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?

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).
Yes I do know what you're talking about; blind ignorant prejudice.

@VaggieMight I've never lived north of the South Circular Road and even I know that Yorkshire is bloody wonderful.

I'd move there like a shot.

Well you can call it blind, ignorant prejudice, but there are variations across the UK - accents vary; the sense of humour can vary; attitudes and the way people look and dress can vary. Yes it’s stereotyping and I’m the first to admit that, but I do still observe subtle differences on a very general level.

A colleague from London was genuinely amazed that our hotels had bathrooms. Some people are idiots.
Op, I've done both (in fact all three). It's shite down south

Warwickshire is one of the few counties that doesn't have a city

But at least it has a motorway or two.

East Sussex doesn't have a city OR any motorways, we're proper deprived here.

There's a huge difference in noticing a difference in accent and culture and claiming northerners look more haggard due to poor diet and poor weather falafels

They don’t have Waitrose north of Slough

I assumed the poster who said that was being sarcastic given that it's not true, there being Waitroses in Yorkshire, Ponteland and probably other places further north than Slough.

Very Brexity up north

There's someone who hasn't RTFT.

In many northern areas, your money goes further. Not all of course, but enough to enable well paid people to have lovely homes and lifestyles.

If you're lucky you can afford to work part time, which can enable you to pick your times for leisure better so as to avoid the rain. I was genuinely surprised on a thread where people saying how much it rains in Lancaster - because we only ever go there on a nice day.

I’ve lived and worked in London and hated it. Lived up North for a good few years and love it. Life is more relaxed. So much beautiful countryside. The people are friendly. Cheaper standard of living. What’s not to like?

I live in NE I'm from here but lived in London for several years. We moved back here to be able to buy a house. Tbh i don't really like it. It isn't all grim like the stereotypes people are reacting against. But there are some disadvantages. Such as a fairly stagnent employment market. Especially in certain sectors and higher pay grades.

Obviously there are middle class people but to be totally honest it's mainly working class. Which in and of its self is not a terrible thing. But it does mean you won't find anywhere near as much culture and leisure opportunities you might in London. There's enough here to keep us busy like galleries, cinema and theatre and one benefit it theatre etc is cheaper.

Both me and my partner feel like the people we meet here often don't share the same interests or priorities. This isn't an about income or class really. For example I see a lot of people focused on having expensive cars etc. But then I know people say this is an issue everywhere! It does also at times feel a bit downtrodden and without much hope. But then it is fairly deprived.
I don't mean to sound like an awful snob. I work in deprived communities and understand the challenges they face. I don't mean people are worse because they are poor. But realistically an area like this isn't always going to provide the lifestyle opportunities you might be looking for.

Sorry should have said this is obvs just my experience which I wanted to share as people just seem to be piling on.

it pains me to say it, one of the best chips and gravy meal I have eaten was in a pub in Plymouth

Please don't come to my village. The church isn't new and shiny, it's a medieval dump. The countryside, river and viaduct are just ghastly and rank. Local school was outstanding 2 years ago, so is probably in the dumps now. Please stay away, you may be infected by some 'ee by gum' ....a shocking affliction.

To be honest, I’m from a different Euro country, but I do think some areas in the UK and Ireland have a discernible kind of “look.”

Yes, but so what? How is that important? Does their 'look' make them nicer or nastier people? Would it put you off living in their area? If so, why?! If not, what's the problem? I'm still pretty baffled as to why you're judging places by what the people look like tbh.

The fact that there are grim bits up north is irrelevant unless you move to one of them. Just as the grim bits down south are irrelevant unless you live in one of them. And arguably, you are more likely to be able to afford to live in a naicer area up north than you are down south, because property is generally cheaper!

And arguably, you are more likely to be able to afford to live in a naicer area up north than you are down south, because property is generally cheaper

As are average wages......

In many northern areas, your money goes further. Not all of course, but enough to enable well paid people to have lovely homes and lifestyles

And perhaps more importantly, averagely paid people to have comfortable lifestyles.

oh and forgot to add our 1940s two bedroom semi detached house with garden and garage in a nice street cost us 108k last year to buy

We live in a 1940a 2-bed semi, and it needs doing up. It's still worth £420k though. We had it valued recently. If we spent another £80k on extending to give us a utility room, a 3rd bedroom and an en-suite, it'd be worth £525k, but we can't really be arsed with the hassle (and we'd have to take out a mortgage to pay for it, which would leave us skint until we sell).

As are average wages.....

Yes, but not all. That's why I said 'more likely', not 'definitely'. As teachers our money definitely goes further, and we were able to buy a nicer, bigger house in a lovely area.

As teachers our money definitely goes further, and we were able to buy a nicer, bigger house in a lovely area

Yes - because you get a public sector pay that is not paid at local demand.

I am sure you are aware that private sector pay of the parents of the pupils you teach very much depends on local economics.

Grew up in Central London (SW1, none of this saying you come from London and actually coming from Ilford or Bromley), couldn’t wait to leave. Went to university in Newcastle, have spent the last 22 years happily in Yorkshire. Have no intention of ever living elsewhere.

Who needs Waitrose when there’s Booths

But OP, you’d hate it here.

Yes, I am. But if their pay is lower, matching the lower house prices and other costs in the NW, that doesn't make them worse off than southerners with higher wages but higher prices.

The reason Glasgow in particular has such poor health outcomes is thought to be political, the deliberate skimming off of certain groups and relocating them outside of Glasgow.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jun/10/glasgow-effect-die-young-high-risk-premature-death

Political decisions have a significant impact. I lived in London because I could get work there, most graduates I know have moved there for at least a time. A UK less centered around London would be of benefit to everyone.

( It still isn't grim up north though)

Yes, I am

I think being a public sector worker like a teacher is going to get you a better lifestyle in certain parts of the North compared to a lot of the South East.

Enjoy it (I used to be like that once,,,,but life happened)

I think we can expect to see more companies - especially 'knowledge based' ones which value their staff - to realise that wfh really can work for some roles, which will mean more people on decent wages able to live where they want, not just the public sector.

I’d rather live up north than in Leicester, lived there for two years for work and it was horrendous, the surrounding villages are quite nice, but unfortunately the city is sh*t, has bugger all going on, barely any decent bars or restaurants, full of homeless and drunk people fighting, it’s not even cheap there either. I think you’d have a much better quality of life near a proper city up North than there and it’s much cheaper. I live in Birmingham and love it here, but I could afford a much larger house up north as our salaries would be the same (both NHS workers) and have the same amenities if I lived in Leeds, for example.