Best place to live within commuting distance of Belfast

Pythagorous

Considering moving house at the moment (young family) so would be interested to hear people's opinions on where they think the best place to live within commuting distance of Belfast and why?

Coolhandluke

Depends on your budget,best place has to be Cultra/Craigavad.
Main road into Belfast and also direct rail and bus links.

Pythagorous

Looking anywhere up to around the 400K mark. Cultra looks lovely, but probably over-priced for what you get. At the moment I'm thinking Ballyhackamore, Holywood, Belmont, Stranmillis and Malone. Would be interested to hear people's opinions on these areas or others that I haven't listed.

totallybroke_2

i would go for Ballyhackamore, belmont, stormont or dundonald

RikM

Well, as you can see, I chose the other side of the lough. I prefer it, to the Holywood side; the light's better in winter.

There's a few areas along the shore road which are pleasant, and access to some reasonable schools.

conor3000

Carryduff! Plenty of buses and schools. And more churches and chapels than you can shake a stick at

dmxdave

Ballygowan....crap bus service, no trains, limited schools BUT 10 miles from Belfast, two pubs, pizza place, Chinese, two chippies, Post Office, filling station with shop, Costcutter, chemist and of course Ruthies (papers,mags,cards,lottery and sweets!)

screwedagain

Please don't underestimate the commute into Belfast city centre from Dundonald... especially if you intend to use public transport.

I find that the only people who realise how bad this commute is are those who have experienced it themselves. On a typical weekday morning it can take over an hour on a 4A metro to get from Asda in Dundonald to city hall.

Bottleneck locations are the upper newtownards road/stoney road junction, with all the civil servants turning right to get into work, the knock dual carriageway junction, again with masses of people turning right to go towards the Sydenham bypass.

And before anyone asks, the Kings road is just as bad!

Just my experience, you have been warned!!

A.L.D.A

RikM wrote: »

Well, as you can see, I chose the other side of the lough. I prefer it, to the Holywood side; the light's better in winter.

There's a few areas along the shore road which are pleasant, and access to some reasonable schools.

Agree.

Roads less busy, housing generally cheaper than Co. Down side and regular train service.

I am at Whitehead, 3 local golf courses, various facilities for boating, horse riding, plenty of recreation facilities for children. Air is clean, views of Scotland and Larne just up the road. What more could you want!!!

D.A.

Lisburn! An 8 minute commute by train at rush hour, 15 minutes or so by car outside rush hour, 2 good schools, reasonable shopping (but still no flippin Asda...).

Although it's rubbish after 6p.m.

Fathero3

Err, why not just live in Belfast?