Moving to Liverpool advice... should I?

[90sbab8]

I've been wanting to move to Liverpool for some time now, but covid and relationship got in the way. That relationship has ended now and I'm free to move. I'm an LFC fan who visits regularly (nearly every month) and always have a good time there, and I love scousers. I've been back in my home town since moving back from uni 10 years ago and don't particularly like it here (small market town in Co Durham)- nothing to do and boring people who live very insular lives.

The problem is this: I'm scared. I went to uni in Manchester and never settled properly at all- everyone seemed to be preoccupied with looks and money, full of hipsters wasting their money on £9 beers, and if you weren't in the "in" crowd you might as well have not bothered. I felt very insignificant. Over half of the the city seemed very middle class (I'm WC), but the rough parts were absolutely soul destroying (I didnt live far from Cheetham Hill and Collyhurst). Huge class/wealth divide. It seemed that if you didn't have money or look a certain way, people ignored you no matter how hard you tried (I was briefly part of the music scene and got nowhere, and everyone, apart from Blossoms who are WC background, seemed to be very MC and wealthy).

I never get that vibe at all when I'm in Liverpool- I know it has rough parts and a rough rep, but I actually prefer that to the huge divide I saw in MCR. People seem to actually take interest in you, no one seems to judge you, they give you a chance. Everyone seems more easygoing and friendly here rather than posing and pretending. People clap and cheer when i sing or play music, not ignore me, keep on chatting and give a brief, unenthusiastic clap.

What I'm worried about is that, because i havent actually lived in Liverpool for a period of time, i havent gotten to know the city properly and it may turn out to be the same shit as in Manchester (I very, very much hope not). I also cant really afford to rent in the "nice" places that people mention at the moment, so I've been looking at cheaper places near the city centre such as Wavertree. Would it be a mistake to move there, or should I go for it and make the best of it? Nothing here for me where I am now! TIA x

I always think of Liverpool as a ‘world entire’ there is something about it that I’ve not noticed elsewhere. Maybe it’s just a strong sense of identity. The community pulls together much more.

@RedToothBrush I can handle scallies- I grew up on a CE in the North East. What I can't stand, however, is "too cool for school" hipsters, and MCR has a lot of them! But i also don't want somewhere with crime and drugs at all hours either.

So you don’t like hipsters, middle class people or Reform voters - I think you will find them everywhere, including Liverpool

Well Liverpool has crime and you aren't going to escape it there. So that's the thing you have to wrap your head around.

Would you consider moving to The Wirral. I live in New Brighton. We're within walking distance to the beach and it's about 20 minutes into Liverpool on the train.

Crumpsall does not strike me as a good fit for a student, so I'm not surprised you didn't like it.

@UsedToBeAtAmber yes I've looked over there 😃

They are in Liverpool but honestly I totally get what the OP means.

Liverpool has a different vibe and Manchester hipsters are uniquely Manchester. London hipsters are a different breed again. It's probably true for other cities as well.

It's very much a micro cultural thing. Especially if you come from the NE. (I have friends from the NE who really just don't get the hipster thing but I really wouldn't call them reform types either). It's really hard to define - down to earth without being a twat is probably it. It's the community thing to a certain extent rather than a superiority and looking down your nose at others thing. It definitely exists in Manchester in a way it doesn't in Liverpool.

Definitely. That is just something you're going to have to make your peace with living in either Manchester or Liverpool. It wouldn't put me off, but then I'm from the north west and I like both places.

Omg do it !!! I stayed after uni and have been happy 99% of the time. So much to do, beautiful parks and architecture. Lots of niche things going on... I'm sure you will find your people.

In Liverpool if you wore the 'wrong trainers' you'd get the piss taken out of you whilst you shared a pint in the pub.
In Manchester if you wore the 'wrong trainers' someone wouldn't be friends with you because they wouldn't want to be seen with your trainers.

I think that's the best way to sum up the difference.

