Having just celebrated her 54th birthday, Caroline has spent her entire life in this beautiful region, and she couldn’t be happier with her choice. When asked about her favourite aspect of the area, “it’s got to be the central location, Barwell is incredibly accessible.” From the picturesque Cotswolds to the rugged beauty of the Peak District, the serene Norfolk coast to the culture and history in London, Caroline’s town serves as an ideal base for exploring it all.

Surrounded by countryside, having a common nearby makes life that much easier for Caroline, “it’s very handy for walking our dog Louis.” Whilst just a short drive away, the beautiful Bradgate Park beckons, offering the enchanting ruins of Lady Jane Grey’s historical home. “It’s a lovely relaxing place to visit with lots of deer to look out for, rocks for children to climb, a stream and an abundance of natural beauty.”

Beyond the natural wonders, Caroline emphasises the family-friendly appeal of her town. There’s no shortage of entertainment options, from cinemas and crazy golf to Twycross Zoo and Warwick Castle. And for those who appreciate the arts, several theatres cater to a diverse range of interests.

The local schools have played an integral role in her life and her family’s, providing a solid foundation for learning and growth.

Finding an area and a property that can become a home is what most families yearn for, and for Caroline, “where I live feels safe, friendly and homely.” Do you live where you live? If you’re ‘staying put’ we can help those considering remortgaging their property. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a new area to put down roots, our conveyancing team are on hand to help with any sale or purchase. Contact us today for expert guidance.

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We were overwhelmed by the number of responses we received from individuals across the country. As we begin to unveil the winners, we are thrilled to introduce you to Kathy, who lives in the picturesque village of Ellenbrook in Greater Manchester. 

Kathy cherished the Coronation Day as she spent it with her beloved mum, who sadly passed away a few weeks later at the age of 92. 

In a beautiful tribute to her mum, Kathy shared: “ My mum was a lovely, fun, loving family lady who had been married to my dad for 67 years. She will be dearly missed by her husband, kids and grandkids, and her memory will forever be held close in our hearts.”

“I was so happy I celebrated the Coronation with my mum. After dropping my dad at a pensioner’s party, I went to the hospital to see her, bringing her a dress-up crown and red, white, and blue beads. I spent the day talking, hugging her, and watching the King on television.”

Kathy, who worked as a deputy head teacher, is incredibly close with her family. In fact, when she got married 20 years ago, finding a house nearby to her mum and dad was of the utmost importance. 

“I knew I wanted to live near my parents and, luckily, our search was really easy,” she says. “I fell in love with our current home as soon as I saw it – I even put in a secret bid without telling my husband!”

With its blend of old-world charm, beautiful surrounding woodlands and tight-knit community, it’s easy to see why Kathy has found her forever home in Ellenbrook.

“Where I live in tranquil and very pretty. But it’s not just the idyllic scenery that makes my town so special; it’s the bustling sense of community. There’s a real neighbourhood spirit with plenty of local clubs, volunteer groups and community gatherings.”

If you love where you live and want to be in with a chance to win more prizes, submit your entry today by showing us how you celebrated the King’s Coronation in your town!

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

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We were overwhelmed by the number of responses we received from individuals across the country. As we begin to unveil the winners, we are thrilled to introduce you to one of them: Len Daniel, a resident of the vibrant city of Birmingham.

“My family and I are elated I’ve won the competition,” he shares as he settles in to discuss his neighbourhood. “I’ve lived in Birmingham for the past seven years. It’s a marvellous, bustling city.” 

With its stunning architectural landmarks, dynamic arts scene and abundance of green spaces, it’s no wonder Len is so fond of where he lives. 

“There’s so much to see and explore,” he continues. “If you’re visiting, I recommend checking out the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, at least one of the many street food markets and, of course, visiting the Bullring & Grand Central shopping central – it has everything you could want under one roof!” 

Beyond its fantastic amenities, Len loves his city’s outstanding community spirit. 

“I work as a support worker for individuals with autism,” he explains. “I really enjoy my job, and I have to say our city has a wonderful inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.” 

While he is happy in his current home, could he ever see himself moving elsewhere? 

