Page 5 | Where is your dream village in the UK to call home?

flutterbye88 · 2025-10-08T10:14:15+00:00

Hi everyone! After a year of googling, reading posts and mini breaks to check out areas - we're still lost in our search for a forever home/area. It's so hard to get a feel for a place in a short amount of time! We've discovered many beautiful villages, but we're holding out for 'the one' - one with like-minded sociabe folk and utterly charming!! So I'd love to put the question to the Mumsnet Hive - Where is your dream village in the UK to call home? Who we are and what we're hoping to find: We’re a family with young children (aged 6, 3, and 1½). hoping to find our ^forever place,^ somewhere we can put down roots and be part of a warm, lively community. We don’t have much extended family around us, so we work on building that sense of belonging from within, for us, and for our kiddies. We’re the kind of family who love ^travel, adventure and a bit of fun^, but we’re also very ^grounded and homely^. We love the idea of raising our kids somewhere they can have a proper childhood - muddy knees, village fêtes, neighbours who become friends for playdates AND wine!! Somewhere, the children will feel they have proper roots and people who know them, once we pass. What we’re looking for: ✨ A beautiful, friendly village with a ^really strong sense of community.^ Somewhere where people get involved and look out for one another. ✨ Good schools ✨ Close enough to a safe, interesting town so they’re not climbing the walls as teenagers! ✨ Somewhere that feels special/charming - pretty, welcoming, with that hard-to-describe “spark” that makes you fall in love with it. ✨ A place where, one day, our children will feel proud to come back with their own families. We work remotely, so we’re flexible on location and can choose anywhere in the UK. Our budget is up to £850k (for a 4-bed house) Do you live somewhere like this, or know a village or small town that sounds this dreamy? We’d ^LOVE LOVE LOVE ^to hear your suggestions, stories, or tips. We’re ready to build a life somewhere special. 💛 Thank you so much in advance! x

Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:29

Gallivant · 08/10/2025 13:13

Do you have any existing roots at all? Any connection with a particular part of the UK? What you describe sounds like a bit of a fantasy, tbh. People generally feel rooted in a particular place because of their existing personal connections, not because of the place per se. You say you're 'grounded and homely' - what does that look like in the place you currently live? Have you succeeded in building any sort of community around you there?

It’s hard to answer without getting a bit long-winded, so bear with me!

Family roots-wise - I’ve got my parents and brother up in Yorkshire, but no wider family. My husband’s from Canada. My parents are elderly now, and sadly my brother has terminal cancer. So even though I technically have roots there, they won’t be there forever and to be honest, I’m not drawn to the area itself. It’s pretty, but quite conservative, and spending long periods with my dad can be difficult. He’s of that “certain generation” that somehow manages to find the cloud in every silver lining and squash any joy you bring to the table.

When I was 12, my parents moved us from our village to a cattle market town for my final year of primary school. I was uprooted from everything I knew, and never really found my place again. The local kids all had deep friendships and went to the same secondary school in town, but my parents sent me to one elsewhere (where my brother was), so I missed out on those roots completely.

I think that’s why my heart still yearns for Yorkshire, not so much for the place itself, but for the feeling of the village life I had as a little girl. Knowing everyone, feeling safe, being part of something that felt like family.

Now I live in a beautiful little cattle market town near Brighton, it’s pretty, quirky, and honestly quite idyllic.
We’ve got a lovely house on a quiet street that we’ve poured a lot of love into. We’ve worked hard to make it a warm home for our children.
We’re also really active in our community: toddler groups, school events, Beavers, playdates, parties, all the things that build friendships and make life feel full, esp' for the kiddies.
Since we don’t have much extended family, we try to build that sense of belonging ourselves.

The problem is, after a surprise third child, we’ve outgrown our home. We need a bigger house and garden, but our area is incredibly expensive.

