Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Places to live in the UK

139 replies

Sylvaniannightmare · 20/06/2017 09:21

Currently living in a naice city in the SE and feel we don't fit with the crowd in our area at all. It's a predominantly wealthy mc class area and all the schools around here are really good. House prices are sky high, we were lucky to buy our house 12 year ago when the market wan't as developed and the area was more mixed.

Both dc at an outstanding local school. All sounds great in theory but we have found we don't really fit in with the people who live in this area.

It's all about house prices, competitive parenting competitive holidaying and activities.

30% of pupils in dc's are property millionaires. I am not at all a reverse snob but we simply don't fit in. We are not poor, dh and are both in professional jobs and probably 'mc' as well but our faces just don't fit around here.

We are a slightly artistic family, enjoying sports and outdoors life, camping, hiking etc. not exactly alternative but pretty down to earth and definitely not competitive or wanting to be part of the rat race.

So, after this slightly whinging bit, I wondered if IABU to ask which areas in the UK are nice, with good communities but where people don't live that mc competitive lifestyle?

I have friends in Brighton who like it there so that is one option but Brighton is also quite expensive. We both work from home a lot so commuting shouldn't be a problem at this point in time. I have heard that Exeter is nice and a bit alternative too.

Nice down to earth, diverse places with culture and access to the outdoors would be my dream. Any hope for that at all?

Thanks
OP posts:
Original poster
Sylvaniannightmare · 20/06/2017 13:37

FutureDays and MyBonnieLiesOverTheOcean would you say it's easy to integrate as newcomers in Exeter or Edinburgh? Also bearing in mind that dh is accented?

I have heard that Glasgow is a great place to live but have never visited before. My friend's brother relocated there from London recently and his dw and dc were warmly welcomed by the local community.

Stupidly I forgot to mention that DH has to travel a lot especially to Asia but also to the states on occasion. He travels 2-3 times month and we need to take proximity to an airport into account. Blush

Sweetpea302 re town and gown, that would definitely put me off, thanks for the hint though I'm sure some people have managed to settle nicely but I wouldn't like to risk walking into a similar situation as we are in now. Relocating would be a big deal and this is my first fact finding step MN did not disappoint Thanks.

OP posts:
fluffywhitekittens · 20/06/2017 13:38

Ely is not competitive parenting (any more than any other city) - although there may be more of that type of thing at the Private school ... :)
I agree that Norwich seems like a lovely place to live.

FoonaBaboona · 20/06/2017 13:41

What about somewhere around the New Forest. Hampshire isn't that expensive to live on the whole.
Close to Eastleigh Airport although I don't think they fly to Asia from there.

Decaffstilltastesweird · 20/06/2017 13:44

If you're considering Edinburgh, I've lived there and absolutely loved it. DH and I didn't have local accents and got on fine there. Did you say your DH is Italian? If so, there is a big Italian community in Edinburgh as I recall.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 20/06/2017 13:49

Yes huge Italian communities in Edinburgh and Glasgow, you could visit both cities in a weekend and see what you think. Glasgow probably ticks all the boxes, very cultured but down to earth which sounds what you meant you were looking for.

Original poster
Sylvaniannightmare · 20/06/2017 13:55

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve Would you say that Edinburgh is a little more 'precious' and competitive due to the fact that it is the capital city?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sylvaniannightmare · 20/06/2017 13:56

What I mean is do you think that parenting in Edinburgh is a little more 'precious' and competitive due to the fact that it is the capital city and might attract people who are aspirational?

OP posts:
FutureDays · 20/06/2017 14:01

I would say it is easy to intergrate into Exeter, I have quite a few colleagues from all over Europe and they seem to enjoy living in Exeter.

akkakk · 20/06/2017 14:04

Any area will be likely to have bits not to like, so it is a question of focusing on the main bits you want - Cotswolds could be really good - easy access to airports & London - plenty of rural or city living, lots of outdoors (children vanishing after school on bikes or horses / messing around in boats or swimming in the rivers etc.) - not hugely racially diverse, though pretty class diverse - if it wasn't for the airport I would suggest further North & West - Herefordshire / Cumbria / Northumberland / or even up into Norfolk & Suffolk

Original poster
Sylvaniannightmare · 20/06/2017 14:11

That sounds wonderful akkakk can you name any towns in the Cotswolds I could look at? Thanks

OP posts:
akkakk · 20/06/2017 14:19

Sure - depends though what you want (e.g. age of children for schools / preference over village or town or more remote...)

