To think that town/ city life is often healthier than rural life?

[BoogleMcGroogle]

I've just been speaking on the phone to a good friend who has just made the surprising move of leaving their big, beautiful 'forever home' in the rolling countryside and moving into an unremarkable bungalow on the edge of a large commuter town. They are so much happier and she was describing how their quality of life has improved. They are healthier as its now safe to walk wherever they like ( their dogs are fitter than ever), they have more time because of a shorter commute and less maintainence, they know and like their neighbours and have joined a local political campaign group, have more money ( only one car now), eat better because of the improved shopping options and their kids are finally able to learn independence now they can use buses and pavements. I am so pleased for them, as they weren't certain about this choice.

Similarly, when I visit London, I'm always struck by the older people, students and kids enjoying the cultural and sporting opportunities ( and cheap transport).

I'm not ignorant of the issues in urban environments, especially for some people. I worked for years in children's services in an inner London borough, although I'm not convinced the issues were less in the large shire county, where social isolation can be devastating.

AIBU to think that for many, if not most people, and especially older people age families the chances of enjoying a good quality of life are better in urban/ semi rural communities, rather than trying to live the rural dream?

I agree- I moved from London to live semi-rurally, and it's lovely to go for a walk in the rolling countryside, but you have to set time aside for it. You can't just build it into your routine, because there isn't anywhere to walk to! We can get one train per hour into the nearest city or small town, but there's a long walk either end, so it's not great for shopping or a day out with the kids. We do go into London a lot and I miss the choice of museums and galleries etc on the doorstep, but mostly I don't like being so tied to my car!

Absolutely. Live in the city and go to the countryside - so much easier than the other way around, and not having to run a car makes it more environmentally friendly too.

I live in the country and when I go for a walk it is because I am going for a walk! Not built into my day. I would have liked to have walked my children to school but it is eight miles away.

And not all countryside is created equal where walking is concerned - at our last house in the country you mostly had to drive somewhere in order to go for a walk.

Having said that, I do walk a great deal and I wouldn't want to live in a town but I think the OP has a point.

DP said that one day he’s like to retire to the countryside.I told him he’d be doing it alone. When I’m older I’ll want doctors, shops, cinemas etc nearby, not a long bus or car journey away. Besides, I grew up in the countryside and hated it.

Kalinka, couldn’t agree more! It always baffles me that people want to socially isolate themselves in their old age! Give me town life anyday!

Well, each to their own, but we live rurally and eat very healthily! Used to be home grown too at one time. We have just the same shopping options as a townie, just have to travel further for it. Why would dog walking be safer? I like to go on long walks here and never meet a soul. I used to live in London, and had a dog - I had some very definite unsafe moments walking after dark in those days. Also, the air quality is much better. I don't like breathing car fumes.

I’ve moved to a small town without great bus services after living in a bigger city and agree completely. As a disabled person who can’t drive so much better than living in the countryside where I grew up.

I think practically every point in your post can be countered with the opposite. Let’s take my fictional friends, the Smiths. They’ve moved from a cramped new-build estate near a busy railway line close to the city centre to a nice large-ish village in the north Midlands. The local primary school is good and not oversubscribed, there’s a GP surgery in the next village and they can get their shopping delivered from any of 3 supermarkets (and there’s a farm shop in the village). There’s an admittedly infrequent bus route to the nearest big city but it’s a small price to pay. There’s miles of bike routes in the area and great rock climbing, fishing and canoeing locally. There are scout and guide groups in the next village and the parents share lifts to and from these. There are two good pubs and social nights at the village hall, including luncheon club for the elderly and whist etc. It’s a fairly large village but everyone knows each other and and looks out for each other. The district nursing and health-visiting teams are good, and there’s a weekly playgroup in the church hall. I could go on, but really I think it’s six and two threes/horses for courses, or various other daft analogies 😆...you get my drift.

I’m not denying there are lots of villages that aren’t like this (I know this from bitter experience) but it would be silly to imagine that big-city/suburban living is the answer to all isolation and safety worries, surely?

“ They are healthier as its now safe to walk wherever they like”

Really surprised at this. Safer in their commuter town that the countryside? Presumably their commuter town is a nice one?

I’m sure I’ve seen research to back up your point about activity in terms of public transport in urban areas. However, I am much happier and healthier in my village than I ever was in London. The air is clean, the children have access to woods and lovely places to play and ride their bikes, we have a park 500m away and we’re on walking routes. We also have lovely pubs and a shop . Our walk to the local school involves going through a field of sheep to show that we are genuinely rural despite the facilities. We are also well connected. There is a frequent bus through the village and we are not that far away from our county town/city. Even then, we use our cars a lot. There are other villages I’ve seen without the same amenities that mean everything is a car journey away or they are situated on main roads where it isn’t safe. My lifestyle would be very different if we had to drive to a park or couldn’t walk to the pub.

