Preston vs York

[ifsogirl]

We have been seriously thinking about moving to Preston, but now I'm having doubts. On the plus side it has good transport links to Manchester, Lake District etc. But the town itself is horrible. Been looking at Penwortham and Fulwood areas. Fulwood seems to have plenty of age suitable activities and is near the hospital. We're retired but active, so schools/commuting aren't a consideration. Plenty of affordable property. But I am worried about how safe it is, not planning to go out at night, but for dog walking.

Also wondering about North Yorkshire/York, mainly because it features in some "best place to live" lists and does not have any negative associations. I have only been to York once, many years ago. Have a maximum of 400,000 so that rules out anywhere within commuting distance of London.

York
But if you want to be close to the Lakes, Lancaster is much nicer than Preston

Check out Broughton, Barton and Garstang too..... not too far from Preston centre 😀

How about Kendal? You’re in Cumbria, fantastic scenery right on the doorstep but large enough for there to be plenty going on.
Agree Lancaster even better though.

Definitely York. I live near Lancaster and go to Preston occasionally - it's not a patch on York. York is far nicer, better amenities, better shops, better public transport. No brainer.

I would choose lancaster or Kendal if you want to stay in the NW. The downside of other villages/small towns around Preston is no main line train station.

York is stunning is you are happy to move away from NW.

Fulwood is its own township.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulwood,_Lancashire

Yes it is very close and very accessible to Preston's city centre, but it also has the hospital there, a new shopping area going up and an Asda super centre. Lots of lovely homes and the proximity to the motorway makes it easily accessible. That whole area is safe and actually pretty nice.

From the link

For several reasons, despite its close proximity to Preston, it has remained distinctly separated. Historically, Fulwood was governed independently from Preston until 1974. Furthermore, since the majority of the area is encompassed under The Fulwood Conservation Area, it has remained geographically separate from Preston.[2] Fulwood, in 2011, had a population of 28,353 and is made up of five wards.

OP you could get a house like this

www.storyhomes.co.uk/homes/durton-manor-plot-235/?search=true

It's a very lovely area with the lake and a walkable distance to the new Aldi (as well as Costa and B&M going up), you're also right near a lovely golf course. If you go for a new build make sure to get your 5% off in incentives so deposit contribution, stamp duty, legal fees, etc this is different to what is already in the house so try not to let them add the upgrades to the total if the house is already built.

Well, if wikipedia says it true... Having been to Fulwood many times it feels like just another suburb of Preston to me. It's nice enough but I wouldn't say there is anything particularly special about it. And if you have the freedom to go anywhere really, it wouldn't be my first choice.

@HJWT As you don't seem to like wetter and colder as a proxy for likelihood of snow...
Preston av snow 11 inches
York av snow 0.2 inches

@whatsthecomingoverthehill

I've been there many times as well and I definitely would say it's different from other parts of Preston. For example I would say Fulwood is the opposite of an area like Ribbleton. If you have your pick of anywhere in the UK, I can see why someone would choose an area like Fulwood

1. Preston's city deal means there's been mass investment in the area
2. Many of the homes come with solar panels
3. Cost of living is lower so you get a far better house for your money than in other areas
4. Proximity to Manchester and Manchester's airport
5. Ultra fast fibre broadband in most of this area
6. Access to a large hospital (so you can easily bus there or perhaps even walk if you needed to)
7. This area is massively expanding and is probably going to be a part of the reason that Preston becomes "gentrified" since it is attracting high salaried individuals with its availability of large new houses

Fulwood’s a bit....soulless somehow. Not somewhere I’d choose over York or Lancaster suburbs.

I live near Kendal, which is really nice. Lancaster's ok. Preston... I would not choose to live in. York is lovely. Between York and Preston it would be a total no-brainer for me, unless cost ruled out York.

Fulwood will turn out to be the better investment regardless if people don't want to let the idea of what's in their minds rather than what's reality now go. The reason for that is the workers of Manchester are being priced out of housing in the area, so they are moving to areas like Fulwood for all the reasons I mentioned above. Fulwood has more potential of property going up in value. You don't want to go to an area that is already over heated imo. I'm speaking from experience of moving to another area that became gentrified and we profited very nicely from it.

They’ve been trying to gentrify Fulwood for donkey’s years and it’s not had much effect. Roads are horrendous too. I’m not saying Kendal, Lancaster etc haven’t congestion but at least you’ve something pleasant to look at while you’re sat in traffic.
City Deal mainly involves whacking massive great roads over green belt and building commuter boxes on flood plains from what I can tell.

They’ve been trying to gentrify Fulwood for donkey’s years and it’s not had much effect

That may have been the case in the past but because of the influence of foreign investment in Manchester, many are now priced out of the Greater Manchester area so this is currently forcing many changes in the area.

@CedarTreeLeaf Fullwood is not a nice place, it looks nice on paper or when travelling through, houses are high in price as well as rent being high compared to other areas, but id be scared to go out to the shops at 10PM even in the car, surrounded by Moor Nook and Deepdale. Were as higher penwortham is a nice quiet area, its the only place id choose to live in terms of the preston area... even Cottam is a nice place but go over the round about and your in Ingol which really isn't !!

Ok CedarTreeleaf our experiences of the area are very different, but that’s fine. There’s some beautiful old houses there but the area as a whole wouldn’t be for me, for the reasons HJWT gives and others.

I currently live in penwortham.....grew up in leyland lived in Preston city centre for 12 months and been in penwortham for ten years. Feel free to message if you have any specific questions on the area

I don't know how to link old threads but there were 2 recently: one was Preston v Edinburgh and one was how York city centre is overrun with stags and hens.
I'm originally from Preston and I can tell you the roads around Fulwood Asda are an absolute nightmare at rush hour. I'd recommend Lytham. Are you currently Carlisle/border region?

HJWT

I have never had any bad experiences in Fulwood, and I've been there at least 200 times lol. I have no idea why you think you're going to be unsafe, but I guess some people are just more paranoid because it's close to Preston. The experience I've had through there (coming from Essex) is that people are very friendly and welcoming, there also seems to be a lot going on and lots of new houses and shops being built. I feel far far safer when I go there than I would have been in some areas of Essex. Some people move there just to get in to certain catchments for schools as well. I feel like it's completely safe and personally couldn't justify spending £400k to be in a tight space that will need work in York when I could have a massive new detached house with double garage and all amenities in walking distance from me in Fulwood. 🤷

Cedarleaftree yes royal Preston hospital....for the residents of Preston I think your really reaching to Mrs bucket standard

Moominfan

I don't live there, I'm just going by what Wikipedia says that it's separate from Preston. When I have been in Preston's city centre, I would say it is very different. Having the Preston hospital in Fulwood, is only an advantage, especially when you consider the parking charges and whatnot imo.

What about Chipping op ? Just outside Preston in the Trough of Bowland. £325k would get you this;
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-79613069.html
Also look at Ribchester

@CedarTreeLeaf I used to work at RPH, had to park at the old hospital and get the 6AM bus, watching groups of young lads walk past with their hoods up smoking weed made it feel a tad unsafe!! Not to mention the young man who got stabbed and killed 5 minutes up the road, But there are gangs were ever you go. Comparing it to rough area's of Essex then I understand why you think its better!!