Moving to Melton Mowbray: Complete Relocation Guide

No guide to relocating to Melton Mowbray can begin without first mentioning the beloved pork pies for which the town is famous.

The city has been known for its tasty pork baked goods since the 1700s, and no visit today is complete without tucking into one. One several.

But there is more to Melton Mowbray than tasty foodstuffs (the area is also home to the famous Stilton blue cheese), as this guide will explain.

It is aimed at anybody thinking of moving to Melton Mowbray for work, to study, or as a family hoping to start a new life in this picturesque part of a rural Leicestershire.

Housing and cost of living

The county of Leicestershire is famously affordable. And while some of the villages on the outskirts of Melton Mowbray buck the affordability trend (think leafy lanes and large detached houses costing north of £750,000), the town itself has a wide variety of affordable properties.

According to recent figures, the average price for a property in the town is around £280,000. Like most British towns, you can choose between terraced houses, semi-detached houses, detached homes and bungalows.

It is an interesting mix of newer properties on (mostly) smart estates and more traditional properties.

Renting in Melton is generally quite affordable, with the average rent coming in at around £750 a month.

Larger properties are naturally more expensive, but even so, some three-bedroom properties are available under £1,000 per month. However, a budget of £1,300 is more realistic.

Council tax payments vary according to which parish you are in, but they hover around £1,500 per year for a property in the A bracket.

Energy bills should be no more or less than the average town in the UK. For a three-bedroom house, around £2,000 per year should cut it.

Best areas and neighbourhoods to live in

Melton Mowbray is by no means a large town and has a population of around 30,000 people.

For convenience, saying you live in Melton Mowbray sometimes also covers the many leafy villages that surround it. For example, few people have heard of Brentingby, less than 2 miles away, so “Melton” tends to encapsulate a number of surrounding areas, too.

Here is a quick roundup of some of the neighbourhoods you may come across when relocating to Melton Mowbray.

Central Melton Mowbray

This is a lively, walkable market town with shops, a museum and markets that concentrate around the town centre.

Burton Lazars

A pleasant, rural village a couple of minutes south-east of the town centre. Homes here tend to be more expensive.

Ashfordby

This pleasant village has a primary school, GP, restaurants and regular buses into Melton Mowbray itself.

Thorpe Arnold

Local estate agents described this is a desirable destination right on the town’s edge. Large family homes are sometimes listed.

Choosing between the town centre or one of the outlying villages comes down to personal choice. Living in town means easy access to Melton Mowbray station, as well as local hotels and more than a dozen restaurants.

Life a few miles away in the villages, meanwhile, is generally more sedate – and well-suited to those seeking peace and quiet. Rural properties also tend to have larger gardens, which may be a consideration.

Schools and education options

For a town of a relatively small size, Melton Mowbray is well served by schools.

Primary schools

Choose between Saint Mary’s Church of England to the north of the town and Brownlow primary School to the east.

Secondary schools

The choice this time is between the John Ferneley College on the north side of town and the Long Field Spencer Academy to the west.

Post-16 education

SMB College Group has a specialist animal care and agriculture facility in the town of Brooksby, six miles from Melton, while the focus of the group’s Melton campus is the performing arts.

For A-levels, Melton Vale Sixth Form College (known as MV16) is rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

The town is also a reasonable commute for anyone studying at Leicester University – less than 30 minutes away by train.

Transport and connectivity

If you threw a dart and aimed at the very centre of England, you would probably hit Melton Mowbray. As a result, it has excellent transport links to the rest of the country.

Rail

There is usually only one direct service to London St Pancras every day, though many more are available that require a single change (they are also often quicker). More frequent trains run to Leicester. Once in Leicester, there are trains across the whole of the UK.

Road

Given its central location, it is perhaps surprising that Melton Mowbray isn’t on a motorway. You need to travel 20 miles west to get to the M1. However, Nottingham, Leicester and Grantham are all a relatively short drive away.

Bus

Local bus services cater to many parts of the town, and there are also regular buses to Leicester. It takes well over an hour, however, compared to just 20 minutes by train.

Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (bypass project)

This £150 million scheme involves multiple roundabouts and bridges and is intended to relieve some of the traffic in Melton town centre.

