Why should anyone currently working in the South East of England want to move to Loughborough and Charnwood in rural Leicestershire? In short the answer is for a better quality of life.
So let’s look at the problems of moving your workplace out of London and try to anticipate some of the concerns that you may have.
Q. We need to be in regular touch with colleagues in London? We need to have meetings with them on a regular basis. We can’t do that from the wilds of Leicestershire.
A. How long do you spend getting to the office now? You can be in London in 90 minutes. You can also get a seat on the train (plus a free coffee or even a full breakfast if you need it) so that you can prepare for your meetings. Can you do that on a South East commuter train? Don’t you spend an hour getting into your London office every day?
Apart from trains to London, there are direct train services to many major cities; Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Leeds and York. Our central location and good road, rail and air links give us easy access to most parts of the country; that is why so many distribution companies are choosing to base operations in this area.
Q. But I need to fly to Brussels or Paris regularly for business meetings? It will take me ages to get to Heathrow.
A. Who wants to go to Heathrow when there’s a scheduled flight every day from East Midlands Airport. There you can park your car and be on the plane without all the hassles and transfers you get at Heathrow – far more civilised! There are also scheduled services to Paris, Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh. It also now offers cheap flights to many European destinations, which is great if you fancy a long weekend break with the family.
Q. But surely you still get stuck in traffic getting to work?
A. Although there are traffic problems everywhere, there is nothing remotely comparable to London traffic (and no congestion charging!)
Q. But isn’t it a cultural backwater? In London we have all the theatres, music and entertainment; surely there’s nothing to do there.
A. We have put together a list of about 200 activities and places to visit that are all within an hour’s drive of Loughborough. It ranges from archery to zoos, from shopping to opera. Not only do we have the three cities of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester all within half an hour, we are also only one hour from Birmingham.
If you are really desperate to get back to the smoke (and we don’t think you will be!!), then it is quite possible to spend an evening at a West End theatre and get home by train the same night. Stratford on Avon is less than an hour away and not exactly a cultural backwater. Beyond the bright lights and shopping, we can also offer access to wonderful countryside and leisure facilities. We have just opened a multi-million pound leisure centre and the public has access to a new Olympic standard swimming pool at the University. The town’s own theatre has recently undergone a major re-fit. Loughborough is surrounded by many picturesque villages; Charnwood Forest and the new National Forest are on our doorstep and the Peak District National Park is only an hour away.
Q. But are there any decent places to live? I need good schools for my children.
A. There are homes to suit all budgets, and your money buys a great deal more than in the South East of England. What’s more you can choose where you live; whether your lifestyle choice is for waterside city living or a cottage in a tranquil rural setting, there are houses available within a short travelling time of Loughborough. There’s simply a lot more choice here. What can you buy in the South East for £250,000, for £500,000? Are house prices forcing you to live a long way out of London, to waste your life commuting and creating stress? It is quite unusual for people here to spend more than half an hour getting to work… which means more quality time for you.
A wide range of schools in both state and private sectors. Some of the Loughborough schools are among the top achievers in the country. Loughborough University has consistently been voted top university in the country by its students who give the town a vibrant nightlife.
Get away from London and get a life!
For more information visit www.prospectleicestershire.co.uk/why-here or www.goleicestershire.com