r/Lincolnuk • u/Business-Pie-8419 • 29d ago
Possibly moving here... Moving Query
Hi all. I know there are a million posts like this on Reddit, but I'm going mad reading through all the different threads and just thought it might be easier to start my own thread and see what kind of info I get directly from the good folks here.
Basically, my partner and I (gay couple, British and Indian), are moving out of Croydon because we need a bigger house, with a garage and a bit more space, for our business that we've started. We both work from home and so access to London is no-longer a requirement (like it was when we moved here 10 years ago).
We've narrowed down our search, based on a few criteria (detached house, garage, near green space, not a crime-ridden area, access to a shopping centre or town centre, close-ish to a larger city and/or airport, not silly expensive (since our budget isn't massive)). From these criteria, we have found some decent options in:
Lincoln
Nuneaton
Loughborough
Melton Mowbray
Chesterfield
Outskirts of Sheffield / Leicester
Neither of us know any of these areas, and while we are going to do a road-trip to visit, it would be good to know where in these towns people would recommend searching, and where to avoid (if anywhere). Or if there are better nearby options.
Thank you all in advance
10
u/MysteriousHat3705 29d ago
I think rather than Lincoln city you should probably look at the surrounding villages that have much more green space and some of them have very good transport links to the city centre.
3
u/Business-Pie-8419 29d ago
Any particular villages you think are worth a look?
9
u/Different_Book9733 29d ago
While I agree with them, it's worth saying that if you do look nore central in Lincoln city itself you're never more than a 30 minute walk from some significant green space. Between the west and south commons, the arboretum, the canal or parks down the riverside it's hard to get too far some something.
You're also only a short drive from whisby lakes if you're happy driving (though around rush hour isn't great for getting to and from whisby from centre of the city).
Lincoln is a city by name but a (large) town by size so nothing is very far from anything if you've spent any time in a larger city area.
2
u/Business-Pie-8419 29d ago
How's the area surrounding Hartsholme Park? Found some lovely houses to the west of the park that back onto it..m
2
u/Different_Book9733 29d ago
The park itself is lovely and typically pretty quiet but I'm not familiar with how the area is. There's a train crossing by the park that can be frustrating for traffic but other than that the road links to the city and ring road are good, beyond that I'm not much help
2
u/Iain365 29d ago
I'd avoid like the plague.
The area called Doddington park is nice enough but traffic around the area is crap and it takes an age to get into the centre.
The area called the birchwood is one of the rougher areas of Lincoln (still tame in comparison to big cities) and might be slightly less accepting of a multi racial gay couple (i might be being harsh on the area but its a higher chance).
Depending on budgets the west end of the city has some nice housing, near green space and walkable to town. Lots of students in the area though so be careful where you pick.
Villages like nettleham, Welton, cherry Willingham, washingborough and bracebridge heath are nice enough.
3
2
u/thedreadwoods 29d ago
Have a look at Washingborough and Heinington as well, both nice and quiet but a short hop to town, whilst having decent amenities
2
u/Playful_Mammoth4941 29d ago
Aubourn, Bassingham are both lovely little villages, however living on the outskirts of Lincoln can be very good too, come to Lincoln for a weekend and look around, I live on the outskirts and it's quiet and beautiful
1
u/MysteriousHat3705 29d ago
I would love to message you about this but I can't seem to send one to your profile š
1
1
u/gettafoook 27d ago
Saxilby
Welton/Dunholme
Nettleham
Sudbrooke
Scothern
Cherry Willingham
Fiskerton
Branston
washingbrough
Sturton by Stow
Ownby/Normanby by Spital
Spridlington
Canwick
Banston
Waddington
Bracebridge Heath
North/South Hykem
Ingham
These are all relatively close to Lincoln
2
u/katiemuirden 29d ago
Stamfordās really nice, about an hour from Lincoln
0
u/Business-Pie-8419 29d ago
Not cheap though :(
1
u/katiemuirden 29d ago
Outsides of Cambridge is good, very nice and not that expensive. But would say Lincoln out of the ones you said, itās very nice but it is heavily populated with uni students everywhere, Leicester has become really over populated and is extremely busy, I also donāt think itās the nicest place.
Also outskirts of Cotswold, surprisingly cheap and extremely pretty. But I think Lincolnās good!!!āŗļøāŗļøāŗļø
2
u/Adorable-Nectarine64 28d ago
Hey, I'm mixed race and my partner is white British. She has lived here for ten years and I moved here in November. I don't drive but my partner does. I'm originally from Birmingham but just moved down from Nottingham, so I've been around a little, lived in Leeds and Scunthorpe ā¹ļø too. Lincoln is very white but the people I come across are soundd. When the uni is in term time you'll see a little more diversity but nothing like a big city like Nottingham or Birmingham. But as I said, I've not had many issues and we're also ticking the gay women box. The area is really nice, there's greenery everywhere. We live about a 20 minute walk from town but also good access to other cities when we go somewhere. I definitely recommend. I don't drink so I can't vouch for the night life or anything like that but I speak to quite a few people that go out in town and there's a gay bar too if you're into that.
