Lincoln vs Newark, and is Lincoln very slow paced generally?

[CatAndHisKit]

Thinking of moving to either but would be nice to hear from the locals or ex-locals. Schools not an issue, its more about which is nicer and also train connections.
I know Newark is better connected but Lincoln now has a better line to London though it's not hugely frequent. Elsewhere trains are SLOW - i.e. to NOttingham and Sheffield, is ther any talk of speedingthese up?
Otherwise Newark just isnt that nive from what I've seen, less to do than in Lincoln?

Finally has been viewing and made an offer (lower than asking) in Lincoln and everything seems veeery relaxed there - vendors seem to take ages to decide, buyers not booking vieings immediately so viewings aer stretched out overa few wek - whereas in the West of the region it's handbags at dawn! Lots of viewings and fast offers. The agent in Lincoln saying 'it's only been on the narket a week (no offers apart from mine) but where I am anything comparable has a crowd of FTB and downsizers as it's a lower price bracket - offers within couple of days.

I used to drive through Newark every day to get to work in Lincoln. Whilst the traffic can back up in Newark, it is nothing compared to the nightmare driving round Lincoln, at any time! The train lines across many of the roads back up traffic so badly.

Lincoln is a bit isolated, there's not really any close cities but it does have a lot there so if you're not interested in a lot of travelling it's fine. And yes, a lot slower pace! Like a sleepy city almost.

Newark on the other hand, close links to London like you say, but also closer to Nottingham, Leicester and Grantham, oh and 10 mins from Belvoir if the countryside is your thing.

Also, very cheap property in both. Go a few miles south and you can double your prices!

Just RTFT. Stay away from Worksop OP. Unfortunately that entire corridor between Lincoln and Sheffield is cheap for a reason. Just no. Poor links, ex mining, deprived areas

Sheffield is great, close to the peak District, nice buzzy areas such as Ecclesall Road. I used to live close to here and was great (in my 20s) not sure how I'd feel about walking past vomit these days though!

@FAQs it's such a beautiful building. If an apartment/flat suited my lifestyle I'd buy one in that building without a doubt!

yes that's a stunning converted flat FAQ ! done with much taste.

Treacle yes I got a unanimous 'no' to Worksop already! But I think Woodhouse in that 'corridor' is ok? same train line Sheff-Lincoln but closer to Sheffield (also Darnall there). I've entioned that I loved Ecclesall Rd and would live around there but it's gone expensive, though I am keeping a neye on Meersbrook which is not far - so far only terraces available with a timy 2d bed and then a loft larger 3d bed, but I need two good size bedrooms on first floor (don't really need a 3d - yet the 2-beds ar a rarity or wider format).

Kolo and BikerWife - thank you for speaking for Newark and Lincoln respectively, with some passion! That's just what I wanted to hear, from people who are a fan of either place. It really helps to see a bit of an emotion that places create rather than just hard facts.

Kolo, thanks for pointing out various aspects of Newark that aer not immediately obvious to a visitor, such as abour riverside walks and the countryside. I need to look around ore rather than just seeing the main square.

Biker thank you for a bit od the inside info and how you have to lok for things in Lincoln but they are there! It's exactly the info I needed - good to know things are happening as it does look a bit too quiet on visits - I don't mind that generally but I would want some cultural activities to be there and again, only a local would know about it. I did go past the Brayford briefly - does look nice but obviously at the moment no students around and it was an overcast afternoon - so it was a bt empty but I could imagine that in the evenings or when the restrictions lift more , it would be very nice there - I was there last before the pubs/rests had opened.
Do you know about the parks? I want to view a house near Boultham park - it may quite a boring suburb but it's on the side of the parks and easy to get to the centre. I like the North side as it's easier to walk to the bets areas in town, but no parks there as such.

Treacle well the connections aer slow to Sheffiled and NOttingham but quite good on the Petrborough line to London (same timing as from York to London) and Newark and Grantham easy to reach. Im hoping that MAYBE theyll bother to speed up the Nottingham line at some point.

My thanks for that info - yes I've just mentioned this in another post that they all seem to have a loft bedroom and a tiny 2d bed on the forst flor but I need 2 good nedrooms on same floor with the bathroom - so Id rather go for a 2-bed like that than a 3 bed like those terraces, that's hte issue - otherwise theye aer in budget. Budget is small, under 200K.

Newark is an anagram of wanker.

grin it's getting a bit stressful so thanks for the light relief!

I grew up in Lincoln (moved away for uni in 07 but still visit regularly). I thought it was a good place to grow up, small enough to be safe but big enough to be interesting. There’s more and more cultural things going on (Pre Covid) with gigs and events at the university (look up LPAC). There’s also plenty of things in the uphill cathedral quarter, regular farmers markets, Christmas market, steampunk weekend, 1940s weekend etc and the castle hosts events in the grounds like chow down food festival, historical theme events. There’s also the show ground on the A15 out of Lincoln which has lots of things throughout the year.
I’ve ended up settled elsewhere and due to jobs not likely to move, but I would be happy to live in Lincoln (with the caveat that I’d be looking for a house uphill or in the west end).

thank you SBAM, good to know about the various events and organisers.
What about the area near Boultham Park? that seems nice too and cheaper, the west side of it. Ive also looked in Bracebridge but it lacks something imo.

