To ask what you consider “The North”?

[Hairbrush123]

Just a post about being a Northerner/Southerner which made me think - what do you consider as “The North”? I’ve never had a solid answer for this and just wanted to know the general census on this.

Anything beyond Tunbridge Wells

Being Northern is about MUCH more than geography though isn't it.

Genuinely anything North of the Watford gap, Northampton even has North in the title!

@Neonprint some people just aren't hung up on North South identity, and are perfectly comfortable with a joke....

The North to me is anywhere above Birmingham.

People have different views on what they consider the North depending on where they live

But some things are just geographical facts. The Watford Gap is NOT in the North of the country - no one’s ‘view’ can change that.

Isn't Meriden near Coventry the exact geographic middle of England? So logically anything above that is in the Northern half of England and anything below is in the southern half of England. Meriden isn't very far from Watford gap.....

Also amusing that since people think the Watford gap is in Watford....

@KingdomScrolls

Isn't Meriden near Coventry the exact geographic middle of England? So logically anything above that is in the Northern half of England and anything below is in the southern half of England. Meriden isn't very far from Watford gap.....

But it’s not above it.

StillCoughingandLaughing do you mean Meriden is not above the Watford Gap? It is. Or do you mean the Watford Gap is not above Meriden?

Anything above Cheshire, Derbyshire, Notts etc

Anything above Derby/Nottingham is North.

For me it's a line about level with the coast of North Wales. You can do it by county, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire South. Anything above that North.

So Chester, Stoke, Nottingham, Lincoln and Skegness all South. Liverpool, Sheffield, Grimsby all North.

@Allthereindeersaregirls

StillCoughingandLaughing do you mean Meriden is not above the Watford Gap? It is. Or do you mean the Watford Gap is not above Meriden?

Yes, sorry - Watford Gap is not above/North of Meriden.

This has probably been said already but to even talk about "the North" as a distinct place is silly. Its all relative isn't it? If you're in Scotland then "the North" is a completely different place. If you meant the northern parts of England, to get there could be 5+ hours of driving South for many Scottish people.

@hemhem

This has probably been said already but to even talk about "the North" as a distinct place is silly. Its all relative isn't it? If you're in Scotland then "the North" is a completely different place. If you meant the northern parts of England, to get there could be 5+ hours of driving South for many Scottish people.

It has always seemed very bizarre to me that taking a train from London to Paris is quicker than London to Exeter. Blows my mind that London is closer to Paris than Edinburgh. (But it is possible I have a very small mind that is easily blown).

Anything above the Mason Dixon line

@StillCoughingandLaughing

People have different views on what they consider the North depending on where they live

But some things are just geographical facts. The Watford Gap is NOT in the North of the country - no one’s ‘view’ can change that.

OP didn't ask for geographical facts. She asked 'what do you consider'?

Anything above the Herefordshire to Lincolnshire counties

Thurso and Wick 😁😁😁

@hemhem

This has probably been said already but to even talk about "the North" as a distinct place is silly. Its all relative isn't it? If you're in Scotland then "the North" is a completely different place. If you meant the northern parts of England, to get there could be 5+ hours of driving South for many Scottish people.

Except it was clarified that op meant England. You wouldn't refuse to refer to Northern Italy because if you're in Germany you have to travel south to get to it. The North has far more meaning than The South tho

I consider Scotland to be "the North". However, in terms of just England, I guess I vaguely consider the areas above the Midlands as being the geographically northern parts of England. Otherwise, the nomenclature doesn't make sense to me. (I've always surmised that "midlands" literally means "middle of the lands".)

I’m from Sheffield. I would say Midlands up.

@callingon

I consider Manchester to be slightly chancing it as “northern” but I am from Newcastle. I concede that the general ‘Sheffield and up’ is where most people start to draw the line.

Sheffield is further south than Manchester! However, Manchester is definitely a Northern city, albeit North Western, like Liverpool.

Anywhere where there’s a risk of coming across a polar bear. I am in Canada though…