Cheltenham is the big town with a huge variety - but probably similar to London
Cirencester is very good
Lechlade & Fairford are smaller towns

further north:
Burton-on-the-water / Moreton-in-the-marsh / Stow-on-the-world
Stratford is another possibility

however if you want children outdoors a lot of the time then you need to consider the smaller towns / villages as there tends to be more use of the countryside that way...

if you can list rough price guide / age of children and type of school you want / any specific activities you like then I am sure lots of people can help...

Access to Heathrow is c. 1 hour from here

if you need commuting by train then Kemble / Didcot / Swindon / etc. tend to be the hubs - but people drive there from around the area

DJBaggySmalls · 20/06/2017 14:21

Cambridge is lovely but expensive and a nightmare for driving.
Durham keeps coming up on these threads. Its not expensive, its got beaches and countryside, and a lovely town.

TroysMammy · 20/06/2017 14:23

Swansea. Countryside to the right. Beaches to the left.

mintich · 20/06/2017 14:31

Glasgow! And huge Italian population there!

StillSmallVoice · 20/06/2017 14:34

What about Totnes? It is arty and a bit hippy and green. Don't nkow much about schools or house prices there though.

Margate has changed a lot. The Turner Contemporary art gallery has made a difference and although there are deprived parts it is relatively cheap for housing. On the downside it is a hotbed of UKIP support.

PineappleScrunchie · 20/06/2017 14:35

Cotswolds not in the least bit diverse and very mc.

CMOTDibbler · 20/06/2017 14:39

What I like about living in Worcs and travelling for work is that I can be through security in Birmingham airport in 45 minutes (really excellent for european travel, and they do have direct flights to some long haul destinations), and its 2 hours drive to either Heathrow or Manchester. Plus an easy drive to East Midlands or Bristol which sometimes suits me.
The cotswold rail line is slow, but cheap (£50 return to London as opposed to £115 from Birmingham international), but I do sometimes get the train to Heathrow.

flissfloss65 · 20/06/2017 14:43

If you stayed in SE Canterbury is a lovely was going city. Whitstable is great community.

milliemolliemou · 20/06/2017 14:44

OP I would have second, thirded and sixthed both Stroud and Norwich but your husband needs to be near an international airport for his Asian trips. Why don't you start from there and how far he's prepared to travel to get to said airport? Rightmove and other sites have school check lists as well.

Or just stay put and actively look for like-minded people. Local book club? historical societies/music groups etc? and ignore or involve the competitive parents ... though I know it's hard.

flissfloss65 · 20/06/2017 14:45

Easy going not was!

SandysMam · 20/06/2017 14:47

If you like Brighton, have you thought about Hastings? It gets a bad press but has had loads of regeneration and the old town area is lovely and all very arty. We saw Jude Law hanging out there a few weeks ago and are going to see the Quentin Blake exhibition (he lives there) at the Jerwood Gallery in the next few weeks. It has a lovely community feel and has loads of celebrations throughout the year, Mayday etc.
We often go for the weekend and only an hour and 20 on the train from London.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 20/06/2017 14:50

Hmmm, possibly but to be fair I only know a handful of people from Edinburgh, who are all lovely and not uppity at all BUT one is a teacher and has shared a few stories about competitive parentsGrin I like both cities, Edinburgh is just brilliant, a visit is worth while even if you don't move.

Fefifoefum · 20/06/2017 14:51

Exeter is loooovely, and Dartmoor/glorious beaches on your doorstep.
I live in a small seaside town half an hour from Exeter, both me and DH commute. But in exchange we have a large 3 bed with a sea view!
Don't worry about your husbands accent, especially in Exeter!

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 20/06/2017 14:52

I notice a pp mentioned York, I was there a month ago, it's really nice too. I wish I could move Envy

TheNaze73 · 20/06/2017 14:53

Buckhurst Hill in Essex, is where it's at Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread