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Original poster

To ask which towns/cities have NOT gone to the dogs?

403 replies

Lieger · 26/04/2024 22:33

We are likely relocating in a couple of years. Just seen a thread about towns being full of people fighting and off their heads on drugs, empty high streets, rubbish everywhere, tent cities etc. Is there anywhere in the UK that hasn’t gone to hell?

OP posts:
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Neveralonewithaclone · 01/05/2024 21:16

JethroTullandhishorse · 30/04/2024 21:02

Bath looks nice and has lovely stone but scratch the surface and it’s not great.

But nowhere is. Unless you have at least a million. In which case you’ll live somewhere that’s an enclave of similarly deep-pocketed people and are part of the wider problem.

I'm happy that there are enclaves of entitled rich people, I'm very tired of them. I think the locks on their gates should be on the outside 😂

Neveralonewithaclone · 01/05/2024 21:11

I'm moving to Sheffield soon and I'm very excited, i love dogs and hope there's loads. I hate shopping and don't mind if there are no shops. Homeless people are generally perfectly pleasant if you say good morning to them.

incywincyspiders · 01/05/2024 21:05

Lj8893 · 26/04/2024 22:46

Bath is still lovely (although the price reflects this!)

York didn’t seem to have many issues like those you mentioned when I visited, however I’m not sure of the suburbs.

I think most places have bad areas and good areas.

Bath is most definitely NOT lovely currently.

Marine30 · 01/05/2024 21:01

I wanted to defend Brighton as there is loads to do and see, brimming with cafes, restaurants, exhibitions, clubs, shops, gyms etc…
Then I sat outside a cafe with a coffee and in the space of 15 minutes I’d been asked for money three times. I don’t mind once but three times in 15 minutes and they were all whacked out of their minds 😞

Sad as Brighton has got some real pros - but also some real cons.

Biscuittheif · 01/05/2024 18:21

Saffron Walden is pretty but dull. Schools are all reasonable and secondary has just been given outstanding rating again by Ofsted. But I find it boring and soulless. Kids are part way through secondary and so no way could we move now but I am so bored I could cry.

Cambridge is nice but expensive. Chelmsford is busier with a lot more going on.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 01/05/2024 17:35

@Climber84 I really don't recognise the picture of Cambridge you're giving. We recently moved from there to Suffolk, and unless it's changed drastically in the past 18 months then its not the hotbed of crime and drug dealing you seem to think it is. Our son lives just outside so I'm regularly back there. I feel very safe in the city centre. There's loads of independent shops if you stay away from the Grand Arcade.

It is expensive though

Panicmode1 · 01/05/2024 08:22

There are more exciting names coming...if my daughter's intel is correct (she temps in the uni hols in the RVP).

Dulra · 01/05/2024 08:17

Belfast and Derry are great thriving cities. How times have changed

marzipanlover81 · 01/05/2024 08:14

Panicmode1 · 01/05/2024 08:08

I live here too...and (mostly) agree, but it does have its problems and pockets of deprivation (I visit some of them for work).

(Did you see Sostrene Grene is opening at the end of the month? Things may be on the up at the top end of town!)

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undoubtedly
but pockets of deprived area doesn’t mean a town has “gone to the dogs”

marzipanlover81 · 01/05/2024 08:13

Panicmode1 · 01/05/2024 08:08

I live here too...and (mostly) agree, but it does have its problems and pockets of deprivation (I visit some of them for work).

(Did you see Sostrene Grene is opening at the end of the month? Things may be on the up at the top end of town!)

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hooray yes!!!!

Panicmode1 · 01/05/2024 08:08

marzipanlover81 · 30/04/2024 18:54

my town
SE
i was thinking just today how much i love it
and been here 25 years
balances practical ie M&S, Tesco metro, boots, waterstones, WH smith with a exceptional blend of independent cafes, gift shops, health shops and clothing stores.
surrounded by beautiful parks

love love love it

I live here too...and (mostly) agree, but it does have its problems and pockets of deprivation (I visit some of them for work).

(Did you see Sostrene Grene is opening at the end of the month? Things may be on the up at the top end of town!)

marzipanlover81 · 01/05/2024 08:08

JethroTullandhishorse · 30/04/2024 21:02

Bath looks nice and has lovely stone but scratch the surface and it’s not great.

But nowhere is. Unless you have at least a million. In which case you’ll live somewhere that’s an enclave of similarly deep-pocketed people and are part of the wider problem.

i don’t have a million

i have lived here for over a de add so certainly “scratched the surface”

and my town is wonderful and thriving

marzipanlover81 · 01/05/2024 08:06

Marine30 · 30/04/2024 22:01

If it’s Twickenham yes, very nice around that part of town.

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no

ICanFeelItComingInTheAirTonight · 01/05/2024 07:15

In that case, avoid the whole of North West Kent like the plague. The whole area is exactly as described in your OP 💐

Marine30 · 30/04/2024 22:01

marzipanlover81 · 30/04/2024 19:41

TW

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If it’s Twickenham yes, very nice around that part of town.

JethroTullandhishorse · 30/04/2024 21:02

Bath looks nice and has lovely stone but scratch the surface and it’s not great.

But nowhere is. Unless you have at least a million. In which case you’ll live somewhere that’s an enclave of similarly deep-pocketed people and are part of the wider problem.

Whiskeywithwater · 30/04/2024 20:44

Samlewis96 · 27/04/2024 11:22

My hometown Billericay

My home town too! The BDP would have you think otherwise, but it’s really rather nice ..

fliptopbin · 30/04/2024 20:41

Another vote for York here. Although it does get absolutely rammed in summer, and even more rammed during the christmas markets. But the suburbs are all very safe, and there are no dodgy areas, by the standards pf other places. Very good for schools as well - 4 outstanding high schools in a city of 100 000. However, property prices are very high for up north.

Crikeyalmighty · 30/04/2024 20:20

@marzipanlover81 that's a lovely place- I feel same too here in Bath for similar reasons - yes the tourists and coaches can be a fag but at least it keeps it lively and mixed chain/indie - both to me are the right size, big enough to have lots of choice, small enough to be able to cross town to meet a friend in 15 minutes

OneTC · 30/04/2024 20:19

Yeah it's had it's ups and downs but I think that TW has mostly got nicer in the last 25 years. Has anything opened up where Cotswolds was?

marzipanlover81 · 30/04/2024 19:41

ShelfShark · 30/04/2024 19:32

Give us a clue.

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TW

ShelfShark · 30/04/2024 19:32

marzipanlover81 · 30/04/2024 18:54

my town
SE
i was thinking just today how much i love it
and been here 25 years
balances practical ie M&S, Tesco metro, boots, waterstones, WH smith with a exceptional blend of independent cafes, gift shops, health shops and clothing stores.
surrounded by beautiful parks

love love love it

Give us a clue.

marzipanlover81 · 30/04/2024 18:54

my town
SE
i was thinking just today how much i love it
and been here 25 years
balances practical ie M&S, Tesco metro, boots, waterstones, WH smith with a exceptional blend of independent cafes, gift shops, health shops and clothing stores.
surrounded by beautiful parks

love love love it

exiledfromcornwall · 30/04/2024 10:16

Damn, we missed those 😟

JenniferBooth · 29/04/2024 23:40

Skipton.......................home of Whitakers Chocolates