Advice please !! Relocating to Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire

[clownfish1971]

We are moving down to Derbyshire /Nottinghamshire as soon as our house has sold here in Berkshire. Could anyone advise of nice places and places to avoid. We have been looking at Matlock, Chesterfield, Duffield, Alfreton, Belper and then in North Nottinghamshire Retford snd Worksop . It’s quite a wide area but we are open to suggestions as don’t really know the areas at all! We really need good schools and a good sixth form for my kids and good transport links to somewhere fun for teenagers and hoping not to be in a place that’s too built up
Thanks in advance Claire

Great colleges in Sheffield and around Dronfield. Meadowhall is a 25 minute drive. Dronfield itself is a small town but has pubs and restaurants a local civic centre and sports centre with a swimming baths. It's not a bustling city centre but Sheffield is close and is just as busy as Nottingham. Although its debatable which is better but I dont think Nottingham has as much around surrounding areas. We regularly visit Matlock Bakewell Castleton and so many lovely places close by.

There is also a train station in Dronfield although a small one so you can catch the train to Sheffield or Nottingham.

Thank you @tootiredtospeak that's all very helpful

@Oldmrswasherwoman

Belper or Duffield in Derbyshire - easy access to Derby and the Peaks. Belper has a nice feel to it. Have you consider West Bridgford in Nottingham - has a really vibrant high street and 10 mins away from Nottingham city centre. Wish I could afford to live there! Beeston is also a good option.

You've said that you want to be in the right place for your kids but not really specified what they want. If they are outdoorsy and want to be out in the countryside, then by all means head out to the Peak District.

I would second West Bridgford if you want to be somewhere teen friendly. All the secondary schools are well rated, it's within the Nottingham City Transport boundary for easy travel into and around the city and Nottingham still has a vibrant cafe culture. You'll have a good choice of 4 bed detached houses for £500k. At the same time, its on the edge of the city so easy to get out into the countryside in your free time.

West Bridgford, Beeston, Wollaton would be my picks for vibrant areas on your budget.

Sherwood and Mapperley are nice too, and you’d get more bang for your buck there than the other areas.

In terms of outdoors, north/west side of Nottingham is better for getting over to the Peak District/Sherwood Forest. South side is better for the River Trent, canals, National Watersports Centre. There are country parks in reach of all areas. For teenagers, being able to get places independently is a big plus - not just school but college, sports clubs, hospital appointments, cinemas and places to meet up with friends.

You seem to mostly be looking at North notts/Derbyshire - if so then beeston, Bramcote etc would be much too far south for you.

I moved from beeston about 18 months ago as I couldn't afford a larger property there. But if you can afford it it's a very vibrant town with great community spirit and a lot going on. It's also got really good transport links (on a main train line) plus tram into Nottingham as well as bus services. Prices there are very high compared with other surrounding areas as a result though - we sold a small 2 bed terrace there for little less than we paid for a good-sized 3 bed semi detached about 5 miles away in a less popular town.

@Flev Agree re Beeston - house prices are insane there now.