Do you know any villages or small towns I could live in as an ethnic minority?

[amidreaming]

I hope my title doesn't offend anyone.

Due to personal circumstances, I really want/need to move. I dream of living in a village, or perhaps a market town, but I don't know where would be ok given I'm an ethnic minority and I'm also a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf. I do get stared at when visiting the countryside, and have been yelled at and even almost attacked once. So, I'm aware there will be some places I can't consider, but would love to find somewhere that would accept me. I dream of buying a home I can escape to, somewhere I can go on country walks, or perhaps somewhere near the coast. I imagine a little cottage somewhere like Grantchester, with a view of the local church from my garden!! I know! I'm asking for a lot! I did see somewhere just like this on rightmove, but it was out of my price range, which is another issue. If I could get somewhere for £150k, that would be perfect, otherwise I could stretch to perhaps £300k with a loan.

I don't need to be near schools, but would like to be within a two/three-hour drive of London, if possible.

Would welcome any suggestions.

I’m white, so can’t comment on racism but Lancaster is a university city so I’m assuming more open minded. You’d have to go and have a wander round I guess. On that note, Lancaster is definitely worth a short weekend break anyway - the castle tour, with all its grisly history is fab!

I lived in Devon for a while and the more rural bits can be a bit funny about outsiders in general. " 'E's not from round 'ere, 'e's not" applies pretty well universally to those from the next door rival village, the local cities, rest of the UK (tourists) and the rest of the world. Possibly also people who moved into the village 50 years ago...

Not cosmopolitan, really missed decent Indian, Chinese, Thai and Japanese food while I was there!

When I lived in the largest town in Devon (admittedly a few years back and I hope to God it is changing) the local TV station received letters of complaint for employing a black weather presenter.

Used to go riding at few places only about 20-30mins drive out from Manchester city centre years ago. Around Sale was very horsey & could hack the trans-penine trail. Its more expensive than the midlands though, lots of nice places Leicestershire & Nottinghamshire both multicultural cities. I don't know Derbyshire as well but countryside is lovely that way.

Towns that border countryside can give a nice places to walk along with better amenities, public transport & more affordable than many of the pretty villages also more people can be a bonus.

Suffolk/Cambridgeshire

Another vote for South Bham, or even the Coventry area

Sussex - but you may struggle on budget as it’s not far behind London in terms of prices.

I'm embarrassed to say I'm not sure what counts as a village per se, but just to add my two pence, I used to live in Preston. I am not Muslim but there was a large Muslim presence in Preston and in Blackburn. Preston is much more of a city but Blackburn, darwen etc are much more rural. The only thing it doesn't really meet is your desire to have a three house drive to London, it's more like 4.5. But trains are excellent from Preston to London. I'm really keen to hear how you get on . I would love to hear that you find your ideal place!

*three hour drive a three house drive would be much shorter

This thread makes me very sad. I am sorry OP you have to ask this question.

Maybe first look at the demographics of the area. I would assume areas with younger and more educated populations would be more welcoming. Areas that serve as commuter settlements are more likely to be more ethnically diverse. I liked living in South Cambridgeshire. I grew up in Devon and found it pretty insular, my family who came from London were treated as outsiders for about 10 years in one village.

Interesting article in the economist
www.economist.com/britain/2018/05/17/britains-rural-muslims-are-a-minority-within-a-minority

Thank you all for your time and suggestions. I've spent quite some time on rightmove today! It's a lot easier when you know where to focus on. I'm sure I'll be able to find something and will update you if/when I do!
Thinking about some of the advice from and experiences of other posters (and my own experiences, too) I think it will be probably best I stick to areas that are at least a little multicultural. Lots of places will not be ready for me it seems! As I'm on my own, I will also need to think about safety.
@Chicchicchicchiclana Shocking though that is, I can just imagine some people complaining about ethnic minorities on their TV screens. When we get stared at (and even pointed at!), I do, however, wonder why people react as though they've never seen a brown person before when there are plenty on TV shows.
My worst experience was almost being attacked because of my headscarf (thankfully, someone intervened) and one of the most upsetting was when a woman moved seats when I sat next to her on the bus.
I was unsure about starting this thread, but it has made me feel a little more hopeful that I will be able to find somewhere I can be accepted.

I grew up in Dorset. I'm Middle Eastern origin. The racism was awful both casual and violent. I was bullied at school and told to go back to Pakistan. Even though I'm from nowhere near there. It might have moved on since the 89s. I get the shudders when I think of living outside a city.

