People moving out of cities but wanting all the things that a city offers

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Messages go something like this;
Hi, my husband and two kids and I are moving out of our one bed flat in x city and would like to find an area we can afford a four bedroom detached house. It MUST have great transport links to a neighbouring city, a thriving home Ed community, vegan bakery, great Lebanese food, a variety of brunch places and cool live music venues.

But that's why we all live in cities?!! There is no magical semi rural place with all the nice, cultural bits, jobs, facilities, public transport with cheap houses.
City life isn't for everyone so you either compromise on space or location. If you move out to the suburbs or the countryside then you know that you will no longer have those things in walking distance.
This is not just on mumsnet but in real life too. I work in a much cheaper area, bits are nicer, there is more green space but it's just not worth giving up the job opportunities, museums and like minded people you get in a city. My friends that have moved out have changed their whole life styles, more driving, more countryside, more meals in chain restaurants in retail parks, I'm not judging it at all! As someone who can barely afford to live here, I can't afford to eat out at all so all the new, cool pop up street food places are wasted on me anyway. But I still love being here.
AIBU

@Crikeyalmighty no - up in Yorkshire.

@overthinkersanonnymus Australia!
Some people who move moan about everything (usually they are the ones that move back!)

• no country side
• foods not the same???
• too hot?
• it rains in winter?

I have heard and seen some very random things that make me face palm haha

What puzzles me @Bethebest is who all these outsiders are buying these houses off. Because you can bet your life it’s a “local” who has cashed in. I’m often amazed at the vitriol for incomers but none for the locals who’ve taken their thirty pieces of silver.

I live in a small city. Right in the centre. No complaints here at all. I do drive. I have a car. I rarely use it.

I live rurally and don’t drive. I love it. 😂

I grew up in a village. Never again.

Not true to say places outsid3 of the city just comprise of retail eateries. Many villages and small towns have changed dramatically over the years, and have lovely quirky places to eat and dine out.

😂 bit of a pointed post about yesterday's thread but LOL nevertheless

But that's why we all live in cities?!! There is no magical semi rural place with all the nice, cultural bits, jobs, facilities, public transport with cheap houses.

I agree with you - up to a point. But there are plenty of places which aren't in Cities, and yet have reasonable transport links to one for the more 'cultural things. Population of my small town is less than 13,000. But 30 minutes by train to 1 city and 45 minutes to another. Bus services are abysmal but we do both drive. Surrounded by countryside whichever direction we go

@coliqua ah some lovely spots up there that do indeed have these facilities and are semi affordable- ironically Frome looks quite similar to Holmfirth or Hebden Bridge - I think it's one reason we like Somerset- a lot if it is quite Yorkshire like with the big hills and stone houses etc

Thing is people are often looking 'down south ' and most places with that kind of vibe are ££££££

Ahh outed myself. Posset.

Yep. It's Celtic for triangle valley. There's a motorway service station called it.

I love living rurally. I do miss some things but not enough to ever go back to city life. I can just visit and indulge myself occasionally. I'll take the cheap housing, clean air, peace and quiet, and nature over people living on top of each other in a smoggy traffic jam nightmare.

I dunno - there is something that's not a city, nor is it rural, but it may have most of the things on that list. It's called a town.

Hmm I live in a commuter town. We have loads of places to eat and drink. Theatre woodland Meadows waitrose etc. And far too many Londoners incoming who buy up the houses and rarely do anything locally. Well at least before covid they would commute into London , work socialise in London then come back on a late train. Thankfully since more now work from home they are actually getting involved with more stuff in the town

The hones counties are a fair balance.

*home

I'm sorry, I have posted that exact sentence!

In my defence, I can drive and am thankfully back driving. But medically I was unable to drive for a nearly 2 years. I vented on here a good bit about that. A lot of advice I got even after saying I am medically not allowed drive right now was 'learn to drive' or 'move'.

Anyway yes OP. Or people that say farmers need to give notice before spreading slurry/ using machines/ moving cattle/ doing anything that disrupts the beautiful idle. We recently enough had some 'big city folks' complaining to my FIL about the local piggery and that the smell needed to be, I'm not even sure what he thought the solution would be.

Escape to the Country On being shown a stone built cottage with good views and the two or three bedrooms they require.
They start saying about knocking 'this through' or adding an extension 'there'.
Changes the character immediately.
Sixty yr olds with health probs already nearest Dr 7 miles away. nearest Post office and store 4 miles. No Buses.

The local may have cashed in...when they died or have had to move nearer children in the cities. And if someone wanted to pay £10k over the asking price would you honestly say no, especially as your job is based on the traditional local economy so you probably ain't earnt much, just have a basic state pension and the extra £25k that tarquin from London is prepared to pay....

How often do we hear about people coming to the UK from other countries then moan because things are different that in their country, it's an attitude that's the same all over the world.

I live near a pretty riverside town which is prone to severe flooding. There are flood barriers nowadays but the recent storm caused the river level to rise so rapidly they couldn’t erect the barrier.
No local would dream of buying one of the riverside houses. Before the flood barriers the houses were flooded most years. They are very chocolate box houses and attract the city crowd who visit during the summer. They obviously ignore all advice particularly since the barriers were installed.
Cue the sob stories in the local newspaper this week with the sad faces and wet carpets. All moaning about the environment agency not installing the barriers.
The local rule of thumb is “ don’t buy a house which is lower lying than any of the local churches. They’ve been there hundreds of years without being flooded so it’s a safe bet the river isn’t going to reach their level. Anything lower is likely to be on the flood plain.
We’ve recently had major complaints in our village from newbies regarding the number of tractors on the roads and the mess they make.

There is a scrumpy and Weston band called the skimmerty hitchers. Listen to West country holiday on you tube. Sums the situation up completely.

I live in a gorgeous market town with a great community feel, 500 year old market, literary festival, fringe festival, beer festival, car festival, antiques market, hour to London. And, hell. Can even get to Margate in half an hour.

Who needs a city?

I moved to a rural area and I can't drive. I picked somewhere with good public transport. It's since been cut a lot, but you know, you make do. Also, Waitrose deliver.