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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to hate living in Coventry?

225 replies

Destinysdaughter · 08/02/2017 18:36

Inspired by the I hate living in Manchester thread, I lived in London for many years but moved back here as I had been made redundant and my dad had severe dementia and was going blind so I moved back home to look after him. He's now in a home because after 2 years, I couldn't cope with it any more. So I'm now living in a city I really do not enjoy being in. I find many people to be both narrow minded and overtly racist, there's virtually nothing going on artistically or culturally, the bars and restaurants are shit and its just dull dull dull. I feel like I'm just biding my time waiting to die here.

I miss London so much but I could never afford to live there now as its got so ridiculously expensive. I used to go back a lot but I've stopped as it made me feel too depressed. The job opportunities are v poor here in comparison ( used to work as a trainer for a charity ) and am struggling to find any meaningful, well paid work. Final moan, there's a real lack of decent, interesting, cultured men up here, so haven't met many guys on my wavelength. In London I dated men who were journalists, lawyers, architects, writers etc but up here most pp seem to work in the motor industry and I just have nothing in common with them!

Only good things about being here is that drinks are cheaper, air is cleaner and its an easy city to get out of!

OP posts:
littlepeas · 08/02/2017 20:01

Move to Warwick, Leamington or Kenilworth.

Mrscaindingle · 08/02/2017 20:06

Tinkly it was Busters night club with the fake rock walls which used to get a bit slippery when it got too hot Grin.

I lived for the Dog and Trumpet in the 80's did go to Browns as well and the Hope and Anchor sometimes on Fridays

I grew up in Coventry and had a great time but moved away age 21 and now go back only occasionally to see friends. I think I would find it very limiting to live there and my friends have always moaned about how the lack of decent venues for night life.

Op YANBU

Bedsheets4knickers · 08/02/2017 20:06

If you hate it you hate it , I'm Coventry born and bread . Moved away for work . I still call it home .. I'd never say a bad thing about it . It was once a very great city .

bunnylove99 · 08/02/2017 20:07

I've never liked the idea of being sent to Coventry, but CovtilIdie, your list makes me think it might be ok..

Destinysdaughter · 08/02/2017 20:35

Sadly, the Dog and Trumpet, Hope and Anchor and Browns don't exist any more! Yes, it's even worse
than in the eighties!

OP posts:
alpacawhacker · 08/02/2017 20:38

I moved here from Wiltshire fifteen years ago. The plan was to have been to move back once MIL is no longer with us, however, now I don't think I can ever go back!

Reasons why I don't want to go back;

  1. There's only one road and there's usually a tractor on it (seriously, it takes so long to get anywhere!)
  2. It's a local place for local people, especially the pubs and there's nothing else to do.
  3. To do anything interesting you have to travel a long way, which takes a LOOONG time. (See point no 1 above.)
  4. There is one supermarket. I think it closes at ten.
  5. Bin collections are fortnightly.
  6. Poor access to healthcare. Lots of travelling, again. Can't get NHS dentist.
  7. No jobs!
  8. It's very expensive to live there compared to here.
  9. Limited opportunities and choices for education.

By comparison, Coventry has,

  1. Good road links and roads in the city - it's very quick to get around.
  2. Pubs, clubs, restaurants, bars, theatres, sports facilities, cinemas!
  3. Other interesting things to do which are within easy striking distance.
  4. Every supermarket known to man, some of them open 24 hours, can access pharmacy till midnight etc.
  5. Weekly bin collections still, thank god.
  6. A GP I can get an appointment with when I need one, big hospital a few miles away (ok it's a nightmare to park at, but at least I don't have to drive 40 miles to it and then have a nightmare parking like my mum had to when being treated for cancer), walk in centre, never had a problem getting an NHS dentist.
  7. There are jobs, even if they are all in the motor industry!
  8. Cost of living is not high.
  9. Colleges and universities within a reasonable travelling distance.

There is a lot to like about Coventry as far as I'm concerned!

londonrach · 08/02/2017 20:39

Not far myself. There are other mntters near by! Agree about coverty the ring road is scary!!! A free for all at the junctions. I dont miss london. I love this area. As others have said plenty to do.

