Um well you know when you take vinyl wallpaper off . . .

[BalloonSlayer]

it leaves a sort of lining paper underneath?

Well can you just paint that?

My DSis says it's not like normal lining paper and will bubble up. Is that right? It probably is, DSis knows a lot about decorating, which is why I asked her.

[linspins]

I did paint mine. When I peeled off the wallpaper it left a paper layer under, just like you describe. But we painted it anyway, and it did bubble a little in places when the paint was wet but tightened again when it dried. It looked ok enough, and we lived with it for 6 years until we moved!
I would expect the people after us might strip it all off if they want an absolutely perfect flat wall (in which case they'll need to replaster!) but it was fine for us.

[Heartsease]

I am massively impressed that you managed to split it so perfectly. Ours was in shreds all over the place and we ended up plaster skimming. You have nothing to lose by experimenting on one wall!

[BalloonSlayer]

Thank you both!

I haven't actually peeled it all off yet but the bit I have done has come away easily enough (famous last words!) "Ok enough" is fine by me... there is so much stuff in the bloody room it probably won't notice if it's a complete disaster.

[Heartsease]

Ours was wood effect vinyl wallpaper. We may have attacked it more violently than necessary .

Let us know what happens!

[DitaVonCheese]

Do you mean you've just pulled the vinyl bit off and left the papery layer? Ours came off in shreds too so we've had to take it all off but the plaster is in pretty good nick underneath still