I came here for Uni and…. never left!
You are right about the people - warm and friendly.
Can you look for work here? In general, people here also have a real affinity with people from the NE.
It is a strange city in that areas morph into each other, and you move around the city one minute surrounded by huge luxury houses and then in a run down area.
You need to know your areas and the best way to do that is get advice from anyone who lives here.
There are some areas which are very much student zones, too.
It is a beautiful city in terms of culture, art, architecture and music. There is always something to do.
Whoever suggested the Wirral, it’s also got some really, really lovely areas and the train can bring you over in super quick time.
If you are a Liverpool fan, you’ve found your tribe.
Give it a go. There are lots of great little apartments and houses. Not as cheap as when I first moved here, but you can shop around.
So many wonderful live music venues, the Everyman, lots of things to get involved in.

@Yatuway i used to lie to my music mates that I lived in Prestwich. Was sort of part of a little crowd in Chorlton (when it was friendlier about 10+ years ago) and used to tell them the same 🤦‍♀️It seemed that you were judged by where in the city you lived.

@RedToothBrush thanks, that's what I was trying to get at. People vote reform for all sorts of reasons, but here it seems that sadly its white men voting for race/immigrant-based reasons, without looking at the bigger picture. Anyway, I'm not here for a political debate. Yes I definitely got the feeling that people were looking down their noses at me, something I don't experience in Liverpool.

@RedToothBrush yes!! In Liverpool it's just a bit of ribbing then you laugh, forget about it and have another pint- you need a thick skin and sense of humour believe me! In MCR, its like a gunshot wound to the ego 🙄

I just think a lot of people in Manchester take things a lot more seriously. They are perhaps less accepting (often than than they think they are and pretend to be) and are much more tribal and conformist.

@RedToothBrush yes they seemed to take themselves VERY seriously. I used to work near Oldham St and me amd my old boss used to have a right laugh at the "fashion disasters"!

Even what amounts to "culture" is different in both cities. In Liverpool its true culture- museums, gigs, art etc and it's for everyone to enjoy without judgement or question. In MCR, it's listening to some obscure band no one's ever heard of and feeling superior to others for it.....

I feel a bit bad now and that I'm "Manchester-bashing", I'm not, I met some very nice, cool people there (and i will tell you that the more "famous"/locally famous people on the music scene are far, far, nicer and down to earth than the one's on the "underground" pub/bar scene), and it's a dream for some, and plenty of lovely countryside just a drive out. Just not for me! Liverpool is more my "vibe", so to say.

Tbh I do think that Oldham street is the height of the nonsense and isn't that reflective of Manchester as a whole. But it does start there.

This is just so accurate and I say that as a scouser!

I do think ‘get on them webs, lad’ may need translating 😂

Brilliant 🤣

I lived in Liverpool for years. Wavertree is fab though a bit studenty. Check out Waterloo as well as the south of the city. I miss Liverpool. Join clubs/groups relating to your hobbies. It’s easy to make friends in Liverpool - I still have my friends 10 years later. ❤️

I’m looking at relocating there and I’ve been really enjoying looking at a) flats torrent in the city centre b) places to buy in the city centre and c) what will I do with myself on a weeknight if I want to do something cultural? There’s plenty to keep you occupied and I’d suggest you maybe rent in the centre. No worries about transport (parking an issue if you have a car) but south of the city easier to drive around. Everyone has a great time there, and I think it’s the kind of place you can go and sit in a coffees shop and get chatting to someone. Lots of small music venues too. At this moment in time is a good time to rent as when Everton takes off and also the new train station, boom town! Do it, it’s a brief moment in your life, choose happiness!

Hi, I am a Scouser living in a tiny village in County Durham. I love Liverpool, I grew up around the south end of Liverpool and most of my family live in Wavertree. If I was a single woman, I would move back in a heartbeat as everything is on your doorstep. People are friendly but you can also be anonymous which I miss as everyone wants to know your business in small communities which I find hard. If you are seriously considering it then I would look at Wavertree but the parts further from the town. Smithdown rs going towards Allerton is also safe as there are loads of students and it's a mixture of private rented , owner occupiers and social rented. Aigburth is lovely but more expensive unless you are by the Dingle end. I don't know much about living in the north of Liverpool but I know it's less cosmopolitan in its demographics and may be harder to integrate into.

This thread is making me want to move to Liverpool 🤣