What we’d love is to find a smaller, friendlier place where we can put down strong roots, somewhere our children can always call home. A place where, long after we’re gone, they’ll still have strong connections and people who know them. That’s something I don't feel I have, and it hits me hard sometimes. So I feel it's so important to build this for my children.

We’d also love to be somewhere a bit more balanced, where we can meet more like-minded people. Right now, it feels like most people around us are either extremely wealthy or really struggling, and there’s not much middle ground.

Maybe my idea of utopia is a fantasy, and that's the harsh reality, but I guess, 'if you don't ask, you don't get'

Sorry this turned into a bit of an essay - it’s just not easy to explain any shorter!

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Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:34

JillMW · 09/10/2025 14:04

I have to go to Malton fairly often. I find it quite depressing. Some of the cafes and restaurants are very down at heel. A lot of charity shops. Very dirty swimming pool. A nice little cinema but otherwise I would have thought much worse than the villages around Lewes.
i am not certain though if your post is genuine. It was your comment that Wetherby is near to Beverley, it must be around 60/70 miles depending which sides and takes a fair time to drive between the two. Although maybe you just meant near as opposed to where you are now?

It is genuine! I actually thought it was about 25 miles away too… doh!

Thanks so much for the heads up about Malton. We’re firmly crossing it off the list. With three little ones and busy jobs, it’s so hard to visit everywhere ourselves, so hearing everyone’s personal experiences of places on our hit list is hugely appreciated. Thank you!

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Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:37

Wetunderfoot · 09/10/2025 14:18

What classes a village these days? We have No bus service at all. No school, no visible police service, no shops. We have a church, a run down village hall and a pub that has a 1star hygiene rating (yum) and many huge pot holes.
Filling up with people who move here then destroy the house they bought and build a new one.
Good luck with our kids ever being able to afford to live where they grew up.
oops rant over 😬

That's really sad to hear @Wetunderfoot . Maybe you guys could do with a move too?!! x

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Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:44

PixellatedPixie · 09/10/2025 08:08

I don’t understand how your catchment area isn’t a bit smaller? Don’t you have to consider being close to anyone else at all? I am a foreigner and so moved here only knowing one cousin and about three other friends from my original country but even I had a narrower area in which to look!

If I’m honest, I do have my preferred areas - eg. the West Country (Gloustershire, Somerset, Devon, Dorset). I love the charm, the rolling hills, and those slightly alternative vibes that run through so many of the towns.

That said, with three young kids and busy jobs, we don’t have much time (or energy!) to go exploring the rest of the country. So I thought I’d throw the curtains wide open to Mumsnet and see what people's lived experiences are. We're very open to try new areas and very grateful to hear about them!

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Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 09/10/2025 16:44

Ripley and Send near Guildford are lovely- all the small villages round there are beautiful and near to Epsom/Guildford/Dorking.Not sure your budget would stretch though. Lostwithiel in Cornwall has a proper community and is 'posh'. You'd get a lot for your money.

Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:46

Toddlerteaplease · 09/10/2025 10:38

My sister used to live in Grasmere, her friend had young children there. And I always thought it would be a wonderful place to raise a family.

I remember visiting as a child! It's a lovely place. I'll have a further look into it! Thank you for the idea :)

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Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:49

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:46

I remember visiting as a child! It's a lovely place. I'll have a further look into it! Thank you for the idea :)

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Wow, there are some really beautiful houses in budget: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157305035#/?channel=RES_BUY

Check out this 6 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove

6 bedroom detached house for sale in Haven Cottage, Rydal Road, Ambleside, LA22 9AY, LA22 for £850,000. Marketed by AshdownJones, The Lakes and Lune Valley

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157305035#/?channel=RES_BUY

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Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 16:51

wizzler · 09/10/2025 09:52

Take a look at Elvington, or Sutton on Derwent

We did a drive around York earlier in the yr. We had a village called 'Escrick' on our hit list which I believe is close to Elvington. Elvington looks lovely! We'll check it out when we're up at Christmas! - and SoD :) Thanks.