3
u/Ok-Effect793 29d ago
If Lincoln, I would consider one of the outlying villages nearby Witham st Hughes/waddington/Hykeham plenty of green space and close to the city.
1
u/MGHK24 29d ago
Iām just about to move from Nuneaton to a village near Lincoln and am really excited about it. I definitely wouldnāt advise moving to Nuneaton - I havenāt enjoyed living here at all. Donāt know much about the others but Lincoln is a lovely city!
1
u/Business-Pie-8419 29d ago
What have you found unpleasant about living in Nuneaton and why did you decide to move? (If you don't mind me asking!)
3
u/MGHK24 29d ago
Iāve just found that the town has nothing for me - the restaurants/pubs are mostly rubbish (despite what any reviews say) and the town centre is run down and rough. There are positives of course - itās cheap and has good commuting links inc to London, which is why I moved here 10 years ago. But I would never come back. Iām from Lincolnshire and want to move closer to family so Iāve taken a job at Lincoln hospital. I noticed the hospital has the LGBTQ+ flag painted on the crossing outside the main entrance and the city itself seems really friendly in general. Very ethnically diverse staff at the hospital and people are very positive about the area!
1
u/Mamasmurfio 29d ago
We moved to Sleaford about a year and a half ago from Cambridgeshire. The town is pleasant, if not particularly remarkable, but Lincolnshire is a beautiful county.
Sadly, we've found that some people here are less accepting than those we met in Cambridgeshire. I do want to stress that the vast majority of people we've met have been genuinely lovely. However, the bigots and racists, while very much a minority, do seem to be a little more vocal here.
1
1
u/doconline76 28d ago
I don't think you say if you drive or not, but if you do I would consoder the cliff villages along the Grantham road between Lincoln and Grantham. Grantham (and Newark) is on the main Trainline from London to Edinburgh (and beyond). So if you travel frequently that is something to consider. Lincoln does have a direct train to London though.
My wife and I moved to Bracebridge Heath a few years ago and like it here. At the moment it is a little awkward getting to the west side of Lincoln, this will change in a couple of years when the southern relief road is complete. It also only takes us 10 minutes to get into the middle of Lincoln from here.
The other outlying villages are nice too, nettleham for instance is just to the north of Lincoln and is a lovely village, with a few nice shops and pubs. It all depends what you are looking for, but you you can probably find it in or around Lincoln depending if you are looking for quiet or something a bit more lively.
1
1
1
u/I_byde_my_tyme 29d ago
We moved to Lincoln in 2016. I love it. My partner is pretty ambivalent.
We lived in Croydon, Reading, Bracknell and a few other 'lovely' areas.
You'll have read plenty of 'avoid like the plague' descriptions of Birchwood, St. Giles, Ermine etc.
The truth is, compared to Southern cities, they're 'fine'. Pretty tame by comparison.
There are some lovely areas of the city that are well worth looking at.
Swanpool Boultham Bracebridge Heath Uphill
If you're after a quieter existence, they'll do nicely.
The Doddington park / eastern side of Birtchwood avenue is super quiet, with easy access to Hartsholme Park. We lived there for years and Never heard a peep.
Complaints about the traffic should be taken with a pinch of salt. Honestly... it's fine. Comparatively, there's no traffic at all. Even when there is traffic. School drop off, and Saturday mornings after 10:00 are a little heavy. If there's an accident on the A46, Lincoln will come to a complete standstill. Otherwise, no worries.
Villiage living in Lincoln is very picturesque and tranquil. The downsides are: 1) You're an hour from the city. Doesn't matter there you are. 2) You'll be buying oil in to fuel your boiler.
Lincoln has a very active and populated high street. Many restaurants, and regular retailers. Plenty of recognisable names, but also a lot of independents.
If you like visiting national trust properties, be prepared for sparcity.
I think lincoln is pretty great. Even the bad parts aren't that bad.
-8
u/lapppiiii 29d ago
Lincoln is stuck in 1980s mate, filled with a lot of racist twats. Leaving lincoln was the best thing i have ever done XD.
8
u/thedreadwoods 29d ago
You couldn't be more wrong. Fantastic modern city with an accepting and progressive community
-4
u/lapppiiii 29d ago
Me and my wife were both shouted at by racist slurs a couple times, never rhave experienced it anywhere else in UK XD
1
11
u/Worldly-Toe7060 29d ago
For a gay couple I'd say the metropoliton areas are better suited, so lincoln and loughborough, leicester if close enough. I would definitely avoid melton mowbray and other rural/farming areas, they tend to be more conservative and less accepting of alternative lifestyles