I do parkrun at Boultham Park

The area near there and also bracebridge is not that great really...

North Hykeham is not far from there and much nicer and good for families, it also has its own train station.

The North side of Lincoln is nice, Burton Road area.. Again lots of families with the bonus you can walk into town

I'm looking on rightmove now

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77106997.html

Something modern North side of town in decent area?

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71059398.html

North Hykeham

This one is Doddington Park, Southern outskirts of Lincoln

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-94180235.html

Or an older style property in North Hykeham

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80475376.html

And if you can't decide between Lincoln and Newark... Witham St Hughes is half way between the two off the A46

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71590065.html

thanks, Biker. I couldn' see what was wrong with Boultham area - do you mean not very safe? it's a quick bus to town (or a long walk poss along te river).
I need a proper station and the London etc trains so Hykenham not for me - I sometimes have luggage and also in winter wouldnt want to be stranded on a cold platform. Also it's jus too small a place for me.
I did look around and have looked at number of houses so yes, I like the NOrth side. I've seen a good one in the direction of the house you've linked to but there is a chain and my lower offer hasn't ben acepted yet - and I can't wait for weeks (house does need work).
That's a nice house you've linked, thanks thoug the garden is more a courtyard - but I'm looking for a lower price - when I ay under 200K it means noticeably lower haha.

There’s a 3 bed semi in Lamb Gardens, Lincoln.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72089991.html

Cheap 3 bed semi on Kingsway not far from the station but you have to be immune to the traffic!

Personally I wouldn’t choose North Hykeham or Bracebridge. The land between Canwick and Bracebridge within the new bypass is earmarked for around 4000 new homes. Google Lincolnshire Central Plan for further details.

Uphill Lincoln has really good amenities, bus routes. Towards outer edge outside Waitrose is the park and ride. (LN2 postcode).

For London trains I use Grantham, but you could go via Sleaford to Peterborough and pick up the fast train there.

Poppies yes I'm on it , Waitrose is a draw so been looking in East Ermine too, just viewed a house off Ruskin ave next to Lamb Gardens one. Indeed the buses are good - I use trains a lot so that's importantn as don't want driving all te time.
CAn't really see why go via Petrborough though - 2hrs direct train is surely quicker (unless you mean when you need a specific itme not covered by those) - people also suggested going via Newark if it's agap - but I rarely would need a very precise London train time-wise.

But didn't know about a massive developents plans - so thanks for that. Not surprsed thoughh as there aer big fields on Bracebridge edge. Traffic is quite bad on Newark rd imto city too - in ursh hour gets quite fumey, so yes, I'm more inclined towards the uphill, but Boultham area is nice because of the park proximity, so slightly considering it but the asking prices aer higher so hardly any choice there.

re Lamb Gardens - slightly put off by the overgrown garden belonging to the house behind - bit dark and menacing , also there is a chain by the looks of it, but I might go and view anyway.

btw that agent (William Brown) are so lazy - never any floor plans!

oh and saw the one in Kingsway - nice house but indeed a dismal location, not immune to noise at all!and traipsing to the station through those canal streets not great...it's be so expensive if it was elsewhere!

I'd say the Balderton area of Newark is nicer than any of Lincoln.

Lincoln has a poor city centre with more than it's fair share of empty shops. Newark has a much better shopping experience with many more independent shops.

The uphill area of Lincoln is seen as very desirable though i've never understood why as it's all run down terraced properties & in my previous job I would visit these areas every day, it's nothing special.

Steep hill in Lincoln is supposedly a great shopping experience though it's basically fudge shops & specialist alcohol shops so it's something you'd probably want to visit once a year if that.

The big draw in Lincoln is the Christmas market which is canceled due to COVId & in Lincoln you previously had about 5 marathons a year where the roads are all shut off or with special one way systems which annoys a lot of people.

Having lived in Lincoln all of my life I'd say Lincoln is growing, but only the population & there aren't many jobs around & it will be badly hit by the economic fall out from COVID with shops closing etc.

As for trains, Newark has far better connections & 2 stations.

ah ok, interesting to read opposing ponts of view, flatulence. A previous poster loves it, the other loves Newark. I did have a look at Castlegate street where the latter postre mentioned the indie shops aer but it's a tiny street! I have failed to find many indie shops in Newark on the map - could yo uname the exact streets please?
To me, Lincoln just looks far better than Newark in gthe centre - possibly because Newark is very flat among te flat landscape. I agree that Lincoln centre isn't 'all that' but it does still have charm and is mostly pedestrian. I am woried about covid affecting the shops though.
I'd say Newark is a more practical choice though I did enjoy reading someone's sentimental outlook on it, I ve only been fleetingly so couldn't really know it. Lincoln does have a Uni which I think boosts the atmosphere of any town. Uphill does have many nice semis, the tired terraces are mainly to the south and around Monks rd from my thorough rightmov research and the viewings. Uphill is very leafy which really makes a difference. I do hope Waitrose doesn;t shut ! I agree though there is a lack of a good indoor shoppping centre which is nice to have in winter - Steep Hill is charming but not when it's cold and wet, I'd prefer to have options.