To ask if you live in Belfast, do you like it?

[BeagBoo]

I'm from there but haven't lived there since a teenager. I've lived in London for my entire adult life but we will never be able to buy here, and we're just surviving really. Me and DH have been thinking of moving home with our DS (1). But I can't imagine living there. I hated growing up there and worry about raising a kid there.

But all my family live there and that would be nice, to be near them. I just struggle to visualise myself there. If you live there and like it, why? Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure what you're talking about Gonetoseeaman. Newtownabbey is only a couple of miles from Belfast city centre. It's a turn of phrase, to say 'we went into Belfast' - i.e. into Belfast City Centre. It's not as if it is 20 miles away.

I live in Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of Belfast, Gone. It's so close, in practically part of Belfast. My close friends and family live in Belfast. Is there any particular area you have a problem with or are you just narrow minded about all of Belfast?

Live in Lisburn, work in Belfast.

I've lived abroad and hated the idea of coming back, but......... The city has changed massively in the last 10 years, very much for the better. It's a city that has affordable housing, decent transport links and good schools. Plenty of festivals and cultural happenings. Yes norn irn still has a lot of Palatix, but on a day to day basis, it doesn't really impact.

It depends what you want out of a city I suppose.

My experience is of South, East and North. It's good that some people like it... But no, I will never be recommending it. The political thing is still much more of an issue than is nowadays PC to admit.

It also rains. A lot.

Hello Newtownabbeyers. I'm from the place with the castle

Yes, I like it. I've lived in North Belfast, West Belfast and now I live just outside it - like 10 mins outside. Public transport is absolutely woeful, I never get the weather thing - it's a bit more dull and damp but that's just the weather.

I'm English originally but have lived in northern ireland for the past 12 years.

There are so many positives I agree with the others who are also from newtownabbey we have the city centre on our doorsteps but also the stunning North Coast easily within reach plus 2 airports within a 20 minute drive.

The Quality of life is great, excellent food, it's cheaper to live here compared to England as the rates are less and no water charges yet anyway!! supposedly it ranks highly for bringing up children too with a generally good educational system

Yes it does feel about 10 years behind England it always has and it's taken me this long to understand the political system but I remain hopeful that we will progress to bring the laws here in line with the rest of the uk and indeed Europe

My mum's from Belfast. My brother now lives there ( no problems with his accent).

It is a beautiful city ( always trips me out a bit standing in the middle of a city and looking up to see mountains )

I found the people really friendly and it's a very child friendly place. I hate to whinge but it's fucking freezing.

Craig I have a castle too. Not sure if it is the same one!

I work in Belfast & live 40minutes away. Socialise with friends & as a family all the time in Belfast. So much to do & see.

But I don't know London to make the comparison.

If it wasn't for family & house prices I would live in Belfast in a heartbeat.

I love our wee country!!

BerylStreep a Normal castle built by John de Courcy?

Attempting to think of other interesting things in the town lots of hairdressers, a few bars, large Tesco, a duckpond, a leisure centre, a tank, a nautical themed play park annnnnd..Cyril the wee old man who picks up litter?

I live in Newtownabbey and work 20mins away in Belfast,all my family live in Belfast and I love it.There are lots of annoying things about it yes,but he good far outweighs the bad.I am just back from a truly wonderful day climbing a mountain and walking round a beautiful marina,and it was less than an hour on the road.Fabulous.

Well there's Belfast Castle, Stormont Castle & Carrickfergus Castle, although from your description of Cyril, it must be Carrickfergus castle!

Wow lots of Newtownabbey people,hi! We should have a meet up😀

I live in Belfast and love it.
I hate the stupid right wing politics and the religion in the state schools.
Such a lovely city though compared to the way it was 15 years ago.

I love it. I moved away in 1998 and moved back in 2008 when I had DS. There is so much to do. So far this year we have had the Science Festival, Children's Festival, Holi, Chinese New Year and Festival of Fools. That's on top of the year round stuff, zoo, museums, theatre, WW5 etc. Didn't go to any of the Cathedral Quarter or Imagine stuff. It's cheap and easy to get the
train to the gorgeous coast. Even cheaper and easier if you have a car.

Can you tell I'm making up for my own childhood in 70s Belfast?

Hi Newtownabbey people, there's a lot of us in here! Waves to PovertyPain, don't worry I'm not anyone's horrible neighbour afaik!

the buses are shite. and trains. but apart from that it's class

Originally from Bangor but lived in Belfast since uni (15 years) Love it, as others have said it has gone through a lot of change and YY to certain places having a continental feel. If you move to a MC area schools are very good (equivalent of OFSTED outstanding) and people will generally be more open minded. There has been a lot of cultural changes as the numbers of immigrants have dramatically increased which is great. I was driving on the Lisburn Road the other day and commented to DH that is feels more like London in terms of ethnic diversity. In my circle there is no talk of politics, nor does religion matter.

The big disadvantage I find is lack of direct flights. Lots of places only fly from London which puts the price up, although we have been going to Dublin as an alternative.

I'm half an hour away from Belfast in the town where I was born after 15 years living in Manchester. It's a culture shock coming home but so great, (apart from a higher percentage of backward attitudes but this is changing).

Dh gets the train to Belfast every day & we go to the beach or zoo or loads of other places at the weekend & it's so easy and we have so much beach per person & so many different beaches to go to. Shame it's not warmer tho

Wages are a lot lower & jobs scarcer but the quality of life makes up for it imo. I'm so much more relaxed here, even in Manchester it took at least half an hour to get everywhere & here I can be halfway across the country I'm that time!

I have family in Knocknagoney, Portavogie and Belfast, and my Mum is from Holywood.
I love it there, I fly in and feel like I'm home
I'd move there OP!

I hated it, I grew up in newtownbreda and prefer England, I go back on visits to family and can't imagine living there again.
I live in Manchester now and Dh and I considered Relocating back for a while when DD was a baby but we would be unlikely to find work there, DH works in finance and I'm a HCP.
Plus the religion and politics just annoy me, but I'm from a very religious family so maybe that clouds my view.

The politics is probably what puts me off the most. I went back at Christmas and my baby sister (well, 24) was beaten up for being a taig :(

Oh OP, I'm so sorry that happened to your sister. My brother was beaten up (many years ago) for the same reason. I wasn't living here at the time, but I was filled with fear and rage at the time.

I'm sorry about your brother :( It knocked my rose tinted view. Thank you everyone, am on my phone and its bedtime so can't reply fully.