Lincolnshire - where to live?

[TurdCrapley]

So we currently live in Northamptonshire and we're moving this year. Our budget is 300k. We're looking at Lincolnshire mostly but not sure where to go. Can anyone give me their opinions or experiences of Lincoln, Whittlesey, Pinchbeck, Spalding, villages around Boston (I've read on here that Boston is a no go), Old Leake, Sleaford, Gosberton?

We're torn between village life or somewhere with more going on for DS as he grows up. We don't want to be too isolated.

Thanks :)

You've read right, don't live in Boston! I grew up in a village called Alford, so can't comment on your other locations but it was great being 15/20 mins from the seafront. We would walk the dogs there every Sunday. Growing up I had a lovely childhood in the countryside. As an adult though, I don't think I'd ever consider moving back, there just isn't enough to do compared to where I live now (outskirts of a small city)

I have family in leasingham and Ruskington. Very safe and pretty countryside but I personally couldn't there as it's a bit sleepy. Feels like housing estates in the middle of nowhere to me.

Thanks for your comments. This is the issue we're having, finding lovely houses but they're just in the middle of nowhere. We need the middle ground and just don't know where that is.

Id probably look for some villages close to Lincoln. Then at least you've got the city centre nearby.

I'd go further north, probably somewhere between Lincoln and Hull, so that you can access events at both.
Then you've got Sheffield and York reasonably accessible, Leeds a bit further but doable for days out.
There are also Gainsborough, Grimsby and Beverley, all of which have events and activities as well, especially Beverley, which has an early music festival, folk festival and more, plus concerts in the Minster.
Scunthorpe has a fabulous art gallery, with internationally know artists exhibiting from time to time.
I can't remember the name of the organisation, but they put on arts events around village halls in Lincolnshire. I have heard classical and early music works, as well as world music and folk in these small venues.
When the DC were teens, we moved into a village where access to a town was easier, so they could have a social life apart from the village youth club, which worked well for those years.

we have just moved from bedfordshire to spilsby. people here are very very friendly and always willing to help. countryside is beautiful. 20 minutes to the coast. schools are excellent.
my kids (10 and 13) love it here.

we looked for over 2 years and i'm glad we ended up where we are. boston is ok for shopping but the roads are a nightmare and is a no go in my opinion. you also want to avoid living in skegness coast as its a little rough. and be carefull with some of the nicer coastal villages as they are at high risk of flooding.

Lincoln is nice and has plenty of stuff going on. Sleaford is ok but not much fun for a teenager, and the villages worse. Also public transport limited which restricts them being independent.

Depends on what you are looking for.

The town of Alford and surrounding area can seem quite isolated, although Alford has suffered an influx of people in the last few years that its infrastructure isn't really ready for.
You could head out towards Skegness, but the closer that you get the more tourist issues you get and more caravan parks that you see.

Lincoln is more of a small city feel with out lying areas giving a rural village feel.

Grimsby gets a bit of a bad rep. (but not much) links to Cleethorpes and fairly close to Hull. and has the only motorway.

There are some very nice areas. Louth, Splisby etc.

But the whole area is a bit slow moving including some of the attitudes.

And there is not really any viable public transport.

Thanks for all the comments everyone. It's been helpful to look at different places. We've been looking at Spalding the last few days (found a house we like) but I've seen posts on other threads saying it's not a very nice place. Anyone have any experience of it?

I really don’t mind Barton.
Has tescos/lidl and some other shops.
Easy to get to scunny/Hull if you need more or for train links.
Has a few nice enough pubs etc. You’d get something nice for £300k I’d imagine

Lived in Grimsby for a while - there are some nice areas but the town is deprived and centre is horrible and we were burgled 4 times so I would avoid. Cleethorpes is better though both are quite cut off. Worked in Lincoln for a while and that is mixed. Also worked in Louth which is a lovely market town set in pretty countryside with good amenities. Worst place I ever went to was Mablethorpe, Boston also quite grim. Some of the villages near Grimsby are lovely - Barnoldby-le-beck, Tealby, Hatfield etc.

@TurdCrapley

Thanks for all the comments everyone. It's been helpful to look at different places. We've been looking at Spalding the last few days (found a house we like) but I've seen posts on other threads saying it's not a very nice place. Anyone have any experience of it?

Hi, we are in Spalding, moved here a few years ago from Hertfordshire to help our children get on the housing ladder. Property is inexpensive, the town is not particularly well served, many shops have closed down. Springfields outlet shopping is very good. The grammar school system is still in place. It is quite remote and has suffered from a huge influx of immigrants in the last 10 years which locals are not keen on, we were just behind Boston in the brexit vote 74% voted to leave. Pinch beck has more of a village feel and only 2 miles from Spalding but with its own community. We have decided to move to a village further north between sleaford and Grantham hopefully.

I grew up near Lincoln - I'd agree that to be within striking distance (10 miles) maybe of the city gives you a lot more choices. There are some nice villages and good schools in those areas. Also the A46 is dualled Lincoln to Newark if you don't want to be stuck behind a tractor.

@Giggorata

I'd go further north, probably somewhere between Lincoln and Hull, so that you can access events at both. Then you've got Sheffield and York reasonably accessible, Leeds a bit further but doable for days out. There are also Gainsborough, Grimsby and Beverley, all of which have events and activities as well, especially Beverley, which has an early music festival, folk festival and more, plus concerts in the Minster. Scunthorpe has a fabulous art gallery, with internationally know artists exhibiting from time to time. I can't remember the name of the organisation, but they put on arts events around village halls in Lincolnshire. I have heard classical and early music works, as well as world music and folk in these small venues. When the DC were teens, we moved into a village where access to a town was easier, so they could have a social life apart from the village youth club, which worked well for those years.

I'm being pedantic but Beverley is very definitely in Yorkshire and not Lincolnshire

I'd certainly recommend Bourne! Some lovely bars and restaurants, and a very friendly place to live. Looks great in the summer with all the flowers everywhere.

Do you have a time travel machine?

Suspect the OP has already decided and moved by now.

Only just seen this! Yes, you are/were being a bit pedantic; the context of that sentence was about places you can easily travel to for entertainment - some are outside Lincolnshire.
(Good job I didn't mention York and Sheffield 😀)

@Giggorata

I don't know what came over me then. Four years later, I am a changed woman and would never make a comment like that 😉

Edited - really should read the full thread!