Market Harborough
Discussion
Could have put this in the relevant regional section but thought more people might see it here.
We are contemplating a move from SE London to the area around Market Harborough.
Does anyone do this and have any insights into the commute, parking etc.? I know the train cost is through the roof but other than that I know very little.
We are contemplating a move from SE London to the area around Market Harborough.
Does anyone do this and have any insights into the commute, parking etc.? I know the train cost is through the roof but other than that I know very little.
Where are you trying to commute to? London? Possibly worth amending your post to say so - other places exist, believe it or not.
Assuming your post is asking about commuting from MH to STP, there's plenty of parking at the station but you're on the slower train that stops everywhere unless you catch from Leicester, which is a drive away.
I did this commute several years ago when I lived in that area.
Only certain trains stop there on the way north.
Assuming your post is asking about commuting from MH to STP, there's plenty of parking at the station but you're on the slower train that stops everywhere unless you catch from Leicester, which is a drive away.
I did this commute several years ago when I lived in that area.
Only certain trains stop there on the way north.
East Midlands trains run direct from MH to London St Pancras - 1hr 15 mins if I recall correctly. Cheap (for the distance/speed) and regular, particularly if you buy Advanced - commuting into London very possible if you weigh the increased travel costs up against the vastly reduced house prices - you get a huge amount more up there for your money.
However, it is the East Midlands, and it's a very, very different life to London. Not necessarily better, nor worse, just very different.
However, it is the East Midlands, and it's a very, very different life to London. Not necessarily better, nor worse, just very different.
Baldchap said:
Where are you trying to commute to? London? Possibly worth amending your post to say so - other places exist, believe it or not.
Assuming your post is asking about commuting from MH to STP, there's plenty of parking at the station but you're on the slower train that stops everywhere unless you catch from Leicester, which is a drive away.
I did this commute several years ago when I lived in that area.
Only certain trains stop there on the way north.
Fair point - I ultimately have to get to Canary Wharf but only three days a week whereas my wife ultimately gets to Cannon Street on two days a week.Assuming your post is asking about commuting from MH to STP, there's plenty of parking at the station but you're on the slower train that stops everywhere unless you catch from Leicester, which is a drive away.
I did this commute several years ago when I lived in that area.
Only certain trains stop there on the way north.
GeneralSinn said:
My ex wife and her family live in that area, they’re crazy, don’t bother 
One man in Market Harborough thinks I am crazy. I was parked in the town centre, when I came back to the car I saw a scrape of white paint on the offside rear wheel arch of my silver car. I waited for the owner of the car next to mine, a white Golf, to come back to their car. When he arrived I pointed out the damage he said it was nothing to do with him, his car had loads of scrapes and dents so obviously he had form. Things got a bit heated when he refused to give me his name and address, I went to the Police.By this time, I had overstayed my time in the car park and got a ticket.
I phoned my wife to tell her the story, she said those three little words that changed everything, "It was me".
markh1973 said:
Fair point - I ultimately have to get to Canary Wharf but only three days a week whereas my wife ultimately gets to Cannon Street on two days a week.
I'm a regular MHR-STP commuter, I live about in a village roughly 10 miles from the station.I can do door-to-desk near Cannon Street in 1h50m. When the rest of my team take around 1h to travel in from various points in Z3/Z4, I'm happy to spend the extra 50mins each way for the quality of life.
Ticket pricing is a little weird. Regular anytime return is £123 but a weekly is only £86 more. If you can cope with arriving into STP at 10:11 then a one day travelcard is £63 with no restrictions on the return journey.
You will always get a seat in both directions, morning southbounds take between 68 and 77 mins, northbounds are 55 to 68.
Some lovely villages in the area, PM me if I can help with any other questions.
I live in Market Harborough - It's a nice town, very family orientated with access to beautiful surrounding countryside. It has some good restaurants, bars and cafes as well as some great independent shops - The high street by pretty much any UK comparison is thriving. In my experience I doubt you'd find a nicer small town in the Midlands, but it is not London and it is still very much a small town in the Midlands. There are both upsides and downsides to that being the case.
I go to London fairly regularly for work but walk or get dropped off at the station - Parking always looks plentiful though and the journey itself is easy and quick - There are non stop trains to STP (You already pointed out it's hilariously expensive).
If you have any specific questions about the area i'll be happy to answer them if I can.
I go to London fairly regularly for work but walk or get dropped off at the station - Parking always looks plentiful though and the journey itself is easy and quick - There are non stop trains to STP (You already pointed out it's hilariously expensive).
If you have any specific questions about the area i'll be happy to answer them if I can.
I live in a small village just off A508 between MH and Northampton and it’s lovely. My wife and I are both ex-Londoners and I was still commuting to central London until a few years ago. Unless you really want to be in the middle of MH or want it for your address/postcode, you could find somewhere like ours which is between the two so you can use Northampton station which is a different line and substantially cheaper to travel from but you can get to MH in 15 minutes if you want to. The trains from NMP terminate at Euston and the fastest ones do the journey in 45-55 minutes with the slow trains taking 75 minutes or so.
There are plenty of fabulous villages to live and several people from our village commute to London.
If you want to live in the countryside but aren’t hung up about MH specifically, there are other options too. We used to live in a village in west Northamptonshire, just off the A5. It used to take me 20-25 minutes to get to Milton Keynes station then the train journey to Euston is just 30 minutes. You then have Towcester as a fabulous, thriving small town much the same as MH.
Happy to give more pointers if necessary, feel free to pm me.
QQ
There are plenty of fabulous villages to live and several people from our village commute to London.
If you want to live in the countryside but aren’t hung up about MH specifically, there are other options too. We used to live in a village in west Northamptonshire, just off the A5. It used to take me 20-25 minutes to get to Milton Keynes station then the train journey to Euston is just 30 minutes. You then have Towcester as a fabulous, thriving small town much the same as MH.
Happy to give more pointers if necessary, feel free to pm me.
Robbo 27 said:
I phoned my wife to tell her the story, she said those three little words that changed everything, "It was me".
That's great 
I used to live in Dingley, a lovely little village just outside of MH. Great place to grow up as a child.
You also have Oundle, Uppingham and Oakham schools pretty much on your doorstep.
I didn't do much commuting to London though...
I’m originally from Bushey Heath in Hertfordshire but I’ve lived close to Market Harborough for the last 17 years. Currently I live in a village 7 miles from Harborough.
I love the area, the countryside, shops, restaurants and some great pubs. You also have great places to spend time at the weekend like Foxton Locks or Rutland Water which is fairly close by.
I don’t commute to London but regularly use the train to go to London and there are plenty of direct services which go straight through from Harborough to St Pancras in just under an hour.
I wouldn’t leave the area I’m very settled here although I may move soon but will stay within 10 minutes of Harborough. I think it’s one of the most underrated areas in the UK.
I love the area, the countryside, shops, restaurants and some great pubs. You also have great places to spend time at the weekend like Foxton Locks or Rutland Water which is fairly close by.
I don’t commute to London but regularly use the train to go to London and there are plenty of direct services which go straight through from Harborough to St Pancras in just under an hour.
I wouldn’t leave the area I’m very settled here although I may move soon but will stay within 10 minutes of Harborough. I think it’s one of the most underrated areas in the UK.
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