To ask what it’s really like to live rurally?

[BuffaloCauliflower]

Currently holidaying in the Lake District and as usual wishing I could up sticks from London and move to somewhere beautiful and with real community. But having grown up on the edge of London I’m so used to a world where there’s buses every 10 minutes, 24 hour supermarkets 5 minutes away, lots of jobs, lots of schools, I know I really have no idea what it would be like to live in the countryside. I’m definitely in a nice, more affluent part of the countryside right now and there will be areas far more rural than this, so trying to think broadly, I know not everywhere will be the same.

What jobs do people do? Everyone surely can’t commute miles and miles to cities. Where I am now I’d guess a lot of farmers and a lot in hospitality, but that can’t be all. What’s the transport like? Does it matter? How do your kids get to see their friends when they don’t drive and everyone’s houses are so far apart? Can people move from the city and be happy, and accepted into small village communities?

A broad question I know but there’s such a range of places that will all be different, but would love the real story instead of just the ‘holiday’ view of the country.

Disclaimer: I’m aware as a born and bred Londoner my concept of what is rural might be really wrong, and that I also very likely have some rose tinted views of the countryside. I’m not trying to offend, so please be kind, I’m genuinely trying to learn!

Ace in the summer, got to make your own fun in the winter

Another Londoner placemarking here .

Also - what jobs do people do in the LD? When we visit, we are told that unemployment is high. Correct?

Appalling. Sodding. Broadband.

Also, mud, lots of mud. Garden muddy. Boots muddy. Car muddy. And dogs muddy muddy muddy . (Only at certain times of year but even so)

It's very peaceful usually. But everyone's got their nose in your business because there's nothing else to do. My friend lived in London for a while and found it so strange that he could walk for miles and no one would recognise him or really look at him whereas you can't do that for five minutes where we are.
Kids tend to rely on parents for lifts, or find the safest ways to walk if they can't get a lift. Then they get a job at 13/14 and save up all their money to get driving ASAP. Luckily most of us know someone who owns a field we can practice driving in before we turn 17 so that fewer lessons are needed.
Someone moving into the community can be accepted, we see it a lot where I am, but you have to make an effort to be a part of the community. I prefer to keep myself to myself and whilst I'll chat to the lady scanning my shopping or the person next to me at the bus stop I won't start these conversations and I don't really get involved in any events going on. If I did I'd have to start leaving for work earlier so that I could accommodate all the people stopping for a chat.
Another thing that can be awkward is I'm now at the age where all the people I went to school with are starting their careers and so I can't do things like pop into the pharmacy or go into a shop without someone knowing who I am and seeing what I'm buying. I'd rather some of them not know I've got infections or that I'm so poor I have to buy everything at the absolute cheapest I can find.

I've lived in both and rural is hard. You have to drive and I mean have to. Hardly any public transport if you are truly rural and if there is bad weather, you are stuffed unless you have a decent vehicle.

To go anywhere like a concert is costly as you have to stay overnight and plan travel.

I love country living. We're farmers, I also work part time in admin, it's a 15 minute drive to the small town where I work. The village where my kids school will be is a 10 minute drive away. It's a little village with one pub and a small village shop. When my kids are older I guess I'll drive them to see friends.

When my husband was younger he'd bike miles to his friends houses. Thankfully where I lived buses went past my house 4 times a day. But we both learned to drive as soon as possible.

It's 40min ute drive to the city. I go maybe 5/6 times a year to go shopping or to the cinema

I can't think we're missing out on anything. I love the peace and quiet. I love walking out of my house and going for walks with the dogs and kids and only seeing 1 or 2 cars

Oh and I live in a seaside area so plenty of jobs and things to do in the summer and then by October we're all jobless or on reduced hours unless lucky enough to work on minimum wage in a shop or office.

Judashascomeintosomemoney I’ve been to Glastonbury a few times and seem to adjust to the mud after a few days, so hopefully I’d be alright with that! I’ve noticed how well dressed everyone is for the weather here though, clothes for being actually outdoors instead of for rushing between a train and an office.

Mud, you need to be properly organised because going shopping is a 10 mile plus round trip, you are the kids' taxi... and tourists who can't drive (And definitely not reverse) on narrow roads or are gawping at the scenery will drive you insane when you're working!

Arse-end of nowhere. Looks beautiful but no practicality. Rains a lot.

I live in the Lake District. We've lived here a few years now. Moved up from just outside London. Used to holiday here and loved it and just decided to go for it. Yes you miss the big shopping centres,nightlife etc but you get used to that and realise there is more to life that wearing the latest fashion or having a designer handbag. I now find busy , crowded places horrible.

We moved from London to a market town of 40k pop. And I have never been happier. We were careful to choose a town with a mainline station and we’re also close to a motorway as we wanted to ensure good commuting links. I luckily got a great job with a local large employer, DP works in the next large town over.

