Place to Live Near Blackburn

[greggy50]

Morning

I am looking at relocating to near Blackburn in March for approx 6 months as part of my graduate scheme and therefore will need to rent nearby as unfortunately Blackburn itself appears to be a utter st hole.

I am a 22yr old single graduate and ideally would want to be near some night life and a few bars etc... but within a 1 hour commute of Blackburn itself.

Budget would be ideally around £500pm however this could go up to £600pm if necessary just need a standard studio/1 bed with some parking. Any ideas where would be any good? Bolton may be an option as appears to be dirt cheap and close to Manchester which is a bonus

Thanks

Greg

[greggy50]

anothernameitist said:

Wigan Preston?

Wigan seemed an option as it was nearer Manchester and South of Blackburn which is good as closer to home as well.

Not sure about Preston seems a bit out the way to me...

Is Wigan okay though never been but always heard its a bit grim?

I come from Walsall so I am not too picky...

[greggy50]

andy-xr said:

Depends what you want really, one of my mates commutes in from north Lancashire to the Blackburn area.

You're commutable from Preston if you want city centre life, or there's some nice little villages in Broughton/Barton area, and more around Samlesbury or off the A59 around there as well. Or you could go further up, Clitheroe as an example.

The centre of Blackburn is stty, and there's a load of areas around the outskirts that look grim so I can understand why you'd choose not to live there, but there are nice pockets of it, same as anywhere

Thanks would rather live South rather than go further North ideally as live just North of Birmingham and will make it easier for me to go home then.

Travel to Blackburn with work already 2 days a week and really is a dump we manage a few schools and to be honest even majority of the outskirts seem pretty terrible. It is incredibly cheap though to rent/buy!

City Centre life is key to me or being close to a city centre as likely will have mates visit at the weekend and want to be close to a few good bars/clubs hence why if I was within a £15/20 taxi ride to Manchester it would be ideal.

Wigan may be a good option not sure if £500 - £600 would get me anything decent there though flat wise...

[greggy50]

Pommygranite said:

Bournemouth.

Best to play it safe.

Lived there on work placement for 12 months lovely place but it would be quite a commute...

[greggy50]

JonnyxM said:

Try Bromley Cross or Edgerton. In the middle of Bolton and Darwen, nice enough places but still close to train station to Manchester.

Preston is ever so slightly better than Blackburn, if you like city life then live closer to Manchester.

Thanks will look into these two on the map they seem a good location in terms of commute and distance to Manchester

[greggy50]

red_slr said:

If its any use I know someone who *may* have a spare room in Darwen?

PM me details probably not my thing but could be another consideration


Having a look in the Bromley cross area appears stuff is in budget

These two both look okay

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

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

[greggy50]

Rollin said:

You'd get from Manchester to Blackburn in an hour wouldn't you?

From what I have seen of the traffic it would be a bit of a struggle to be honest...

Considering Preston now looked into a bit nightlife appears to be okay and rental seems reasonable

Think it will be Preston or somewhere in-between Manchester and Blackburn

[greggy50]

aw51 121565 said:

They're not Bromley Cross - but the first is near a train station (once hourly each way between Bolton and Blackburn). The two properties are probably only 100m apart as the crow flies but the best part of a mile away from each other by car - if the two estates are linked by a footpath across the river (I don't know that area too well ) then the second is also near the same train station (Hall I'th Wood)...

Haha okay thanks

Well it will be this sort of area or Preston I think!

Move in date will be March so will start looking at Flats probably Late - January time

Will post what I find on here nearer the time

[greggy50]

Nezquick said:

I live in Preston.
The commute to Blackburn will be fine from Preston - well under an hour.
If you're looking for a decent place to rent then I would recommend Winckley Square in Preston. It's a decent area, quiet (mainly businesses - solicitors, accountants, barristers chambers etc) and literally a 2 min walk to both the city centre/bars/restaurants and the train station too. There are a few gyms within a 5 min drive away, cinema, supermarkets, a really great park (Avenham Park) and easy access to the motorways.

If you're looking on Rightmove, check out the flats in City Space House - they come up for rent fairly often, are about £500-£600 per month and most come with a parking space.

If you need any more info, let me know.

Okay thanks a lot for this useful post

Think Preston has to be a very good option to consider and looking seems affordable albeit more towards the top end of my budget

Must admit this one looked nice...

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

[greggy50]

FredClogs said:

I'm from Blackburn, I live the other side of Preston. There is nothing wrong with Blackburn, large areas of it are fine, if you're doing a graduate placement I'm going to guess you're at BAE Salmesbury, there is loads of "nice" areas within a bike ride of Salmesbury (Mellor, Whalley, Houghton etc...) that are on the Blackburn side, Preston is really no better and the traffic in Preston is bullst (it's the only City in Europe where the "ring road" goes right through the City centre).

Blackburn town centre is like any post industrial industrial town, it's fine and on the whole the people are nice.

Okay I think I need to go and investigate Preston and see then...

