular with families. They are Great Glen and Kibworth Beauchamp. Both are on the same road (A6) as the other City places.
Kibworth is equidistant between Leicester and Market Harborough ( another great little town with a station). Kibworth has a lovely village centre, full of life, coffee shops, book shop, antique centre and Co-op!
It has outstanding Primary and Secondary schools.
South Leicester/ Leicestershire has a less ‘industrial’ feel to it IMO.

Move to South Knighton. If we hadn't had to move (to another city, a couple of years ago), we would have stayed in South Knighton forever. I can't quite explain why I loved it so much, I guess some combination of nice houses, lots of trees, friendly community.

Stoneygate is nice too (lovely houses) but the little shopping street which had cute shops and cafes seemed to have gone a bit downhill, quite a few of the shops closed down - probably a delayed effect of the financial crash? Might have recovered by now.

Also we loved Clarendon Park, really vibrant high street and real community spirit and some lovely houses.

All three areas are very near each other - within walking distance. There are various community events like street fairs and Art House (google it) which people get involved in.

It depends where your husband will be working and how willing he is to exert himself, but we used to walk or cycle to work, our route took us across Victoria Park and down New Walk which was very pleasant.

JT05 YY! Forgot to mention Knighton Park and the Botanic Gardens also within walking distance - we used to go to one or the other almost every weekend.

I feel all wistful and nostalgic now .

Nearly 20 years since I left Leicester, I loved it. Best place in the world. I lived in Oadby and Thorpe Astley (braunstone) and DH was on the Mad Mile (Narborough Rd) we still have friends there and friends who have left who feel the same way. I can't describe it but Leicester is a special place and much overlooked.
For the record none of us where students in Leicester we all had jobs, so not some student reminiscing.
Enjoy there are some lovely villages as well

Hi, this may sound stupid, but where is the best place to shop in Leicester? I’ve been to the Richard III centre, the National Space Centre, some cricket academy and driven past John Lewis but that seemed to be about it. What am I missing? Where is a good part to take a 19 year old girl clothes shopping? And are there any good museums? Sorry to hijack the thread

What kind of shopping?

High Cross (including John Lewis) is the shopping centre with all the usual brands. There are a couple of arcades but I don't know how well they're doing now. Also (IIRC) St Martin's Square and surrounding streets which had boutique and independent shops.

And what sort of museums? Apart from the National Space Centre and Richard III there's New Walk Museum which is a lovely little place with a natural history gallery, an Egyptian gallery, the Picasso ceramics and a selection of other art.

There's also Newarke house museum on the de monfort campus which is a real find with a recreated trench, Victorian street Anderson shelters etc.. my kids spend hours in there
Then Belgrave house and gardens opens through the summer and Jewry wall museum .
Just next to the space centre is abbey pumping station which is a science museum based on the old sewage works- kids love playing with the fake poo there!

Thanks everyone - I'd forgotten about the Abbey Pumping Station! The New Walk Museum sounds great as well. Is there a dedicated art gallery at all?

Also parking -I've previously parked on the top of the Holiday Inn and also used the park & ride. is there a more central long-stay car park? I tend to go to Great Glen and Oadby but I haven't properly explored Leicester yet - am still new (ish) to the area.

Look at villages like Groby and Ratby, fantastic transport links but lovely village feeling with lots of countryside and great schools. You will get a 4 bed detached for your budget easily.

Oh yes (back on the museums) - the most excellent steam train that goes from Leicester North through all the stations from different eras!

Vanilla there’s a multi storey car park for Highcross opposite John Lewis. Easy to get to, off the ring road.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62983894.html

If I had 350k to spend, I might consider buying this one. Most parts of Leicester are fine, although the south is considered to be the poshest.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71660459.html

Another great house in a great location.

Excellent - thanks Jt

A little warning about Enderby, was a lovely old village once. Now surrounded by housing developments, at certain times its snarled up by traffic. Mostly due to its proximity to M1 junction 21 and the start of the M69.
On a positive note it does have the Park and Ride facility.
Quorn is a nice village if you want to be on the North side. You definitely get more house for your money in these areas, but there’s a reason.

There's nothing wrong with the north side of Leicester and Quorn is a picturesque village and very expensive, as is Rothley. Although, I have heard lots of brexiters live in Quorn, so maybe stick to the south side.

South side of Leicester is the nicest, or one of the south Leicestershire towns/villages. Great Glen, Kibworth, Market Harborough are all close to Leicester.