Destinysdaughter · 08/02/2017 20:42

Re pp being racist, these are some things pp have said:

I left London as it was full of foreigners

When I told a guy I was going travelling in India, he said, what do you want to go there
for? It's dirty, disease ridden and full of pakis and Indians!

OP posts:
Teacupinastorm · 08/02/2017 20:46

I love Coventry. No it's not perfect, but its home for me. I think there's some great improvements being made actually.

Sundaysmumisfullofwine · 08/02/2017 20:48

It's nicer than it was when I left 19 years ago. That's not saying much though.

Destinysdaughter · 08/02/2017 20:49

Also after 7pm there is only one bus an hour so makes going out at night difficult. Truth is, I spent m whole life trying to escape this place, did not move back by choice and just really miss London but can't afford to live there now so feel stuck and lonely

OP posts:
Iwanttobeanonymous · 08/02/2017 21:02

There is lots going on here. You just have to look.
Ok there arent any good shops unless you like poundland, but Solihull and Birmingham are easy to get to. But there are plenty of bars and restaurants.

As for racism. I dont think it is worse than anywhere else.

alpacawhacker · 08/02/2017 21:03

I suppose I can understand you feeling that way Destinys, and that it doesn't compare to London. I expect it's how I would feel if I were forced back to Wiltshire, where I grew up.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 08/02/2017 21:04

The racist stuff is so sad, Coventry was the birthplace of Two Tone.

MrsCainDingle. Busters, thank you. Yes, loved the D&T. I was a grungy student though, not a local. I actually had the time of my life in Coventry.

alpacawhacker · 08/02/2017 21:06

Oh, I am another one that loves the ring road! It makes it so quick to get around the place. You just have to know what you're doing and on the junctions, if the other fella hesitates, be decisive! At least if you fail to come off it's not far to go round again for another try, haha!

DevelopingDetritus · 08/02/2017 21:12

Coventry is as good or bad as any other place. It's a state of mind, you might want to look at that.
I've been to London many times, great place, wouldn't want to live or work there though.

mrwalkensir · 08/02/2017 21:13

Another old Coventrian here... it was 'orrible in the 80s which is partly why it produced Two Tone etc. Eldest spent four years at Warwick recently and the place is definitely on the up at last

CovtilIdie · 08/02/2017 21:25

Waves at Beela!!

Op, if you really are unhappy and feel able to, then look at moving. There is so much choice avaliable, outside of Coventry and London!

alpacawhacker · 08/02/2017 21:26

It's true, other places are available!

Millybingbong · 08/02/2017 21:30

So easy to get to bham though so why don't you move there? Especially if your ddad is in a home so will not be affected by a move.

On another note I might be recruiting for a charity trainer in the near ish future - in driving distance of Coventry- if you want to ping me your CV Smile

Igottastartthinkingbee · 08/02/2017 21:31

Got to agree with most other pp. You hate Cov because it is pretty grim. Aside from the cathedral. I lived in Leamington/Warwick/Kenilworth for 10 years or so, still really miss the area.

owlmug · 08/02/2017 21:46

The vibe there reminds me of Milton Keynes for some reason, I personally wouldn't live in either but I know people who are very content living in Cov so it can't be all bad Smile

Betterfasterstronger · 08/02/2017 21:48

Are you really sure you couldn't afford to move back OP? Compromise on a small flat in London or even a house share if you would be happier there?

I've fairly recently moved from London to Leamington, and I miss London, even though Leamington has lovely bars and shops etc.

Anyone fancy a west maids mumsnet meet up?

ForalltheSaints · 08/02/2017 21:48

I have visited Coventry twice. Loved the Cathedral but the rest of the city was the typical motor industry place that has seen better days.

Careylisa · 08/02/2017 21:53

I don't know where in Coventry you live or what kind of company you keep, sounds awful! It's not like that where I am in Coventry. Think you're knocking around in the wrong crowds lady!