What part of Lancashire?

[Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrringles]

We are planning on relocating to Lancashire, but don’t know which part.
We were swaying towards Preston, but after visiting we felt unsure because I didn’t like the city centre layout - it felt too easy to be run over, and it seemed a bit too lively on a Saturday!
We have heard only negative things about Burnley and Blackburn (can anyone confirm or deny?). We considered Chorley, but unsure. Lancaster looks lovely, but the grammar school system there has put us off as our eldest will already be Y7.
Obviously actually living in these places would be very different to visiting though anyway, so it would be good to hear opinions.
Also, if anyone could suggest other places that might be suitable that would be appreciated.

Our criteria is:

budget: 190k max

We need good public transport

somewhere that has a train station.

amenities - hospital vital, things for the DC to do, cinema, parks, supermarkets nearby

WFH so jobs not a problem.

DC in primary and secondary school.

Somewhere friendly - community feel, if that still exists.

Can anyone give me some advice?

Thanks!

Thats why I suggested finding the best school with availbity first to suit your DCs - then rent in that catchment to secure you place (even if its a flat) and take time whilst on the ground to find your longer term home with local info. Its more important IMHO that they are in good schools - the house location will naturally follow and fall into place.

I'd agree with @SouthRibble on the Penwortham secondaries. I know quite a few kids at all three and they all seem to be good schools.

"The only parts of Morecambe that are ok are Bare and Torrisholme, they are areas of Morecambe not really separate villages as such."

This is not true at all. Many people that live in Lancaster hardly ever venture to Morecambe. There are some lovely areas within your budget near Fairfield Road, Draycombe Drive, St John's. Similarly the streets behind Westgate, known for their Christmas lights 😊 are quiet and well maintained. Lots of bungalows.

Heysham, although technically has a village, should not be ruled out. It's a brilliant place to live and is very well connected with public transport.

@ItWasOnAStarryNight I agree with you.

Yes there are some very rough bits in West End but there are plenty of perfectly fine areas. Only thing to be careful of is the bus routes as a lot stop early evening.

We looked at moving to Preston 10 years ago and it was the chaos of oversubscribed secondary schools that initially put us off. On hindsight we're all glad we didn't move there. Can't quite put my finger on why none of us like it though.

The drive through Preston and the congestion is bad, all the traffic lights! Penwortham is a lovely area though I can't comment on the other residential areas though.

Does anyone know much about Fleetwood? It’s a place that comes up when I’m looking at areas in Lancashire.

To narrow down the search a bit - the 3 most vital things for me are access to the coast, access to a hospital and public transport.

Lytham /St Anne’s is on the list, we have discounted Blackpool as it’s too busy. Is there anywhere I’m missing?

Thanks all x

Fleetwood is an absolute shithole. I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

Lytham is lovely but Blackpool is your nearest town centre so that would be a no from me. Thornton Cleveleys is ok.

Ah ok, thanks for your honest opinion!

are there any other coastal towns that are worth looking at?

Lytham is lovely but Blackpool is your nearest town centre so that would be a no from me.

I think it's as easy to get to Preston from Lytham...just checked public transport, better if anything.
Preston is ok, I think it's improved in the ~30 years we've lived hereabouts

Lytham is lovely- don't discount it because 'town' is Blackpool, it is completely different and very separate to Blackpool. However it's so nice it's very expensive; I think it will be far out of your budget I'm afraid.

If the coast is important definitely re-visit Morecambe as a possibility- try to find out which parts/ streets are 'better'. (Apologies for any offence caused by my earlier comment, I perhaps over-simplified saying only Torrisholme and Bare.)

I agree also look at Heysham- but my advice personally would be only the villlage itself, avoid the surrounding area as it heads towards Morecambe.

I would also suggest contacting Lancashire County Council re school places- they should be able to give you a good idea of where there are spaces for in-year transfers and where is v oversubscribed etc.

Keep us posted! I'm happy to let you know if any specific houses are in 'ok' streets or not as I understand it can be very difficult when you don't know the area at all. x

I've lived in Penwortham near Preston all my life and if it wasn't for the fact I care for my dad round the corner I'd be off like a shot. Preston is run down, no shops hardly in the town centre and the fishergate shopping centre is going to be pulled down for offices. There are issues with homeless people sleeping in tents in empty shop doorways and, the whole place is depressing.