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Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 17:10

Misspacorabanne · 08/10/2025 21:11

I grew up in a village and although I enjoyed my childhood my teen years weren’t great! We were close to a city (25 mins) and I remember thinking I wish I lived there, much more to do! Even though we were close to the city, public transport wasnt very good, and my parents couldn’t always give lifts. Kids don’t always see the beauty in a village, we certainly didn’t at the time. I moved away to a small town in my 20s, and now when I go back to the village to see family and old friends I can really see the beauty and appreciate it so much more, in terms of views, countryside, simple living!
When I first moved to a town (outskirts) I hated it, it felt too big and missed the community feel of the village, I loved that everyone knows everyone, and look out for one another in most cases. I loved going to the pubs and seeing people I knew and it was lovely and sociable, but in reality I’d agree with a previous poster they don’t always welcome newcomers.
Despite all this I didn’t move back, I stayed in the town and now I think it’s the best of both worlds, country side walks a stones through away and plenty to do, and a village would now feel too small for me, I never thought I’d say that.

Hearing my family talk about life back in the village and all the local gossip,i actually quite like that I know less people, I know enough, but not everyone! That suits me! Hope you find your happy place!

It sounds similar'ish to my experience, but I was uprooted from my village at 12 and moved to an area where I knew no one and didn't get many opportunities in my teenage yrs to make connections as I attended a school out of the new area.

I’m sure my children will be off adventuring too once they’re old enough to fly the nest (as I did!), but I really want them to have that sense of belonging - a place they can always dip back into, just like you do :)
I don't have this and it really saddens me. More and more since I had children.

I appreciate your viewpoint :)

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PermanentTemporary · 09/10/2025 17:13

Blimey. If I’m honest, in your situation I wouldn’t move. I know it’s hard raising children in a small house - I upsized when ds was 18. Are you struggling with 2 bedrooms? I guess that could be worth it. But if you either have or could somehow create a 3rd bedroom, I would probably stay where you are happy and upsize later.

Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 17:28

Crikeyalmighty · 08/10/2025 13:03

I think Box in wiltshire is like this ( home of Peter Gabriel’s studio Real world) Lovely stone houses, 2 decent shops, a post office, 2 nice cafes, 2 gastro pubs and a boozers pub , an indian restaurant , a beautiful primary school, a petrol station with a good 24 hour minimart that sells ‘cook’ - 2 miles to Corsham one way, 6 mines to Bath the other way. Cottages, flats, big detached houses , and lots in between . Lovely countryside surrounding too .sociable place, village hall has film nights and other stuff too .

Edited

I love Bath! I actually lived just off Walcot Street for a few months (years ago!), I remember a really fun community-run pub, The Bell?
Anyway, I’m digressing, lol. Box looks wonderful! I’ve just had a look on Rightmove and there are some beautiful houses. I do love a bit of 'Cooks' too :)

Did you mention Bradford upon Avon in a separate post? I’m really drawn to that area as well, I’ll be doing a proper deep dive later on! Thanks so much for sharing all this fab info! x

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Percypigsyumyum · 09/10/2025 17:32

Does UK count Northern Ireland? I live on the North Coast of NI (think Giants Causeway) and it’s a beautiful part of the world.
Still have a grammar system and in this part we have excellent secondary schools. Pace of life is definitely a bit slower and more relaxed here too xx

Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 17:39

Hiptothisjive · 08/10/2025 13:19

You had me until a ‘proper childhood’. Lots of kids have a proper and amazing childhood and don’t live in a village. Your unrealistic romantic views are straight out of a novel.

My in laws live in a nice village but have to drive an hour every day to take their kids to senior school and the kids absolutely hate it. Their friends aren’t really around and they can’t go anywhere.

Hi @Hiptothisjive Agreed. I used the wrong expression and I can't find a way to edit my post and change it.