Far too many variables to be able to say, not least regional differences.

I have lived in many different places - city and country were great both had varying opportunities as you say but both good.

Currently living in a medium sized town - big housing estate. I HATE it. There is no countryside to enjoy but equally it doesn’t have the benefits of a big city.

From personal experience city or country is great - in between not so much.

Depends on your priorities I guess.

I grew up in Devon in the middle of nowhere and had to drive to the nearest city.

I now live in a kind of town an hour train into London and can easily get to Heathrow and Gatwick. This suits me fine, there's lots of green places around.

I'm always puzzled by people who post on mumsnet who live in the middle of nowhere with no childcare options, no facilities, no nothing and I often struggle to understand why they would live there?

I agree. If I lived in the countryside I'd have to drive a car most days. Whereas I consider 2 miles through town on foot a quick trip.
We're away at the moment and there's no footpaths between villages. It's either car or a hair raising walk on a country road.

I love the idea of retiring and moving into London, there's so much to do.

Really surprised at this. Safer in their commuter town that the countryside? Presumably their commuter town is a nice one?

I imagine because it has pavements? Where I grew up there were no pavements and hedges forced you into the road with cars travelling at 40 mph+. Slightly safer on the single track roads where speed was slower. Hence car everywhere which is terrible for the environment.

In london I walk everywhere with my toddler, or jump on a bus that comes every 3 min or so. We use the car maybe once a month?

I live in a country village with just a couple of shops, pub, not much else, and enjoy it. Lovely community, friendly neighbours, cities wishing driving distance. I was born in London, and wouldn't set foot in it again willingly. The traffic fumes are bad enough, but walking at night (I was attacked once), fear of crime and multiple other reasons.

Interesting OP.
I’m definitely a country girl more than a city one. Well, I like to think I am. Truth is I’ve always lived in the suburbs.
DH and I are planning on getting our ‘forever home’ in the next few years or so but DS will be at school by then and it’s a big consideration to not want to cut him off from a potential social life.

In reality, I suspect that something midway between the two will be better. Fair bit of land so you feel secluded, may be close to some country side or nature walks but close enough to a decent sized town?

I live in a market town and think it’s a good combination. We don’t have a cinema or chain shops really but we do have enough shops to get anything you urgently need, two supermarkets, nice cafes and a few pubs. There’s a train line and buses to nearby towns (although not frequent, but often enough). It’s big enough there’s a choice of primary schools but they’re small village-y feeling schools. And I can walk out of my front door and be walking through fields in five minutes! We see the stars at night, hear owls, see deer in the fields and feel much more aware of the changes in the seasons and connected to the natural world. It’s a great choice if you’re retired or have small children. Not great if you have teenagers or like a busy cultural life.

I agree OP. I think as you get older it’s easier to stay mentally and socially engaged if you have lots of places to go nearby - shops, cafes, library, pub etc.

I agree about the cultural opportunities but that's it. Dh and I look far healthier than our London friends and are much less stressed.

I grew up in the countryside too and hated it! People always bang on on about lovely muddy walks with a dog - bleugh - I hate mud and I don't like dogs. I like to be able to pop to the supermarket or the PO or go and meet someone for a coffee and for it not to take all morning and require a 50-mile round trip. Life in the countryside is utterly bloody inconvenient and you spend hours in the car. No way would I ever move to the country again.

We live in a small city and it has everything, including a muddy fucking walk, if that's your priority, that starts at the end of our road. I can go on a 5k run and run through fields if I want to, yet a 20-min will also take me to a high street with shops, bars, restaurants, a theatre, a museum, plus doctor, dentist, optician, etc. Give a city or a town with plenty going on over isolation any day!

*a 20-min WALK

Air quality in London, & some other British cities, is appalling, though. I love cities & walking around them but I find myself hacking in London .

Everyone knowing each other is a huge drawback of the small town where I live (12k population, which I realise is smaller than a 'large village' as defined by some others).

Having a bus pass noticeably increases total activity levels for pensioners. Obviously more likely to have an impact in more urban areas with more bus routes.

The cleaner air is actually a very big health bonus, especially as people age.

zaff your post is definitely making me question why I would consider bringing DS up in the country

Actually, the town we live in now - and even the area of that town is pretty good. I’m literally just around the corner from a major motor ward junction. Nearest big city is 30mins max. Nearest airport is 20 mins. Nearest supermarket - 4 mins. Nearest shopping centre is less than ten minutes away. DS’ school (that he will go to in a couple of years) is less than 5 minutes to walk to!

But in the other direction, a 5 minute walk gets you to farmland, country side and a lovely little hamlet to walk through. We also have loads of nature reserves and play areas pretty close by.

And the house prices are cheap (3 bed semi, big garden with a decent finish will cost you not much more than £200k)

I should promote my home town for a living