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!

Clayton Brook is partly social housing, partly private. Just like Buckshaw is. And I've heard plenty of people compare Buckshaw with Clayton Brook.

And no, not all the tunnels have been filled in. The entrances have been blocked and concealed but the tunnels themselves are still present. There's actually a fascinating history behind them and one of the local historians published an article about them just earlier this year.

I don't like Buckshaw at all. The OP asked for opinions and that's mine. There are much nicer places to live in Lancs.

Op, I suggest you join fb groups for these areas and ask opinions from people who actually live there - plenty of ‘local’ people live in buckshaw and there is housing in your price range

Ribbleton is heavily Asian.

Some people have problems with this some people don't.

I have friends who live there who are white. They don't have any problems.

I’m not on social media for personal reasons, which is why I’ve asked on here, but thanks for the reply.

Can speak about Lancaster places, not so well informed about Preston or Chorley neighbourhoods (although a friend has a lovely house in Buckshaw village, not really getting the hate!).

I would go for the ridge over ryelands. It’s an ex council estate, but it’s fairly quiet, well kept, safe. It backs onto fields. The high school at the back seems to be on the up - they recently built a new building and have got a good ofsted. Handy for motorway or half hour walk to city centre. Canal for walks and bike rides. If you are on one of the outer roads there are lovely countryside views (although I think there are long term plans to build at back of the estate). I regularly run round it and it’s quiet, some of the houses look a little uncared for but most are smart. It’s definitely worth viewing houses there and perhaps having a walk around. One real positive is that unlike some more desirable Lancaster neighbourhoods, you don’t get rat runs of traffic going through trying to short cut the one way system.

I live in Lancaster.

It has a train station, small but handy city center, Lancaster castle, Williamson park, university of Cumbria and Lancaster university.

It is also a short drive away from Heysham and Morecambe which is a little seaside town/village. The Eden project is due to be built in Morecambe in a few years which will hopefully bring money in!

Takes less than an hour to get to the lakes, about an hour from Manchester.

Lots of parks, cinema, bowling, trampoline park, laser tag, soft plays etc for the sea. Also look up "vintage by the sea" which is a retro/vintage festival held annually which is lovely!

I think Lancaster is lovely. It's a small little city, easy to get about and comfortable living.

We're not too far away from Preston actually! 40 mins in the m6!

Sorry OP, just saw your update form yesterday.
I would avoid rylands and the ridge personally.
Skerton is better.
If you struggle price wise you might want to consider Heysham, Morecambe or bare which are just outside of Lancaster.

I grew up in Ribbleton a hundred years ago and wouldn't live there. I couldn't wait to get out of Preston and I did as a teenager and haven't lived there since. That said when I go home to family I'm always surprised how leafy Ashton and Fulwood are now I'm middle aged and can appreciate it! Preston isn't all bad and there is so much to do outside of Preston - Manchester, Liverpool, the lakes, Trough of Bowland etc. I've lived in many places in and outside the UK and have never yet found a library I've liked as much as the Harris.

@hello33sunshine I hadn’t considered Morecambe. Are there areas to avoid there? What is Morecambe generally like?

Couple of posts recommended Clayton le Moors area...traffic is a well known nightmare...avoid.

Central and west end of Morecambe are generally awful - lots of anti social problems, mainly because “problem” people have been dumped there in the old boarding houses like lots of run down seaside towns.

Heysham, Bare and torrisholme are better.

The two secondary schools are pretty bad and most brighter kids go elsewhere to the Lancaster grammars or church schools or get one of the many buses up to Carnforth or Dallam school at milnthorpe.

There is a railway station in morecambe centre and bare, but train service is pretty poor, average hourly and you’d mostly have to change at Lancaster. Currently suffering lots of cancellations due to shortage of train crew,shortage of trains, etc. it’s one of those services which northern find easy to cancel when things are going badly, ie delays etc.

