To love living in the south west

[Iftheclouds]

I’m always being told that either central England or the south east is better. Aibu to love living in the south west? It’s cheaper here than most other places.

I've lived all over - London, SE, NE, NW, SW. There are so many things to love about SW. I particularly loved easy travel to Cornwall for weekends, beautiful coastal walks on the doorstep, some lovely towns and a quieter pace of life.

However, there were some challenges imho. Wages are not in keeping with the increasing cost of housing, particularly in Devon & Cornwall. Jobs you'd earn £15- £20k more in the SE for. That used to be uncommon, but it really isn't now. It was one thing when you could buy a detached family home there for £200,000 but those days are long gone.

The other thing I found hard, was there was there were many people who had only experienced SW, and sometimes I felt they lived in a very insular bubble where different ideas were seen of as 'weird', 'unusual' and I often found they just hadn't been exposed to the diversity of thought, opinion, background etc in the same way as other parts of the UK. In fairness you can get insularity everywhere, but it really stood out to me, especially working in health care. I know colleagues in health care found the same, it was a bit like going back 10-15 years at times with regards to policies, practices and openness to new ideas. Kind of like a 'this is how we've always done it' approach when evidence and practice has moved on.

Not sure the latter would make me not live there, but something to be aware of.

Good that you love where you live @Iftheclouds that's really all that matters.

@Irisheyesrsmiling

I've lived all over - London, SE, NE, NW, SW. There are so many things to love about SW. I particularly loved easy travel to Cornwall for weekends, beautiful coastal walks on the doorstep, some lovely towns and a quieter pace of life.

However, there were some challenges imho. Wages are not in keeping with the increasing cost of housing, particularly in Devon & Cornwall. Jobs you'd earn £15- £20k more in the SE for. That used to be uncommon, but it really isn't now. It was one thing when you could buy a detached family home there for £200,000 but those days are long gone.

The other thing I found hard, was there was there were many people who had only experienced SW, and sometimes I felt they lived in a very insular bubble where different ideas were seen of as 'weird', 'unusual' and I often found they just hadn't been exposed to the diversity of thought, opinion, background etc in the same way as other parts of the UK. In fairness you can get insularity everywhere, but it really stood out to me, especially working in health care. I know colleagues in health care found the same, it was a bit like going back 10-15 years at times with regards to policies, practices and openness to new ideas. Kind of like a 'this is how we've always done it' approach when evidence and practice has moved on.

Not sure the latter would make me not live there, but something to be aware of.

Good that you love where you live @Iftheclouds that's really all that matters.

This is exactly why I left the SW, it was far too insular. As soon as my DC was born we moved back to the city and it was the best decision I've ever made. SW is a great place to visit for a holiday, beautiful, but not to raise a family. It's far too 'this is what we've always done so why try something new, you crazy city folk' I felt like I was living in an episode of the league of gentlemen

I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve always liked it but I think Yorkshire for example is 1000 times nicer and I prefer the north in general.

Hmm, Bath is not an hour by train to London. An hour 15 minimum, but usually more. Also the cost of living within walking distance of Bath station is astronomical. So add a bus journey!

Towns outside Bath include Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Melksham, Corsham, Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon.

There a few generalisations on this thread. There are cities in the SW, for example! I agree some parts of the SW can be a bit insular but so can other places.

I love the SW, we live in Gloucestershire and from where we live it’s pretty equidistant to Cardiff, Bristol, Bath and Birmingham, so the best of both worlds and I’ve never felt cut off here.

I love the West Country. It feels like my UK home.

I live in Bath city centre so know it well, can easily walk to the station. It is really lovely, but yes expensive. Or is nowadays, not so much a few years ago...