Where in uk is still good to live?

[tryanotherway]

We would love to move back to the UK but we see so much on the news about high levels of crime. Where in the UK is still safe and friendly place to live? Found schools, cost of living, health care, plenty to do and see?

I live in Worcestershire and it's lovely. DC went to small village first school, and lots to do for people with young children.

Easy train travel to Birmingham, and easy travelling down to Bristol and beyond.

It's such a personal question. "Not isolated and access to theatre, plenty of shops etc" means completely different things to different people.

For me, the answer would be somewhere like Clitheroe / Ribble Valley or near Skipton. But then my OH would see the same criteria and say Leeds.

You need to really think about whether being based in a city / urban environment with easy access to countryside is preferable to the opposite way around. And what kind of countryside! I live in the rural west midlands for a while, but didn't get anywhere like same same feels for the countryside there than I do a windswept northern moor!

It may depend on your budget as well. We live in the outer 'burbs of London, and love it. But it is expensive.

I've moved to Wales. I love it here. I go back to London/Essex to visit family and can't stand it.

I'm an old gimmer though, everything that I loved about London when I lived and worked there is not anything I now remotely desire.

I have found the Welsh people very welcoming and friendly.

bikerunski you must be in my neck of the woods!

Harrogate, Ilkley or Knaresborough

Warwickshire, we live just outside Warwick, which is lovely, close to Stratford upon Avon for all things Shakespeare, easy enough to get to Birmingham for big shops, Leamington Spa has enough decent high street shops. The countryside is gorgeous and the train to London is quick and if you book in advance nice and cheap.

West Lancashire is lovely and also cheap. I seriously think I live in a little bubble of loveliness when I see what some people have to deal with.

Try Bournemouth, beautiful beaches (best in UK), loads of watersports, Jurassic Coast one side and New Forest the other, with both Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch to provide things to do. Not too much of a drive from Southampton for good theatre and shopping too.

Stamford is lovely. Lots of indy shops, bars and restaurants. Good theatre and arts centre, great schools and close to countryside / big cities.

Peak District is lovely with quick access to culture/music/theatre in Sheffield or Manchester.

I live in Scotland and alway's say i live in the best country in the world, (my opinion ) there's crime no matter which country you live in, the media tend to make thing's sound worse than they really are. Good Luck

I live near Bristol it certainly has a vibrant cultural life but houses are really expensive especially in the really nice areas

@happyhillock if your username is anything to go by, I’m from round the corner and I wholeheartedly agree.

Surrey and Kent are both safe and lovely, leafy, trad English. If you move around Sevenoaks, the houses are affordable, it's an easy commute to London for work. Kent still has free grammar schools, and there are loads of gorgeous places to visit and things to do. I'm thnking of retiring there, it looks so lovely. But it would equally be a great place to raise children.
Same with Surrey. Lots of pretty, lively but safe commuter villages or small towns within easy reach of London. Great schools, private and state, in many areas, and loads to do. But more expensive than Kent, as far as I can see. Not sure why.

Didsbury in south Manchester. Outstanding primary schools, lovely local shops, cafes and restaurants, excellent public transport and easy access to city centre theatres etc. Oh, and nice neighbours 😁

Edinburgh would tick a lot of your boxes but house prices are shooting up.

I've never personally experienced any crime in the UK in my 41 years - so I'd say that most of the UK is incredibly safe relative to the rest of the world.
The media does not represent a balanced view!

Rural East Mids (Leics/Rutland border) is where I am now - it is beautiful countryside and property is cheap.

Newcastle - small but culturally switched on city, great theatres, galleries and museums. Only 15 min to incredible beaches at Tynemouth. 30-45 min into into amazing countryside. V safe.
Affordable houses.

Cheshire is lovely, around Chester. Villages like Christleton, Kelsall, Tarporley

Most of the UK. The image you see via the media is always going to show the worst of the worst. Nothing interesting in reporting about no crime.

This (though I'm as concerned about the effects of Brexit as the next person). I live two minutes from a beautiful park with lots of activities for DC. Two outstanding junior schools, one outstanding senior school. Good social mix. Amazing annual community arts festival. Shopping on the doorstep. But I live in London Zone 2 and if I told you the name of my neighbourhood you'd likely run a mile!

Hi 999caffieneplease, thank's yeah i'm just around the corner, great place to live..

Actually yes. Newcastle is where I would go if I had no roots.

Friends in Harrogate and Bristol. Both nice. We're outside Manchester. Our suburb is nice but Manchester itself not so much. Liverpool and Leeds are nicer cities.

Wherever you can afford to live on the right side of the tracks and have enough left for what you consider to be a good standard of living.