“I love living in Birmingham, and I couldn’t see myself leaving the West Midlands,” he says. “However, me and my family would like to move somewhere a little further out of the city. We’ve got Marston Green in our sights for the future – it’s a more relaxed and quiet area, coupled with great transport links into the city centre.” 

If you love where you live and want to be in with a chance to win more prizes, stay tuned for our next Love Where You Live competition!

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

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We were enthused by the number of responses we received from up and down the country. It is truly heartwarming to see how many people passionately love where they live. 

Finally, the results are in, and we’re thrilled to announce the winners! In this blog, you’ll meet Julie Jessup, who lives near the market town of Richmond, North Yorkshire. 

“I’m really pleased to have won,” smiles Julie as she sits down to speak with us. “I already know what I’m going to do with the winnings: upgrade my four-year-old granddaughter’s play area in our conservatory!” 

It’s clear that Julie cherishes her family dearly, and they are all proud to call Richmond home, having moved here more than thirty years ago. 

“I’m originally from Portsmouth, so I suppose you could call me an adopted Yorkshire person,” she jests. “I was a civil servant in the army, meaning my husband and I lived all over the place! His last position was here, and we liked the area so much that we decided to stay.” 

Surprisingly, she wasn’t sold on the idea of moving to Yorkshire when it was first proposed to her, but the stunning countryside and picture-perfect villages quickly won her over.

“I thought we were going to move to London, but my husband’s post – he’s also in the army – got changed at the last minute,” she shares. “I thought Richmond was way too far away from my friends and family, but after just a couple of weeks of being here, we fell in love with the area.” 

Once Julie and her husband set their heart on the vibrant, scenic town, the house-hunting process was relatively easy. 

She explains: “We looked at a few places, but this one stood out. We really liked the vibe. It has a big garden, lots of inside space and it was really good value. It needed some work, but luckily my uncle and brother are builders, so we decided to go for it!” 

With its architecturally rich cobbled streets, historic castle and luscious woodland paths, it’s no wonder Julie decided to raise her family in this beautiful area.

“I feel so lucky to live here,” she continues. “Our local town is stunning: the museums, the river walks – it’s just so pretty. Then, of course, there’s the Yorkshire Dales, which are heaven on earth.”

Beyond the natural beauty of the surrounding villages and countryside, the bustling local community also makes all the difference. 

“The people in my area are fantastic,” she explains. “There’s a real community spirit, and we all look out for one another. During the pandemic, for example, we banded together to help vulnerable people in the town and support local businesses. It’s always been that way: a really strong community.” 

As they say, home is where the heart is and, for Julie and her family, Richmond and the astounding Yorkshire Dales have captured theirs.

“I don’t think I could see myself living anywhere else,” she concludes. “I’m really thankful to live here.”

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

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We were enthused by the number of responses we received from up and down the country. It is heartwarming to see just how many people passionately love where they live. Our competition winners were selected at random, but we are delighted with who got selected.

In this blog, you’ll meet Sean Driscoll, the first of our three prizewinners. 

“It feels lovely to win something,” beams Sean as he sits down to speak to us about his home in the historic town of Luton, Bedfordshire.

“I live in a 1950s semi-detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac,” he shares. “My wife and I bought our home thirty years ago, meaning I’ve lived here almost half my life!” 

For Sean and his wife, the move to their current dwelling was spurred by their young, growing family. 

“My wife and I have six children – three of which are triplets – and we had a dog and a cat. The children are grown up now and live in London. But thirty years back, we were looking for a forever home we could raise our family in,” he explains.

“We looked at loads of places initially, but nothing felt right. We’d heard of this house, and the size was perfect – but it was too expensive. Over time, the price luckily came down, making it closer to what we could afford. So, we decided to have a look.”

For Sean and his wife, seeing this house was a rare case of love at first sight. He explains: “They say you know when you know, and when we walked in – even before we saw the whole place – we knew it was the one.” 

Beyond being the perfect size for their bustling family, he also adores his home’s peaceful setting. 

“Our house is about a mile and a half from the town centre. Even though Luton has a reputation as a busy, industrial town, where we live feels very rural and peaceful.”

“When you look out into the garden, you can’t see any other houses. It’s a very relaxing place. In fact, some of our neighbours have lived here even longer than us – it’s the kind of area where people stay.” 

While the tranquillity of the property is certainly a draw, Sean also appreciates Luton’s fantastic transport links for work and socialising. 

“We’re lucky to have great links to the rest of the country: the airport, train lines, and right next to the M1. I go to meetings all over the country for my job as a sports agent, so it’s perfectly situated for me. And then, of course, we’ve also got beautiful countryside five minutes away. It’s the best of both worlds.” 

When Sean’s not on the road, he enjoys venturing into Luton’s nearby villages and landmarks, which are rich in history and natural beauty. 

“There are many fantastic walks near us and some great attractions where you can learn about local history, like the Luton Hoo and the Discovery Centre. We also enjoy heading into London to see our children – it’s actually the triplets’ birthdays today!” 

With such fond memories and a bustling community surrounding them, could Sean and his wife ever see themselves moving away? 

“I think, unless we won a crazy amount of money in the lottery, we would stay here. We’re very happy, and it’s where we brought the kids up. It feels like home.”

Thank you, Sean, and to everyone who entered our competition from all the team at PLS. But wait – there are more prizes to be won!

If you love where you live and want to be in with a chance to win, submit your entry today by showing us how you celebrated the King’s Coronation in your town!

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

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The PLS team understands what it means to make a house a home. And so, in this series, you’ll find out why our team members love where they live. 

Today, the spotlight is on Dan Hickey, our fantastic Managing Director. He sat down with us to explain why he loves his home in the charming riverside town of Llangollen, North Wales. 

“Llangollen is a lovely small town situated in the Dee Valley, which is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty,” shares Dan, describing his local area. “The River Dee flows through the centre, and picturesque hills and mountain ranges surround it.”

Boating enthusiasts may be familiar with this tranquil countryside gem, which is popular amongst water sports enthusiasts throughout the year.

“It’s a great destination for canoeists, kayakers, white water rafters and the like,” he explains. “If you walk across the historic bridge at the end of the high street, you’ll often see people paddling along the river.” 

Llangollen Bridge, in itself, is one of the must-sees in this historic area, known as one of the seven wonders of Wales. But that’s far from all there is. 

“The Horseshoe Falls are about two miles from the town, and you can take a lovely scenic walk along the canal to get there. There’s also Castell Dinas Brân, a medieval castle towering above the town on a nearby hilltop. If you walk to the top, you’ll see the most awe-inspiring views.” 

A keen fell runner, Dan is no stranger to charting his way up and down the hills, valleys and mountains surrounding his town.

“I love the outdoors: the mountains, the river, the greenery. When I’m not with my children, I spend most evenings and weekends on the hills running. I can get to Snowdonia in just under an hour too, which has more great mountain ranges. It’s perfect for ultra running. Llangollen is also a great place to spend time with my two children, whom I encourage to let off steam either paddling their canoe or scrambling up hills ” 

While Dan has long been an outdoorsman, the move to Llangollen came just three years ago, partly spurred by the hybrid working evolution. 

“I’m originally from Manchester and lived there for most of my adult life, but my mum is Welsh, and I spent a lot of my childhood holidays in North Wales,” he shares. 

“After the pandemic, my circumstances changed. PLS embraced hybrid working and I became single, so I made the decision to move a little bit further out. From here, Manchester is still very accessible. It only takes me an hour to get to the office door-to-door, and it’s easy for me to pick up the kids and drop them off at school.”

With the buzz of the city nearby and beautiful countryside on his doorstep, it’s easy to see why Dan loves where he lives, and his home sounds just as picturesque as the surrounding countryside. 

“I live in a nice old house about a ten-minute walk from town. It’s got a fantastic garden with a fair bit of woodland. I’m not a gardener, so it’s perfect for me. It’s rugged and wild, and we’ve also got goal posts for my son and a trampoline and rope swings for my daughter.”

Although his home is a little further out, he very much enjoys venturing into the charming town centre. 

“Where I live is actually one of the few towns in Britain to be awarded the title of Cittaslow, an Italian honour for places with a great quality of life and strong community. For a small place, there are some great independent shops and restaurants, and the pace of life is more relaxed than most cities.” 

Can he ever see himself living anywhere else? Time will tell. He concludes: ”Maybe in the future when I retire, I’ll move somewhere closer to the coast and with bigger mountains. But, for now, Llangollen is lovely.” 

