To wonder what makes an area “posh”?

[NotCure172]

Just came back from a friend’s house in a very leafy suburb of West Midlands city. She loves talking about how posh it is where lives but I asked her what does it mean to live in a posh area? How do you know it’s posh? She couldn’t really answer my question and the area was very average.

How do you define a “posh” area?

@Fridafever

Also our street is covered in cars as nobody has drives but the cars are pretty fancy. There’s a Porsche outside my house at the moment and a Tesla (neither are mine).

It's telling!

You see I think it’s hard to compartmentalise— I’ve lived in lots of places all which are probably considered posh (ish) and have very posh ‘areas ‘ residentially - Bath, Oxford, Richmond, Windsor, St Albans , Canterbury etc— all have weatherspoons , Maccy Ds, Iceland, Primark etc — I think though you are thinking more on the residential areas. In that case I would say lots of those slatted wooden window blinds, well kept gardens, usually leafy, little debris in gardens or yards, nice little independent local facilities , most people working or retired

There are 2 posh areas in my city. One has beautiful big houses overlooking the beach. The other has a gorgeous old town and a new town area with lots of independent boutiques.

Diamond days
Booths
and a Greggs

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Yes, that’s what l think. Costa is a bit downmarket these days.

But pretty much every town has one, posh or not.

The top 5 towns on this list all have a Costa on their high street.

www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/property/953851/house-prices-most-expensive-towns-england-outside-london?amp

Love the Mosiac link, thanks to whoever posted that first! My London postcode comes up as Premium Fortunes, and have just had to read it out to DH as it does rather uncannily describe our area. Now busily looking up all the (many) other postcodes we have lived in over the years.

I live in a village about 5 miles outside a major city. Living somewhere 'posh' wasn't really a consideration and we relocated here from another part of the uk so just liked the look of the area and it made sense in terms of commute to work. I'd say it's quite upmarket though- the village has independent shops, including several cafes/ bars/ wine bar/ florist/ green grocers, private dental clinic etc. From speaking to neighbours I've found out that there are 3 judges and several solicitors who live on our road (just came up in convo). All houses set back from the road with big drives and mostly electric gates. The local school only has 5% fsm, so probably says a lot about social demographics of the local area.

Where the "dive" areas according to locals are pretty normal by usual standards!

Yeah, but independent coffee shops are one step up from Costa.

Slightly disgruntled to discover we could have been 'World Class Wealth' had we stayed in the London terrace we sold a few years ago. Can't believe I'm missing out - what fools we were. We could have been 'global high flyers'!

Having said that, a huge Lidl opened just round the corner shortly after we moved and all my old neighbours definitely shop there instead of Waitrose. And my nearest ex-neighbour was still piling up junk in the tiny front garden the last time I drove past.

Maybe she could answer - but she knew she’d sound like a snobby cow!

She means:
Middle class, high income, 4x4s, mainly white, clean, leafy, big houses, nice cars, pedigree dogs (but not staffies), quiet, nicely maintained, churches, lack of tracksuits, lack of fast food joints, lots of cafes/yoga etc

And also, some celebrity neighbours or a similar ‘claim to fame’ - like a royal with a nearby holiday home or it’s called ‘Royal town of X’ or ‘X Spa town’

The price of houses. That’s it mainly.

A posh area is where they get out if the bath to pee.😁

@Toottooot

David Austin roses and definitely no football related gnomes in the garden. Heaven forbid.

Awww, you're obsessed with me, how incredibly creepy sweet.

I just looked at that Mosaic thing, thanks, whoever posted it and it was correct for our road, Fledging Free, mainly 56-65 and not much tech and SM and lots of gardening, RSPB and cycling, income fairly average.

We're 'rural vogue' whatever that is

When there's no Poundland in the local shopping centre.

Surely it's got to be north-facing. Port-out, starboard-home. Truly posh people avoid the sun because a tan is a sign of having to work outside for a living.

We have a run down high street in our averagely run down town but a very nice outdoor shopping mall with Fatface and Joules type clothes shops, lots of clothes shops in fact, and some eating places, chain and independent, which is a bit at odds with the town

Manicured grass on broad pavements.

Having said that, a huge Lidl opened just round the corner shortly after we moved and all my old neighbours definitely shop there instead of Waitrose. And my nearest ex-neighbour was still piling up junk in the tiny front garden the last time I drove past.

Where I live Waitrose and Lidl are next door to each other. The nearest out of town centre has M & S Simply Food, Boots, Mountain Warehouse, Starbucks, Pets at Home, a sports shop and Home Nonsense.

@Youcansaythatagainandagain

The price of houses. That’s it mainly.

Not in London - houses can be £2mil plus in the scummiest of areas

Not in London - houses can be £2mil plus in the scummiest of areas

But if you picked up the same house and plonked it in a 'posh' bit of London, it would £3m or £4m.

It's all relative to the surrounding area, but it is still fundamentally about house prices.

@cafedesreves if you are unable to bag a "posh" house in London with 2 million to spend you are bloody fussy! It certainly isn't the house that is the issue.