What place did you hate living in? And which did you love?

[Coffeetree]

Have you ever lived in a place you just couldn't get along with?

For me it was Seattle in the 90s. Beautiful city with loads to do, good job, but when my then-partner and I moved there we could just not get comfortable. Lots of very cool people, so hard to make friends. More of a "scene" than a community. We had a party with RSVPs and no one showed up. That sort of thing. Never happened before or since.

Conversely a small village in Cheshire was the warmest and most genuinely welcoming community I ever lived in. I felt at home from the day I arrived.

I hated living in the Blackfen area of Sidcup when first married. We were there for nearly nine years in our first house. It was very unpleasant. I was so pleased to move just a few miles away to what seemed like a different world and have been here ever since.

Hated Wanstead love Greenwich

Loved Bloomsbury hated Hounslow but don't think I'm unusual in that regard

Hated - Chester-le-Street (like living in a goldfish bowl; there was always someone watching to tell you you'd left your washing out too long/your milk had been sitting on the step all of a minute).

Oxford suburbs. Busy, noisy, no parking, and absolutely no life or atmosphere, but also really expensive.

Loved - Cambridge city centre. Lovely friendly neighbours who were so supportive when DP was in labour, and really near to nice things.

Small North Yorkshire village (where we are now). There are pluses and minuses but I still pinch myself that we're lucky enough to live here.

@Perfectlystill

I'm fascinated how Devon seems to be the most hated place to live on this thread.

I lived there for eight years and found the locals so unfriendly. It rained the whole time, and there was nothing to apart from walking/running/riding, all of which I did. It felt bleak and depressed.

Also interesting how much love there is for London on here - it often gets a bad rap on MN but I'm guessing that's from people who've never lived there.

Fascinating thread OP!

Yes, me too re: Devon, I was surprised. I visit Exeter often to see family, so always have a good time (as I live abroad) but, I have always thought Exeter in particular, is so ugly and souless. (Especially now, after the fires)

It does indeed seem bleak and depressing. The villages are pretty though, but insular and a bit snooty!

I have never liked Devon, and every trip I’ve made to Wales has been miserable.

Lived in a small village in Northumberland and hated it
Lived in Gloucester and hated it

Loved living in Newcastle
Love living in Cardiff

@SarahAndQuack, that made me laugh. I live somewhere exactly like that in Spain. God forbid I leave my washing out for too long.

The elderly ladies here are on patrol 24/7. They mop the pavements as a pretext to watch your every move.

It drives me mad. I better add Spain (inc Madrid) to places I'm not so keen on living in, for a while yes, but I will move home soon. I hope!

Absolutely loathed Croydon for lots of reasons.

Loving West London. I am, at last, Home!

Hated a small town in Derbyshire. Was there for 12 years :(
Very ukippy and racist.

I feel OK about where I am now but it's where I grew up and I never thought I'd be back but we came back for the kids schooling after horrendous experience in ukippy place.

Now house, quiet area but...meh. I'd rather live somewhere with like minded folk. (Ie: not tory, small-minded twats)

nice house

Chelsea was pretty but dull, much prefer Haringey and most other parts of north London. La Defense was boring and moved quite quickly to Canal St Martin which was lots better.

I also find Devon underwhelming, it doesn’t have the magic of Cornwall.

Also interesting how much love there is for London on here - it often gets a bad rap on MN but I'm guessing that's from people who've never lived there.
I find that in RL; people are very keen to tell me exactly how much they hate it, then it turns out they lived in Surbiton (which I'd hate too) or base their opinion ('too busy, no one smiles') entirely on one trip through King's Cross at rush hour. Still think their opinion trumps mine when I've lived here 20+ years

I loved Surbiton!

I have never in my life been as depressed as I was living in Devon. I was there for five years, till I finally snapped and ran off to live on a Greek island for six months!

Moved to London when I came back, and while it was a bit intimidating at first, after a year I was having a ball, and went on to live there for 7 more fantastic years.

I'm intrigued to see the comments about Devon, and especially Exeter, people. Maybe those I have met aren't representative!

@Gemmathecat

Hated brighton loved Bulwell

Did you get that the wrong way round.

@AdoptedBumpkin

I'm intrigued to see the comments about Devon, and especially Exeter, people. Maybe those I have met aren't representative!

Exeter is very different now to when I loved there 30 years ago, much more diverse and so busy!

**libed

Ffs LIVED

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Point taken! 👍

Grew up in east London and would move it we could afford it.
Loved Muscat - Dd was born there
Loved Bangkok
Enjoyed Antwerp
Hated Nottingham Dd currently at university there
Absolutely loathed Switzerland
Kuala Lumpur is in the hated box
Norfolk where we now live is great

I have to defend east London; it's getting a lot of 'hates' here but it's my manor. Well north-east anyway. I love it.

Hated Manchester
Loved London in my 20s and 30s (until we had kids!)

@DameHelena

I have to defend east London; it's getting a lot of 'hates' here but it's my manor. Well north-east anyway. I love it.

Yes, I lived in Dalston E8 boardering Islington in my 20's. It was absolutely fabulous and so cheap at the time. Now I couldn't dream of owning there and it is very trendy hipster.

It was also very cool back then too!