Anyone live in these areas?

[Roxysoxmum]

Looking for local information on the following areas please.

Sleaford, Lincs
Barnard Castle, Durham
Cottam, Preston
Lea, Preston

I’m buying remotely (not physically in U.K.)
Any info on living here such as facilities within walking distance, nice pubs, supermarkets, cinema, local pub grub, scenic walks etc plus how safe you feel. I will have my elderly mother with me so activities for the elderly (post Covid). Don’t need schools and have a car but don’t want to constantly rely on it for daily needs, hopefully 🤞

My parents live in the next village up from Barnard Castle. It's a lovely little market town with some nice scenic walks around. I would say there is more of an aging population and it feels extremely safe, everyone is friendly and there is a nice community feel.

The main amenities of Barnard Castle are on the main road that runs through it (there are traffic lights at various points). There is a big-ish Morrisons, a big-ish co-op, a couple of butchers, lots of independent shops and a few nice pubs. The nice thing about Barnard Castle is that it is surrounded by some lovely little villages with your typical village pub.

I know you said you have no need for schools, but there is a private school next to Bowes museum. It is definitely a more affluent and desirable area. We love going up to my parents and spending the weekend in Barnard Castle, it feels like your on a little weekend break. There are tonnes of scenic walks too, far too many to even begin to explain!

Thank you for the fantastic information on Barnard Castle and surrounding area. It sounds lovely and will definitely be the top of my list.

agree, out of those options, BC stands shoulders above the others.

Cottam. A bit like toy town. Lots and lots of new builds. Some nice walks, the university sports arena is there plus a recycling centre. A carvery type pub. Few local shops. Lots of traffic and young families. Nice enough if a bit bland.

I went to school in Lea 30 years ago and worked in the area as a district nurse for many years. Probably an older clientele. A high school. A park in nearby Ashton (driveable) where there's also the marina, large Morrisons and cinema. Few local shops.Two housing estates close by.
Not overly exciting tbh. There are nicer places just outside Preston.

Barnard Castle is far nicer than the other places...

I live pretty close to BC but out in the sticks, it’s our nearest town with more than two shops and a pub.

It is a lovely town, everyone up North is super friendly and so many beautiful walks. BC is in Teesdale and googling that should show how stunning it is.

Some village halls do cinema nights but the main cinema would be in Durham. There is Staindrop Academy which I believe us pretty good.

For a decent shopping trip we go to Newcastle and make a weekend of it.

@LittleOverwhelmed

Can anyone else not read “Barnard Castle” without a grin?

There have been plenty of joke posters around B.C about eye tests 🤣 it’s Put the town on the map.

It depends why you have picked them though ? Preston and Barnard Castle are not near each other. And these are very specific not particularly well known places (Preston)

I can't imagine most of the population had heard of Barnie before Covid 😂

The reason these places are on the list is because they have a station and an easy commute to London plus they are all within an hours drive to my family spread out throughout the North and N.West England.

Having read the high praise for BC from many posters here, how can anyone blame D for being magnetically drawn to it to the point of risking his job?

@Roxysoxmum

The reason these places are on the list is because they have a station and an easy commute to London plus they are all within an hours drive to my family spread out throughout the North and N.West England.

Hi OP - Barney doesn't have a train station but Darlington is an easy drive away and is on the East Coast mainline. My parents live in Teesdale - such a beautiful part of the world! Hoping one day to persuade DH to make the move up there from London

Are you thinking of Bishop Auckland ? It’s pretty close to BC and I think there is a station near B&Q. It’s not a quaint market town like BC though.

The town is getting a lot of investment.

If you are looking at a daily commute to London I would personally think they are all a little far North, trains are expensive and you will need to factor in the commute time between the train station your main train gets to and commuting through the underground and a walk to the office.

I don't know about now but the traffic pre-Covid was horrific in Preston!!!

I think it's Penwortham in Preston that is nicest and easy commute to the station.

Lancaster rail prices are cheaper commute to London I believe and doesn't take much longer and personally I think a nicer place.

Darlington always used to be lovely.

Lincolnshire to the North West is a complete pain in the arse journey!!

@Roxysoxmum

The reason these places are on the list is because they have a station and an easy commute to London plus they are all within an hours drive to my family spread out throughout the North and N.West England.

They don't though.

BC doesn't have a station. It's not an easy commute to London.
Other areas of Preston are better for accessing the station.

If you're looking for good access to London and the NW somewhere like Crewe might fit the bill better.

Agree with @RandomMess and MUCH prefer Lancaster to Preston. One stop further on West coast mainline but close to sea, lake district. It's a smaller, more scenic place but lots of shops and amenities.

Penwortham is ok for the station. And much much nicer. But more expensive.

@LittleOverwhelmed

Can anyone else not read “Barnard Castle” without a grin?

Yep. Should have gone to Specsavers was what sprung to mind! 😬

You'd be better off looking at Grantham rather than Sleaford OP if you want Lincolnshire - Grantham has a direct train to London and is on the A1, whereas Sleaford you'd need to change trains to get to London and the journey north is longer.

As others have said BC is lovely but doesn't have a station. Darlington is a reasonable commute to London if you're not doing it every day, but that's a half hour drive.

Have you thought about Northallerton if you're interested in that sort of area?