I'd choose Chorley or the outskirts of, over Preston any day.

@Myotherusernamesafunnyone Thank you. I would of also thought of Preston as the nearest town, as that’s how we travelled. I hadn’t really thought of Blackpool being considered the nearest town.
I suppose it’s as long as it’s short!

@Austrianmilk To be perfectly honest where I currently live is far worse than Preston! Which is why we are moving.
But at the same time there is something that’s not sitting right with me about Preston and I can’t quite put my finger on why.

Heysham is on the list now though.

If anyone can think of anywhere else that’s close (ish) to the coast in Lancashire though that would be great.

I would also add Bolton-le-Sands, Hest Bank, Slyne to your list, all coastal 'villages' around the Lancaster/ Morecambe area.

Silverdale and Arnside too, although they are further north and smaller: more rural so build services may be poor and you are further from the hospital in Lancaster. (School for these would be Carnforth High- Lancashire or Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale which is Cumbria and very popular).
Where do you need to be able to get to for work etc?

@Myotherusernamesafunnyone WFH so work location isn’t an issue thankfully - it’s getting into schools that might be an issue.
Thank you for the extra places to add to the list.

What about West Kirby, Crosby, Southport?

I'd keep looking at Heysham all the way up to Fairfield road but this one in Scale Hall looks a good buy.

Obviously some cosmetic work to be done and the garden but you could easily add value here

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151559090

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E970&insId=1&radius=0.0&minPrice=&maxPrice=200000&minBedrooms=&maxBedrooms=3&displayPropertyType=houses&maxDaysSinceAdded=&includeSSTC=true&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

Neston on The Wirral is beautiful place to live. Train station and near to Liverpool and Chester for culture and North Wales for outdoors - but lovely coast and countryside on The Wirral

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E7515&maxBedrooms=3&maxPrice=200000&propertyTypes=detached%2Csemi-detached%2Cterraced&includeSSTC=true&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Plenty in Crosby see above.

Even nicer stock in Southport see below:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1234&maxBedrooms=3&maxPrice=200000&propertyTypes=detached%2Csemi-detached%2Cterraced&includeSSTC=true&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Arnside and Silverdale are within the catchment area of the Lancaster schools. Lots of kids come into Lancaster from there by train to the faith and grammar schools. In addition to Carnforth and Queen Elizabeth (Kirkby lonsdale), probably the more popular from Arnside and Silverdale would be Dallam at Milnthorpe which is a lot closer and a highly regarded school (ranking higher than Carnforth).

Fleetwood is NOT a shit hole
like most towns it has it’s good and bad bits.
You get a lot of house for your money. I drove through 2 days ago and was surprised how lovely some of the roads are.
It has a great health centre, multiple schools, tram service to Blackpool and beyond.
Alternatively Thornton, Cleveleys, Bispham, Anchorsholme, Carleton all on main bus routes

I’m googling everything all of you are recommending.

Does Heysham power station cause any problems in the area?
The thought of it worries me a bit, but I suppose they are dotted around the country anyway. Probably like a rat - you are never too far away from one!

No problems with the power station, you wouldn't know it was there really, same with the port. Google the sunsets across the bay from Morecambe. They are incredible.

The occasional horn and an alarm test once a week.

Not that I’m aware of …
Lytham is mega bucks and a bit of a pain to get in and out.
St Anne’s has property in your budget but those areas aren’t very nice.
I will say that there is a huge community spirit in Fleetwood partly fuelled by the Lofthouse legacy (Fisherman’s friend) and super teacher Mr McPartin at Flakefleet school ASO BGT 🌟

@FFSWherearemyglasses Are there parts of St Anne’s that are rough? It seemed quiet when we were there, but obviously just visiting it’s hard to tell.

I just googled that BGT act, I loved that when they were on the show. I didn’t know they were from Fleetwood.

Follow the school on Facebook it’s fab what they’re doing there.

There are some very affluent parts of St Anne’s with swish apartments and beach front residences but there are a few ex council estates up near the airport that are RAF (work it out 😉🤣)