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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Biggest Shithole in the UK

513 replies

DickieDonkey · 10/08/2019 20:23

Am retiring soon so want to relocate away from the rat race but everywhere I consider away from the Home Counties seems to be regarded as a dump. Money goes further away from the SE, I thought about Norfolk which is within reasonable distance of civilisation but my friends think that it is backwards/racist. Is it true that Lincs/Cambs/Norfolk is best avoided. AIBU to move?

OP posts:
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8
Freefrops · 11/08/2019 22:58

You need to go here OP

Lind57 · 11/08/2019 23:19

Move to Glasgow, OP. It has culture, cafes, parks...and I can guarantee they'll find you hilarious.

MeltingSugs · 11/08/2019 23:29

I've lived in Lincolnshire, Essex and Suffolk. Suffolk is the nicest by far. Didn't like Essex at all. Lincolnshire is lovey IMO but very cut off and not the place to be if you are a youngster. I'm not a fan of Ipswich, but mid and west Suffolk in particular are very nice.

gamerchick · 11/08/2019 23:37

I would avoid anywhere in the North. We are very backward and don’t have electricity yet

You know, there are actually people who have never been outside of London who truly believe we don't have electricity yet... Or proper roads.

People are thick.

Ivy40 · 11/08/2019 23:57

@gamerchick

By eck, have they never watched Corrie?

gamerchick · 12/08/2019 00:27

There's a bit more north than Corrie land man Grin

KUGA · 12/08/2019 07:22

I am really sorry to have read that OoohMasala.
I suppose there`s good and bad everywhere.
I do agree with you though,some elderly people in Sutton Colfield have issues with outsiders.
I had words with what was then my new neighbours,they had a problem with a young family moving into a nice area..
Live and let live is my motto.

OhtheHillsareAlive · 12/08/2019 07:56

You know, there are actually people who have never been outside of London who truly believe we don't have electricity yet... Or proper roads

But we don't @gamerchick

just keep on letting them think this as it keeps such undesirables out of the North

PancakeAndKeith · 12/08/2019 09:18

By eck, have they never watched Corrie?

I used to work with a young woman in Guildford. She had never been north of the Thames.
She loved soaps and watched all of them.

One day it emerged that she had never heard of Manchester. She thought Manchester was an area of London.

pantherrose · 12/08/2019 09:34

I would strongly recommend visting Lincoln as I think you will be very pleasantly surprised. It's a university and cathedral city and 'Uphill Lincoln' is both elegant and charming. The cathedral is simply outstanding, the castle ( also uphill) hosts many cultural events and concerts throughout the year (including the internationally renowned Christmas Market -very dickensian). Add to that the marina and Brayford pool with its waterside restaurants, cafes and excellent shopping in the city centre. Some of the surrounding villages are also very pretty, with easy access to the city centre. It's been a well kept secret and I would suggest that your friends need to get out more! My family are originally from North London and I was brought up in St Albans although have lived abroad for many years now. Friends and family that moved to Lincoln have said that they wished they'd done it years ago and have zero regrets about leaving the home counties! Good luck with your search, maybe renting would be wise before you commit?

LadyFlumpalot · 12/08/2019 10:19

Dorset is hideous, OP, absolute pigsty of a place. I'd stay well away, for your own well being. Who would ever want to live in a place with air you can breathe, houses you can afford, friendly people you can trust and the most breathtaking scenery?

Biggest Shithole in the UK
Biggest Shithole in the UK
Oliversmumsarmy · 12/08/2019 10:19

Some of the areas are like Beirut

Isn't Beirut really nice was actually looking at it as a holiday destination.

Carol44 · 12/08/2019 17:55

MrsPworkingmummy
I live in South Northumberland/North Tyneside and areas like Whitley Bay and Tynemouth are INCREDIBLY desirable. We have seen a huge increase in the amount of retired couples moving up here from down south, to benefit from the glorious scenery, friendly people, excellent hospitals yet much cheaper housing.

Shhh don't tell them!!

manicmij · 12/08/2019 18:05

Everyone who has offered their opinion to you on these places obviously hasn't loved in any of them. I holiday in a couple of them and find them open and friendly. Someone suggested Scotland. If you go anywhere north of Perth you will think you are still in the south. Everywhere you go you hear loads of southern accents; businesses, shops, cafes, medical so you may well feel at home apart from the midges and the weather.

garbagegirl · 12/08/2019 18:05

Speaking as representative for cambs, We have fulfilled our ignorant retiree quota for the year and respectfully request that you try somewhere naice. Like Somerset.

winkywonky · 12/08/2019 18:05

What a bloody snob you and your friends are. London is a dump, Scotland is fabulous so please do not come here and infect us with the attitude. Thank you kindly

MarrymeTomHardy · 12/08/2019 18:07

@LadyFlumpalot apart from the bloody traffic! I live in Dorset & refuse to move to Surrey (where I work) as the shitty commute is preferrable Grin

angelfacecuti75 · 12/08/2019 18:13

No but definitely avoid the medway area in Kent its not all bad but it's not all good either. I've got friends in Norfolk and have visited for holidays and it's very pretty , and very rural in places with a long journey to nearest amenities. But overall ok.

QualCheckBot · 12/08/2019 18:13

Pancakes I used to work with a young woman in Guildford. She had never been north of the Thames. She loved soaps and watched all of them. One day it emerged that she had never heard of Manchester. She thought Manchester was an area of London.

To be fair, I once watched a tv programme about men from Glasgow who had never held down a job. Two of them said they had never been out of Glasgow and were taken on a trip to Aberfoyle and were raving about the space!

And I once sat behind a loud family on a plane from Aberdeen to Stansted I think it was. They were talking about how they were taking the middle passenger, their adult daughter, on the plane only to come straight back again, as they had no intention of staying in "that place", but wanted their daughter to say she had been to London!

Do you think the OP ever goes on holiday?

Fatasfooook · 12/08/2019 18:14

Stay where you are, it’s good to keep all the eejits in the same place

bristolone · 12/08/2019 18:22

I've overheard more racism in South East London than in the rural area I grew up in (South West).

There are some beautiful parts of the South West. Go and check them out.

managedmis · 12/08/2019 18:24

Has Burnley been mentioned? I don't have time to RTFT and all that

Cheers in advance

TopBitchoftheWitches · 12/08/2019 18:25

Cambs is well posh !

Ilovelblue · 12/08/2019 18:28

I am Lancashire born and bred. Apparently if Her Majesty was plain old Mrs Windsor it is said she would want to live in Lancashire, in the Trough of Bowland. If it's good enough for her, I imagine it would be good enough for you OP.

With such a blinkered view you have of the UK away from the Home Counties, I don't think we'd want you in Lancashire really.

PortiaCastis · 12/08/2019 18:34

I'm a born and bred Cornish Lizard don't come here as we sometimes change into humans