Relocating from West Midlands

[Rockhopper81]

We are in the process of selling our house (no buyer yet) and are at a bit of an impasse as to where to look next.

We are planning to relocate from the West Midlands and are looking for something more rural, no more than 90mins from Birmingham/Coventry (family still there). Budget of maximum £315k, 4 beds OR 3 beds and an 'extra' reception room.

We're looking north of the West Midlands - obviously - due to budget, and have been looking at South Derbyshire predominantly so far, as well as East Staffordshire (to the East of Burton-on-Trent).

Have visited Hatton, Tutbury and Willington so far and really liked them (Tutbury and Willington slightly more so), didn't really like Swadlincote. Parts of Littleover seemed okay, other parts not so much what we're looking for. Schools are on the radar, but no children yet, so not essential at the moment.

I guess just somewhere where the pace of life is a little slower than city living. Driver and non-driver, so a bus or train to the nearest town or city is preferred.

Has anyone got any ideas of where to look next??

I'll admit, I've studied a map, but they're all just names of places - I don't have much experience of what areas are like. We drove around Hilton, half of which seemed very 'built up', half of which seemed more 'village-like', and it was definitely the village-like that appealed more...any ideas would be greatly appreciated! We're open to suggestions of areas to look into at the moment.

Thanks in advance!

Stamford is nice. East rather than north of bham with direct train to new street too.

Droitwich Spa is nice

havent lived there but we go to the biuxton area on our bike a lot and from what ive seen buxton is a decent sized town and surrounding area is so pretty as its peak district

Honestly hadn't thought of east of Birmingham - definitely something to look into!

Buxton is on the list to look at, we just need to see how long it takes to get there.

Thanks for the link @Kakfor - I am looking to move out of the West Midlands, but there's some interesting information on Stoke etc. on that page.

Lichfield is nice and has train to Birmingham.

Definitely lots to look at on that site @Kakfor - thanks for the link!

@babyboyHarrison - definitely keeping an eye on Lichfield, it looks lovely.

Abbots Bromley? I have family who have lived there for years and love it!

This one is within your price range
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80481734.html

But if you look on right move (page2) there are few that are at £350k which have been on for sale for months and months....

We have friends who live in Willington. They really enjoy it, it's a lovely spot. Much quieter than Repton, which is the next village.

Have you considered the area just south of Loughborough? Quorn is lovely, and I used to love living in Barrow upon Soar (less initially pretty, but has train station, a small lively high street and a fab docs surgery). Buses to Loughborough and trains to Loughborough and Leicester (15 ish mins I think, but can't really remember). There's loads of nice little paths along the river / canal and around the town and a good mix of housing. Various pubs, good food at the Blacksmiths Arms. I wish I still lived there!

Montsorrel isn't much cop.

Also in the same area, Woodhouse Eaves is nice too, but definitely more rural feeling than the others mentioned.

Here you go, if you can stretch slightly (5 bed & big garden!): www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/62856777

Or this, characterful 3 bed:
www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/60286314

4 bed townhouse. There's loads of options within budget tbh.
www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/62626275

We really liked Willington, and the train station is a major plus.

I've heard of Abbots Bromley, is will definitely look into that more.

Will have a look around Loughborough - I know east of Birmingham even less than I know north of it!

Thanks for all your help, it's been so useful.

Thanks @chansondematin - another area I hadn't considered, will head over there now.

I live in Willington. It's lovely! Littleover is very nice but Normanton borders it which is practically a ghetto. Mickleover is also nice. Swad is defiantly not great! Have you looked at Etwall? It's a nice small village and has a very good secondary school.
Have you also considered South Staffs or Worcester?
Wombourne, Trysull, Kinver, are south staffs. All close enough to Wolverhampton and Birmingham All nice afluent areas. And Worcestershire is beautiful. It takes 50 mins in the train from Worcester to Birmingham or 40 mins drive down the m5.

@PolkaDotHoneyPot - we really liked Willington! I think if the right property was available at the point we're ready to make an offer, we would probably go for it. But we're also aware that property in villages isn't as plentiful as it is in the city, so we need to have other places we like so we have options.

We drove through Mickleover, but didn't really see enough to come to any conclusions - think we'll have to revisit that one. The part of Littleover we liked was the Mickleover side, if that makes sense? Will look into Etwall as well - I've seen the name, but we haven't been there yet.

Hadn't considered Worcester to be fair - I assumed we would have to go north for our budget! - so will have a look that way.

It's all simultaneously great to move area completely, and scary that we don't know any of these areas well at all!