Places to live in the UK

[Sylvaniannightmare]

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?

Cardiff! All the benefits of a capital city, but will feel cheap as chips compared to anything similar in the south of England. It's cultural, artsy, has loads of green space and beautiful parks, 25 mins from the beach, and really, really friendly. Also good schools. Roath is bohemian and a bit studenty, and pontcanna is upmarket and also rather boho. I'm from the south east, and it's so much more chill here.

I think you're being badly served by this thread OP, usually loads of people pop up to say Sheffield and I seem to be a lone voice here.

Absolutely Sheffield. It rocks. What could possibly go wrong?

I love it, but .... I'm a White Rose girl

I tend to think that in the catchment area of strong state schools in any UK city, there will be sharp-elbowed middle-class types and a lack of diversity, along with inflated house prices. Maybe you're better off seeking out likeminded people where you are? You could end up with the same issues elsewhere.

Ooh, fatherjemima you have made me miss Mill Road so much, and made me resent my own boring but much cheaper bit of the south east so much more!

We used to live off Mill Road in Cambridge and it was amazingly friendly.

Another vote here for Worcestershire.

For arty probably Worcester or West Malvern. Also fond of Vale of Evesham and pretty sure it's just been voted best place to live. (I disagree I think my side of the county is nicer but biased).

It's a quick whiz to Birmingham airport with the M5/M42.

However also seconding the Stroud recommendation as it's v arty and lovely (I know a lot of folk who live there, one who lives almost next door to Jamie Dornan in one of the outlying villages)!

We used to live off Mill Road in Cambridge and it was amazingly friendly

I can believe that, actually - I'd forgotten about the Mill Road area. It does have a very different feel from much of the rest of Cambridge.

Sorry Margaret!

Yes Worcestershire gorgeous too - Yorkshire (some bits nice but weather positively grim - rain and perishing winters)

Bristol if you want a bigger city - not a bad drive/train to Heathrow, lots of alternative things going on, and relatively easy to get to the Gower as well as Somerset for outdoor activities. If you want somewhere smaller, Frome is lovely and alternative and relatively easy to get to Heathrow. Wells has no train station, and is a nice place to retire to and Glastonbury also has no train station, but you really have to like crystals to live there.

Totnes (about 20 miles from Exeter) ticks your boxes too. It's well known for its bohemian lifestyle and there are the Torbay Grammar schools within travelling distance. Plenty of different nationalities,the only But is that it would be a good 3 to 4 hour commute to Heathrow.

I was going to suggest Hastings. It is changing in character, getting more arty, alternative types and there's loads going on. Great art gallery, too. I think it would be a very good time to buy, as house prices are set to go up as it gets more gentrified.

Mind you, Norwich and Bristol are both lovely cities. I also have a soft spot for Beverley and Falmouth, if you fancy somewhere a little smaller.

As am I Stevie

Exeter is awesome. So much going on for families and not crazy expensive to buy.

It's not a grammar school area.

We did live centrally & now about 5 miles out. Both are great.

Oh, airport not so good in Exeter! Although there is a 2 hour train to London.

Dartmouth is lovely, (Devon). Frome outside Bath is arty and cheaper than Bath itself.

Another vote for Bristol! I moved here 2 years ago and it's the best thing I ever did. Very relaxed, friendly, arty without being wanky, very diverse and integrated.

Don't move to Bath or the Costwolds, pretty but boring as shit and full of Tories.

I live in a lovely part of Cheshire and I might be the scruffiest person here but everyone is lovely and I feel quite at home. My sister lives in a nice area down south and has an Italian husband!

Italian you say? Come to south Wales, I think most families have at least one Italian relative! There is a long history of Italians settling here and despite what people say about anti english sentiment, I have always found it to be very welcoming.

Haste ye north of the border! Edinburgh is great, with some lovely family-friendly districts and lots going on - I moved up from the south-east about 16 years ago and felt at home instantly, would never move away again. If smaller towns are your thing, the borders are fantastic as a PP said. Try Selkirk or Duns for starters. If you want the buzz of big city life, then Glasgow might be for you.

I second all previous posters that have suggested Norwich. I've lived and worked in Norwich my whole life and wouldn't live anywhere else. I love it

Norwich is lovely. Just a brilliant compact safe beautiful place to be.

Another vote for Cardiff. It has everything!! Unlike many cities, it's pretty nice, small and manageable. Great choice of schools. Naice suburbs, the holy grail of which is probably Lisvane. Pontcanna is boho if a bit overpriced (imho). Roath is artsy. Canton has a lot to offer. There's loads of students. Links are good. Parks and public areas are unrivalled. There's great history. There's diversity. Shops are good, and all in one place. There's a great coastline. Loads of choirs!

It doesn't have the edge, quite, of Bristol or Brighton, but a great place, particularly for kids.

I'd love to join choir! Funny you mention it

Edinburgh
Glasgow
Cardiff
Norwich
Bristol
Exeter
York

Shall be my short list for further fact finding this has been spectacularly helpful! Very generous to share your thoughts!

Manchester! Really good mix of city life with countryside and hills on the north outskirts into Lancashire. Hugely multicultural city and community spirit here is really strong.
Amazing schools, colleges and universities. In terms of areas, there are the millionaire areas such as parts of alderley edge, hale, Worsley but then lots of middle of the road neighbourhoods like urmston sale norden prestwich milnrow timperley etc.

If you're looking more rural nearby the pennines/towards Halifax way is gorgeous and really affordable for houses. Also to the south towards Cheshire/Macclesfield very nice too but much flatter!

It's be a big move for you, but would be I imagine a lot cheaper than south England for housing. Lots of museums sports parks local activities etc. Lots of free activities on across the city in school holidays. Near to things like the Trafford centre if you're into shopping, Chester Zoo, Knowsley safari park, sea life centre Lego land etc. Blackpool cleveleys Southport and morecambe for a quick trip to the seaside. Lake district only a couple of hours or so away. Heaton Park is lovely in summer.

I love my city :)