To think the north of England offers a worse quality of life than the South or Midlands?

[DDRickyDD]

I was thinking of moving to Lancashire, but having done some research online, it seems a lot of people have negative opinion of it. I'm now set on Warwickshire or Leicestershire. Does the north in general offer a worse quality of life than the Midlands? I know its cheaper up north but is it much worse up there?

The weather and diet makes northerners look haggard

On average, the North does have worse health outcomes, educational prospects etc than the South East.

Not sure how important the weather is but diet is important

But yeah, it is rubbish. Please don't move here!

Poverty and the associated issues of health, diet, etc do leave their mark on the way a population looks but I'm not sure I saw much difference when working as a social worker between Barking and Doncaster.
There is an issue with areas outside of London having received less funding than London, I think was one reason for Brexit but that doesn't mean the SE doesn't have its own areas of deprivation too.

people do look healthier in more affluent areas and this is another noticeable difference when you go North

So presumably people look unhealthier in poor areas in the south and people look healthier in affluent areas of the north then? I presume you aren't saying that all of the south is rich and all of the north is poor? Because that would obviously be a ridiculous thing to say.

But if you'd like to trade sweeping statements... where I live (Cumbria), a lot of people are into fell-walking and outdoor pursuits. Many move to the area precisely because they want to do this. Most people have dogs and therefore walk quite a lot. That probably makes them quite a bit healthier than pasty-faced London commuters packed into the tube or choking on traffic fumes.

falafels yes. My sister lived there for years.
Your point is? You can't make sweeping generalisations about the north and only reference cities ... it's ridiculous

boobooDisney love getting ID'd when you're way over 18!

The weather and diet makes northerners look haggard

Yes but we use our wages from working darn the pit to buy Botox and sausage rolls so we’re less haggard and happy.

Yes there are parts of London where the effects of poverty are very noticeable - of course there are. I am obviously talking very generally. But I’m saying, you can notice differences on a broad level.

For instance, who look healthier / younger on average - people on the Mediterranean side of France or those in the industrial areas of Northern France.

Who looks healthier - the average person from Rome, or the average person from Aberdeen?

I’m using extreme examples to make the point, but I do think climate has an impact in health and people’s appearance / mental health / positivity and energy levels.

Poverty does have a huge impact on health but surely you aren't suggesting that south = rich and North = poor .......

Its because we've got more money left to actually afford food after not having to spend all except £1.78 of our wages on extortionate housing costs.

“hmm So presumably people look unhealthier in poor areas in the south and people look healthier in affluent areas of the north then?

Yes absolutely.

I’m talking in a very general level, but I’m being honest.,

Getting a suntan might make you look healthy. It doesn't actually make you healthy though.

Tbf, poverty and deprivation do make people look older. Poor diet does show in the face and skin. But that's a poverty/affluence thing, not a north/south thing.

For instance, who look healthier / younger on average - people on the Mediterranean side of France or those in the industrial areas of Northern France.

Where do Swedish people fall in your 'who looks healthier' scale? They must all look haggard, right?

I’m talking in a very general level, but I’m being honest.

It's so general that it's pointless though. What on earth would be the point of advising someone not to move to the whole of the north of England on the grounds that some parts of it (like some parts of the south) might have a higher proportion of unhealthy-looking people?! People don't move to a whole half of a country - they move to a particular bit of it is hich they choose.

You did the same pointless generalisation about Mediterranean vs Northern France. There are plenty of affluent areas in northern France.

It's such lazy stereotyping falafels

What a load of bollocks, there really is no difference between the two in general terms.
Lots of specifics like London has West end shows, the north have to wait for the tours.
London has a huge underground system, northern towns don't.

Some people in the south are horrible and unfriendly, ditto the north.

On average, the North does have worse health outcomes, educational prospects etc than the South East.

Yeah, and where does all the money go? Down south. Do you not think that, just maybe, that has something to do with it?!

falafels Totally agree about the weather. It’s also not flat. So we may not have mountains ( if you can see them for the mist) but we have hills especially the lovely South Downs. That goes from Winchester to last Brighton that give you fantastic views.
Also they are chalk that gives you a beautiful soft white paths and nice short ( sheep nibbled ) grass to walk on not that weird wet heathery stuff you get or bare rock. In the driving rain.
My dad loves the north but loves the dramatic grey skies and dark green. I don’t think he’s wrong to like what he does but I couldn’t cope.

Now that massive pile in Lincolnshire ....what would the weather be like over that side ( looking for a compromise)?

Where do Swedish people fall in your 'who looks healthier' scale? They must all look haggard, right?

Oh they do, they do. I can hardly bear to look at my relatives when I visit. Sitting around on the beach eating elk stew and crayfish and looking terribly, terribly haggard.

I don’t really know how to explain it fully, but I think if people are honest, they do know what I’m talking about (at least a little).

Doesn’t Scotland have the highest rates of obesity , diabetes and other smoking / alcohol-related illnesses? Why is this?

I don’t mean to suggest that everyone in Scotland is overweight or whatever - far, far from it.

But there have been threads on here in the past asking things like “Has everyone in Kensington had lipo and Botox?” or there are some areas where fake-tan sakes are obviously higher than others So there are differences around the country, or pockets of differences, and I think most people do notice how the general “look” on different high streets around the UK can vary, whether they admit to it not.

Yeah, and where does all the money go? Down south.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If you are just asking about England, it's London first, then the North East then the North West. All get higher than the average UK spend per head.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04033/

Of course, the question you didn't ask is "where does the money come from?"

factcheckni.org/fact-checks/are-only-3-out-of-12-regions-net-contributors-to-the-uk-treasury/

It's not a shocker that wealthy people tend to be thin and tanned (that's been the general trend from the second half of the 20th century onwards, at least). And it's also not a shocker that Kensington would have lots of affluent people falling into that category. But where would Cheshire fall in this generalisation?

Every region has poor and affluent areas. Yes, poorer areas have higher levels of obesity, drinking, smoking and poor health outcomes in general. But I could point at areas of London that have the problems I've just described in spades (due to poverty), and I could point at parts of Leeds that don't (due to affluence).

And linking this to tanned skin when you're talking about places like Italy is utter madness. Sicily (furthest south in Italy, and darker skinned) is one of the poorest regions of Italy.

within two hours of my house on our motorbike are cities like Manchester and Liverpool, the whole of the Yorkshire dales, the east coast with lovely family orientated seaside resorts places like York Ripley Harrogate the Derby dales oh yes its grim up north on the other hand ten minute walk from my house are Victorian back to back houses in a part of our town I wouldn't live in if they gave them away free