Kirkby Lonsdale or elsewhere?

[Evasmum88]

Hi all

We are looking to move up north from the South West and have been scoping out places this week but so far (we are probably being really picky) nowhere seems to fit our idea of what we want. We are looking for a pretty small town with a few shops, good secondary school (trying to avoid the grammar system) and nice scenery. We loved Kirby Lonsdale and was wondering if anyone knows what it’s like and what the school is like? Also whether teenagers are generally ok there or massively bored/get into drugs etc?

We liked Hexham in Northumberland but it was a little too big for us and the houses were more terraced (we are looking for a 4 bed detached, budget £500k ish. If anyone has any ideas of other small pretty market towns that fit the bill school-wise I would be grateful. Prettiness, good school and welcoming are our main criteria. We can live anywhere.

Many thanks

Kirkby Lonsdale is looovely. The school is excellent and is now the school of choice for children in the villages north of Lancaster that don’t go to the Grammar schools. You wouldn’t have a problem getting a place for year 7 if you live in the village but you might if you’re entering in one of the later years.

Older children can get into Lancaster or Kendal easy enough for something to do. I’m fairly certain drugs etc are not a big issue there.

Beware, it gets very busy on hot days! And make sure you give any teenagers a very strong talking to about water safety and bridge jumping.

Oh also have a look at Garstang, which is a bit bigger but still nice. You won’t need your full £500k budget up here!

Ah thanks so much! Do you know if overall the teenagers have a nice time there/are there clubs and things for them to do either at school or in the town? Also (sorry for the questions) is it a friendly place for incomers? My two are going to stand out like sore thumbs with their broad Somerset accents 😂 thanks so much

Also have a look at Garstang, Keswick, Penrith, Kendal, Sedbergh, Ulverston, and Cockermouth, Corbridge, Milnthorpe and Settle.

@Evasmum88

Ah thanks so much! Do you know if overall the teenagers have a nice time there/are there clubs and things for them to do either at school or in the town? Also (sorry for the questions) is it a friendly place for incomers? My two are going to stand out like sore thumbs with their broad Somerset accents 😂 thanks so much

TBH I live the other side of Lancaster so I don’t know about clubs etc but a lot of DS’s primary school friends went to QES and they’re all very happy there. They might find their friends are quite spread out though as the catchment area is very wide and rural. I do think Kirkby Lonsdale itself has a reputation for being for older people but I’m happy to be corrected on that! What sort of things are they into?

I was going to say Garstang, Just outside the Grammar area but some kids still get in dependant on the year but it doesn't seem to affect the local schools.
Garstang Academy is good but many go to Ripley (Lancaster) /Our Lady's (Preston) both church schools. The sixth form in Preston is one of the best in the country.

Don’t confuse Our Lady’s in Preston with Our Lady’s in Lancaster though, which is grim!

Kirkby Lonsdale is gorgeous. I have personal experience of the school, which is really excellent. There are lots of incomers in the area in general, so I really don't think you'd stick out like sore thumbs at all. We moved to the area (20 mins from Kirkby) 7 years ago as lifelong southerners and have found it very friendly.

I grew up in Kirkby Lonsdale and got out as soon as I could, as did most of the people I went to school with. If you are used to a larger town, you will struggle with the interfering and nosy mentality, there isn"t much to do for older children and public transport is awful.
Somewhere nearer Kendal or Lancaster would be much better, and as PPs have said, Garstang is lovely.

Kirby is lovely but so small when you have teens but if you are to be a taxi service then that's not an issue.

It sounds like Kirby Lonsdale ticks all your boxes, but as you asked for alternatives, have you looked at Penistone*, Holmfirth, Richmond, Beverly, Pocklington.

*Penistone Grammar School is very good, but a grammar school in historical name only. The main competition to get it, is living in the car park.

Ilkley
Harrogate
Wetherby
Bernard Castle and surrounding villages, eg Cotherstone has gorgeous river frontage with pebbly river beach and lovely walks.
Kirby Lonsdale is, bizarrely, a tourist spot and I wouldn't want to live there.

I grew up in Kirkby Lonsdale and got out as soon as I could, as did most of the people I went to school with. If you are used to a larger town, you will struggle with the interfering and nosy mentality, there isn"t much to do for older children and public transport is awful.

Not necessarily though - depends on tge OP's attitude. I have lived in London and moved to a little village in Cumbria with a bus once in a while and nothing but a village shop and a village hall. I find the close community lovely, not nosy or interfering! At the moment people are scrambling to leave cities and large towns and move to the countryside, and I don't blame them!

Thanks all, really helpful replies and given me a lot to think about. On our way home from holiday today we diverted to see more places and stopped at knaresborough which while a lite bigger (and less dramatic scenery than KL), seemed really lovely and the river and viaduct was stunning. We are currently torn between three places, Hexham (love the quiet roads and scenery, Kirkby Lonsdale (love the scenery so much, proximity to the M6 and Lake District but worried it may be too small for teens, and Knaresborough (beautiful town centre, lots going on and well connected but busy traffic and further away from the dales etc. Gosh it’s so hard! Schools seem excellent in all three places, and they are all lovely in their own way. I think if my husband could choose he would pick Hexham for the quietness, my kids want somewhere near a cinema and things to do and I want a decent size house for our money (which clearly is not going to happen in any of those places!). Such lovely areas of the country, so hard to choose!

QES school excellent but there nothing there expect hundreds of bikers at the bridge at weekend everywhere would be in the car.

If kids went out it's at least 50min round trip to Lancaster or kendal . Also when kids start driving it nation speed limit un lit country roads/lanes everywhere .

Daughter went to QES sixth form and I work in KL. Exllectent town excellent school loads of clubs and facilities in the town

Rugby, football, hockey, tennis, cricket etc.

Lots going on. Much more than some similar towns locally.

@rwalker

QES school excellent but there nothing there expect hundreds of bikers at the bridge at weekend everywhere would be in the car.

If kids went out it's at least 50min round trip to Lancaster or kendal . Also when kids start driving it nation speed limit un lit country roads/lanes everywhere .

Very different to the Kirkby I know.

Hi interested to know did you land in Kirkby Lonsdale in the end? We're looking at relocating and prefer Kendal for size and things to do, but QES has a great reputation so considering there. Perhaps DS could commute daily to school but it would be a stretch!