Boston lincs....really that bad?

[mklanch]

hi all, i have been on my house search for over a year now!
we have a budget of £325k (possibly 350k for perfect property)
we want a house/bungalow with around 1 acre of land to continue my small holding.(more that 1 acre would be a dream) we don't have an area preference and are willing to relocate as my husband works from home.
we have 2 children (11 and 8) so schools must be good.
we cant find anything! every time we see something we like it sells or they are not willing to accept offers.
so i have seen a few houses in boston, lincolnshire that seem perfect but having had a look through a few previous forums on here i get the impression its not a great area, nothing to do and smells of cabbage!
can anyone give me either advice on boston or advice on other areas that are nice where we can get what we want on our budget.
(husband has said no to rural wales, scotland and yorkshire)
thank you :)

[Llamasally]

As PPs have said, for Lincolnshire look at Stamford, Louth, Lincolnshire Wolds. Some lovely properties, beautiful areas, stuff going on (for a very rural area at least) and good value for money. Without being a shithole. Like Boston.

[userchange856]

@Llamasally how many properties with an acre of land for £350k do you think you'll find near to Stamford?

[Llamasally]

[quote userchange856]@Llamasally how many properties with an acre of land for £350k do you think you'll find near to Stamford?[/quote]
Good point . Sorry.

There are places on the edges of the Wolds that definitely could fit this criteria though OP, maybe not directly in the AONB but very close. Keep looking!

Woodhall Spa is also really lovely - again not sure on prices there. But much cheaper than Stamford.

[userchange856]

Stamford is such an oddity for that area, I know it's pretty but I think the prices are criminal for its location, there really isn't enough going on there to justify the prices (in my opinion!)

[DragonmotherKhaleesi]

I'm on the outskirts of Lincoln. My children attend the local outstanding schools.
Areas to look at I'd say are Welton, Nettleham, Dunholme, Faldingworth.
Then the other side of Lincoln there is Washingborough, Navenby, Brant Broughton, Bassingham, Thurlby.
Towards Newark there is Collingham, Swinderby, North Scarle, Eagle, Thorpe on the Hill, Doddington, Whisby , Saxilby, Newton on Trent , Fenton.
So many lovely villages with good transport and short drive to Lincoln or Newark.

[funtimefrank]

I have family who moved from London to a village on the edge of Boston. They have been there 15 years and love it.

I must say I hate it but I grew up in the Cotswolds and find it too flat and bleak and a bit disconcerting. It also seems to take ages to get there and the roads scare me.

My relatives retired there and have increasing health needs as they age. They seem to have good facilities and waiting times. Shopping for 'fun' seems limited (by which I mean shopping for non essentials) and they go to Peterborough for that but that may very well not be a consideration. They find loads to visit/occupy themselves and made a small social circle through a shared hobby fairly easily.

But (and it is a big one), whilst I love my family members, they do sadly fit into the right wing little englander bigot mould. They do not see diverse as a positive and the locals vs Eastern European is a favourite topic of discussion.

Tbf they are now late 70s and a product of their time but what they were looking for and have found and continue to enjoy would not be for me.

[HandlebarLadyTash]

Grew up in a village nr louth, attended secondary school & still like the town. Can recommend as a location.

[CliffsofMohair]

Watch ‘Wild Bill’.

[mklanch]

@DragonmotherKhaleesi

I'm on the outskirts of Lincoln. My children attend the local outstanding schools.
Areas to look at I'd say are Welton, Nettleham, Dunholme, Faldingworth.
Then the other side of Lincoln there is Washingborough, Navenby, Brant Broughton, Bassingham, Thurlby.
Towards Newark there is Collingham, Swinderby, North Scarle, Eagle, Thorpe on the Hill, Doddington, Whisby , Saxilby, Newton on Trent , Fenton.
So many lovely villages with good transport and short drive to Lincoln or Newark.

my budget is £400k now (not that it makes much difference) lol

ill keep a look out for these areas. i really like newark but there isnt alot with land that comes up.

[TheTestOfTime]

What about this?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78036090#/

I think that it is catchment for Marshland High School, which is popular. The second closest primary at Terrington was and is still well regarded, as far as I know.

I have lived relatively local to here and not heard anything negative about Walton Highway, although I don’t have personal experience. King’s Lynn nearby doesn’t have the best reputation (although better than Wisbech) but it has a direct train line to Cambridge and London, and some lovely old buildings, so I think that it will come up over the next decade.

