Lancashire or Leicestershire?

[DDRickyDD]

Out of these two counties, which would you say is best to live in and offers the best quality of life overall?

Lancashire is much nicer in my experience.

Definitely Lancashire. Lovely place generally. Very friendly wherever I've lived.

Deffinatly lancashire

Lancashire I moved up here from Warwickshire and the people are much friendlier. Also quieter and more scenery, plenty to do, etc.

I have lived in both. Parts of both are beautiful. Lancashire would be my final choice I think - but choose very carefully OP as parts of it are hideously rough.

Having also lived in both, 100% Lancashire!

Whats wrong with Leicestershire? Is Lancashire that much better?

I live in Lancashire. I love it here, born here and will probably die here. Sooner rather than later if lockdown continues...

Shh stop telling people how lovely it is in Lancashire all they'll all come! Lol.

Lancashire has such a variety of rural areas, where are you thinking?

I don't know much about Leicestershire but I've been to Leicester and wasn't a fan!

Depends where you end up. Alot of the former cotton towns around manchester are struggling but they have some lovely villages and scenery on the outskirts like chapeltown, edgeworth and belmont near bolton, saddleworth near oldham etc. Trough of bowland is as scenic as the dales which it borders, not quite as expensive but getting there. Had a ride to croston last week which is more westerly (kind of ormskirk way I think) and that's very picturesque. Thing is with lancashire you've got good links to manchester, liverpool, preston and lancaster, even leeds at a push !

"Shh stop telling people how lovely it is in Lancashire all they'll all come! Lol.

Lancashire has such a variety of rural areas, where are you thinking?"

@Ginfilledcats

What kind of variety does Lancashire have?

Does anyone know anything about Leicestershire?

So within 20 mins of my house (small typical farming village with 1 shop 1 pub and 1 takeaway) I can be at 2 different beaches, 3 national trust homes/grounds, 2 different rivers, the Leeds Liverpool canal, 2/3 big towns and 1 city which is on the main line to London/Glasgow.

Within an hour can get two 4 major cities (though 2 technically in Lancashire), the Lake District too. A bit of a longer drive and can be in north wales.

Lots of lovely villages of different sizes offering different things depending on what you like, some great schools, some are grammar too. There's a Michelin star restaurant close by too, as well as a great array of country pubs (independent and chain) and other restaurants. Great independent florists and bakeries. Lots of local theatres. I feel there's a big push on supporting local and independent businesses round here which I love.

All with the added benefit of being a damn sight cheaper housing than down south. And getting more space. There are areas where new builds are being developed on small or large plots, or plenty of older more character filled housing.

Let me know if there's any areas in particular you are thinking of and if I'm familiar with them I can tell you more.

I lived in an affluent village near Leicester and worked in the city for seven years. The city is unexciting, and the ethnic diversity of the city didn’t extend beyond the city limits, though the countryside towards the Rutland border was pretty enough. I’ve lived in lots of different parts Of England, and I found this the most insular of all the places I lived. Politically old school Tory heartland, little diversity of thought or movement of people, some unpleasantly prejudiced attitudes. Too far from the coast, and little of interest in the immediate vicinity. It really didn’t work for me.

I live in a small market town in Lancashire. 20 mins drive to the local big town for shopping and a bit further to Manchester. Our small town is semi rural with several farms in walking distance from our house. Loads of beautiful country walks and regular farmers markets. No chain shops at all except for the supermarkets,which are small versions of Tesco, Aldi etc. Lots of very good restaurants and independent shops. I love living here and I've been here nearly 40 years and I feel my kids have benefitted from living around here

@Ginfilledcats

Thanks. I'm thinking about Garstang, it's between Lancaster and Preston. What's that town like?

Garstang is a nice small market town. No train station though.

Do you have DC? The schools there are good but limited after school activities that they can get themselves too but that is probably true of anywhere rural.

They are building yet more houses there so just how rural are you looking for?

Garstang is lovely and has a Booths (major plus). Close enough to Preston for bigger shops.
Ribble Valley out towards the Trough of Bowland is beautiful and not as busy as the Dales and the Lakes. Lots of great gastropubs for food and great for walking and cycling.
Leicestershire has pretty stone villages but isn't rural in the sense of Lancashire hills more provincial.
As people have said also far from the coast. Lancashire just has such good links and the sea and Lake District close by.

Garstang is really pretty and well to do. You’ll have a nice life there. What is it that attracts you? Penwortham (just outside Preston, into South Ribble) might be a good fit too.
Lolling at Booths. I bloody love Booths 😂

I agree on Rutland but having lived in both would choose Lancashire for more rural than village living.
Depends what you like as I love the pretty Rutland villages, but there isn't much beyond this.
Cost wise Lancashire should offer more value.

The weather’s better in Leicestershire, if that matters to you.

I heard that the Booths was closing something to do with the lease becoming unaffordable 😳 hopefully an unfounded rumour!!

I live in a town not too far from garstang.
Booths isn't closing 😁
Garstang is lovely. It's a place we go to for walks, pub lunches, agricultural shows etc. It has a lovely Victorian Christmas festival and market every year, an ice cream festival, a scarecrow festival (they love their festivals).
Lots of little independent shops, a lovely river.
If I were to move house, I would move to Garstang.

Sorry for all the "lovely". You can tell I love Garstang 😂

I didn't mean closing imminently 😂