Market Harborough

[Eek3under3]

Anyone local/ have experience living in Market Harborough? Would love to hear all good/ bad/ things to consider about the area. Currently living in the SE but considering a move to be closer tk family.

If we move it would be in time to apply for primary school places in Jan 2024. We have 3 pre school age children so schools, community and things to do with DC are important. I wfh (currently on mat leave) but would need to be in London 1 day a week.

Anything good/ bad to consider/ areas to focus on (or avoid)?

Thank you!

Hi @Eek3under3 I also moved here from London. Love it.

All the local primary schools are great and there isn't the London style bunfight to try and get a school place. Although Harbs is growing quite quickly that it does probably need a new one.

The trains are fairly frequent, reliable and take under an hour to get to London. Eye wateringly expensive though. I used to work 4-5 days a week in London pre covid and a season ticket then was over £9,000 a year. It's closer to 10k now. When I go in for my day a week, I get the first off peak train which hurts my wallet a bit less and gets me into St P a few mins after 10am.

I live in Harborough itself which is walking distance to the train station and town but I would love to move to one of the villages- the Langtons are lovely.

House price wise, it's not cheap. But compared to London/SE, you'll still get quite a bit more for your money!

I moved from London to Harborough in 2017! It's a lovely town, and as @SatsumasRock says, the surrounding villages are beautiful too - Great Bowden and The Langtons in particular are gorgeous. We moved out of the town to one of the villages (Kibworth Beauchamp) to get a bit more for our money and love it.
We've got a toddler and there's heaps to do as a family in the town and surrounding areas, and a huge selection of great nurseries and montessori as well as schools.
Commuting - trains are expensive and as reliable as any other service. If you find that you have to go more frequently than once a week when you go back to work, you might look at driving to Northampton or Rugby and getting season tickets from there, as the Harborough line is incredibly expensive, but I suppose if you only need to go one day a week it's manageable.

I can only agree with what’s already been said. I gave a fuller description of MH on the other thread here, ‘ help me decide where to live’.
Waves to Snacky

Thank you! We did a drive around various parts of town on Friday. Are there any parts of town to avoid when looking at houses?

Thanks for the info re trains. I used to commute from northants back in 2010. Is it easy to get a seat in the morning?

Will look at that other thread @Beebumble2 !

@SnackyOnassis did you find it easy to make friends with other mums? That is the only things holding me back from moving at the mo. I’ve got quite a big network of friends from 3 pregnancies/ children and the thought of starting again worries me!

Re seats on trains, yes. Even when I was commuting on peak every day it wasn't a problem. People started standing at Wellingborough but Harbs always fine. Not all the trains have gone back to their usual 8 carriage length which is a bit frustrating. And the first off peak train is busier than it used to be because I assume a combination of shorter train and more flexible working. The trains are nicer than the Northampton ones. Although, given they cost much more, I'd be annoyed if they weren't!

When I moved to Harborough, I scored off the entire Alvington way estate because I was pregnant and couldn't be bother waddling up a hill!! But it's nice up there so I wouldn't discount anywhere tbh.

Definitely recommend joining this Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/690169677732815/?ref=share It's got lists of all the kid related stuff going on and you'd definitely be able to find something you'd like to do there.

The selfish side of me wants to say NO Don't come to MH as it's making it so expensive to live but it is a lovely town.

If you want a cheaper train to London, drive the 15 minutes to Kettering and catch it from there. Or head to Rugby for London as that too is much cheaper than EMR. Don't think the MH train goes to Northampton. The drive to Northampton isn't great - A508 is bendy and hilly and restricted to 50mph in many places. Otherwise it's nice and central for lots of places and in easy reach of many main roads

Houses are springing up all over and prices have shot up in the past 2.5 years that I've been there. I wouldn't be able to afford my house now. Like PP said, the surrounding villages are beautiful but pricey.

There isn't really a 'bad' area I don't think but maybe longer serving Harborians will correct me.

Ha @blobby10 it might not happen…..it is much pricier than when we original planned to move there 4 years ago. Good to know about the kettering train option, will have a look at that too.

Hello! I think for me, I made friends with the mums in my NCT group and baby groups we went to, and have made some lovely friends through my son's nursery now. But I guess it's always going to be a bit of a challenge when you're working to match up schedules etc, regardless of where you're living! Generally people are friendly and supportive, any of the local Facebook groups are full of people offering and accepting help, ideas, recommendations etc. I guess communities have moved online a bit over the last couple of years, but the sentiment is still lovely!

I love a thirty mins drive away, we'd move there if we had to move to another town, but would prefer village.