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

To be in with the chance of winning an Amazon Alexa, Ikea Voucher or Bloom and Wild Flowers to make your lovely home even more lovely, take part in our Love Where You Live competition here.

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The PLS team understands what it means to make a house a home. And so, in this series, you’ll find out why our team members love where they live. 

Already, we’ve spoken to our head of HR, Sarah, about her beautiful family home in Worsley. Today, we’ll hear from our CRM Lead, Ella Boothroyd, who is brimming with praise for her hometown of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. 

“I’ve lived in Berkhamsted most of my life,” shares Ella. “I’m really grateful to call this place home. I moved away to Australia when I was younger because I wanted to spread my wings. I had itchy feet, I suppose. But the whole experience made me realise just how much I love Berkhamsted. It’s an amazing place to live.” 

Since returning from Australia, Ella has been proud to call this picturesque market town her home. She initially bought a flat on the outskirts of Berkhamsted. Then, two years ago, she and her partner moved into their current property: a two-bed barn conversion.

“I looked at so many places before we found this one,” she shares. “Everything else we’d seen previously lacked heart or was too small. I walked in, and I just knew this property was the one. It felt right, warm and cosy. It just felt like home!” 

While Ella and her partner searched far and wide for their current home, they were always adamant that it would be in Berkhamsted. With its pretty cobbled streets, bustling town centre and idyllic countryside surroundings, it’s easy to see why the pair are so happy here. 

“Berkhamsted is definitely a unique place. It has the community feel of a village, but it’s incredibly lively and vibrant at the same time. There’s a beautiful quaint high street with so many amazing shops, and everyone knows everyone. For example, even when I go into the local Costa, they know my coffee order – and my Dad’s too!” 

She continues: “The town is also just thirty minutes on the train to central London, but it has the most stunning countryside and beautiful canal-side walks. It’s the kind of place where people come to live and then don’t ever leave.”

While Berkhamsted might not be the size of the city, it is undoubtedly just as bustling. Between weekly farmers’ markets, a stream of seasonal events at the stylish Ashridge House and the quintessential British high street, there are plenty of things to do.

“I love going for walks along the canal. There’s a little village called Northchurch with lots of nice coffee shops,” she says. “You can walk from there into town, stopping off at the pub along the way. Then, along the high street, there’s a beautiful antique shop set across three floors, with an amazing coffee shop at the top called Black Goo.”  

“There’s also a lovely florist and champagne bar for special occasions like Mother’s Day – not to mention the boutique shops! There’s one called Amalie, which is just lovely. And, of course, there are so many amazing pubs and restaurants throughout town.”  

Looking to the future, Ella and her partner are certainly very happy in Berkhamsted. However, with plans to have a family on the horizon, she considers their barn more of a starter home than a forever one.  

“I love where I live, but I think we will only be in our current home for a little while longer. There will be family talk, and we will need something a little bigger – but still in Berkhamsted, of course!” 

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

To be in with the chance of winning an Amazon Alexa, Ikea Voucher or Bloom and Wild Flowers to make your lovely home even more lovely, take part in our Love Where You Live competition here.

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The PLS team understands what it means to make a house a home. And so, in this series, you’ll find out why our team members love where they live. 

Already, we’ve spoken to our wonderful team members, Sarah and Ellie, about their homes in Worsley and Berkhamsted. 

Today, we’re heading a little further up north to the charming village of Thornley, County Durham, which our training and development manager Michelle Burdett is proud to call home. She lives in a quiet cul-de-sac alongside her husband, 15-month year old son and beloved border collie. 

“We’ve lived here for about four years now and absolutely love it,” shares Michelle. “Durham is just a fifteen minutes drive away, and it’s such a lovely place to go for a day out. County Durham also has the most beautiful countryside. I love being able to look outside my patio doors and see rolling hills. It’s very peaceful.” 

For Michelle and her family, the hamlet of Thornley has strong family ties. She explains: “My husband is originally from a little village just outside of Newcastle, which is half an hour away. We met when we were both working in Manchester. Once we married, we decided to make the move up so we could be closer to his family, who are about 40 minutes away.” 

