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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
DevelopingDetritus · 08/02/2017 21:59

The vibe there reminds me of Milton Keynes for some reason Around 600 years older though.

beela · 08/02/2017 22:05

Waves back at Covtilldie!

And at mrwalkensir Smile

EmeraldScorn · 08/02/2017 22:05

I find it hard to believe that there are no journalists or lawyers and that all the adult men work in the "motor industry".

You can't determine whether a person is "decent" and "interesting" based on their job!!

ivykaty44 · 08/02/2017 22:08

Better faster stronger what made you move to leam?

I'm not a fan of Coventry, and rarely go there, though am navigating the foleshill rd tomorrow on an errand..

DJKKSlider · 08/02/2017 22:09

I lived in Wood End for a while and Bell Green. Horrible places.
City centre wasn't particularly special either. I did like The Ricoh Tesco area though.

Hyperhypermum · 08/02/2017 22:13

Have family there. They live in Coundon, a pleasant suburb not far from open country. Used to visit loads when my nan was alive and used to want to live there! Went back recently and, although it's not bad, it ain't that great either and I wouldn't swap it for London.

The Specials wrote Ghost Town about Cov, a fact my cousin was strangely proud of!

5OBalesofHay · 08/02/2017 22:16

Well move then

whippetwoman · 08/02/2017 22:21

I work in Coventry and live in Kenilworth! Hello other local Mumsnetters.
I have to say I wouldn't live in Coventry but as people say, there are nice places nearby like Leamington, Warwick, Solihull or Stratford. I love the Warwickshire countryside and all the National Trust houses nearby, of which there are a plethora. Plus it's not too far to Compton Verney, a beautiful art gallery in the countryside. I moved to Leamington initially from London and hated it at first but fell in love with Warwickshire and will never move back. Still love to visit London though Smile

mrwalkensir · 08/02/2017 22:22

Covtilldie and Beela Grin I was a bit freaked out when the eldest did a concert in Queens Road Baptist Church - way too close for comfort!

bananamonkey · 08/02/2017 22:22

Couldn't wait to move away when I was 18, every time I go back it just seems more horrible and depressing despite all the money being spent, such a shame but there's no way I'd live there again. Not to single it out though, there are plenty of similar places in the U.K.

I can't believe Browns closed down, this shows the last time I had a night out there...

Fishcakey · 08/02/2017 22:23

Lived in Cheylesmore and Earlsdon. Would go back tomorrow. In fact I am going on Friday. Love it there.

Betterfasterstronger · 08/02/2017 22:37

Ivykaty - I moved to Leamington to be closer to family.

It's a good place to raise a family, I just miss my London friends more than London itself... I do visit London often and it's an easy day trip...

I'm slowly making friends here, but i commute and don't work locally, so work friendships are harder to pursue...

sonlypuppyfat · 08/02/2017 23:20

I live in a town near Coventry, and I worked in Coventry for 15 yrs I must say it's a shit hole and the people are on the whole, odd

SquidgeyMidgey · 09/02/2017 00:12

Another old Coventrian here Grin

I hit the ring road on my driving test, mid morning rush hour, and passed first time! But my dad kept taking me on suicide island (back in the days before it had traffic lights and lane markings) so I was well versed in that sort of thing!

I grew up in Tile Hill, and stayed in Cov for uni. Fondly remember the Dog & Trumpet, Campbell, Colosseum (arf), drunken paddling in the fountain by the Belgrade...

ConfusedCod · 09/02/2017 00:19

(Waves from Nuneaton)

I can see you from here...

Grin
SquidgeyMidgey · 09/02/2017 00:22

That said, I now live in a terribly boring niiice village in Warwickshire and when we visit family, friends, life in general, it does look tired in parts (doesn't any city though?). However, I miss city life and if/when we move I won't touch another village, I'm only in one now because DH already had a house here.

karmacoma1 · 09/02/2017 00:30

Have you been to Fargo, the Far Gosford street 'hub' yet?

It's a collection of independent businesses, like a craft bar, cafe book shop, vintage clothing etc - its a perfect example of Cov 'trying' to be a bit more diversive. Worth a visit.

As others have mentioned, you do have good links to leamington and Birmingham too.

I live here as it's DH's hometown. It's not perfect but I do feel it's improving.

IAmSashaFierce · 09/02/2017 00:37

YANBU. Not that I have anything against Coventry, I've never (thankfully it seems) been.

You live somewhere you hate, it doesn't matter that its coventry. You want to live in London and other people hate that. Doesn't matter if other people don't find the issues you do.

The crux of it is that there must be a middle ground between the place you hate and the place you love but can't afford.

Ultimately if you hate it, move or improve! If you have to stay, try and find things you like. Or find that middle ground and go there, otherwise as you say you will die there.

What about Bristol, Bath, Manchester, Winchester, Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham? Or somewhere you could commute to London from. St Albans? Have weekends away to different places in the UK to find somewhere you like?

Original poster
Destinysdaughter · 09/02/2017 00:40

Thanks for the replies, at least i didnt get a roasting like the op who had moved to Manchester! But i could relate to her as she hadnt moved there by choice, like me and so wasnt committed to the place. Another issue i have ( which is my own issue), is that, living in London i never needed to drive, but up here, it really restricts my life. Im terrified of learning, especially as i nesrly crashed a car into a lamppost whem my bf tried to teach me many years ago!

OP posts:
Wheatleyan · 09/02/2017 06:33

It's a great City, fantastic, fascinating history of adaptation and resilience - hence the Phoenix in the City Coat of Arms (Rising from the ashes). The thriving arts scene (not joking) is another huge plus as well.

The fact that 'Warwick' University was only named as such after growing from Canley Teacher training due to a matter of petty pride has really done the City a disservice over the years.

There are wonderful parks and Gardens (Coombe Abbey and the War Memorial Park to give two examples). As for racism, this is an interesting question when the C.O.V is concerned; it meant I grew up in a city where in my experience in the late 70's and 80's multiculturalism in all of it's best forms was right in front of you, Indian, Irish, Pakistani, 'West Indian', Scottish were all there and there is a very strong tradition of fighting against prejudice through 2-Tone and anti fascism.

As for schools, you have two of the best in the entire country right on your doorstep....

Bablake and Finham. Grin

Teacupinastorm · 09/02/2017 06:58

@owlmug I live in Coventry and work in Milton Keynes Grin must be something about the places!
Leamington is lovely, so many nice bars and restaurants.

alpacawhacker · 09/02/2017 07:03

Destiny, learn to drive, seriously! You won't regret it. Don't be put off by something that happened years ago. I learned at the age of nearly 40 and I was terrified to begin with but I had a great instructor and passed first time. If I can do it anyone can! A good instructor in a dual control car and you'll be fine.

ivykaty44 · 09/02/2017 07:06

better friends are a big part of making a place home

There are plenty of social clubs of all types in Leamington & Warwick, so it's easier to meet and make friends

DevelopingDetritus · 09/02/2017 07:07

I must say it's a shithole Or a shit attitude hmm.

Jeanstootight · 09/02/2017 07:31

I used to work there and occasionally visit for ikea go outdoors and Costco you're right the place is a shit hope. On the plus side if you need to be in the area you're surrounded by lovely villages and Warwick, leamingtin and Solihul that are within easy commenting distance when you need to get there.