This town has a useful range of shops, and several supermarkets. We’re close to a good city, both by train and road, but the countryside is right on our doorstep.

I absolutely love it. Before we bought, we were renting a 3 bed house with garden and off road parking for the same amount as our 1 bed flat in scary SE London borough with no garden or parking.

We’ve bought a car now as easier for visiting family etc, but we could get away with commuting by public transport. Own car worked out cheaper though.

I’ve made lots of friends here and I wholeheartedly recommend leaving London! Neither of us grew up up there though.

Depends how rural you mean! DH grew up with nothing in walking distance, not even a pub. Couldn't imagine having to get in your car for everything. Quiet, yes, but farm vehicles blocking the roads and often snowed/ flooded in. I swore I'd never live in the country!
But recently we moved from the middle of a city to a village a few miles outside - best of both worlds. Can be in the city in 15 mins but also have the countryside and another local town on our doorstep. It's far enough away that we do feel we live differently - not overlooked, lots of walks nearby. But it's not exactly remote and - importantly- there's a great community here with lots going on. So I like it, although wouldn't have appreciated it as much before kids!

Ocado deliver here, but not deliveroo. That's my benchmark!

We have small supermarkets near us, but for larger ones ( but still not huge ) we have to travel to Carlisle or Penrith both which are around a 60 mile round trip.

It is great. I would suffocate in a city.

Its gorgeous.
I commute approx 1hr to a city for work. Most people where I live commute at least that far.

I’m not bothered about shopping etc. We have lots of nice pubs and stunning scenery. Amazon and Ocado delivers so that’s all that matters.

I live in a hamlet of less than 100 houses and no facilities apart from a post box and church. Nearest shop is 8 miles by car to a market town and no takeaway deliveries. But you can get everything you need there (just no Sunday trading or late opening). We have good rail links to London and other cities though.

I live between farmland for miles and the coast. Of my group of friends there’s one who owns holiday parks along the coast, three are farmers (arable and one has a huge fruit farm), two are consultants who commute to the hospital in the nearest city about 40 mins away and almost all the others have some sort of job in the local school either as TAs, admin and two are teachers. Four of us (including me) have DHs working in IT so they travel all over rather than commuting to one location, also work from home.

Oh and I lived in East London and worked in the City of London til I had my first DD at 30. I loved it but I honestly cannot imagine ever going back to living in a big city ever again.

What jobs do people do? Everyone surely can’t commute miles and miles to cities.

Not in the LD, but yes, we do unfortunately.

I live in a nice part of th UK and we do get townsfolk moving here to follow the rural dream. What usually catches them out (and has them running back to the big smoke)is:

Lack of shops. None nearby and a limited choice further afield, no popping int multiple branches of Next or B&Q looking for something specific. No opportunity for recreational shopping nearby.
Long commute is inevitable, very limited professional level jobs
You can’t walk anywhere, to go to the shops or the park, you will need to drive there
you will likley need a car per adult in the household if they work or look after small children
Children and young teens need a taxi service to have much of a social life
Infrequent and expensive public transport
you will likley need to fund driving lessons and a car for older teens.
No activities like museums or parks nearby
Minimal or zero choice of schools
Limited choice of other services like dentists and doctors

Having said all that , I love it. And many people do manage to get used to all the downsides and enjoy the fantastic positives.

@Megan2018 do you mind me asking where you are?

In fact if anyone doesn’t mind inboxing and letting me know where the lovely places they live are that are still seemingly well connected that would be great!

I used to live on the edge of Dartmoor, worked in Exeter, your each way driving commute. Very vulnerable to bad weather and floods blocking the roads as you have to drive everywhere. Much stronger sense f community than where I am now (SE London zone 2). Lots of annoying tourists driving badly on single track roads in summer 😂 yes to shit broadband!
I fucking loved it but I ran away to be alone for a few years after a bad breakup so the isolation suited me.

It's expensive! You must run a car or two and have plenty of money for car repairs, upkeep, etc. Lots of driving. Boring as hell for teens. Homes in the Lake District sell for a lot, too.

@RevealTheLegend yes that makes sense. I’m not one for recreational shopping anyway, and buy online mostly when I am, but I’d probably need to get better at food shopping in one go.

Pros:
Quiet
Lovely walks nearby

Cons:
Nothing within walking distance (except the pub and, if you're lucky, a little shop)
No/reduced public transport

I'm about to move house from a little village to a larger town. I am looking forward to being able to walk to the shops, and as my kids get older, it will be nice for them to walk to friends' houses and to secondary school without me having to drive them everywhere.

Important to distinguish between living in a rural area that's just a short journey from a big town or city, and living in a remote area where your nearest city is over an hour away. I grew up in the latter sort of place and felt very isolated. Living in a village close to all the convenience of a city is the best of both worlds!

I lived in London for a few years and wouldn't do so again. But different strokes for different folks.