Buses can be pretty good from the main roads throughout Morecambe and heysham through to Lancaster and Lancaster uni. Not so good to go north to Carnforth, Kendal and Lake District.

Realistically, I’d say you’d need cars to live in Morecambe and heysham if you want to work or shop. Not much work opportunity in Morecambe other than care, hospitality and retail. Not many shops.

Sad to say as it was my hometown, but I wouldn’t move back there. I live pretty close and go in occasionally but glad to leave due to the anti social problems and lack of amenities. A great shame, the prom and views are great,but the rest is a shit hole these days.

I agree that there is definitely parts of Morecambe which are less desirable to live in, for example the west end. I don't think that is a reflection of the entire area though.

The prom is lovely to walk down, especially on a summers day. Everyone I know from the area loves the prom. I guess it's a matter of opinion!

But agree that bare, Torrisholme, Heysham and also Middleton and Overton are lovely and probably more suitable for you from what you've explained I think! All of which are in the outside of Lancaster.

I do drive, but lots of my friends and work colleagues who live in that area don't and they manage to commute well.

The Bay Gateway has revolutionised motorway commuting from Morecambe/North of the River.

West End is the area to avoid. The rest is pretty good.

Torrisholme is still Lancaster 🤷🏽‍♀️ - it's quite difficult to work out the line for what is Lancaster and Morecambe tbh.

There are 2 good bus services to Lancaster No 1 and No 100 so it's definitely a consideration to live near those routes. Unsurprisingly they both run to Lancaster University.

Eden North is being built next to The Midland Hotel which will improve prosperity in the town centre.

Proper shopping beyond what is in Lancaster my DDs favour Liverpool.

Torrisholme would work. It's on the 100 route. Would bus it to the train station on Lancaster. Plenty travelling to the various secondary schools. 4 buses an hour.

Bare has its own train station then change at Lancaster for London.

Has anyone said Lytham (not Lytham St Anne’s)? That’s a cute place with community feel. Train station. Pubs and restaurants. Far enough away from Blackpool.

@RandomMess and @hello33sunshine when you say Torrisholme, is that a seperate place, like a village? The reason I ask this is we viewed a house on Torrisholme Road in Lancaster near Ryelands, but obviously not being from the area I don’t know if Torrisholme Road is named after a place or if that’s where you mean!

@taxguru Thank you for all of that information about Morecambe, that’s very helpful. I think we will avoid that then, we are moving away from a town that has a lot of antisocial behaviour, so don’t want to go from the frying pan into the fire.

After reading this thread, I’m going to add Lancaster to my search area. My only apprehension though, is whenever I see RM listings for the town, it’s either raining, or there is a lot of moss all over the garden.

Agree that Lancaster is lovely. Not sure your budget will stretch very far there though.

St. Anne’s (Lytham probably too pricey). Clitheroe is very nice as is Garatang. Not sure what prices are, though. Bowland villages are lovely but quite remote in tricky winters.

Parts of Preston, Fulwood and further out Penwortham are pleasant enough. Never had any issues when shopping in Preston city centre. Freckleton and Wharton are pleasant enough, too.

Torrisholme "village" is close to the Shrimp roundabout it runs from there along the back of Morecambe & Lancaster College.

Torrisholme, the shops and green are the left hand area.

You don't need a car to live in Morecambe and it's not as bad as taxguru is making out at all. The buses are frequent and good. Yes, avoid a few streets in the west end and the very centre of Morecambe but the rest is great.

Avoid Bay Leadership Academy but the other schools mentioned are all good. You won't go far wrong with Heysham or if considering Dallam or Carnforth schools then have a look at Bolton-le-sands and Arnside.

I'd l9ok at great eccleston or Elswick area. Great community feel and bear to Poulton and Lytham for shops and entertainment.

Yea, Morecambe is a good call too. Tired around the edges now but with Eden coming, that will change as it did in the areas around Eden in our home county, Cornwall. Good investment too, prices will likely rise.

This one right on the square is a lovely place to be and the buses stop outside