City Living

[citycitycity]

Please help me with your city living recommendations.....

I want to live in a city. I want independent cinemas, shops and cafes. I want art galleries, theatres and lectures on many, many subjects.

I need a good sixth form college for DD1 and a good selection of independent secondary schools for DD2 (would also like to look at state schools, but wouldn't be in catchment at the right time).

I have always lived in London commuter belt, in towns without much going on. While I can fairly easily travel into London I want everything on my doorstep.

I can't move now, due to DD1 exams, but I plan to start looking at areas to move to.

I'd like to live city centre, but DH wants a garage so I think I'll need to compromise,ise by living on the outskirts.

Can anyone recommend the right city for me?

Sorry, forgot to add budget will be around £600k

Cambridge

Cambridge.

45 min train to kings x, lots of things to do, galleries and museums, great theatres and student productions to add to them.

Hills road sixth form college is very good (I went there) and there is also long road sixth form college.

Good independent schools but also good state schools.

l want art galleries, theatres and lectures on many, many subjects

I'm intrigued by the comment on the lectures. I've never heard of this, is this something that's available to members of the public?

Where would one look to find out about these lectures, who provides them and what may the 'many many subjects' that they cover? I live in one of the cities mentioned upthread.

Follow up questions, do lots of people go to these lectures and is there a social scene, drinks reception or is it just about the lectures (all non covid times once).

Definitely Birmingham

easy to get back to London - and when HS2 opens prices will rocket

Edgbaston on edge of city centre has some very nice areas but also look at Moseley (new train station and line into city centre opening in 2021/22)

@BarbaraofSeville

l want art galleries, theatres and lectures on many, many subjects

I'm intrigued by the comment on the lectures. I've never heard of this, is this something that's available to members of the public?

Where would one look to find out about these lectures, who provides them and what may the 'many many subjects' that they cover? I live in one of the cities mentioned upthread.

I’ve found lectures on subjects that I was studying, but for the public, on population health and statistics.

If I could, I’d live in the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool. Beautiful houses, right by some nice cafes and the Philharmonic, two cathedrals and art galleries and museums within walking distance.

Not sure about a garage though! There’s loads available at the moment, your budget would get you a lot.

@BarbaraofSeville talks or events might have been a words (I got a bit carried away with my fantasy life!) - Eventbrite have good listings (in non-Covid times)

@BarbaraofSeville

Follow up questions, do lots of people go to these lectures and is there a social scene, drinks reception or is it just about the lectures (all non covid times once).

There is definitely a social scene in London, they are usually busy, often sold out, and there is usually a drinks reception (usually at events at universities, embassies or institutions) or there is a bar or the ticket will include a glass of wine. Some talks are held in a bar or pub.

If you aren't in London, Skeptics in The Pub might have a branch near you:

www.skepticsinthepub.org/

If your dd is finishing gcse then she'd enter the Scottish system in 5th year. Do she'd have two more years at school to do higher exams. Some private (mainly boarding) schools do A levels but not many.

Scottish highers don't always equate to A levels so getting into English unis can be more challenging with highers.

Hove would fit the bill

Thanks for all the answers.

For people that know Bristol and Brighton - what areas would you recommend?

Cambridge sounds perfect. It fits everything you've listed. Your budget will mean outskirts but lots of lovely places

Winchester is a nice enough small city within easy reach of London. Bit white, middle class though. But has lots of cultural events going on and is set in beautiful countryside.