Where to live? Starting job in MK soon.

Where to live? Starting job in MK soon.

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JayPee

Original Poster:

1,032 posts

196 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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Right, in a very last minute kind of thing I am starting a job in Bletchley. I leave behind a house 50 yards from the sea to come back to the Midlands and I know nobody here :S

Whilst I can initially commute from home for a few weeks (~40 miles away) I want to find a place and get settled. I lived in Northampton for a year before and that was okay-ish, though it is a bit of commute from the new job.

As for what I am after, well I am 23 and single so as many opportunities to have a social life and meet people would be great, rent-wise value for money would be good as I need to save some. areas with driveway space/garages is always good too, generally prefer houses to flats.

I have only been to MK a few times shopping, so what is it like in the housing estate parts? Which are the best to go for? Baring in mind my situation am I better to stay nice and central or are outskirts places like Buckingham etc. worth looking at? Oh and who wants to be my friend?

Cheers!

jumplead

1,823 posts

213 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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Firstly congratulations on the new job.

I was going to suggest renting a new flat in 'the hub' in the center, it's close to the nightlife and is mean't to be hip for the yoff. But no idea about the parking situation.

I'd suggest you get on the housing sites (rightmove etc) and draw up a list of what you can afford. Drive around the areas that they are in. Oh and if you go to the Lakes Estate make sure you lock your doors first wink

If you want to live closer to work look around the Caldecote/Old Farm Park area to the South East or Tattenhoe, Furzton and the Shenleys to the South West (Bordering on the edge of Bletchley to the north)

Also there is a lot of new builds going on out towards the Motorway in the north of the city and then south of Bletchley too.

You shouldn't find too much difficulty finding something you like. The closer you go to Northampton the cheaper it'll become to rent, generally.

Zippee

13,474 posts

235 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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Probably easiest to tell you where not to live - anything with a chavvy sounding name avoid like the plague (CoffeHall, BeanHill, Fishermead to name a few.
Shenley Church end is nice as is Furzton, Shenley Lodge, MK Village, Willen - all just a 5 minute taxi drive from the centre.


Timja

1,921 posts

210 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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Bars in MK are pretty good, no shortage of ladies for a 23yr old single guy!

Ikea will be nice and close to work if you need to kit out your house!

JayPee

Original Poster:

1,032 posts

196 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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Timja said:
Bars in MK are pretty good, no shortage of ladies for a 23yr old single guy!

Ikea will be nice and close to work if you need to kit out your house!
Good times! Yeah Ikea Restaurant will be visited regularly!

Cheers for the tips so far guys, general areas to avoid are a great help, Google street view can only tell you so much. Would be nice to stay central and in the typical 'young professional' type areas, but that generally means blocks of flats which I am not too fussed on really, so the places recommended will definitely be worth a look.

Muzzer

3,814 posts

222 months

Thursday 9th September 2010
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Nice

Loughton
Willen
Furzton
Newport Pagnell
Shenleys
Woolstone
Woughton on the Green
Milton Keynes Village
Middleton
Stony Stratford

Not nice

Lakes Estate
Fishermead
Beanhill
Netherfield
Tinkers Bridge
Greenleys
Stacey Bushes
Coffee Hall
Stantonbury
Heelands

Anything right next to or in the shopping centre area, as a general rule, is a bit pikey. With some exceptions

The flats in the hub are OK but £££££ and open to problems with noise, etc.

I have a 2 bed coachhouse with a garage for sale at a good price in a nice area, 10 mins from Bletchley. PM me if you're interested. wink

SBDJ

1,321 posts

205 months

Sunday 12th September 2010
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I know how you feel; after the complications with the birth of my son we moved up to the Aylesbury area so that my partner could have the support of her friends and family.

It's been over a year and I still don't really know anyone outside of work!

pmanson

13,382 posts

254 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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SBDJ said:
I know how you feel; after the complications with the birth of my son we moved up to the Aylesbury area so that my partner could have the support of her friends and family.

It's been over a year and I still don't really know anyone outside of work!
That sounds like a great excuse for a beer!

OP - I'm in Leighton Buzzard and work in Shenley Wood (used to work on Barton Road in Bletchley).

Rico (Andy) on here has a two bed flat in the Hub - very nice place but I think he's out growing it.


JB!

