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 don’t understand when people want to be Isolated from other people for much of their lives. Do you not work and interact with people?

Yes, and I find it incredibly overwhelming and stressful. I'm an introvert and need time alone to restore my energy levels. In an ideal world I would work from home, or with animals.

Do you not enjoy going for meals, a drink etc with other people?

Yes, and I can do that after work if I want. Or, we have plenty of gorgeous pubs and restaurants that use fresh local produce. Living rurally doesn't mean there's nothing to do. I would hate to go out in a busy bar where you have to shout to be heard above all the people and the noise.

The thought of a child with only a dog and no one else for at least a mile radius is sad to me tbh. Where is the fun in playing by yourself all school holidays?

Why do people think living rurally means you're totally isolated from other people? A mile isn't exactly far - you can walk it in twenty minutes and drive it in one or two. Living a mile apart from other people is hardly living in the middle of nowhere!

Yep I agree love being able to walk everywhere.

My parents moved to a village while I was at uni and I hate the place - middle of nowhere, have to drive/cycle 5 miles into town or get the bus which runs twice a day! I don't know why anyone would voluntarily live in a secluded village.

I live in a commuter town where I can walk to town in 5 minutes, Sainsbury's in 3 and train station in 10. I love it. I would hate to live in a place where you have to drive just to get some milk! I hardly ever drive here as you just don't need to.

I don't know why anyone would voluntarily live in a secluded village

Because everyone is different and people enjoy different things, thankfully.

Also, in London you still get a bus pass at 60. I love my bus pass!

Fizzypoo Your village sounds perfect! Can I ask where? (Maybe DM?) We’re looking to relocate from a big city in the next few years because of pollution.

Live in small Welsh village by the sea, population fewer than 3.000.
loads of walks, don't own a car. It's beautiful, peaceful and good for mental health.

I've inboxed you @ferntwist

It's not as pretty as a cotswold village but I like it!

I totally disagree but it's obviously a very individual/personal taste type of a thing

Does this mean all the hype about air pollution in cities isn't a concern for those ex country dwellers.

I moved from a city to a remote village and I love it. I have never been busier ( so we don't actually watch more television ) Made some great friends, and loads of community stuff to get involved in. We do have a longer commute to work, and about 30 minutes to the nearest supermarket, but the local primary is excellent, and Dd loves it. I was much more lonely in the city, and was sick of how busy it was, and how dangerous it could be. And as for commuter towns, no thanks. They are usually full of soulless new builds with oversubscribed schools and GP practices.

Both my parents grew up in quite a rural area (one more than the other as grew up on a very isolated hill farm), but they raised us in more of a 'town' area (due to jobs) but still within reach of the countryside. I settled in a big city quite a few years ago by choice (I can live an work anywhere in the world, all my work is online), and I get so fed up with people slagging off city life. Where my parents live you could just about manage without a car, but it would be miserable, but then with a car you spend half the weekend stuck in traffic. Where I live I have no need for a car, public transport is plentiful, or I can walk/cycle for most of my needs. There are an abundance of parks, all the shops I'd ever need and always somewhere to buy a pint of milk without needing to drive, deliveries available most hours of the day of pretty much anything I can ever imagine wanting, multiple hospitals and schools not just the single one within an hours drive, many museums with free entry, trains or planes to anywhere I'd want to be in the world. My best friend growing up still lives in the area. They like to go cycling with their children, which involves putting bikes on the car, driving halfway across the county to a suitable forestry area then cycling around. I have a big park two minutes from my front door that also has a good play area, and another 2-3 big parks within 20 minutes walk / 5-10 minute cycle away, and if I want to see the countryside I can hop on a multitude of trains and be face to face with a cow in half an hour.

And people keep asking me when I'm moving back...?!

Having grown up in the countryside, its isolating and meant a limited childhood in terms of socialising and activities. In fact it could be pretty miserable at times.

Now I live 10 minutes from the city centre in a family friendly suburb and have never felt so connected to people and happier.

Our friends moved to a very rural area – no shops or neighbours for miles, etc – and always go on about how great the fresh air is... while going outside to have a cigarette.

