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Original poster

What things do you wish you lived near to?

138 replies

cakefortea22 · 01/09/2023 21:12

Whenever I visit a new town or city I feel jealous of the amount of places there are to sit out in lovely surroundings and have a nice breakfast. I live in a village that has a shop and a church, nothing else. I could drive 15 minutes into town and get a breakfast but it would be at a chain pub on a main road. There's literally nowhere nearby where I could sit outside, people watch and enjoy a nice breakfast and a good coffee on a little cobbled street while reading the paper on a Sunday morning. And it upsets me.

What do you wish you lived close to?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 01/09/2023 23:20

Mountains.

Or Beamish Museum.

Liveinleggings · 01/09/2023 23:21

The sea or a lake.

SprinkleOfSunak · 01/09/2023 23:23

I wish there were the following in my town:

A steam room I could visit that offered a pay as you go system, and didn’t involve paying a gym membership or the price of a spa day. If it was female only too, that would be brilliant.

A Crossrail, and underground station.

An excellent Japanese restaurant and Japanese grocery shop.

A decent fabric shop.

A Waitrose.

Perfectlystill · 01/09/2023 23:29

I live in London and love so many things about where I live:

The gym (with often empty pool) at the end of my street

Theatres, bars, pubs, cafes, cinemas, galleries and restaurants

A local shop I can go to in my slippers

Good free schools

The river and parks

I cycle everywhere and often won't use my car for a week at a time.

Literally the only thing I would like that I don't have is the sun.

purpleme12 · 01/09/2023 23:29

A decent size roller skating rink

Strokethefurrywall · 01/09/2023 23:34

I live next to the beach in the Caribbean. I miss hills, mountains and cities!

FunnysInLaJardin · 01/09/2023 23:34

a bus stop! we live next to the beach and countryside but would actually like to be nearer to civilisation. Except for the people.

A bus stop with a regular service with no people!

iamyourequal · 01/09/2023 23:42

I would like to live near to: the countryside, mountains & trees (or at least a nice park); a delicatessen; a good greengrocers; a nice pub; a safe cycle route; a quiet swimming pool which is actually open to the public at reasonable times to swim in; a library which has purchased some decent books in the last decade; a friendly neighbour who invites me in for tea & homemade scones & jam….

iamyourequal · 01/09/2023 23:43

…..I forgot to add, a decent Chinese takeaway would be great too!

Dunnoburt · 01/09/2023 23:44

My friends and family......

BlueRabbitYellow · 01/09/2023 23:46

Beautiful countryside with lots of footpaths and access. Near good train links and close to a good department store, lively theatre and a range of local shops. The Chilterns in SE England would fit the bill, but they are too far from the sea, which is somewhere I'd love to live near enough for regular wanders on the beach.

NomDePrune · 01/09/2023 23:49

A high street with a butcher, fishmonger, baker etc
Restaurants that aren't poncey fine dining or chain bores
London🤷🏼‍♀️

NomDePrune · 01/09/2023 23:52

SunnieShine · 01/09/2023 23:01

Aldi. And Dartmoor.

An unlikely mix but I can dream.

If you could put up with Lidl that's definitely possible.

BlueRabbitYellow · 01/09/2023 23:53

iamyourequal · 01/09/2023 23:42

I would like to live near to: the countryside, mountains & trees (or at least a nice park); a delicatessen; a good greengrocers; a nice pub; a safe cycle route; a quiet swimming pool which is actually open to the public at reasonable times to swim in; a library which has purchased some decent books in the last decade; a friendly neighbour who invites me in for tea & homemade scones & jam….

That sounds idyllic.

I just realised from reading this thread how lucky I am with my local library. It was refurbished a few years ago and has a huge area for quiet working in, free WiFi, craft sessions and a staff recommended books section which is great. This thread is helping me appreciate what's good about where I live a little more. A lido would be brilliant though.

Createausernametoday · 01/09/2023 23:58

South of France or the Alps

Lessstressedhemum · 02/09/2023 00:14

The sea. Or a decent sized loch. I love being near active water. I especially love the sound and smell of waves.

Imnotdrinkingmerlot · 02/09/2023 00:21

I love being able to walk into the countryside, green hills, but also walk to a nice cafe, cinema, bars etc. But would love a beautiful lake or the sea nearby. And a lido so I could swim easily. By the sounds of it everyone wants that, wonder why there aren't more?

And more sun! Blue sky makes everything better.

olivehaters · 02/09/2023 00:26

Good bistro style pub. There are lots of Italians etc. But no lovely pub with amazing food less than 20 min drive. I think its the lack of older buildings available.

teenagetantrums · 02/09/2023 00:29

I live by the sea and near exmoor ...but l really wish we had a Chinese that delivered

UsingChangeofName · 02/09/2023 00:40

As I live on the outskirts of a thriving City, I already live close to virtually everything I could want to live near, but the one thing I'd love to have near is the sea. Well, sea and a beach. Smile

ShadyPaws · 02/09/2023 00:51

I live in a city town that's often slated on here but I'm 30 mins from the sea with
Plenty of cafes, libraries, Aldi, booths, all other supermarkets really, 5 mins from the motorway, a 21 mile circular walk/bike route that's off road, nice takeaways, 40 mins from incredible countryside

We don't have a Tesco though! But apparently one coming soon

I do wish I was closer to the wild swimming spots I love, they're both 45 mins or so away

BrokenHart · 02/09/2023 00:58

I live in a great city of culture with history, beautiful architecture, art, music, museums, parks, shops galore and a huge variety of restaurants and pubs serving cuisine and drinks from around the world. I'd trade it all for close proximity to a clear cold freshwater lake where I could swim every day. 😻

DrFoxtrot · 02/09/2023 01:00

I live near the sea and can see/ hear it from my bedroom window. I feel fortunate every time I look at it. The air here is so fresh.

I would love to be nearer to decent public transport 😆. Where the last bus home isn't 8.45pm (or 3pm on a Sunday!). But I wouldn't swap it for the seaside.

Georgie743 · 02/09/2023 01:22

Freshwater swimming - I'm 5 minutes walk from a lovely beach, but I have a fear of sharks - and my family.

MoiraRosesBaybay · 02/09/2023 09:12

This has made me realise how lucky I am.

Within a mile walk I have a number of different independent restaurants and cafes with a lovely view. We go out for breakfast there as often as we can.
Two streets away in front of my house is a huge park and literally over my back fence is another huge park.
A two mile walk in the other direction and I’m in open countryside.

Our town centre has gone to shit, but whose hasn’t to be honest. However we do have a street just outside the centre full of independent shops.

What I’d like is a decent pub. There is a pub right at the entrance to the park but it’s horrible. Beautiful grade 2 listed building but it has the vibe of a flat roof pub. It makes me so cross as it could be wonderful and with the park right there as well as our estate a properly run welcoming pub could be a real money spinner.
And a nice bakery.

I’ve lived by the sea several times and although it’s nice I’ve scratched that itch. I can walk less than a mile to a train station and be at the seaside in 15 minutes.