I’m not looking for a village for romantic reasons, I realise I may have made it sound that way in my post! It’s really about giving my children deep roots in a smaller community, somewhere more connected than a big town. Neither my husband nor I have many roots to offer them, and my biggest fear is that one day we’ll be gone and they won’t feel connected to anywhere. That thought genuinely saddens me.

We’d be very careful about the area we choose to move to, which is why I’m asking for advice. Things like proximity to their future secondary school are really important to us. We just want to make this rollercoaster of life as smooth, happy, and comfortable for them as we possibly can. ✌

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Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 17:40

Percypigsyumyum · 09/10/2025 17:32

Does UK count Northern Ireland? I live on the North Coast of NI (think Giants Causeway) and it’s a beautiful part of the world.
Still have a grammar system and in this part we have excellent secondary schools. Pace of life is definitely a bit slower and more relaxed here too xx

Sounds great! Could you recommend a particular (large) village to explore? :)

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Crikeyalmighty · 09/10/2025 17:43

@flutterbye88 the Bell is still there !! - the good thing about Box is it is a beautiful village but has facilities but you are only 15 mins drive into Bath ( or a regular bus route too) and only 5 mins drive into Corsham which is also lovely and got some nice upmarket facilities these days , we know a lot of lovely people in Box, it has a lot of creatives and plenty of kids too -

yes Bradford on Avon is lovely too - that’s bigger , more small town but on train to Bath ( 15 minutes ) and whilst rubbish for clothes or shoes etc , has nice cafes, indie shops, butchers, some lovely restaurants , canal, good park and swimming pool - it’s more small town, giant village feel!! Cheaper than Bath too - ( more like same money as Box.

if you come to Box , go for breakfast on Toast - it’s tucked away but isa smashing little community cafe with books and toys for little ones.

AgnesMcDoo · 09/10/2025 17:43

Moffat in Dumfriesshire

Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 17:51

MostlyGhostly · 09/10/2025 14:14

Why on earth don’t you go back to Yorkshire? Loads of pretty villages, cheaper than the South and you’ll be seen as less of an incomer as a local-ish lass.

Ive found that some of my friends have settled in villages near to University towns. The local unis attract more diverse and non- local residents, making it easier to get involved and integrate.

As an aside, be prepared for your children to not fit in to your idyllic plans and appreciate your efforts to find a perfect family home. I grew up in the countryside in a pretty village next to a market town and a large forest. I spent my early childhood bored out of my mind riding my bike round the country lanes where boy racers were frequently ragging their dad’s cars round blind bends, and my teens bunking off school and getting pissed and smoking in fields with local friends. I got out as soon as I could, going to uni and bringing my children up in a city where they were able to get public transport to persue safer activities such as cinema, shopping malls and bowling. They thank me for it regularly.

Lol, I’m starting to feel like this is the general consensus!
I’m a big fan of university towns for exactly this reason. Maybe the answer is a village or small town on a train line into a university city.
Now the question is - which city, and which village…? x

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dynamiccactus · 09/10/2025 17:54

Cranleigh? You probably need more budget though.

Tenterden in Kent?

Neither have railway stations though (well, Tenterden has a steam railway) and that's always a must for me for transport reasons.

I think your kids would probably prefer something to do and decent transport links than "connections". In fact they may not want to live somewhere where everyone knows them, it can be quite claustrophobic. A smaller town might be better than a village - maybe somewhere like Bridport in Dorset but it's a bit isolated (no railway station) and used to be the sort of place where the cafes said no children. Or Totnes in Devon which does have decent transport links. The problem is that that part of Devon is being built over.

Personally I would choose a small city. You can make loads of friends and be part of a community but there is plenty to do and decent transport links. Worcester?

Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 17:56

Crikeyalmighty · 09/10/2025 17:43

@flutterbye88 the Bell is still there !! - the good thing about Box is it is a beautiful village but has facilities but you are only 15 mins drive into Bath ( or a regular bus route too) and only 5 mins drive into Corsham which is also lovely and got some nice upmarket facilities these days , we know a lot of lovely people in Box, it has a lot of creatives and plenty of kids too -

yes Bradford on Avon is lovely too - that’s bigger , more small town but on train to Bath ( 15 minutes ) and whilst rubbish for clothes or shoes etc , has nice cafes, indie shops, butchers, some lovely restaurants , canal, good park and swimming pool - it’s more small town, giant village feel!! Cheaper than Bath too - ( more like same money as Box.

if you come to Box , go for breakfast on Toast - it’s tucked away but isa smashing little community cafe with books and toys for little ones.

Thanks! It really does sound right up our street.
I'm going to plan a weekend Christmas break! we'll be squeezing in a few drinks in The Bell for old times' sake:)

We really appreciate all the info!! xx

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dynamiccactus · 09/10/2025 17:56

Or Salisbury? You might get a decent house there for your budget.

I love York but I'd want a period house near the centre and I can't afford that!

StewkeyBlue · 09/10/2025 17:58

Brockham in Surrey, near Box Hill

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150158660#/?channel=RES_BUY

Buses to Dorking (and cycling distance) , then trains to London. Thriving pub, great village shop and school, not a holiday place so not full of second homes / AirBnB . Fantastic bonfire and firework event every year.

Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove

4 bedroom detached house for sale in Middle Street, Strood Green, Brockham, RH3 for £740,000. Marketed by Seymours Estate Agents, Dorking

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150158660#/?channel=RES_BUY

dynamiccactus · 09/10/2025 18:01

Total left field idea but Chepstow. It reminded me a bit of Lewes, it has a railway station and is relatively near to Bristol and Cardiff.

dynamiccactus · 09/10/2025 18:02

Also if you do choose a village never rely on the village shop, they can close very easily.

Original poster

flutterbye88 · 09/10/2025 18:06

dynamiccactus · 09/10/2025 17:54

Cranleigh? You probably need more budget though.

Tenterden in Kent?

Neither have railway stations though (well, Tenterden has a steam railway) and that's always a must for me for transport reasons.

I think your kids would probably prefer something to do and decent transport links than "connections". In fact they may not want to live somewhere where everyone knows them, it can be quite claustrophobic. A smaller town might be better than a village - maybe somewhere like Bridport in Dorset but it's a bit isolated (no railway station) and used to be the sort of place where the cafes said no children. Or Totnes in Devon which does have decent transport links. The problem is that that part of Devon is being built over.

Personally I would choose a small city. You can make loads of friends and be part of a community but there is plenty to do and decent transport links. Worcester?

Honestly, we’re a pretty fun family, I feel like my kids will never be short of things to do! We’d only consider a village or small town that’s connected to some action, because we thrive on fun. I run an events company, so we all get involved in lots of events and festivals. One's they'd love as teens too.

At the same time, I really want them to have connections and a sense of belonging for when they’re older and we’re gone. Somewhere to call home, a network of people who know them - even if they choose to live far away from it when they fly the nest.
Does that make sense? Or am I completely bonkers, lol? I’m questioning myself now. Maybe it’s just something I hold onto because I don’t have it myself. I guess you only really feel the need for belonging when you’ve felt its absence?

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Melonmango70 · 09/10/2025 18:07

Crikeyalmighty · 08/10/2025 13:03

I think Box in wiltshire is like this ( home of Peter Gabriel’s studio Real world) Lovely stone houses, 2 decent shops, a post office, 2 nice cafes, 2 gastro pubs and a boozers pub , an indian restaurant , a beautiful primary school, a petrol station with a good 24 hour minimart that sells ‘cook’ - 2 miles to Corsham one way, 6 mines to Bath the other way. Cottages, flats, big detached houses , and lots in between . Lovely countryside surrounding too .sociable place, village hall has film nights and other stuff too .

Edited

I have a friend who lives in Box and she said pretty much the same as you :)