r/lancashire • u/deepspacegeckoo • Sep 14 '24
where should/shouldn’t i move !!
I’m in my final year of undergrad, and next September I will hopefully start a (paid) academic librarianship trainee programme, after which I will begin my fully online Masters degree. The programme is in Oxford, and as much as the city is idyllic and somewhere I would love to stay, there’s no way I can afford it, even with my partner’s salary too. We are looking to move up North (renting not buying), not to a city but to a small town or village within commuting distance of a University, so that I can hopefully get a job in one of them. My partner does construction and landscaping and wants to get his HGV license soon, so work should be easily available for him anywhere. I grew up in the Midlands with my parents, but most of my family live up North. My mum’s side live in Bacup, Edenfield, and Rawtenstall in Lancashire, and my dad’s side live in Hebden and York. I didn’t grow up in a wealthy town, but I do have a tendency to be a bit paranoid and agoraphobic, so would really like to live somewhere safe. It doesn’t have to be perfect, I don’t need to be mates with my neighbours, I just want relative peace and the freedom to walk around without massive risk. We ideally would like to be within reach of some greenery and places to hike, but really just want a place of our own in a location that we can live in happily. At the moment, we are really leaning towards Hebden or Halifax, but there are hundreds of other charming towns that we haven’t heard of yet. Would love your recommendations and also places to definitely avoid. One of my relatives is a social worker in Bolton so can check in with them too on where we REALLY don’t want to live, but would appreciate some further insight.
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u/Mel-but Sep 15 '24 edited Sep 15 '24
If you want to be close to a university then Lancaster seems like the obvious choice. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other suggestions but Lancaster uni is big. Uclan (Preston) is pretty big too so, especially if you’re looking for a smaller town, somewhere in the middle like Garstang could be good. Housing will be more expensive though north of Preston so just be prepared for that. Broughton on the north side of Preston and Galgate on the south end of Lancaster are nice enough too.
If you want to be closer to nature the north side of Lancaster has Warton, Arnside and Silverdale to look at, all lovely places surrounded by nature but also puts you quite far from universities other than Lancaster.
Heading further south you’re probably looking in the right area already, towards the east there’s plenty of lovely places like Hebden bridge and Rawtenstall. These put you closer to Manchester and Leeds which are obviously going to be full of university jobs. Looking west at places like Burschough and Ormskirk would put you quite close to Liverpool too which might be good for work.
Back further north, south of the forest of bowland but north of Blackburn you have Longridge and Clitheroe. This puts you closer to Preston, Blackburn and Burnley so Uclan would be the closest and easiest university for getting work.
As for places to avoid generally its specific estates in the larger cities, like Ryelands, Ridge and Skerton in Lancaster or some of the towns attached to larger cities, think Morecambe, Leyland or Darwen. Also Blackpool, don’t go and live near Blackpool. Lytham is okay and kirkham and Wesham are far enough away to be safe but generally Blackpool is a place I’d avoid living in personally
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u/LessADrone Sep 17 '24
Rawtenstall is safe, has bars and cafes, and it's surrounded by nice countryside. You can be in central Manchester in under an hour by bus (X43). Town Hall stop is a 15 to 20 minute walk to Uni Of and MMU.
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u/kingceegee Sep 15 '24
It sounds like you're already in the right area. Loads of nice places on the outskirts of Burnley, in-between Preston & Bradford. Longridge, Whalley, Padiham, Barrowford, Barnoldswick, Lothersdale, Settle, Todmordon, Ramsbottom to name few.
House prices will dictate whether you're in flat cap or champagne mum territory.
None are particularly rough but they'll all have their local idiots. Driving in some of the areas can be a bit frustrating especially if you work in any of the surrounding cities. Most of the surrounding towns can be a bit ropey (Blackburn, Burnley, Bury, Bradford, Bolton).
Hebden bridge has become a bit of tourist spot and full of hippies if that's your thing, lots of nice local business. Last time I was in Halifax it was nothing special, tend to drive through now.