HELP: Moving to Northamptonshire!!

Jo_anne_2

I grew up in Corby. I would say there is not a lot to recommend the town itself, but as others have said the outlying villages are very nice. Kettering is fine and has a train station, with direct trains to London. The Northamptonshire countryside is lovely and I still miss that since moving away.

bikerqueen

don't.

it's horrid.

she_grinch

I live in Duston having moved from London 13 years ago. We first moved to the Eastern district and that was hell, then to Spencer, hell too, Duston is great, nice people, nice area. I have lived here for 4 years and, though I still miss family, I do not miss London at all, when we visit we are horrified how dirty, overcrowded and threatening it has become. Corby can be trouble but like anywhere it does depend on your neighbours.

Fashionably_Late

I agree with others about Corby. My SIL lives in a village near there called Harringworth that is stunning and I would live there anytime. But never would I live in Corby. From what she has said and what I have seen, the crime would be worse there than in south London.

ixwood

It's rough in places, but definitly on the up and in the right part, a good future investment in my opinion. The A14 appearing years ago has made the whole area slowly better.

Also, expensive housing everywhere else has made corby (and kettering) new builds attracvtively priced. As more new houses are built and more people move in, the skummy elements will be bred out.

Don;t touch lincoln/kingswood or exeter estates whatever you do. Danesholme is quiet and quite nice, but affordable., Great oakly is posher. And all the urrounds villages are lovely.

As for traiffic and stuff. It's a different world. Doesn't compare. It's a beautiful, relatively low populated county with endless countryside.

As for crime being worse than London. lol. I know where I'd feel safer. Guns aren't an everyday possension for a start!

ixwood

How many of the slaggers have actally lived there or spent any real time there reecently btw?

Itls like all places, some rough bits, some Ok bits. Admittedly I don't live there any more due to work, but If I was going to buy a cheap investment property in this county, corby would be near the top of my list.

Oh it's just getting a new train station. And Olmpic swimming pool. And recnetly had the very nice rockingham race track built. nothing going for it whatsoever...

ixwood

What's the budget iff you don't mind me asking?

For real community and high quality of life in lovely surroundings, northants villages really are great. Cheap by London standards, but still not cheap.

I live inbetween northampton and corby and although big, the village is lovely. When we were moving in and were all hot and dusty sanding floorboards, the lady from over the road brought us some chilled drinks over on a nice silver tray.

The (3) village parks are safe and pleasant, even at night. We're surrounded by countryside (FULL of bridleways and public footpaths), next to a beautfiul resovoir and country park (with walks, a play park, fishing, cycling etc).

There's a village newsletter and more clubs, societys and sports teams than you could possibly attend. Loads of kids stuff. 3 pubs (with dart, pool, skiittle teams etc), football teams, cricket, badminton, Martial Arts etc etc.

As well as 3 pubs, we have a co-op, convieniece store, butchers, bakers, greengroocers, hardware store, chemist, fish and chip shop, gift shop, hairdressers, garage, post office, resturant, village hall, library, cafe.

Its great. I'm pretty sure I'm going to die here. The standard of life is so much better. london or any big town or city make me feel horrible and depressed when visiting.

For a guide, here you'll get a 3 bed semi for £150k-170k, or a nice relatively spacious, solid old 3 bed terrrace on a quiet road with decent garden for about the same.

On the other one of the scale, there's plenty of lovely old northants stone cottages around. As pretty as I've seen anywhere else.

littlegoldfishie

..................

JonnyBravo

littlegoldfishie wrote: »

I bought my home here 2 years ago as I couldn't afford to buy anywhere else that was close to my job, I paid 76K for a 3 bed semi, off road parking, double glazed and central heating.................. Oh and my house has just been valued at 135K. Where else would you get a return like that in 2 years?

A return like what?
You have no return.... it doesnt sound like you've sold your house.

Now it might sell for £135k, or that might be an estate agent telling you an inflated price you'll never realise.... you'll only know that when you DO sell.

kmate

I agree with the many posts, avoid Corby. Northampton is fine, Wellingborough and Kettering also fine. I live in a small village between wellingborough and Milton keynes and it is very safe/no crime/community feel.
Ask the local Estate Agents which areas to avoid in each of the towns, they are well-known and so they should point you in the right direction.

Try to aim for a village.