The division here is interesting - clearly down to personality as opposed to one genuinely being better than the other.

Healthier in the city ? tell my asthma suffering DH that, when we moved out of Central London to a rural commuter village surrounded by beautiful countryside, his asthma improved literally overnight. We have incredible scenery on our doorstep in every direction, even on rainy gloomy days it is visually stunning; London on a rainy day is grim and ever so slightly depressing. It feels dirty, it IS dirty, the air quality is shocking in London. Since we moved we both feel so happy and healthy. Our physical well-being has improved hugely since we made the move, before we would go straight to the gym post work, now we bypass the gym and go for lovely, long dog walks together in the FRESH air or mountain biking, horse riding on a summer weeknight. There are only so many museums and plays to go and see in London, and we want to be outdoors as much as possible, being cooped up is not healthy. The sound of owls hooting at night as opposed to the faint sound of sirens, v little road noise (we live down a lane of 4 cottages), lovely, supportive and helpful neighbours, the list of why rural living is so good for us is endless. And what’s this rubbish about being able to eat a more healthy diet if you live in the burbs our diet is amazing! We grow our own veg, have fresh eggs from our chickens, we never have takeaways (they won’t deliver here clearly you have to wonder why folk who don’t like mud and dogs and being ‘outside’ would move to the country, but for outdoorsy types like us, we would HATE to move back to a concrete jungle.

It’s not London vs chocolate box village though, surely there’s a big spectrum of city to middle of nowhere ?

I completely disagree, I felt boxed in when living in a big city - I felt like I couldn't breathe, it was too crowded. Now living in a rural small town that's beautiful, has lots of gorgeous countryside in every direction and a great community. The beach is eight miles away. We have two dogs, some woodland, a big veg patch and a big chicken enclosure. That's got to be healthier than the fumes of a city.

As for walking being safer in a city, I don't see that either. I walk a lot through the fields round here and you don't tend to see people, just the occasional other dog walkers, most of whom I know. It's lovely to have that sense of space and solitude sometimes, I know mentally it's a real tonic for me.

I moved from a large city to a small market town a few years ago. Nearest A&E and hospital 16 miles away. No big shops. No big supermarkets. Drives me mad.

A friend of mine who moved from London to the country says the same. They have become really unfit because they have to drive everywhere.

I am 33 years old and have a 2 year old. Last year we made the move from a city to a lovely house on a working farm (farmer lives elsewhere), we have no neighbours and the nearest village is 2 miles away. We love it & I havent missed living somewhere suburban for one second.

Yes I do have to drive to get anywhere, but I also did in the city we used to reside in. And we had drug users and drug dealers for neighbours. We weren't isolated in the city but I was scared of the people who lived near us.

We can just step out of our front door and we are onto moorland, its wonderful for the dogs and the fresh air and views are great for us too!

My daughter can play outside in our garden and see the sheep and cows. She goes to local playgroups every week and it only takes a few minutes to get to them.

I cant ever imagine leaving the countryside now.

I grew up out in the sticks and I miss it. I might now live on the edge of a market town and it only works for us as a couple because my DP doesn’t drive. Plus the house prices where I grew up are now outrageous.

My Dad has a disability and lives in London. He goes to many social activities locally along with excursions set up by local groups and he refuses to move anywhere out of London because he likes the social aspect and public transport London has to offer (he can no longer drive). He said he would be bored and lonely elsewhere! So..being in a large city definitely has its perks for him.
I did grow up in London which was fab at the time but I would absolutely not want to live there now. The pace of life it too fast and it’s noisy and smelly! I wouldn’t want to be anywhere very out in the sticks but I do now live near the beach (not in the UK either) and I love it! I have everything I need but also miles of beach or blue space! It’s a much more relaxed way of life for sure!

It's easy to feel cut off if you do the full rural thing. My escape to the country was worked out to include good transport links!

I have asthma and there is a long history of severe breathing problems in my family. There is no way that I would ever subject my children to living in a city. The air quality is terrible.