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!

Lancaster. Sadly we had to move away, but I'd move back tomorrow. It's nicely situated, on the motorway network, yet a stones throw from the beautiful countryside of the Lake District or the Trough of Bowland.
Don't worry about the grammar school, it's not a pass the test or else you'll be dumped in a second rate comprehensive type situation. There are other good local schools. It ticks all your boxes. Lovely people, feels safe etc. Shopping centre is OK, could be better, but it's easy enough to hop on a train elsewhere for the day.
Carnforth is also fine if you want to be a bit further out and still be near to Lancasters emenities.

People have mentioned Clitheroe and Whalley. Whalley has a nightlife issue. Both are expensive, although you'd find an ex council house for that. I've worked in Clitheroe and didn't like, couldn't put my finger on it, but awkward rude customers especially some of the older ones. It also has more of a grammar school problem.
Blackburn and Burnley, I wouldn't, I've lived in both, although surrounding villages are nice, someone mentioned Fence. Preston I feel has gone downhill in the last 30yrs., although well placed for the rail network, good shopping and some nice areas, but can be seedy.

Very fair points. It’s just super deathly boring. And the Fence Gate is a pricey pub. To get a reasonably priced meal you’d need to go down to the Four Alls in Higham (v good cheese pie). There is just nothing for kids to do there.

Preston is patchy. Fulwood and Broughton areas are nice but not sure of prices. Lots of new building in Broughton
Chorley also patchy, some lovely country-ish bits but transport links iffy
East Lancs, Blackburn, Burnley, etc I wouldn't consider although prices are more affordable
Blackpool is awful but the area around Stanley Park is nice and South Shore area nice too but schools not brilliant
Poulton-le-Fylde boring but good schools and transport links.

Lytham, bougie and probably out of budget
St Annes, nice seaside small town and houses affordable with OK schools, lots of buses but only 1 train an hour and have to connect at Preston for most places.
The areas between Preston and Lytham, including Warton, Freckleton, etc are affordable and quite nice but not sure if transport would be OK

Blackburn is my home town. It's a shithole to be honest and I would never live there again. Darwen is marginally better but not great. Countryside is lovely though! I'd look at Clitheroe but generally east lancs isn't great.

Yes they are working on a lot of stuff.

However what that means in practice at the moment is that pretty much everything is either being renovated or a hole in the ground.

St Anne's
Poulton
Thornton
Hambleton

Those would be my recommendations!

Not for £190

I grew up near to Preston 30+ years ago, as a young teen I'd get the bus in by myself or with friends and spend the day shopping. It always felt safe and our Mums never worried. I've been a few times recently and I was shocked at how run down it felt, especially on the outer edges of the centre, definitely felt far edgier than in the past.

I mean I wouldn't say preston is horrible

To me it's a fairly bog standard place. Nice areas, not so nice areas and I've lived everywhere from Cornwall to Oxford to Bolton

I like the fact I'm so close to the motorway, supermarkets, retail places but that I can also be by the sea or in the countryside in 30 mins

The op wants good transport links and a station. Fence just won't provide those. Yes there's a train from Colne not far away but you'd need a car to get there, its a slow line and you'd need to change at Blackburn or Preston.

@Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrringles the difficulty of getting a secondary school place. All the decent schools majorly over subscribed.

The DC don't like Preston centre (late teens). The traffic is awful. If they want to get back late from Manchester on the train it's easier and quicker to pick them up from Chorley station than Preston.

There is so much housing development around Preston and off the M55 I can image to issues will get worse.

Blackburn is like a ghetto. It’s hugely racially divided - more so even than Burnley. It’s got zero redeeming features.

I've lived in both, I've always heard people run down Burnley more. But if I had to pick, I'd pick Burnley. To me the racial divide in Blackburn is huge, no one seems to mention it, but Burnley felt more relaxed about the cultural mix, I also felt safer in Burnley and I like Thompson Park. I wouldn't choose either place if I had a choice though!

Clitheroe, whalley, burscough, ormskirk. Preston isn’t nice but lots of surrounding places are (longton, crosston etc.). Good luck!

I'm a real southern softie but visit Lancashire for DH's family. I really like Fence. It depends if you are looking for town living or village. Community nice and good pubs. Nice village school, The further you get into the Ribble valley the nicer it is. If I had to live anywhere it would be Clitheroe which is gorgeous but more expensive

Right?! It’s super extreme.

I agree. It's practically segregated. It was always a little like this, but when I went back last year, the demarcation between the two populations was really marked.

Ormskirk is a nice town - a bit dominated by the university but still has some good family facilities and good schools and a hospital with children's A&E. There's regular trains to Liverpool and slightly less regular to Preston. Town centre has a Morrisons, Aldi, swimming pool, library and some nice independent shops and bars/cafes/pubs.
But it would depend on what size property you are looking for whether you'd be able to get something for £190,000

Interesting. I wondered if I was out of touch when I posted as I left in 2006 & genuinely haven’t been back despite having family there. I just can’t bear it.

I lived off Preston New Road on either side of the divide (as it was then). 3 yrs off Saunders Rd & 3 yrs off East Park Road. 2 very different vibes.

We were not TERRIBLY welcome off Saunders Road - repeatedly asked to leave in fact by our neighbours. It didn’t really bother us but it is weird to be unloading the shopping and your neighbour shout ‘fuck off whore’ 😎LOLZ

Barrowford and Fence are both lovely but quite expensive. Nelson meets in the middle and has some houses in decent areas within your budget. Burnley is an absolute no and so is Blackburn. The decent areas of Burnley and Blackburn you'd be looking at a lot more than £190k so would be best to avoid the rest of it.

Also agree with Clayton Le Moors. This would be a good option

Clitheroe is very expensive.

Blackburn and preston I would say no but burnley has some lovely areas and plenty of green space. A great view of Pendle Hill in a lot of areas.
You could probably get a nice semi within budget.

I feel like the comments are a little harsh regarding Leyland! I mean I grew up there and was its harshest critic as a teenager, but I have moved back after 15 years away and I honestly can’t see why it’s a bad place to live. It has a big lovely country park in Worden park (which has had so much investment of late). There’s also lots of coffee shops now and some independent shops and bars and it’s own modest high street in Hough lane.

Plus it’s really well served for transport links, just off M6 and with two train stations really, when you count both Leyland and Buckshaw as well. Good selection of nursery/schools. Bordering loads of nice countryside and lots of country walks/pubs. Having joined local toddler groups, there’s so much going on for kids here too. But just my opinion!

I used to live off East Park Road too! I was on Eldon Road. I had friends on Langham Road and Colenso Road. I often felt that East Park Road was the divide and by the time you got to Colenso Road you were rich!!

A lot of my family are around Mill Hill / Feniscowles and I wouldn't live there if you paid me. I think Feni has been mentioned here as an okay area. I suppose it's all relative.

Kirkham, Wrea Green (£190k might not be enough), Lytham St Anne’s, Poulton, basically Wyre & Fyld coast.

Schools are nice, you have Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Preston as a choice in most areas, Next to the coast, lots of things for the dcs to do. Trains & Bus networks.

£200k brings up 3 bed semis and terraces in St Annes. I’m going to move there myself one day.