5,254 posts

181 months

Monday 13th September 2010
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Muzzer said:
Nice

Loughton
Willen
Furzton
Newport Pagnell
Shenleys
Woolstone
Woughton on the Green
Milton Keynes Village
Middleton
Stony Stratford

Not nice

Lakes Estate
Fishermead
Beanhill
Netherfield
Tinkers Bridge
Greenleys
Stacey Bushes
Coffee Hall
Stantonbury
Heelands

Anything right next to or in the shopping centre area, as a general rule, is a bit pikey. With some exceptions

The flats in the hub are OK but £££££ and open to problems with noise, etc.

I have a 2 bed coachhouse with a garage for sale at a good price in a nice area, 10 mins from Bletchley. PM me if you're interested. wink
add Broughton onto the avoid list. It's new, and st.

I like Newport Pagnell, and I live in one of the several VERY nice villages north of MK, Olney is nice too, if a bit quiet.

Northampton is generally a better night out tbh, and your money goes further, but the roads are st there and it's hit-and-miss for nice and not nice areas.

If renting, the hub and the view next door are alright, there is underground parking, but I wouldn't buy there, as the council will end up owning most of those flats.

When you look at a place, drive roud the whole estate, as some have really nice bits, and grim bits, others are totally grim. (heelands is an example of the former)

also, I'm 22, working in Bletchley. I dunno if there are any local PH meets, but the local VAG and Honda scenes are pretty sociable.

Edited by JB! on Monday 13th September 09:41

SBDJ

1,321 posts

205 months

Monday 13th September 2010
quotequote all
pmanson said:
That sounds like a great excuse for a beer!
Well he was born almost 2 years ago, but I've still not had a celebratory drink! I did take him out on some PH SW runs though wink Luckily my job is very sociable so I know lots of people, but don't actually have any friends up here.

Sorry OP for hijacking your thread!

JayPee

Original Poster:

1,032 posts

196 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
SBDJ said:
pmanson said:
That sounds like a great excuse for a beer!
Well he was born almost 2 years ago, but I've still not had a celebratory drink! I did take him out on some PH SW runs though wink Luckily my job is very sociable so I know lots of people, but don't actually have any friends up here.

Sorry OP for hijacking your thread!
No worries!

Cheers for the advice guys, especially the do/don't live areas, that has been very valuable on my hunt. I have the details of a few letting agents/landlords now, looks like I will just get a short term houseshare to figure the place out and get settled in first, then I can always move around from there.

JB!

5,254 posts

181 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
JayPee said:
SBDJ said:
pmanson said:
That sounds like a great excuse for a beer!
Well he was born almost 2 years ago, but I've still not had a celebratory drink! I did take him out on some PH SW runs though wink Luckily my job is very sociable so I know lots of people, but don't actually have any friends up here.

Sorry OP for hijacking your thread!
No worries!

Cheers for the advice guys, especially the do/don't live areas, that has been very valuable on my hunt. I have the details of a few letting agents/landlords now, looks like I will just get a short term houseshare to figure the place out and get settled in first, then I can always move around from there.
Not alot to get the hang of tbh... Straight bit, rounabout, straight bit roundabout...

Most of the things you want are in the city centre, shopping, bars, clubs, snow slope, 2 cinemas, theatre and restaurants.

pmanson

13,382 posts

254 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
SBDJ said:
pmanson said:
That sounds like a great excuse for a beer!
Well he was born almost 2 years ago, but I've still not had a celebratory drink! I did take him out on some PH SW runs though wink Luckily my job is very sociable so I know lots of people, but don't actually have any friends up here.

Sorry OP for hijacking your thread!
In that case we should get something sorted. Neilsie lives in Ivinghoe as well

SBDJ

1,321 posts

205 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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Sounds good to me...

jumplead

1,823 posts

213 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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Did I hear a beer meet?

I drive MK to Amersham and back every day on my commute so if i'm in the country always up for a beer.

pmanson

13,382 posts

254 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
Yes you did!

I'm away 22nd Oct - 2nd Nov on holiday then away on business sometime in the middle of Nov.

Shall we aim for the end of Nov?

SBDJ

1,321 posts

205 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
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Well anytime is good for me as long as we don't go for a Friday or Saturday night!

missdiane

13,993 posts

250 months

Friday 17th September 2010
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ears

Beer, MK, PH meet.... I'm in biggrin

vrooom

3,763 posts

268 months

Saturday 18th September 2010
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I was given a tip. any area with straight roads, avoid it. Any area with curvy roads, this is nice area smile


TubbyRutter

2,070 posts

207 months

Monday 20th September 2010
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vrooom said:
I was given a tip. any area with straight roads, avoid it. Any area with curvy roads, this is nice area smile
Thats pretty sage advise for the estates in MK.