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!

When my parents bought furniture from IKEA, it was so far away they had to book a hotel over night.

I used to live in a reasonable sized town, then a village and now a very rural hamlet. It's a beautiful area and in the summer it's just lovely with lots going on in the surrounding area. I still struggle with winters though.

Our major towns are both about 20 miles away and there is a village sized town a couple of miles away which does the basics. Fortunately there is a pub down the road. Supermarkets deliver as do Amazon but forget Uber (or most other taxi firms) or take away delivery. Tips from me would be invest in good wellies/coats, have a car with four wheel drive, menu plan, get a freezer, lower your expectation of what classes as entertainment

Both me and DP mainly work from home with occasional trips into London. Broadband speeds are not great but good enough to do work and stream TV. Fibre will be here soon though.

We live in a small rural town on the Cotswolds edge and it's fantastic. Moved here from a big city last year, and haven't looked back. Dh commutes via local train station to Bristol in 30mins. We can drive to Bristol and Gloucester in 25 mins, and get to come back to our lovely peaceful town. The schools are great, and we do have a lovely little town centre with lots of shops. We've only been here a year and already know so many people, everyone is so friendly. Laying in bed at night hearing the stream, getting to walk out the front door and be surrounded by a choice of endless beautiful walks and countryside, and not being stuck in constant traffic makes the small sacrifices of driving 20 mins to the nearest shopping mall worth it. I know when the kids are older we will probably end up doing alot of ferrying them around, but happy to do that anyway, and the train routes are good. I'd look into rural towns/villages with good commuter links as that would make all the difference. X

used to live in a village with shop and school.
We moved to a bigger town.

You need a car to do every single little thing. Brownies, out for a drink, pint of milk after 5 pm, everything. All. The. Time.

Can't walk or cycle anywhere except the village as the roads are too dangerous and no pavements.

Broadband non existent.

Buses non existent

£30-£40 for a taxi back from local town. No supermarket/take away delivery.

Everyone knows everyone else's business.

Main road through village is a rat run, and more dangerous than the town we live in now.

Advantages - peace and quiet, kids can free roam the village (but only once you can trust them to stay one side of the road), nice countryside and walks.

Oh, and houses bloody expensive, we now live 12 miles away from that village. Our current 4 bed detached house is the same price as a 2 bed cottage in the village.

I lived in a large village growing up and it was good and bad. Good points with a lot of children the same age and safe ish community however when older and we wanted to go shopping the bus would be a nightmare, my parents were busy to take us normally. Also once at 18 if we wanted to go drinking we'd have to reply on very expensive taxis driving through rural locations. I live in a large town now near a railway stn but also near beautiful walks, best of both

I have to say though, it does depend on what you mean by rurally. To me, BambOO lives in a town. There is a huge difference between a small town with secondary school, a few shops and a pub and (critically) a train station, and an actual village with bugger all.

So, probably yes to the small town and no to the village!