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Original poster

Help me find a place to live

68 replies

BBBear · 24/04/2019 11:35

I thought I'd use the collective wisdom of Mumsnet to find my ideal place to live....

My criteria:

lots of outdoorsy things to do (walks, cycling, etc.)

lots of city things to do (galleries, restaurants, coffee shops, etc.)

and if I live in the city I want to be able to bike to the country, and vice versa, which leads to...

I would like to be able to use a bike as my main form of transport

Somewhere quite creative - I write and feel like I'm out of creative things living in the suburbs

4 bed house for £600k

OR 2 bed flat for £400k (this would be the retirement option)

Kids will be flying the nest sometime in the next 10 years so we could wait until then to go for the retirement option.

DH works in London (I can work anywhere) so if we can keep it commutable, that would be great, if not we'll look at the retirement option or he could stay in London a couple of nights a week.

I'm also willing to look at moving abroad!

We currently live in the South East. Easy commute to London, but that's the only thing it's got going for it!

OP posts:
GoJetterGirl · 24/04/2019 18:55

East Grinstead, direct train commute to London, and lovely surroundings, lingfield, Dormansland, hurst Green etc

Original poster
BBBear · 24/04/2019 19:24

it's quite hard because I currently live in the countryside, and while it's taken me a while to get used to driving everywhere, I do enjoy the quietness of it... but I still miss having a coffee shop and somewhere to nip out for a pint of milk right on my doorstep!

I'm looking for the best of both worlds, but just not sure if it exists.

OP posts:
nooddsocksforme · 24/04/2019 19:47

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61758366.html
Lovely house near Glasgow.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63288280.html
Maybe Stirling too far out for commuting

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 24/04/2019 20:25

This may seem like a daft question but how important is the weather to you? Because in the SE you get more sun and less rain than most of the UK (though colder winters). As you go west you'll encounter more grey, wet weather.

Bristol will fulfil your need for a creative environment but you won't see as much sun as you're used to.

Have you considered Bath? DD moved there from Bristol, loves it. It's commutable too.

Redpostbox · 24/04/2019 20:47

Winchester, Alresford or Alton.

Ladygloss · 24/04/2019 20:51

Glasgow definitely fits the bill for you it has everything you're looking for and you could get a beautiful house in one of the best areas for your budget. If I had your budget I'd go for the west end or bearsden.

Edinburgh does too but Your budget wouldn't go as far and Glasgow has easier access to spectacular countryside (Loch Lomond and The Trossachs) I live in the southside and can get there in forty minutes Bearsden would take you about twenty.

Myyearmytime · 24/04/2019 23:06

Bournemouth Bournemouth Bournemouth.
Coffee shops aplenty chains and small chains and owner coffees .
We dont have gallerys.
You could get a lovely house for 600.

KenAdams · 24/04/2019 23:18

Cambridge is good if you can find a house in budget but its very very touristy and packed always. Whoever said Norwich had a good idea and finally, some parts of Birmingham (yes really).

Stamford might be worth a shot though - its not huge but might work. Stratford too actually.

Smaller places are Clarendon Park in Leicester and Lutterworth.

Didiusfalco · 24/04/2019 23:24

Go to one of the villages outside Birmingham. Hampton in Arden, Knowle, Berkswell. Can get the train to Birmingham for all the city stuff but out to Warwickshire countryside on your bike?

Yambabe · 25/04/2019 00:26

Chester.

History and chichi places all around you.

Liverpool close by for the proper city thing if needed.

North Wales minutes away for scenery etc.

Bicycle-friendly.

Regular trains to London, takes 2 hours, or an easy commute to both Liverpool and Manchester airports.

£600k will get you a fantastic property like this www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71279701.html which is less than a mile from the city centre.

MonkeysandParrots · 25/04/2019 00:32

Bristol fulfils all your criteria. Come visit!

squee123 · 25/04/2019 00:36

How about Notherumberland? Personally I love Alnmouth which is a lovely seaside village with direct trains to Newcastle in half an hour or London in 3h 45. Or if you want more going on there are some lovely seaside parts around Newcastle with glorious countryside a stone's throw away but easily accesible to the city for all the culture and shopping you could want. 3 hrs to London by train.

MrsMoastyToasty · 25/04/2019 00:38

Definitely Bristol or possibly Bath.
Both have direct rail links to London.

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/04/2019 00:43

Yambabe I was going to suggest Chester too. Beautiful city surrounded by countryside

scarus · 25/04/2019 05:24

As PP Stamford came to mind. Has station but most people who commute drive 20 mins to Peterborough for the fast train (40 mins). Loads of good walks/cycling on doorstep in Burghley house or in Rutland. Attractive town centre. Nice shops/coffee/restaurants. The Arts Centre has a lot on. On the downside its fairly small so depends how big a scene you need.

AristotlesTrousers · 25/04/2019 06:03

Norwich is lovely - lots of arty, literary things going on, lots of history, and a fairly rural city with lots of countryside and nice towns and villages around, plus seaside within half an hour. Not too far to go by train to London either.

AvengersAssemble · 25/04/2019 06:19

Durham is fantastic, ticks all your boxes, and you could buy a mansion up here with your budget.

AvengersAssemble · 25/04/2019 06:20

@woodcutbirds Newcastle is fantastic, I agree!

waxahatchee · 25/04/2019 06:58

Brighton.

yellowsun · 25/04/2019 07:14

BRISTOL!

whiteroseredrose · 25/04/2019 07:46

Harrogate? Lovely small town in itself with nice coffee shops etc. On the edge of the moors. And Leeds is a short drive away if you get the urge to go to a city.

Lightsabre · 25/04/2019 08:04

Lewes? Very creative, lots of cafes and a great new cinema/arts space called The Depot, South Downs on the doorstep with Brighton 6 miles away and commutable to London.

LiveFatsDieYoGnu · 25/04/2019 08:08

Bristol! We’re lovely here Smile

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 25/04/2019 08:10

Bristol is glorious, I'd love to live there.

Peak district was my first thought, around Sheffield.

Can't go wrong with West Sussex if you want an easier commute, great weather, glorious South Downs and the sea. So many lovely villages in land. We live in a less salubrious but nice enough but of West Sussex. The hills really aren't big enough for me but the weather is lovely.

My retirement dream is the Lake District.