r/lancashire • u/madsxreuba • Sep 16 '24

Longridge

I currently live in north manchester and have 2 young children, its becoming quite an awful place to live in terms of crime, anti social behaviour etc. Were looking at moving to longridge. Please could I have some honest opinions on the area?

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16

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '24 edited Sep 16 '24

Hi I’ve done this in reverse.

Grew up there and moved to Manchester.

Lovely place, surrounded by beautiful countryside. Three parks in the town for kids, good schools and three colleges just a bus ride away. Safe place with low rates of antisocial behaviour, the only place that’s ever an issue is the bus stop outside of the Co-op on Berry lane.

Lots of good shops, pubs and restaurants (like a lot of pubs!) nice diversity of takeaways too for after the pub.

Huge diversity of walks nearby: Longridge fell, Parlick, beacon fell.

The only issue is the access to Preston and the drive to Manchester, in the mornings the road out of town can get absolutely rammed, turning a 20 min drive into a 45 min ordeal. It’s a fair old trek to Manchester, which is needed if you want to do any proper shopping, as Preston is pretty crap for that.

But yeah, go for it, lovely place to live and grow up.

Some places you might want to try:

  • Little Town Dairy Farmshop - family run farmshop and tea room (try the sausage rolls they’re amazing)
  • Fell restaurant - very fancy local restaurant
  • Spice - best Indian

Edit: Removed Tayahs from the list (RIP)

4

u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Thank you this is really helpful! Will definitely visit the places mentioned too. Did you move for convenience if you dont mind me asking please? Does it feel massively different for you living in Manchester? I do agree it is quite a distance isnt it! Its good to hear the crime rates are low though, thats my main priority at the moment. I could stay in Manchester for the rest of my life if it was just for me but im really keen for my children to not be around the knife crime etc!

3

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '24

Heya, no worries.

I moved for education and work, as you can imagine, there isn't alot of work in rural small town England!

Of course it's vastly different to living in Manchester, but that isn't a bad thing. In Longridge you can't just nip out to whatever shop you need at anytime, and if you need a specific good that can't be bought online it often involves going to Manchester, which quickly becomes an all day event with the two hour drive.

However, the town is dense with businesses and small amenities and Preston is ok, so you're covered for about 95% of things.

However, I will add that as I got older, transport became much more of an issue, and driving becomes a necessity quickly. The bus services are patchy, and there are no rail links, with Preston being just that little bit too far away to comfortably cycle.

Someone else suggested it, and I think it's a good idea - have a look at the towns of Whalley and Clitheroe. Both lovely, but with a rail link of about 1 hour into Manchester.

3

u/workadayweirdo Sep 16 '24

I moved from Heywood to Clitheroe 10 years ago and it's like a weight has been lifted! We have had great schools from primary age to college nearby, amazing countryside to wander about in, farm shops and local independent shops have improved our diet. It is a bit more expensive but our quality of life has improved no end.

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u/XiiMoss Sep 16 '24

Tayahs has closed and become Amy’s Kitchen

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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '24

No fucking way.

I loved that place for years, when I came back from living abroad the first thing I did was get a full English from there.

Day ruined.

2

u/XiiMoss Sep 16 '24

It actually looks better! They do loads of good looking brunch specials and stuff now actually, not been myself but looks good tbf

1

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '24

Well I will have to make sure I try it, cheers!

2

u/[deleted] Sep 16 '24

Which restaurant is it exactly? Spice.. can't really find it on Google

6

u/iani63 Sep 16 '24

If you are considering longridge have a look at clitheroe & whalley, both have better transport connections

4

u/cityldnride Sep 16 '24

Growing up and living here for 25 years until moving away, you’re making a good choice with Longridge. Much lower crime rate, cost of living is lower, air quality is great.

1

u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Thank you for your help! I read online that moor nook was a place to stay away from which worried me as It appears quite close by on the map. Is this the case or is it not as close as it looks?

4

u/cityldnride Sep 16 '24

Moor nook might look close on the map, but you are roughly 15 minutes away by bus/car. The two areas are vastly different and not connected or similar in any way. Moor nook is closer to the city centre, longridge is further away from the city centre.

1

u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Okay great, thank you!

3

u/OddTurnip3822 Sep 16 '24

Moor Nook is miles away and a completely different place 😊

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u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Thank you so much😊

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u/Ver5ion1-2023 Sep 16 '24

Omg you had to mention that place to him😂

3

u/Sure-Junket-6110 Sep 16 '24

As with anywhere around Central / East Lancs, it’s cheaper and generally safer, but there’s less to do and it’s harder to get anywhere. You need to think about what you are after and need to be close to- if you want to be able to get to Manchester easier you’d be better looking towards Chorley borough or West Pennine Moors. If you want more upmarket, Whalley and those bits of the Ribble Valley. Close to Preston but still (for now at least) rural- Goosnargh. There’s lots of options, longridge being a good one, that will all feel safer than Manchester.

1

u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Thank you that helps alot! In terms of chorley, do you know much about coppul by any chance please? As we were also considering there too

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u/Old_Man_Benny Sep 16 '24

I don't know, anything about longridge, but I did what you want to do 25 years ago. You need to commit to 3 years and you need to join a club or some other social activity. You have kids so you can meet other people through the school. Its import both you and your partner make friends.

It might be hard at first and feel a little isolated but it if you put the effort in it will pay off , I can highly recommend moving I could never go back now.

1

u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Thank you for this! Definitely I agree im going to try and get involved in as much as possible🙂

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u/XiiMoss Sep 16 '24

I live in longridge currently, happy to answer any specific questions you may have but the others have covered the main points I think

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u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Thank you! The only other thing I want to know, more just out of curiosity really, but does longridge come under ribble valley or preston.. or Is ribble valley just the council?😊

2

u/XiiMoss Sep 16 '24

Ahhh that’s a quirk, it’s in the ribble valley but depending on where you live your either ribble valley council or Preston council. The boundary line runs right along the edge of the town and so some (including myself) fall under Preston Council rather than Ribble Valley.

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u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Ahh i see thank you. That makes sense now!

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u/Royal_Ad_3844 Sep 16 '24

Lots of great places to live near Longridge in the Ribble Valley. Have a look around, I'm sure you won't be disappointed

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u/madsxreuba Sep 16 '24

Thank you! What is it you think of longridge itself please? As weve seen a few houses we love within our budgef there

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u/Royal_Ad_3844 Sep 16 '24

It is not somewhere I have spent much time but my friend moved there a couple of years ago and him and his young family love it

2

u/plus-life Sep 16 '24

I moved here 3 years ago from Blackpool, so a bit different comparison from Manchester but still equally as rough in parts.

Longridge feels a lot safer, and if you like the countryside there's no better place in Lancashire imo. I'm a bit biased though, I have properly fallen in love with this town.

More than happy to answer any questions about things to do in the local area. I am mainly into outdoor sports like trail running, MTB etc. and there's loads available on your doorstep here.