Living somewhere between Nottingham and Leicester

[chewbacca83]

Right Mumsnet I need advice. I have family in South Notts and DH had got a job offer in central Leicester. We are looking for nice places to live between the two. Location needs to be affordable (3-4 bed for £260000 ISH) good schools and ideally somewhere with nice shops, pubs restaurants and cafes. Don't mind being rural if there are shops and cafes and good transport links. Any tips on villages and towns? Thanks!

Newtown Linford definitely! But not on the main road near the park. Lovely tea room opposite the park. My parents practically live in there!

My mum and dad life in Thurmaston. As a village it's terrible but as a suburb it's not bad. Very safe. I live in Nottingham and it's a 30 min drive straight up the A46 from theirs to mine.

Not in between the two but I would suggest Newark outside of Nottingham. Absolutely amazing house prices and a nice town centre, quick train/drive into Nottingham city centre and about 40 mins to Leicester on the A46. My friend just bought a new, four bedroom town house in a place called Fernwood in Newark, just off the A1 and it is really nice (was less than £200k, amazing!).

Why is Thurmaston terrible as a village out of interest?

woodhouse eaves
Fantastic schools, but you'll need to do some work.
one smaller

I live in a village near Oakham and commute to Leicester city centre. It's a bugger of a drive (about an hour in peak) but worth it for the location.
You'd get something in Oakham for your budget.

Great finds thanks! Anyone know much about Melton?

I don’t think you’d get your budget in Thurmaston. Besides, Thurmaston village isn’t the nice bit. It’s the wider part of Thurmaston that’s better and over there you’re looking at 300-500k for a 3-4 bed detached.

Also it’s no longer a village any more.

Melton isn't the smartest town in the world - it has some lovely bits and some less nice bits but house prices are amazingly cheap!

We are between Melton and Oakham. Melton is vastly more practical shops wise and has some lovely features like the cinema and some nice coffee shops - but it is a bit more "working class" (I hate that description) than Oakham which is definitely at the nicer end of the spectrum.
Melton is an easy train commute to Leicester though.
I cant comment on the Schools.

I moved to the area 4 years ago from the South East. Love it. We are in a teeny village though which would not suit as we have no bus, shop or pub. Bloody beautiful though!

I have friends in Sileby and have been through Barrow-Upon-Soar and both seem lovely. Also both have train stations.

Bingham is lovely and right by the A46.

Just a tad over our price range Cherries 😁

It's the commute from Bingham as he will be working very centrally. Almost would make more sense to do a park and ride or find somewhere on the train line

The park & ride is at birstall, Kirby muxloe & enderby.

Kirby is where the m1 & a46 meet

Coming from Bingham, it would be the Birstall P&R. However I never found it much use as there aren't bus lanes all the way in so the bus sits in traffic. So not of use timewise, but prob cheaper than parking all day in town. You need to find someone who knows the current traffic situation bc I believe you'd queue around Bingham A46/A52 and then queue again on the A46 as you enter leicester (Hobby horse to A6). I think that will be longer than what you want to commute.

IMO the villages between Leicester and Loughborough are just as nice as Bingham. Plus I found being so close to the M1/Leicester/Birmingham an advantage. Leicester is great, very underrated.

As PP said Melton is fine. Houses are a good price. Has a reasonable size town centre/supermarkets etc. Its a farming supply town in its feel thought. Loads of new houses going up if thats your thing. The A606 north to South Notts is a slow road (hilly single lane) though compared to A46. No idea how full the trains are Melton to Leicester in the morning? You'd still end up going to Leicester for any e.g. clothes shopping.

Only if you want to but can you be slightly more specific where your family are?

Melton Mowbray. You'd get a great house for that price, good community, always things going on. Literally half way between Nottinhgham and Leicester.

I’d look at some of the villages south of Bingham near the A46, Cropwell Bishop, Kinoulton and certainly Keyworth to reduce time at the Notts end. No idea about getting into Leicester though, I skim by to the M1 on the A46.

Mountsorrel, rothley, barrow upon soar, quorn, sileby are all nice / ok and easy to commute to Leicester and Nottingham.

Long Eaton is a shithole and will be worse with hs2. And yes I did used to Live there.

You really need to look at the traffic as travelled from Chilwell to Loughborough this week during rush hour and took over an hour.

Hi. I have some good friends who moved to Catle Donington about 30 years ago. It’s a 35 min drive from Leicester via the M1 and A50. There are some lovely detached houses for sale within your price range. It’s a super small town and SO close to East Midlands airport
Our friends love it there and it’s a friendly place with lots going on.

Good luck and happy Christmas

Sorry meant Castle Donington

Ashby de la Zouch looks good too.

I've been looking at Melton and it seems like a good compromise. Quick train to Leicester and loads of big houses on our price range within a mile walk to the train. I'll also check out castle Donnington thanks. I've never been. Family are near Tollerton/Keyworth. From my research I think commute from around there will be too long. I'd rather have more time together as a family and less sitting in a car if we can at all avoid it. Thank you so much everyone for your input. Merry Xmas!

@chewbacca83 let me know if you have any specific questions on Melton and I'll try and answer them!