Luckily for Michelle and her husband, finding their home was a walk in the park!

“We weren’t searching for long, thankfully,” she says. “Working in conveyancing, I had an idea in my head of what I was looking for. It’s my job to look at houses, so I knew what to go for in terms of title investigations, that sort of thing, to make the process quick and easy.”

While moving from a bustling city to rural countryside is a big change, she feels like the choice has been perfect for her.

“I always wanted to live in the countryside,” she explains. “I can’t ever imagine living in a city again now. Plus, we’re lucky that Durham and Newcastle are just a short drive away for all the shops and restaurants!” 

With a perfect balance of urban life and picturesque countryside, it’s no wonder Michelle is so happy in Thornley. It also helps that the local community is vibrant and caring. 

She continues: “It feels really nice and homely. There are lots of families in the area. Two of our neighbours are brother and sister, and we’re good friends with both! They sometimes babysit our son.”

Although Thornley is a beautiful village, Michelle and her family don’t see their current home as their forever one. 

“We want to move a little closer to my in-laws so they can see our son more often,” she shares. “We’ve also got our eyes on some excellent schools a bit further north. Our son is very intelligent and bright – he loves books already! So, we want to relocate for him, but we will stay in County Durham because we love it here. It’s beautiful.”

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

To be in with the chance of winning an Amazon Alexa, Ikea Voucher or Bloom and Wild Flowers to make your lovely home even more lovely, take part in our Love Where You Live competition here.

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The PLS team understands what it means to make a house a home. And so, in this series, you’ll find out why our team members love where they live, starting with Sarah Millican, our wonderful HR Director. 

Sarah’s home is in the picturesque village of Worsley in Salford. With its beautiful Tudor buildings and abundance of greenery, visiting this little town is like stepping back in time. 

“It’s a really lovely area,” Sarah shares. “For a small town, there’s so much to do. We’re lucky to have so many cosy pubs and shops on the high street, and some beautiful walks just a stone’s throwaway. There’s the Bridgwater canal, which is steeped in history, along with Worsley Woods and the RHS Garden Bridgewater.”

For Sarah, moving to Worsley came shortly after she and her husband had their first child. 

“We moved to Worsley in 2010. Before that, we lived in a townhouse, which wasn’t conducive for a young family. There were too many stairs for our toddler! So, we started our house hunt.”

“We searched for the perfect property for ages but struggled to find the space we needed for the right price. And then, this house came up. At first, my husband didn’t want to see it; he didn’t like the look of it! But I had a gut feeling, and I knew it was the one as soon as I saw it.”

Once they looked around the property, her husband was also charmed by the pretty countryside home. The pair quickly put in an offer, and, to their delight, it was accepted. 

While the house needed some light renovations, the couple were happy to take on the project – especially given the house’s prime location. 

“I love everything about our home. It’s at the end of a peaceful, tree-lined col de sac, and we’re lucky to wake up to countryside views every morning. It’s the kind of home that people never leave! Most of our neighbours have been here for years, and everyone is lovely and friendly.”

Since moving to Worsley 13 years ago, a lot has changed for the Millican family. They welcomed their second child in 2014, and their home has proven itself as the perfect setting for their two boys to grow up. 

“There are great schools around us and a real sense of community. My youngest son plays for the local under nine’s football team, and I manage the team alongside two coaches. We’ve been involved with the club since he was four years old. PLS is even involved – they sponsor the team, buying their kits yearly!”

Sarah and her husband have pondered moving house at points, especially as her boys near their teenage years. But Worsley has captured their hearts.

Rather than moving, the family have chosen to remortgage and extend their beloved home.  

“Every time we consider moving, we look around, but nothing compares to where we are now. Worsley is quite an expensive area, so to get something this size again would probably be out of our price range.”

“What we’ve ended up doing is extending this property – three times! The new size is great for the boys, especially if they have friends over. By renovating, we’ve also added value – it’s worth a lot more than when we bought it. Even so, I can’t see us moving away any time soon. This house really is our home, and it fits our family perfectly.” 

If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.

To be in with the chance of winning an Amazon Alexa, Ikea Voucher or Bloom and Wild Flowers to make your lovely home even more lovely, take part in our Love Where You Live competition here.

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