Anybody live in or around Swineshead/Boston?!

[MummySharkDoodoododoo]

Hi, we are considering purchasing a house in Swineshead, Boston. But worried that Boston has a bad rep. The house we are looking at his rural without neighbours so we are hoping it would be ok. But as we dont know the area, we dont want to end up living somewhere really rough!
We are coming from London, so will have much more space and land than we are used to.
I have googled but most answers are talking about Boston town, but we are looking at a property outside of the village of Swineshead.

I'd be so grateful if anybody has any information!

To get to London we drive to Peterborough- 45 mins and get on a 50 min to 1hr train from there.

Thank you. There seems to be a few routes. Maybe trial and error! Do you get parked ok at Peterborough?

@MummySharkDoodoododoo parking is fine but it's very expensive, about £16 for a day.

I grew up in Hubert's bridge, my friends and family all still live in the area. It's a completely different life style to living in London. I still think it's a lovely place, you get so much for your money, kids have room to play, you don't have to live on top of others.
I think it sounds like a suitable place from what you have said you want out of a home.
Boston has always been a bit rough, Spalding is a bit nicer. Travel a bit further afield to Lincoln for more of the city type activities. One thing is your kids will need to learn to drive as soon as they can as public transport if shocking, but driving as soon as you turn 17 is the norm.

Another thing to bear in mind that Boston and Lincoln are not great for paediatrics, should your kids become unwell or have anything but the most minor injuries, you'll have to go to Nottingham.

@Toddlerteaplease

Another thing to bear in mind that Boston and Lincoln are not great for paediatrics, should your kids become unwell or have anything but the most minor injuries, you'll have to go to Nottingham.

Oh dear! We have one child in particular who is very accident prone! And 2 are under the child Development centre due to Autism. 🙈 One is under paediatric Audiology and also Ophthalmology - do you think we will have issues here?

@boymum88

I grew up in Hubert's bridge, my friends and family all still live in the area. It's a completely different life style to living in London. I still think it's a lovely place, you get so much for your money, kids have room to play, you don't have to live on top of others. I think it sounds like a suitable place from what you have said you want out of a home. Boston has always been a bit rough, Spalding is a bit nicer. Travel a bit further afield to Lincoln for more of the city type activities. One thing is your kids will need to learn to drive as soon as they can as public transport if shocking, but driving as soon as you turn 17 is the norm.

That's really good to hear. I think even where we are now the older 2 kids would be learning to drive as soon as old enough. There is good public transport here but it's not pleasant -- often trouble on there with anti social behaviour or pervs, although the CCTV CCTV etc is more common now i think. I am in my early 30s and had a lot of bad experiences on public transport so havent let mine use it without an adult.

I live in a village close to Swineshead and have lived in South Lincolnshire for a good chunk of my life, moving away and returning a few times. It has its positives and negatives. I love the rural location the skies are stunning, and summers are gorgeous with fields full of crops however it’s the time of year when it’s muddy and a little dreary. There has been tension between locals’ & migrants for a few years that has worsened and resulted in the overwhelming Brexit vote locally but sadly the blame is laid on the migrants and not the policies, political systems and the few that have benefited locally. However there are small changes happening, so hopefully it will improve. There isn’t lots to do and you have to travel a lot but you have space, more peace and ‘some’ cheaper living. My kids are young and I have mixed feelings about them living here as teens but am aware that all areas nationwide have issues. Further Education could be better, but schools are good. I will add the bus service is facing cutbacks and isn’t well used so expect further so maybe bear that in mind.

Lincolnshire is like Marmite some love it, some hate it. However having lived in a few places and a DH who has lived in a few too there are worse places to live.

Maybe look a joining a local fb group, they maybe be able to give you a better idea of what the local health services are like at the min. If the pilgrim isn't up to the job for the specialised services ( sure they can deal with ur day to day a&e needs) you have the option of Nottingham or even addenbrookes at Cambridge

I'm sure once you are settled you will all make a nice group of friends, people tend to all know each other ( that comes with village life)

Oh dear god not Boston. I went to college there. Everything has already been said but it's the one place I never want to visit again because it's utter shit. It's hard to describe how depressing it is without spending time there but I cannot fathom why you would want to take teens there. There is nothing for them. And everything is miles and miles away.

The shops are shit. The nightlife is shit. There's v little culture at all. I moved on to Leicester and it felt like paradise compared to Boston.

Agree with others it's not fair on the kids. Yeh there are buses but not many and not reliable. The rail service is skeletal.

So many better options east mids or around Cambridge. Or even kings Lyn might be worth looking at.

I will add I think Boston is preferable to Spalding, more there (aside from the Springfields Outlet and that isn’t aimed at teenagers), spalding has the same issues with rough sleepers, addicts, etc. Shopping isn’t great at either. Boston has more sports facilities and clubs, college etc.