If you are looking for private schools, Wisbech Grammar is well regarded but is not a selective state grammar as someone above had said.

[TheTestOfTime]

Actually reading back over the thread it looks like you’re after something older/with a bit more character, that one just popped up on my rightmove feed and I thought of this thread!

[mklanch]

@TheTestOfTime

Actually reading back over the thread it looks like you’re after something older/with a bit more character, that one just popped up on my rightmove feed and I thought of this thread!

i have seen this bungalow but ruled it out. there was a green house in front of it that i really liked but needed alot of work.
this bungalow is essentially in that houses garden! thats why we ruled it out.

this was the green house
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/103692884#/

[mklanch]

@TheTestOfTime

Actually reading back over the thread it looks like you’re after something older/with a bit more character, that one just popped up on my rightmove feed and I thought of this thread!

at this point in time i'm not that fussy. i would love a house with fireplaces and character but they rarely come up with land now.
alot have been brought and the land separated of to build houses on! :(

[TheTestOfTime]

mklanch - that’s interesting, as the situation with the green house wasn’t apparent from the bungalow particulars. If I see anything else that might be of interest in Cambridgeshire/Norfolk, I’ll put it on here, as I know the area quite well.

[Marcipex]

I grew up in the Fens and I really like it. I also had loads of nice friends as there were/are grammar schools, Guides, Scouts etc.
As for right wing and unaspirational, you could be describing the pretty Devon village where I live now. The gossip is just as narrow-minded (and we had a UKIP leaflet through the door), also the envy directed at people who do well in life.
Also most of the good shops have closed here too :(

[mklanch]

@TheTestOfTime

mklanch - that’s interesting, as the situation with the green house wasn’t apparent from the bungalow particulars. If I see anything else that might be of interest in Cambridgeshire/Norfolk, I’ll put it on here, as I know the area quite well.

thank you :)

[ActuallyIveGotDental]

Seriously, ignore peoples opinions of Boston! Even if you pick a village nearby, you're not going to be living IN Boston, and aside from schools (which there are good ones in Boston) you can pick what town you use for shopping, leisure etc. Living rurally, we don't just go to one town- we use Boston, Sleaford, Newark, Grantham, Lincoln and various village shops!

For best schools I'd really recommend the Sleaford area, although for primaries I'd stick to the village ones in that area rather than in town. School transport is also really good.

I'm still genuinely shocked by some of the opinions on here. I wouldn't live IN Boston, but that's because I love villages/rural living and wouldn't live in any town.

[ActuallyIveGotDental]

Clicked send too soon...

The map I posted is the area that I'd stick to personally, if you want to talk to someone local who understands rural living then feel free to contact me. I suspect that some of the comments are people that don't understand rural living- Boston is considered by many to be a dead end area because if it's own lack of facilities and distance from cities, but when you want rural none of that matters.

[Bluesheep8]

The OP's question was "Is Boston really that bad?" Some posters have said yes, based on their experience and in their opinion, it is.

[ActuallyIveGotDental]

@Bluesheep8

The OP's question was "Is Boston really that bad?" Some posters have said yes, based on their experience and in their opinion, it is.

She's been absolutely clear she wants land though so it's never going to be IN Boston itself. And lots of the opinions are from people who don't actually live in the area but are judging from a distance.

[changeruset2748]

Yes my friend lives on a small holding within that circular map and is extremely happy, she got a ridiculous about of land for her money! They don't have kids though so don't have to worry about school, so yes she only goes to towns for shopping and otherwise loves the quiet life.

[changeruset2748]

Plus you have Springfields around there which I personally love!

[ActuallyIveGotDental]

Yes- Springfields is awesome! And there'll be the new shopping village at Grantham soon. Roads are improving here too with the bypasses at lincoln (an absolute dream!) and Grantham. We have so many places to visit for walls etc as well.

[mklanch]

@changeruset2748

Yes my friend lives on a small holding within that circular map and is extremely happy, she got a ridiculous about of land for her money! They don't have kids though so don't have to worry about school, so yes she only goes to towns for shopping and otherwise loves the quiet life.

did your friend buy her property with the land or purchase the land separately?
we were thinking that might be an option for us as we are really struggling to find a house with land.
my main job will be working on my land so i dont need to be in easy reach of towns or anything like that. most of our time will be spend on the land.