My village in the Chilterns could work for you - it is on the outskirts of a market town (on the end of the tube line). There’s a mosque within walking distance and gorgeous countryside.

Newbury - its a small market town that is pretty. It is near to Reading which is very ethnically diverse. It has its own mosque. It has good links to London. It is very close to the most amazing villages.

@Chicchicchicchiclana It depends on the roads not just the distance, you can check google maps which right now says 2hr25mins from central Brum to Charing Cross at 128 miles. Obviously more in rush hour!

Yeah, trouble with Bradford, Birmingham, Stoke on Trent is that they are not within 2 to 3 hours drive of London as OP specified in her 3rd paragraph

No but there are trains, there is a train that doesn't stop between Stoke and Euston, it takes about 2 hours.

randomsabreuse

Ah yes, the idea that someone is from 'upcountry'. But yes OP if you like a take away or if you cook with spices you will have more choice if you are near a diverse city. Tesco sells spices but they are so expensive compared tot he Indian shops.

I do, however, wonder why people react as though they've never seen a brown person before when there are plenty on TV shows.

But it is different the first time you see someone / something in real life. I think it is mostly curiosity.

One of my colleafues was in a relationship with a man from Northern Island, she'd mainly grown up in Leiuvester but had been born in India and looked, well like a brown person.

When she first visited her partner's home she got stared at. She doesn't now but when she first went people would do a double take.

I kno sometimesit is racism but it can also be like if you see someone famous, a sort of, "Is that really..." I don't mean that in any derogatory term, and it is hard to get that over in writing.

I've hadd a coupole of experiences that are sort of the opposite, on a visit to a university with a grup of students and one looked different, I asked her "what's different, have youy had your hair cut?" no, she wasn't wearing Hijab.

The other was on one of my visits to my brother in Cornwall, I was haveing a wander around the streets and something just felt 'off' or 'not quite right', then it twigged, everyone was white, O'm just not used to being anywhere where everyone is white.

I just wanted to add that I've seen loads of threads on here from white British people (I assume, as ethnicity not mentioned) saying they've moved to a village and are treated like outsiders and not accepted even after several years living there. On these threads, some posters have had a similar bad experience of village life, while others have loved their villages.

So I think some villages are just very insular and snobby regardless of ethnicity (though of course ethnicity may be an additional factor).

So, I'd probably echo the advice to rent before you buy, or at least do a lot of visiting!

I recommend Cheshire. I know it's far out from London, but there's lots of options for villages or towns... you could get something lovely on your budget, and plenty of opportunities for horse-riding, rural living, good access to Manchester, Liverpool and Chester.

I've pmd you.

I’d recommend Milton Keynes too.

I used to work there, and it’s a very diverse and friendly place, surrounded by beautiful countryside and easy commute into London.

Does it have to be a village? as they tend to be more expensive. You’d get more for your money in an estate. Most estates within Milton Keynes have lakes or countryside within walking distance, so will still have a semi rural feel. New builds can also offer an instant sense of community, due to everyone moving in at the same time.

Good luck with your search.

I think if you look in the London commuter belt there are villages in Hertfordshire which are basically north north London but with the village vibe you’re looking for. There are lovely places close to (but not actually) Luton

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76716106.html

Small Cotswold town, direct trains to London and about 3 hours drive (I think! I don’t drive) you won’t get a view of a church from the garden but there’s a lot of beautiful churches within a few minutes walking distance

I'm originally from the Cotswolds and now live on the Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire border. I'd personally say that both would be really welcoming and friendly - although in the Cotswolds you'd be a minority. I know that no one I know would ever treat you differently, you would just be unlikely to have many other Muslims within walking distance.

Beds, Bucks, parts of herts and Northamptonshire all fit your bill and all have some towns and areas with a diverse community.

I grew up in these areas and they are very diverse, went to school with someone from probably every country in the world. No exaggeration.

Asian/Muslim community is sizeable in a few of these places but no more so than afro Caribbean or Eastern European or white British so you can often get a nice mix.

I moved to the Midlands, some places are diverse but you do have to actively choose a non white area or a non Asian area. As some areas are very mono cultural. Which is not somewhere with would choose to live.

The person saying market town means affluent, no it doesn't. They can be but usually they are a range of people and professions etc. Which I also prefer I would never want to live somewhere where only the valley affluent could live.

Where I am now in the Midlands is very nice but I miss my family so I'm planning to move back to my market town.

in my town (where the house in the link I posted is) there are several Muslim families, it’s surprisingly diverse for a small Cotswold town