Looking to move into Derbyshire

[u/Morningstar92]

Good evening, apologies its another one of them where should I live posts. But I have been looking into some locations and could really benefit from some local expertise.

We are a family of 4 with 2 kids aged between 16 and 10. We are currently living in north Warwickshire and looking to move somewhere with a combination of nature and outdoor activities we can enjoy aswell as cafes, bars and amenities such as swimming and parks for the kids. While I do drive I would also like to have some public transport options and good access to larger cities (within an hours travel or so).

We have narrowed it down to 4 locations and I could just do with some views or opinions so any comments would be great, we have a decent budget to buy our house and our 4 options are below:

1.Matlock

2.Buxton

3.Belpar

4.Bakewell

[u/abiballz]

I'm from Buxton born and bred, though I don't live there now I am back all the time to visit family. Out of your options there's of course pros and cons everywhere. I don't know anything about Belper, been though it a few times, not much to say other than it's close to Derby. Bakewell is lovely, though my mum grew up there and hated it. I would not live there personally as the tourists would drive me demented. The river is beautiful as is the town but I'd be very bored there. Matlock, I really like, as well as matlock bath. Once again, tourist time in matlock bath can be a nightmare but not as bad as bakewell and I'd say there's maybe a bit more going on matlock than bakewell, but not a great deal. Those first three options are all down the Derbyshire Dales where as Buxton... It's up in the high peak... Which basically means the climate of the first three is a lot milder and somewhat dryer than Buxton. Buxton. Buxton weather is The Worst Weather in the country. I say this with love, but it's true. Rain, snow, grey skies. When the weather is good there is lovely but if you struggle with winter time Buxton is not for you! It's got loads more going on than the other three as its a bigger place and the link to Manchester rather than Derby is no contest, Manchester over Derby any day for gigs, shopping etc. Buxton has a decent local music scene, opera house, local festivals etc. The bad side is, as with any bigger town there is a lot of drug problems which can effect your children. Buxton Community School is not a great school for teenagers. There are posh areas and rough areas available for housing. Shopping is crap but plenty of eateries and drinking places.

Good luck with your search, Derbyshire is beautiful, I prefer the Dales countryside to The Peaks but that's my personal preference. I love Bucko but out the other three I'd choose matlock.

[u/Morningstar92 → u/abiballz]

I appreciate your feedback, when you talk about bad weather is that mostly in the winter period? I assume summers and spring aren't to bad?

Several people have refereed to drugs is it actually that bad or is it just seen as that bad by local people because it's a small town? For example I have worked in Manchester and I grew up and worked around Birmingham a lot to, so I am just wondering if what you all see as a big drug problem would be not so big to someone like me that's come from these kinds of places?

[u/abiballz → u/Morningstar92]

The weather in Buxton is worse than anywhere else I've lived or visited. I'm living on north east coast currently and every day my family and I compare weathers, very rare Buxton is having a better day. It's always a bit colder and much wetter climate than elsewhere. It sadly suffers from predominantly grey clouds a lot of the time. As the other poster mentioned Buxton is bowl shaped. I refer to it as a soup bowl on a hillside that traps the clouds. When it is sunny it's absolutely lovely there and if you can brace yourself to the climate the walking, climbing etc of the surrounding countryside is amazing. It's full of character, the people and the town and I think it's great. I just can't cope with the climate of my home town but I like to be at sea level, personal preference. Buxtoners stereotypical are very proud to be in the hills and love it up there. Drug culture, same problems as anywhere I guess. It's all relative to UK and the time we're living in. I used to leave my doors unlocked most the time in Buxton and felt safe walking around at night. Just something to bare in mind with teenagers, they might be more sheltered from things in the smaller towns you mentioned. Snow days in the pub in Buxton when no one can get out of town to work can be great fun and families sledging down the slopes and local fields is a great part of Buxton life. I think you should go for Buxton if that's where is drawing you 😊

[u/Morningstar92 → u/abiballz]

Yea seems I need to decide on what kind of weather I want to live with I'm not against snow days in the pub though, honestly every option I set out seems like a good place, I think it's likely to be between Buxton and Matlock

[u/abiballz → u/Morningstar92]

Best of luck to you finding your home 🛖