To ask Black MNers where to move if I leave London?

[IMissVino]

We are a mid 30’s Black couple, expecting our first DC (yay)! We want to move out of London, for all the usual reasons (better life for kids, bigger house, access to countryside) but the bits of the South East that we’ve liked and looked at haven’t seemed particularly diverse and we’re not looking to be the village oddities.

If you’re a Black person and you don’t live in London or another big city, where do you live, are you happy there, and would you recommend it to young Black families?

We’re not from the U.K., so no particular ties to any area (although the SE is what we know, so will probably stay round here), we can both mostly wfh and money isn’t really a factor. So, please, all suggestions are welcome.

Not really looking for non-Black posters to assure me of how welcoming their particular areas are or tell me where their Black friends live. I’m hoping to get firsthand lived experiences from other BW, please.

You live there and enjoy it?

Oooh, interesting. This is in the sort of area we’ve been looking, so thanks.

I’ll put another vote in for Southampton. Wonderful community, shops and schools.

It’s been a few years but my past experiences mean I’d avoid Birmingham/surrounding areas. I experienced some awful racism there and sometimes felt targeted (not from white people).

I hear you about Birmingham.

Southampton is currently looking good!

Harpenden and St Albans. Very multicultural as it’s comprised of large numbers of ex-Londoners. Lots of black women and mixed race couples but don’t seem to be as many black men. Very good schools and close links to London mean it’s expensive but if money isn’t an issue it’s a great place to live if you’re black.

I'm white so I won't tell you where to move, but I would agree whole heartedly that the only place I've ever lived where people would openly use racist epithets was in East Anglia. And I've lived in several countries and cities that are considered to be racist.

West Sussex (Brighton included) is extremely white. It may be accepting of diversity but your children will be very much part of the minority.
Black people make up 1.5% of the population according to Brighton's website.

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/becoming-anti-racist-city/our-diverse-city

Excellent. Thank you.

Hatfield/St Albans is very diverse. I'm in London but know lots of black couples who have moved to Milton Keynes and Northampton.

Oxfordshire! You won't regret it. Left London for semi rural life a year ago and never looked back. I was a bit worried as I'm the only black person in our beautiful village but feel more comfortable here than I do in London. London may be multicultural but is pretty segregatigated where as here I've never felt been more welcome. I did have a freak out just before moving but read a wonderful article by Journalist/Author Rachel Edwards and reached out to her for advice and turned out she lived in my village and loved every minute of it. Also reached out to the Black Farmer, Willfred Emmanuel-Jones who also gave me some wonderful words of wisdom. Yes I do have to drive back to London once a month to get my hair done but apart from that - best decision I ever made - especially for my kids.

If you are open to moving to anywhere in the UK - LEEDS, West Yorkshire is a place to consider! There are loads of black and ethnic minorities... but still a very cosmopolitan place, people of all colours, backgrounds, orientations...safe..friendly, inclusive, good schools, reliable & easy transport access etc...

Agree with this and I've lived there. Norwich was a Haven of loveliness and very open minded. Outside of there was full of ignorant idiots and racist picks. Sheffield is lovely!

Our band doesn't play in Hastings because it's the only place in the country we've ever played that our black members were made to feel so unwelcome and uncomfortable. It happened one year and we assumed a one off, then it happened the next 2 years so we've binned it.

What about Manchester? I'm not a great fan of the place myself (jaded having been a student there) but I am in a minority, most people rave about it. House prices better than you'd get in the south, noticeable BAME community, not difficult to get out to countryside in Cheshire/Peak District/Pennines.

hattie43
That's strange . I've never seen a black face in Hastings and have lived there

Oh really.. Have you been to the 'Playing The Race Card' 2022 exhibition at Greenhalf Art Studio in St Leonards, hosted by a BW and other BW creatives who all live in Hastings - & 1 of them also has a shop on the Hastings seafront?

Black owned Sugar Pie Cafe? & the African restaurants? Goats Ledge, Oscars, White Rock Hotel, St Marys, who all very regularly host music events led by Black DJs and creatives?

I could go on but I won't as you either dont live in Hastings or haven't been there for donkeys years, or you'd know the score.

The OP is asking for genuine, current information

We moved to Banbury over 10 years ago. People get very sneery about it. But it is a diverse town: people of all races live here and neither me or my children are local novelties (unlike in the neighbouring villages). I can get my hair done easily and buy Caribbean food. We live in a house and garden that would be unaffordable in London or Oxford; there are fields galore 20 minutes walk, but I can be in the town centre on foot in 10 minutes.
Good luck with your search. PM me if you want more info.

I'm not black, but having grown up in Richmond I think there's quite a high chance you'd encounter people there who are always ever so conscious of not offending you (not in a good way) - not sure I'm explaining that very well but if it's something that bothers you I guess you'll probably know what I mean!

Strange to hear that, Yorkshire is notoriously racist

I live on the outskirts of SE London and I can see a lot of minorities moving into the area and further down into the upper kent area. Lots of diverse faces, African stores and places to buy authentic African & Caribbean food.

I’d avoid South Wales unless you can afford Cardiff or Penarth. Speaking from experience.

Sorry I know you didn't want a white person advice.

But have you considered Aberdeen in Scotland.

I dated a Nigerian man for 5 years and had many west African friends living in Aberdeen , due to it being oil and gas capital of Europe it attracts a lot of west Africans because of the oil.
Lots of west African young men and women study here too , again because of the oil and gas courses at the university.

Anyway just thought I'd throw that in there for you to investigate.

This area is lovely for kids and way less crowded than England.

Take a look at Chelmsford. Its a lovely place to live. Multi cultural to some extent.

Even though its a city, its a very small one but has all of the shops and restaurants you need to not miss London. Lots of green space and some parts have a very villagey feel. It has some v good schools with a decent mix of races/ethnicities.

Stratford is only a 20 mins train ride away and London is 40 mins by train.

Traffic can be horrendous though.

I’m mixed race and have lived in Derbyshire for ages though I am from down South and also lived in Birmingham. Where I live some hotels have been used for asylum seekers. There has been a lot of utter hatred on FB , post was removed but hit almost 700 posts in a day, some of them have been spat at in the street. Now whether it’s because they are immigrants or it’s because they are not white , well I am unsure, maybe a bit of both.

Due to rising costs people are under stress and a scapegoat is an easy target. I see racism rising it’s head again. I just had a look and racist incidences have been steadily increasing year on year. It’s very worrying.

I will say even if people are nice it is a bit weird being the only non white face somewhere. This was often me when I first moved where I live from Birmingham 25 odd years ago.

Charminster, Bournemouth 👩🏽‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏿‍🦱😃

@IMissVino what is your source for Scotland being notorious for racism? I can’t think it’s anymore racist than other parts of the UK 🤔

Oxford is very diverse / multicultural. Good choice of both public and private schools & then colleges / universities for later on.

Obviously depending on budget as is more expensive than a majority of other areas in the UK however Oxfordshire does have some lovely houses / areas.