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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your vote on the friendliest parts of the UK to live in

35 replies

stirling · 02/04/2023 09:08

I came across this list of supposedly most friendly parts of the UK based on some survey by Rightmove or something..

I'm spending the next few years exploring potential places to live in because my current suburb is the most awful place I've ever lived in. Curtain twitchers , gossip, aggressive drivers, it's oppressive being here.

The list includes:
St Ives
Woodbridge
Hexham
Harrogate
Bury st Edmund
Richmond
Falmouth
Newbury
Altrincham

Please let me know your views if you live in any of these places or indeed want to make a recommendation .

I'm Asian if that's relevant. Thank you

OP posts:
wordonthestreetisthat · 02/04/2023 09:22

Sadly being Asian may be relevant to where you live.

My friend and her family live in North Norfolk. They encounter quite a bit of racism, so stay away from there!

Original poster
stirling · 02/04/2023 09:28

Oh gosh 😔 thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
stirling · 02/04/2023 20:53

Bumping for the evening crew

OP posts:
pompomdaisy · 02/04/2023 20:59

Chapel Allerton, Leeds. Every ethnic group living here. It's very friendly and integrated.

Omgreally11 · 02/04/2023 21:09

Definitely not hexham 😂

Stickworm · 02/04/2023 21:10

Leigh on Sea 🌊 Essex

beastlyslumber · 02/04/2023 21:12

Felixstowe.
Bristol.

Those are the two friendliest places I've ever stayed.

Billydaffodil · 02/04/2023 21:14

Well we love Bristol, maybe not the top of friendly places list but a great community feeling and we have met so many lovely people. Also loads going on and countryside easily accessible.

Marchintospring · 02/04/2023 21:16

Bury st edmunds
Hebden Bridge
Southsea

Baldrickhasaplan · 02/04/2023 21:18

Hexham is very friendly! I’ve no idea why the previous poster said that. There’s quite a lot going on, good transport links to Newcastle and easy to get into the countryside. Yes, it is still predominantly white but that is changing and certainly I’ve never been aware of racism being a particular issue here.

Cornwallintherain · 02/04/2023 21:20

I live in Falmouth and its bullshit 😂 the only ones happy are the wealthy Hugos out buying their freshly caught crab

Cornwallintherain · 02/04/2023 21:22

Cornwallintherain · 02/04/2023 21:20

I live in Falmouth and its bullshit 😂 the only ones happy are the wealthy Hugos out buying their freshly caught crab

And they talk to everyone like they're a piece of shit. I feel awful for waitresses here

dimpleton · 02/04/2023 21:24

Friendliest place I’ve ever been is Wigan.

GaslitlikeaVictorianparlour · 02/04/2023 21:25

I can't believe Glasgow isn't on the list.

Folk talk to you here ALL the time. It used to frighten me when I first moved here because when people approached for a chat I thought I was about to be robbed - 6 or 7 times a day 😂

I've calmed down a bit now and I quite enjoy a bit of chat about a dog or the weather or the pot holes.

Also a lot of housing is arranged in tenements with a shared garden out the back so it's fairly normal to know (or about) those 7 neighbouring households.

PetriDaffoBill · 02/04/2023 21:26

East Anglia is not the place for you if you're not British or white British. Not sure about the rest of England, just know it's really oppressive around these parts and the socio-economic divide is massive.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 02/04/2023 21:26

We moved to Woodbridge 3 months ago. Its amazingly friendly and truly lovely. Feel free to DM me if you want

NosnowontheScottishhills · 02/04/2023 21:30

GaslitlikeaVictorianparlour · 02/04/2023 21:25

I can't believe Glasgow isn't on the list.

Folk talk to you here ALL the time. It used to frighten me when I first moved here because when people approached for a chat I thought I was about to be robbed - 6 or 7 times a day 😂

I've calmed down a bit now and I quite enjoy a bit of chat about a dog or the weather or the pot holes.

Also a lot of housing is arranged in tenements with a shared garden out the back so it's fairly normal to know (or about) those 7 neighbouring households.

I second Glasgow I hate city life but can see the attraction of Glasgow, people say hello and chat everywhere you go.
I don't think being an Asian would be a problem in Glasgow.

SusanSHelit · 02/04/2023 21:34

Wigan is friendly, St Helens is not. Birkenhead is ok but like stepping 10 years into the past at the end of the tunnel under the river.

Liverpool is very friendly, but old swan is probably one of the friendliest areas. Not too snobby, not too rough. Fairly multicultural. Excellent transport links etc.

IcedPurple · 02/04/2023 21:38

GaslitlikeaVictorianparlour · 02/04/2023 21:25

I can't believe Glasgow isn't on the list.

Folk talk to you here ALL the time. It used to frighten me when I first moved here because when people approached for a chat I thought I was about to be robbed - 6 or 7 times a day 😂

I've calmed down a bit now and I quite enjoy a bit of chat about a dog or the weather or the pot holes.

Also a lot of housing is arranged in tenements with a shared garden out the back so it's fairly normal to know (or about) those 7 neighbouring households.

Liverpool is similar.

CreoQueTodosHagamos · 02/04/2023 21:40

Agree Bristol is lovely. Not East Anglia. I've lived here 10yrs and still find many closed minded and unfriendly.

MissCrowley · 02/04/2023 21:42

Altrinchams friendly? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I lived there, if you've got money people will be nice to you, otherwise, nope

GaslitlikeaVictorianparlour · 02/04/2023 21:43

I'm white so I can't make any assumptions about being Asian in Glasgow but I would say the second biggest ethnic group after white people would be folk of South Asian decent..

AspiringMermaid · 02/04/2023 21:43

I lived in Harrogate absolutely loved it, my second favourite I've lived so far (Newcastle being my top! Moving to Whitley bay in September)

I don't know if it is relevant to you at all, but moving into the catchment the area of Harrogate good schools is extortionate. Traffic in Harrogate for school runs and on the weekends, (a lot of people visit from surrounding areas) is pretty horrendous. Mostly friendly drivers, many many big posh SUVs. Commuting to Leeds or York by car I've heard is also massively congested, does have good train links though.

Harrogate is a place that's seems to have a load of community led things going on, I found it friendly, reminded me a lot of Surrey where I grew up. Felt safe at walking alone at night, beautiful parks and woodland, very nice cocktail bars. The only club there Vipers (was awful) has closed.

Having said that definitely some snobbish attitudes, for example I remember going into a posh makeup shop, I probably looked very tired/bit scruffy as I had just moved... despite an empty shop no worker there wanted to help me:/ Definitely made an effort to look presentable after that in public.

I miss living in Harrogate, although I found living in Newcastle much more relaxing, easier to make friends, lovely beaches, close to amazing countryside not to much wayyy cheaper

dimpleton · 02/04/2023 21:45

Ah yes Glasgow is v friendly too. Went there for a weekend away and some random people at the next table in a pub became our best pals for the evening 🤣

Leter · 02/04/2023 21:45

I wouldn't recommend Newbury tbh.