I have researched Blackburn and it has no nightlife whatsoever and that is what puts me off living there plus driving around it just appears to be a bit of a dump. Not ventured much onto the outskirts apart from Darwin as we run Darwin Vale school but so far not seen anywhere that impresses me at all.

Office I am based at are on Evolution Park which are the new ones near the Hospital.

[greggy50]

Nezquick said:

That is true - it does go through the middle. However, as you'd be driving out of Preston in the morning and back in in the evening, traffic won't be as bad as going the other way.

Agree though re the above - Mellor, Houghton and Whalley are all nice but don't have much in the way of "nightlife".

Something like this in Preston is in an ideal location:

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

Basically the exact one I linked so glad I am looking at the correct properties!

Just a case of finding something decent in 3 months time

[greggy50]

FredClogs said:

I went to Darwin Vale school, I left in 1988 it wasn't brilliant then and I hear it's got worse. Me, my sister and Carl Fogarty are the only alumni with any merit (and neither me or my sister are of much merit)

I don't know what you mean by nightlife, Blackburn has lots of nice pubs, you'll find a decent local, there is a thing called the Revidge Run which takes in about two dozen pubs from the top of Wilpshire into town, it's not very sophisticated like but there is no pretensions about Blackburn, I can't comment on the club scene anymore but I wasn't terrible in the 90s for young folks. If you want genuine big city nightlife then you're going to have to move to Manchester/Liverpool, all the smaller towns and citys in the Northwest that people have mentioned are much of muchness - Wigan is awfull. If you want to be out till 3am every night then Blackpool might be the answer, but it's not a question commonly asked.

By nightlife I mean some form of nightclub and a few bars as well. I am still of the age where I enjoy going out till about 4am on a Friday night and Blackburn doesn't offer this at all.

Researching I see Preston has a couple of nightclubs and a variety of pubs/bars which is why it appears more.

Looked at Wigan appears to be a st hole and so does Blackpool...

Darwen Vale itself is quite an interesting building now retained the old frontage but is completely modern behind the restoration was meant to have been a ball ache on the older parts. Not sure about the results but the facilities are state of the art thanks to the PFI initiative.

Edited by greggy50 on Monday 10th November 13:21

[greggy50]

CrutyRammers said:

I'd avoid Preston like the plague, just on account of the traffic tbh.
If you want nightlife, being further south near to an easy train or tram into Manchester would make most sense I think.

May have to try a trial run traffic wise and see just how bad it is!

If not Preston end up back in the nicer areas around Bolton as that then means I am close to Manchester

Wigan is a no go and so is North of Blackburn for travelling home but also because I have a few mates in Manchester etc...

[greggy50]

Preston does sound promising to me!

As I said as long as takes an hour or less its fine a bit of traffic does not bother me as I currently have a 1 hour 22 mile commute to work anyway thanks to the traffic getting onto the M6 etc...

[greggy50]

graphene said:

You could probably get to-from Skipton in an hour, most days. Have a drive around, sometime. North-east of Preston is nicely placed e.g. Longridge

I know Skipton well nice place but not really for a young lad

Cousin has a massive house in Arthington which is approx 25 minutes away towards Leeds with about 4 spare bedrooms would probably have considered moving there if it had been a tad closer...

Preston is probably my favourite so far only appears to be around 12 miles away even with st traffic I can't see it taking more than an hour really!

[greggy50]

graphene said:

Sure, it was more an example of the extent of the choice, but as you say, it is lovely (probably not that cheap, though).

Yes that would be the other issue Skipton is very pricey I believe I think in 5/10 years time it would be an option I would have given more choice but for a short 6 months not really for me and doubt it has much of a rental market either.

Cousins house in Bursocough was £700k and they then gutted the lot as it all needed renovation!

[greggy50]

JonnyxM said:

I work on the industrial estate very near evolution park, the worst traffic you'll get is getting out and onto the M65 at rush hour.. Look out for a blue mk5 gti when you're up here..

Darwen is better than Blackburn for nightlife. Though it isn't much, a new club has opened I believe. Preston was ok but has faded since I last went.

It isn't Northgate you work for is it?

Will look out for you I have a Black B7 A4 S Line with a smiley on the back will give a flash if I see you!

Will need to investigate Preston as getting mixed reviews searching online have found 2/3 nightclubs and a few bars and studentforums seem to think its a decent night so it may be okay.

Company I work for is called Cofely Workplace which is part of GDF Suez

[greggy50]

Pommygranite said:

Not sure why but I read that to the tune of Fresh Prince of Bel Air...

[greggy50]

I think I have decided on Preston to be honest having looked at this thread and conducting a bit of research last night. Appears £500 - £600 will get me a pretty decent flat as only for myself so don't need anything too fancy!

[greggy50]

shakermikee said:

For something to do once a month, there's also a monthly meeting here 2nd last Sunday of every month.

Good breakfast, nice people and always some nice metal to look at.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks certainly will be something I attend once I move up

I am hoping I will be able to bring the MINI up as otherwise I will be stuck in my A4 which is hardly the most thrilling drove...

What is parking like in Preston? My thinking was if I got a flat with a space my mini could live there and I could just dump my Audi on the street nearby?