Grew up in Lincolnshire - Boston area is a seriously bleak place to be a teenager. And I agree with the other poster who said your kids will not thank you for it. I would reconsider. Lincoln is a lovely town with some good schools and has more of a buzz about it.

@MummySharkDoodoododoo make sure you check what services are available in Boston before you move. I don't know what services there are there. We regularly have patients from that area and they find it very tough being so far from home.

My strongest memory of Boston was my friend being attacked with a crowbar because he was Asian. Honestly the most violent event I've ever experienced in my 42 years. It was along skirbeck road when we were walking back from town totally unprovoked.

Looking at rightmove and what's on the market in swineshead - honestly if you have that budget (and the houses are gorgeous don't get me wrong) I'm just stunned you would consider that area when you have options.

@stopblowingyournose

Looking at rightmove and what's on the market in swineshead - honestly if you have that budget (and the houses are gorgeous don't get me wrong) I'm just stunned you would consider that area when you have options.

So where else do we have these options with that budget that can tick every box of our requirements? As we cant find anywhere else....

Like a previous poster, I would not want to live in that part of Lincolnshire just because I find it so bleak.

For that sort of money I would suggest Kings Lynn or surrounding area in Norfolk. It’s cheap, direct trains to Kings Cross, the landscape is slightly more picturesque, and you’re near to the North Norfolk coast.

Obviously it also has its problems but I think not quite as bad as Boston or Spalding.

We did try to look at Kings Lynn but there isnt anything that ticks all the boxes for us unfortunately

What do you need the land for? It’s really not a great place to live, quite backward, not much ambition and quite frankly boring.

You’d be better looking nearer Lincoln www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115318295#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108278615#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/79140012#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/75487221#/?channel=RES_BUY

Too far from London?

It it’s the place I think you might mean I’m not surprised you love the home, I’m kind of in love with it too (I live on the other side of the world, not any competition).

Definitely spend time exploring the area. I don’t know that area in particular but all the comments about the eerie desolation of such a flat place really resonate with me from experiences elsewhere. It can be a really weird feeling having so much sky, don’t underestimate it. Walking is so disheartening when you don’t ever feel like you’re getting anywhere. On the other hand, you might love it but don’t just assume you will because it’s what you want after crowded London.

I live in Boston, i moved up here in the 80s in my early 20s so have not luved here as a teenager but i grew up in a very small boring village so have some insight.
Boston is a poor rundown town with very little going for it, the town centre has many empty shops and we will go elsewhere for decent shopping. Peterborough, Lincoln or meadowhall at Sheffield are all a good hour or more away.
You can get a train to Nottingham from Boston, to go to London takes about 3 hours by train as you have to change at Grantham.
There are some very good primary schools in Boston, secondary schools are varied, obviously we have grammar schools which are single sex until 6th form.
The hospital is being run down with most specialist services being moved to Lincoln but i think children's services are mainly in Nottingham now.
Boston has some good bits, a few nice cafe's, the local small theatre ( Blackfriars) has some good amateur plays on once or twice a year.
Theres a decent cinema, a bowling alley with climbing walls, large soft play etc.
There are nice places to walk such as witham country park, Jennys wood.
We have park run on Saturdays and a yearly marathon.
There are several gyms, golf course, swimming pool, running clubs...
Its not all bad!
If i had my time again, i probably wouldn't have moved here but my life is good, i have a much bigger house than i could afford in the south east.
Feel free to message me if you want any more info!

@Pinkybike

I live in Boston, i moved up here in the 80s in my early 20s so have not luved here as a teenager but i grew up in a very small boring village so have some insight. Boston is a poor rundown town with very little going for it, the town centre has many empty shops and we will go elsewhere for decent shopping. Peterborough, Lincoln or meadowhall at Sheffield are all a good hour or more away. You can get a train to Nottingham from Boston, to go to London takes about 3 hours by train as you have to change at Grantham. There are some very good primary schools in Boston, secondary schools are varied, obviously we have grammar schools which are single sex until 6th form. The hospital is being run down with most specialist services being moved to Lincoln but i think children's services are mainly in Nottingham now. Boston has some good bits, a few nice cafe's, the local small theatre ( Blackfriars) has some good amateur plays on once or twice a year. Theres a decent cinema, a bowling alley with climbing walls, large soft play etc. There are nice places to walk such as witham country park, Jennys wood. We have park run on Saturdays and a yearly marathon. There are several gyms, golf course, swimming pool, running clubs... Its not all bad! If i had my time again, i probably wouldn't have moved here but my life is good, i have a much bigger house than i could afford in the south east. Feel free to message me if you want any more info!

Thank you - that's a really helpful and balanced response!