Tell me about Peterborough, good and bad

[Mynameisntsarah]

Hi looking at relocation, just me and Dh. Both early 60's. At the moment have a large 5 bed and want to downsize. Ideally detached 3 bed, decent garden and garage. Budget around £300000.
So where to begin? Love Stamford and Oakham but can't see anything there I'm liking.
Tell me honestly is Orton Longueville or Woodston nice. How about Werrington?Obviously not worried about schools. Equally don't want to be in town centre or a too remote village. Where is nice and not a "waiting for god" place?
Any help appreciated.

I live local to Peterborough
Would I want to live there quite honestly no. I would choose Stamford over Peterborough but it’s expensive
In Peterborough Werrington old village is reasonable or Orton Longueville again in the old village
Market Deeping is quite nice

If you were looking at Oakham, have you considered Uppingham or Market Harborough. Both lovely towns with lots to do ( when we’re allowed)

Yes yes to Market Harborough.

Where are you currently? Have you been to Peterborough? What sort of lifestyle are you after?

Try the villages around Stamford - Barnack, Market Deeping, Ketton.

Currently in Welwyn Garden City area. Visited Peterborough shopping once many years ago.

Would like to stay not too far from A1 for visiting family

What's the reason for Peterborough specifically (to help you work out what area would be best for you)?

I live in Woodston.

Bad: there is some antisocial behaviour. The drug addicts are pretty obvious.

Good: there's surprisingly nice places to walk; the river and Ferry Meadows, the Fenz one way and rolling countryside the other.
Woodston has a good sense of community. Good pubs. It's 15 minutes-ish walk to the town centre. The house prices as you've already identified. There's a lido.

I'm younger than you but MIL is 68 and also lives in Woodston. She has a good social life.

After reading your post Tuesday 20:15, I’m going to suggest the Market Harborough area again. A stones throw from the A1, straight down the A14 to the junction.
An old centre, lovely, quality, individual shops, great restaurants, lots of leisure activities, beautiful countryside and canal walks. Train station with excellent connections down the A1 corridor to London.
Good selection of houses in your budget.

To answer the question rather than go off at a tangent like everybody else.

There is a bit of Longeville referred to as the village. Its nice but £300,000 will not buy you much. Other parts of Longeville are perfectly acceptable. Probably avoid the other two areas. Orton Waterville is nice too and has lots of bungalows if thats your thing.

Source: lived there for 2 years whilst on a work placement.

My family are all from that area. I don’t think they have too much to do really, most of the younger ones have moved to London. It’s a kind of middle place with not much there really. I’d pick St Albans, Cambridge, even as far as Norwich over it any day.

@SisterAgatha not much to do? In what way.....? There's loads "to do".

Well most of their activities involve drinking. Rugby club, cricket club, conservative club and so on. If you aren’t a pub person, I can’t see there’s much else. It’s not a bustling vibrant city in the way Cambridge is.

I recommend Hampton

Orton Longueville is lovely. Good community spirit. PM me if you want to know more.

Would 100% avoid woodston

@SisterAgatha and you don't think that's more to do with your family? You've described any English town? The city has a huge country park, several other parks, a rowing club, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the country, three theatres, medieval monuments, Bronze Age site, it is completely linked by cycle paths, more restaurants in the centre you can throw a stick at.

Have you actually ever lived there? I don't think listing your family's hobbies is a reasonable way of assessing a city.

I grew up in Werrington village (‘Old Werrington’) and it’s perfectly pleasant with some beautiful old buildings and interesting history.
There is lovely rolling countryside nearby and the strange ‘Marmite’ beauty of the Fens in the other direction.
If I was moving back to the area, I’d choose Deeping St James, Deeping Gate, Barnack or Stamford, I think.
Peterborough has many good points but it seems to lack cultural energy. I even felt this as a swotty teen. I suspect it’s being Cambridge’s ungainly little sister that’s the issue.

Yes I have and I don’t think it’s as good as other cities. It’s got good train links, I’ll give it that.

@SisterAgatha well that's your opinion and a far cry from having little to do.

Hampton?

Thanks everyone, been looking at Market deeping area. Confused as there are various deepings, any nicer than others? Will also look at Market Harbourgh, again any areas to avoid?

Yeah. Corby.

Oundle is lovely and near enough to Peterborough to make use of the facilities.

I think Oundle would be too expensive.

Yaxley is popular. Technically a village but more of a small town. I know people of all ages who are happy there.