Trying to decide where to move to

Grizebeck

Albermarle said:

West of durham is very cheap compared to Hampshire and the countryside is lovely.

Although you would have to be prepared for some drop in temperature !

Indeed I lived near consett.  Definitely cooler but the penines other side of consett is beautiful 

ReadingTim

The reality of the situation is that your kids are at the age where they're beginning to fly the nest, so you really don't need a 3 bedroom house: a 2 bed would be fine, and depending on the extent to which you enjoy gardening etc, could even look at flats.  

With that in mind, the list of areas available to you should increase quite significantly.  

FreeBear

BungalowBel said: Solihull and Yardley, both nice suburbs of Birmingham

"Nice" is a highly subjective opinion - Having been to Birmingham (and Manchester) on a number of occasions, I wouldn't want to settle there.

Grizebeck

FreeBear said:

BungalowBel said: Solihull and Yardley, both nice suburbs of Birmingham

"Nice" is a highly subjective opinion - Having been to Birmingham (and Manchester) on a number of occasions, I wouldn't want to settle there.

There are some really nice areas of Birmingham. I lived there for a good few years but it's horses for courses.
Can't stand Manchester 

BungalowBel

FreeBear said:

BungalowBel said: Solihull and Yardley, both nice suburbs of Birmingham

"Nice" is a highly subjective opinion - Having been to Birmingham (and Manchester) on a number of occasions, I wouldn't want to settle there.

I agree it's not as pretty as Hampshire.  That's one of the reasons it is not as expensive as Hampshire!

Albermarle

FreeBear said:

BungalowBel said: Solihull and Yardley, both nice suburbs of Birmingham

"Nice" is a highly subjective opinion - Having been to Birmingham (and Manchester) on a number of occasions, I wouldn't want to settle there.

As anybody from Solihull will very  quickly tell you, Solihull is not actually in Birmingham.

Although anybody just passing through, could be forgiven thinking it was a large middle class outer suburb of Brum.

~FlowerPot~

Thank you for ask the suggestions I will go through and take a look at these towns and the housing prices. 
Although a 2 bed has been suggested, i really want to be able to have a room for 2 of the kids. And 3 bedroom already means that all 3 couldn't all stay at the same time., unless we use the sofa! I have a feeling that the middle  one might end up staying with  his dad, but he's the one at uni,
They would all get the choice, but I suspect the other 2 would want to be with me, especially the youngest.
I did look at Frome in Somerset but its just that bit beyond my limit. Which is when I study up lol further afield, but do hard when you don't know where is nice and where is dodgy! 
City living has not been my thing, But, I really want to be somewhere I can be well connected by rail and easily access to shops. 

fryedslyce

May I suggest the market town of Retford in Nottinghamshire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retford. Historic, and very good mainline rail connectivity, less than 1hr 30 mins to London.

ShinyStarlight1

There are some great qualities about the North of England.

Strong arts and cultural scenes in multiple cities close to each other: Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, York for example. Days trips for a dose of culture is very doable.

All the above places are surrounded by suburbs and small towns where the housing is cheaper than down south. You have to do your research - some of these places are charming and thriving, others are not.

The general social culture among Northerners tends to be warm, friendly, and funny. That can be a great help when starting anew in a new area.

Personally, knowing Manchester well, I wouldn’t live there as I find it too aggressive. But satellite towns like Whaley Bridge or Todmorden or the little villages in the Peak District are nice - with countryside nearby and on train routes to the nearby city.

Good luck!

youth_leader

My husband was promoted in 1999 and we had to move from Twickenham up to Northumberland.  In hindsight, I wish we had lived nearer to Newcastle - the Uni is Russell group, as is Durham.  I must say my children suffered due to their London accent, it is something to consider.  Good luck.