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If you could live anywhere with my (very modest!) budget, where would you move?

26 replies

skeletonbones · 27/03/2024 16:34

I am in the North, I work remotely and live in a 3 bed terraced house which I'm putting up for sale soon for £200k. I've been looking at various bits of lancashire to move to but thought there must be areas I hadn't considered as I don't know of them. I'm looking at a 3 bed in the catchment of a good high school.

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totallybonkerswarning · 27/03/2024 16:35

Glossop

skeletonbones · 27/03/2024 18:09

Not keen on Glossop due to the mega traffic issues.

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MiddleagedBeachbum · 27/03/2024 18:10

I don’t know about schools but NW Lakes is amazing and great value and not too far from there

Seaside3 · 27/03/2024 19:04

France.

Failing that, I actually love where we are, which is the south edge of the lakes. You'd not get a 3 bed for 200k here, but you would around Carnforth, lancaster, penrith areas to the north, past ulverston towards barrow.

And I wouldn't worry massively about 'good' schools, in all the years mine have been going we've seen excellent schools suddenly fail, failing schools become desirable etc. I've always gone with the ine that offers the best 'feel' for your kid.

Lalaleavemealone · 27/03/2024 20:51

Is your budget for your new home 200k too?

DrySherry · 28/03/2024 06:39

Barrow in furness and Millom are in that bracket for 3 bed houses but both pretty rough. Where exactly are you now and why do you need to move ?

2andadog · 28/03/2024 12:06

DrySherry · 28/03/2024 06:39

Barrow in furness and Millom are in that bracket for 3 bed houses but both pretty rough. Where exactly are you now and why do you need to move ?

We stayed in Millom once and was told by some locals "it's so inbred around here even the kitkats have 6 fingers" which still amuses me today. Good pub there though!

MothQuandary · 28/03/2024 18:00

Port Sunlight. Catchment for Wirral Grammar schools.

SuperFi · 28/03/2024 20:58

Halifax/ Calder Valley might be worth a look. I know there is at least one Grammar school ( Hipperholme).

skeletonbones · 28/03/2024 21:34

Thanks for suggestions! will have a look on rightmove. Have been to Millom |and agree it is a bit rough

OP posts:
Galliano · 29/03/2024 06:05

SuperFi · 28/03/2024 20:58

Halifax/ Calder Valley might be worth a look. I know there is at least one Grammar school ( Hipperholme).

Hipperholme Grammar is an independent school

Autumn1990 · 29/03/2024 06:15

Parts of East Yorkshire

Missamyp · 29/03/2024 12:38

SuperFi · 28/03/2024 20:58

Halifax/ Calder Valley might be worth a look. I know there is at least one Grammar school ( Hipperholme).

Calderdale/Halifax is a traffic-jammed mess.
I know, dp lives in that area.

BlueMongoose · 29/03/2024 23:09

NE Lancs property isn't too expensive compared to other places.
I can't advise re schools as I'm out of date on that now, but it's cheap to live here in terms of getting jobs done, very friendly, and the countryside is great. If you're anywhere close to the M65 it's easy to get to the west of the UK using the M6. A bit crap getting over to the M1 corridor beyond Colne, though, as the M65 just runs out at Colne (and traffic at the end there on North Valley Road going east can be very slow- Colne has needed a bypass for at least 40 years to my certain knowledge, though Colne itself is a decent plain small town).
Clitheroe is a bit away from the main industrial towns, and is more expensive.

skeletonbones · 30/03/2024 09:56

Autumn1990 · 29/03/2024 06:15

Parts of East Yorkshire

which parts please?

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Alfreddoeblin · 30/03/2024 12:10

@skeletonbones we are in a similar situation but youngest son is going to be flying the nest in a year or so so no need for decent schools. Similar budget too, maybe an smidge higher. Area north of Bolton heading towards Chorley is nice enough so Wheelton and Brinscall. Not sure of prices though, suspect more than 200k. I’m from Yorks originally and would love to move back towards York or Pocklington but again prices are rising as folk are out priced from York like a ripple effect. Even up round Colne is pricey if you want the nicer areas. Always wondered what Carnforth is like and round Lancaster. Bit more out of the way so maybe cheaper or west Cumbria on the coast likewise.

skeletonbones · 30/03/2024 12:44

@BlueMongoose which towns in NE Lancashire would you recommend please?

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Seaside3 · 30/03/2024 13:16

@Alfreddoeblin carnforth is quite a nice little town, with easy access to the lake district, seaside, Yorkshire and Lancashire. There are a few properties in the ops budget there. They're generally ex council houses, which are good in size and have gardens etc.

@skeletonbones I did a quick search 3 beds, 200k around me plus 15 miles and there are a few that caught my eye. A couple in kendal, which is a great little town. Likewise ulverston, which I think I prefer to kendal. There's always something happening there.
There 1 in Allithwaite, which is a small village, just along from me. Its right on morecambe Bay, so it's lovely around here.
There were also some in Lancaster, which if you want a city might suit.
I'd avoid barrow (sorry any barrowvians), it's just a trek to get anywhere.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/03/2024 13:24

Areas around HD8
Rural/semi rural but good road access to several towns and cities (I work in Leeds, York and Barnsley)

Three tier first/middle/high school system, of which all schools in the pyramid are Good or Outstabding.

Rhdlj · 30/03/2024 14:02

What about Horwich / Adlington? Close to some really nice countryside and reservoirs but with good links to Manchester or Preston - a nice mix of being near to the countryside without being remote and inaccessible.

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 30/03/2024 14:25

South Derbyshire- Hatton/Hilton/Findern etc.

Alanarocks · 30/03/2024 15:24

You could probably get lower Penwortham on that budget. You might get a doer upper in Higher Penwortham if you are prepared to do work. Close to Preston and good high schools in Penwortham and Hutton.

BlueMongoose · 30/03/2024 21:03

skeletonbones · 30/03/2024 12:44

@BlueMongoose which towns in NE Lancashire would you recommend please?

It depends on what sort of place you like. I like Colne and Padiham, as they're a bit 'on the edges' but still have shops and GPs, Colne more so as it's larger, but in both, choose your street carefully, as you would do anywhere. Being smaller places than the likes of Burnley or Nelson, even if you're in the centre of Colne or Padiham it's a short walk to open countryside. Neither are posh or fashionable, but that's why they're cheaper. Outlying parts of Burnley/Nelson can be very nice, some are really villages in their own right, but you need to look carefully. I'd tend to avoid the centres of both towns.

The villages round Pendle (Fence, Higham, Sabden, etc.) can be expensive and some have no shop. North of Pendle, Clitheroe is bigger and posher, but is also expensive, and not all of it is as nice as people assume. West of Pendle, Whalley is small and nice but still has has shops and schools and is handier for the fleshpots of Blackburn- but be careful about flooding.

Barnoldswick and Earby to the east of Pendle depend a lot on a couple of local employers (Rolls Royce at 'Barlick', as it's called) always risky, but again, surrounded by nice countryside.

Trawden is a curious village. Close to Colne, but has its own character- and a community shop and pub. Some gorgeous old houses, some interesting old terraces, but nothing much that's modern, if you're after a 60s 3-bed with a garden, as it's on steep slopes (Colne is too). Also has a school and a GP surgery.

skeletonbones · 01/04/2024 12:22

thanks Blue Mongoose, very helpful.
Lots to look into there!
I'm looking for somewhere in reach of countryside but not in the middle of nowhere as i don't drive. A little friendly town with walkable to countryside ideal. Does not have to be posh and gentrified, but feels safe to walk around in, pop to shop at night and so on.

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