Midweek accommodation in, er, Wellignborough

Midweek accommodation in, er, Wellignborough

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truck71

Original Poster:

2,328 posts

172 months

Wednesday 25th November 2015
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Have just landed a job in Wellingborough (currently live in West London) and need to find somewhere to live. I will keep the London flat and return at weekends- only 50 mins from St Pancras to Wellingborough.

I know nothing about the area and so any pointers would be much appreciated. I will look to rent somewhere for six months and upon successful completion of the probationary period buy an outbased pad. I only need a place for me so one or two bed flat or maybe a small house. Two key priorities are 1) must be a decent area 2) not more than 15 minutes drive from the North side of Wellingborough. If there is off road parking that would be preferable but not necessarily a deal breaker.

I'd appreciate any advice and experience from the collective.

Edited by truck71 on Wednesday 25th November 08:18

Shnozz

27,472 posts

271 months

Wednesday 25th November 2015
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There aren't many decent town areas within 15 mins of Wellingborough to be honest. I have a house in Higham Ferrers which is ok, and the villages on the A509 south of the A45 (towards Santa Pod) are nice. There won't be many flats to rent/buy in those areas as its mainly houses but the costs are relatively cheap in any event so I would just rent a small house in one of those areas. As I say, A509 run generally has nicer villages than North of Wellingborough. If you went as far as Olney that is pleasant, albeit you may be less keen as the travel is further, the costs higher and if you are commuting by train (wellingborough is an easy run to London) then you probably don't want to gravitate that distance from the town itself (although you won't want to spend nights out there...).

truck71

Original Poster:

2,328 posts

172 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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Shnozz said:
There aren't many decent town areas within 15 mins of Wellingborough to be honest. I have a house in Higham Ferrers which is ok, and the villages on the A509 south of the A45 (towards Santa Pod) are nice. There won't be many flats to rent/buy in those areas as its mainly houses but the costs are relatively cheap in any event so I would just rent a small house in one of those areas. As I say, A509 run generally has nicer villages than North of Wellingborough. If you went as far as Olney that is pleasant, albeit you may be less keen as the travel is further, the costs higher and if you are commuting by train (wellingborough is an easy run to London) then you probably don't want to gravitate that distance from the town itself (although you won't want to spend nights out there...).
Thanks for that, I'm going to hole up in Chelveston for a few weeks and suss the area out. I can see lots of apartments in Rushden, what are your thoughts?

Issi

1,782 posts

150 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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An old chum who was a native used to refer to it as 'Wellinterestingborough in Nothingeverhappensshire'

I know that's not very useful but I've been waiting to use it for 20 odd years.

ReallyReallyGood

1,622 posts

130 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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The north-western corner of Wellingborough is quite nice (Littledale, Barnwell, Wentworth, Redhill Grange). Further north are few sleepy villages; Isham, Harrowden, Burton Latimer. I would check these areas out. They are mostly houses rather than flats.

Just be prepared for a change of lifestyle from West London wink

Edited by ReallyReallyGood on Thursday 26th November 12:14

Shnozz

27,472 posts

271 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
quotequote all
truck71 said:
Thanks for that, I'm going to hole up in Chelveston for a few weeks and suss the area out. I can see lots of apartments in Rushden, what are your thoughts?
Call me a snob but I wouldn't touch it with yours.

Higham seemed quite nice with a slightly rough undertone. Rushden seemed a hole.

As I say, I've still got a house in Higham and it rents for buttons. I can't think it would cost you much more to find somewhere nice rather than endure somewhere stty.

Shnozz

27,472 posts

271 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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Cheap as chips - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

I've got a place like this rented out there and even a fairly decent amount of square footage rents for far less than I paid rental for a flat in Leeds..

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

truck71

Original Poster:

2,328 posts

172 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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Shnozz said:
Call me a snob but I wouldn't touch it with yours.

Higham seemed quite nice with a slightly rough undertone. Rushden seemed a hole.

As I say, I've still got a house in Higham and it rents for buttons. I can't think it would cost you much more to find somewhere nice rather than endure somewhere stty.
Having spent a couple of days in the area totally concur re Rushden. Only places for rent in Higham (not a bad place as you say) are on a lego estate which isn't really me. Rothwell is looking favourite at the moment, nice market town and just under twenty mins to the office.

Shnozz

27,472 posts

271 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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Careful - my house is on that lego estate wink

Understood though re a preference for a non-shoe box place. Rothwell is ok, as is Desborough. Neither are great though. If you can, I'd still aim for one of the smaller villages between. The only issue might be availability of rental properties. If you can source something, however, I wouldn't expect you to pay much of a premium to live somewhere a bit more upmarket.

elanfan

5,520 posts

227 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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Robertj21a

16,476 posts

105 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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Some nice properties to the west - Walgrave, Brixworth, Old etc. There won't be much available to rent though I guess. Although I drive through the area from time to time I have to say that there's not much around Wellingborough - Rushden - Irthlingborough and, personally, I wouldn't want to stay there.

Hope you have something lined up for the hours after 5.30pm when everything goes dead.

Ahonen

5,016 posts

279 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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I live in Earls Barton, which is pleasant enough. Wellingborough itself is an absolutely awful place.

T.J.B

81 posts

107 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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truck71 said:
Having spent a couple of days in the area totally concur re Rushden. Only places for rent in Higham (not a bad place as you say) are on a lego estate which isn't really me. Rothwell is looking favourite at the moment, nice market town and just under twenty mins to the office.
Used to live in Rothwell, nice looking during day. At night all the kids do is roam the streets in groups as nowt else to do.

Olive lounge is nice for drinks if you can ignore the Essex wannabes

truck71

Original Poster:

2,328 posts

172 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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T.J.B said:
Used to live in Rothwell, nice looking during day. At night all the kids do is roam the streets in groups as nowt else to do.

Olive lounge is nice for drinks if you can ignore the Essex wannabes
Thanks for that, does look nice as you say.

condor

8,837 posts

248 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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If you're keeping your place in London, why don't you commute to Wellingborough? Trains have a good service.

Redmax

752 posts

213 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
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Ahonen said:
I live in Earls Barton, which is pleasant enough. Wellingborough itself is an absolutely awful place.
Me too! thumbup

truck71

Original Poster:

2,328 posts

172 months

Friday 4th December 2015
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condor said:
If you're keeping your place in London, why don't you commute to Wellingborough? Trains have a good service.
Agree re the good service, would still be 90mins door to door and the role is far from 9-5 so I need to be close. Lots of travel involved throughout the East Midlands so commuting won't really work.

Shnozz

27,472 posts

271 months

Friday 4th December 2015
quotequote all
condor said:
If you're keeping your place in London, why don't you commute to Wellingborough? Trains have a good service.
A season ticket is £6k - for £500PCM you could probably rent a small place in those parts as its cheap as chips.

ralphrj

3,523 posts

191 months

Friday 4th December 2015
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Redmax said:
Ahonen said:
I live in Earls Barton, which is pleasant enough. Wellingborough itself is an absolutely awful place.
Me too! thumbup
Me three!

Ahonen

5,016 posts

279 months

Friday 4th December 2015
quotequote all
ralphrj said:
Redmax said:
Ahonen said:
I live in Earls Barton, which is pleasant enough. Wellingborough itself is an absolutely awful place.
Me too! thumbup
Me three!
Ha, small world.