South Leicester/Market Harb

[DogsandRivers]

Hi, would really value your wisdom! We are moving to south of Leicester with a southern tip of market Harborough but and as far out as oakham and lutterworth. We have 650k budget, need 3 beds and a good garden.
We love a good coffee and a nice pub but love the countryside more.
Please can anyone recommend towns or villages in that area as there seem to be so many and I'm losing my mind on rightmove... thanks so much!

Do you need schools? State or private? Any transport link requirements? I'm in west Leics so might not be able to help as much as others.

What snowplop asked. I'm just SE of Harborough and also know Leics a bit

Hello, yes, great point missed that bit!
We are going to be sending the children to the Leicester grammar trust so no state schools needed but half an hour within those hence the slightly odd geo parameters. Thanks!

Pretty much everywhere is nice, with a few exceptions. Can you narrow it down as to whether you'd rather live in a town, a big village, a small village? Near to Leicester? Close to the motorway or mainline train? Out in the rural east? They're all quite different. Any activities, facilities or groups you would like to near? Market Harbourough is the place where there's most going on, and an increasing shopping destination, and plenty of kids go to Leicester Grammar. Kibworth is another large village right by the school with plenty of activity. Wherever you are, it's not far into the countryside. Perhaps if you highlighted some places that you have looked people could give you some specific knowledge.

Look at Newton Harcourt - so pretty!

I live in the area and would suggest Kibworth, local independent butchers, independent bookshop, several cafes, a Co-Op, doctors, dentist, library, 3 pubs, 2 restaurants, plant nursery and a fabulous community. There are two excellent primary and secondary schools, but I see that would not be important to you. It’s about 5 miles from Leicester Grammar School.
Loads of lovely countryside walks directly from the village.

Hi all,
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. So we stayed for a few nights in Foxton which was really lovely. We also did a drive throygh of the Langtons but they're likely beyond budget.
I looked at Kibworth on a Sunday in the rain so it probably wasn't the best show of it.
We want a country style pub, walks from the door without having to go down some perilous A road to get to a footpath. We would like to be within 10 mins drive of a proper supermarket and somewhere that does great coffee.
I WFH but I'm also from wales so everywhere in the described area looks really close to a big road to get to visit friends and family anyway.
Thanks again!

Kibworth is buzzing on a Saturday morning, Sunday is for dog walking!
Don’t let the A6 put you off, from the village there are lanes and bridle paths. On the edge of the village ( a field away) is Smeeton Westerby which has a great village pub. Happy hunting I’m sure you’ll find the perfect spot for your family.

The Langtons are lovely - but v spendy. Most of the villages tend to be a bit more spendy than Harborough itself though. Medbourne, Foxton, Gumley, Smeeton all lovely and - most importantly - have excellent pubs. Saddington also nice

Foxton and Gumley just under 10 minutes to Waitrose (and all the many other supermarkets in Harborough). And all have the countryside and all the walks you need right on your doorstep.

Great Glen would be on your doorstep for the Grammar but I don't really know it other than it has an awesome farm shop and café.

I'd say Kibworth is more a small town than a village but handy for the Grammar and the drive into Harborough for more shops and the train station isn't too bad. The butchers in Kibworth - Bridge 67 - is AMAZING. I have dreams about their pork pies.

@Beebumble2 that is a great tip; I will be back on a saturday!
@SatsumasRock lots more to think of there, thank you! Yes, a good pub is worth its weight in gold for getting to know people and having a break from doing a house up!

Great Bowden is amazing
Nice pub and two “buzzy” coffee shops..great for that community spirit that a lot of people want. There’s a lovely walk into Harborough along the canal (40 mins) or a shorter walk (20 mins) along the residential road.

Surrounded by beautiful countryside ..Foxton Locks is maybe an hour walk (?)

I grew up in South Knighton: a nice suburb of Leicester, very convenient for everything. Don't rule out the nice bits of the city.

Massive house in great location under your budget:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148068671#/?channel=RES_BUY

@CyclingAddict that sounds pretty perfect... thank you. I'm not sure how much building is happening there, will need to check that out as my last two house purchases have ended up with a field next to us being built on and it isn't ideal (I know, I know NIMBY...)
@HappyHolidai That house is gorgeous! I just don't think the walking from the front door will be there for us. We really proper walking with the dogs - the kids' happy place for sure - so we need to ensure this is something they still have when we move.

@DogsandRivers I'd also be concerned about building in Great Bowden. It's being swallowed up by Harborough. It's still a really lovely place - nice pubs and Bowden Stores is fab. Still retains its village feel whilst being so handy for everything but I'd be worried about that changing.

Also, there is planning going through for an anaerobic digestion plant. It may not get approval but it would concern me https://harboroughfm.co.uk/hundreds-of-residents-object-to-energy-plant-plan/

@SatsumasRock that is really useful to know, thanks. It is so hard to get all of the info on local plans without knowing a local... Google is usually only half of the facts.
I know there is a big plan for near great glen & kibworth harcourt way that was in labours new mini town thing...

Stoneygate, Oadby. Kibworth or great glen would work so they can use public transport to school, once they are older it's a huge advantage as the school buses only go at certain times. Also gives them independence. From great glen they can cycle to school even.

The state option in oadby is (well was I've moved) good btw if private becomes an issue but you need to be in the county not city to get in

You can walk through oadby country park straight onto fields by the way so as long as you are no more than 5 minutes from there your country walks are easy, and great play park

@DogsandRivers you can walk to the countryside from there, takes around 25 minutes I'm guessing past the racecourse, my friends are about 6 doors down from there. It's 5 mins walk from the school bus or city bus to great glen

Stoneygate and Knighton are very nice if you're looking for a middle-class city suburb @mitogoshigg but they're nothing like the OP is asking for. I used to run from there and it's a bit of a trek out to any countryside and you haven't got the being able to go in all directions and different routes as you have from a smaller place. Also lots of city kids go to the Oadby schools.

Check the updates carefully, this plan involves Oadby, Stratton, and Newton Harcourt. Not Kibworth. Also the latest news is that it may now be a reduced plan due to economics.

Stretton*