Lifestyle, leisure, and amenities

Melton hosts regular food markets in the town centre – just the ticket for anybody wishing to try the local delicacies for the first time (or compare the offerings of different local producers).

The Melton Carnegie Museum is the place to go to uncover the local food and social history. It also has family-friendly events and activities throughout the year.

Well worth a visit is the scenic Wilton Park, which has the River Eye passing through it. It also has tennis courts for those looking to improve their game.

On the edge of town to the north east, Melton Country Park is pleasantly sprawling and packed with nature. It also has a café and three children’s play areas.

Annual events include the artisan cheese fair in May, PieFest in mid-summer, the East Midlands food festival in October and ChocFest in November. Check out Discover Melton for an up-to-date calendar of what’s happening in town.

For an action-packed day out, you don’t have to go far. Twinlakes Park – which is aimed at children – is just a few miles away and has rides, a waterpark, glamping and wild animals. It scores 4.3 on Google.

Local economy and major employers

If you are looking for a career in food production, Samworth Brothers has a number of sites in around the area and employs thousands of people.

Another large employer is Pedigree Petcare, which is part of the mighty Mars group. It moved to Melton Mowbray from Slough in the 1950s and employs several hundred.

Caterpillar, the manufacturer of industrial plant machinery, also has a strong presence in the area.

Check out Melton Borough Council’s website for local government jobs.

Much of the area surrounding Melton Mowbray is agricultural. As a result, anybody with specialist skills in the farming sector may find work. The region is a logistics hub, too, and opportunities abound.

If you would rather be home based, living on the edges of Melton Mowbray in one of the quiet villages, and either working from home or on a hybrid basis, may be exactly what you are looking for.

Moving logistics and services

A good idea when moving to Melton Mowbray is to speak to your estate agent about local removal companies. Estate agents regularly deal with respected firms in town and can give you the inside track.

Among the highly rated firms according to Google are AG removals and S&K removals. Man with van services are generally cheaper and can cost as little as £50 per hour.

When people relocate, they often need to keep items in self storage for a period of time while they get everything sorted.

Self storage is generally affordable and convenient. Look for a local provider that has a long track record and first-rate security, and remember that Melton Mowbray storage units come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

If you carefully plot out the exact volume of space you need before booking, you’ll quickly be able to secure the right self storage unit for you.

Moving to Melton Mowbray checklist

Here are several things that should be right at the top of your list:

• Register with Melton Borough Council so that you can pay the correct council tax.
• Sign up with a GP and dentist. Check the NHS Find a GP tool to speed things up.
• Compare suppliers on a comparison site like Uswitch before connecting up to gas, electricity etc.

Pros and cons of living in Melton Mowbray

Melton Mowbray is a historic market town – and there is much to like about its easy-going nature, riverside walks and near obsession with great eating.

Properties are generally affordable, and there is a family-friendly, community spirit that permeates the town. Easy access to Leicester by train or car puts bustling city life within easy reach, too.

The downsides, if any, are the few direct trains to London and a quieter pace of life that might not suit everybody.

Who is Melton Mowbray right for?

The town is an excellent fit for families, retirees, remote workers, food lovers and anyone working in Leicester who prefers not to live in the city.

It is an attractive town surrounded by open countryside – and you are never very far away from classic old English heritage and history.

Lovers of the great outdoors are also spoiled for choice, as there are plenty of options for walking, cycling, birdwatching and enjoying nature.

The best way to discover if Melton Mowbray is right for you is to visit for a weekend and get a feel for the place, chatting to locals wherever possible. Stay at the leafy Sysonby Knoll Hotel, set in four acres on the north side of town.

Conclusion

Is Melton Mowbray a good place to live? For many people, the answer would be a resounding yes. Anyone considering relocating there has a potential treat in store.

Compared to many other UK towns, Melton Mowbray has a lot going for it, from food to countryside; history to activities.

As with any move, it’s essential to check out local job opportunities before moving, remembering that transport links put several cities, such as Leicester, Peterborough, and Nottingham, within commuting distance.

Melton Mowbray has so much going for it that it’s definitely worth checking out. And that’s true even if you don’t like pork pie or cheese!

Thinking of moving to Melton Mowbray? Discover everything you need to know before you relocate.