City and country and my child… please share your opinion?!

[singlemumm1]

I am a single parent or more of a lone parent really. DH left me with our five month old last year and we’ve barely heard from him since. I moved back to be with family and although it’s a very nice place, it’s a village and so quiet … as a single parent I find it quite isolating. Prior to the break up I was used to suburban life, enjoyed it.

I am now thinking of moving to a northern city like Sheffield, Manchester or leeds. I would live in a suburb, it would make family around an hour away (they don’t provide much practical help so that’s not a thought really).

Would I be stupid to do this? Everyone says country life is good for a child but then places like Sheffield and Leeds are so close to countryside anyway? It’s very safe here and very civilised (for want of a better word!) and I do feel maybe I am being selfish in wanting to do this.

I wondered if anyone had any experience or village versus city/suburban life with a child? What’s best? My work is largely remote so again that’s not really much of a factor.

Suburbs are pretty much designed to be family friendly. I’d go crazy living in a village!

As an alternative; what about a commuter town? I live in a commuter town and it’s the best of both worlds. Population approx 50,000 but half an hour on a train from a large city. I live around a 10 minute walk from the centre of town, the houses around me are mostly owned by families with young kids, it’s not in a city so is a little safer (crime rates where I live are significantly lower than in areas with homes which cost around my price point in the nearest city) and I’ve got everything I need on the doorstep; with the added advantage of being about 5 minutes drive away from the green belt and associated countryside.

Thanks @PlantMum23 ! I don’t suppose you know any nice places like that in Sheffield?

Nope, I don’t know that area at all - I’d start by looking at a railway map though!