To ask which towns/cities have NOT gone to the dogs?

[Lieger]

We are likely relocating in a couple of years. Just seen a thread about towns being full of people fighting and off their heads on drugs, empty high streets, rubbish everywhere, tent cities etc. Is there anywhere in the UK that hasn’t gone to hell?

After 15 years of living in Edinburgh (in a variety of areas, with cruel and unusual house prices!), I've returned to the small city where I grew up.... Dunfermline. About 20 miles from my work in central Edinburgh (traffic is slow at rush hour, but a regular train service.)

High St has gone like many others, but we've got decent shops (huge supermarkets/out of town developments), council & private gyms, decent schools, a few nice restaurants & bars. Near to lovely beaches at Aberdour, Kinghorn, etc. - and about 45 mins to the East Neuk. Beautiful and plentiful parks, museum, library, theatres, and also the historical centre (ancient capital of Scotland, Abbey, Robert the Bruce grave...)

Biggest issue has been the huge expansion of new build houses, as it's seen as a commuter town base for Edinburgh. There's not much soul/life there, though. I was careful to look for somewhere more in the city centre, so I was nearer to facilities. I'm glad to have moved back here, but do miss the convenience of Edinburgh sometimes!

you’re welcome 😃😃

Just back from a short break in Skipton. Didn't see any sign of degradation or poverty while there, and the people were really friendly.

We also had a short break in Chester a few months ago, which was also devoid of such problems.

Both were mid-week breaks by the way, so no idea what they are like at the weekend.

Skipton.......................home of Whitakers Chocolates

Damn, we missed those 😟

my town
SE
i was thinking just today how much i love it
and been here 25 years
balances practical ie M&S, Tesco metro, boots, waterstones, WH smith with a exceptional blend of independent cafes, gift shops, health shops and clothing stores.
surrounded by beautiful parks

love love love it

Give us a clue.

TW

Yeah it's had it's ups and downs but I think that TW has mostly got nicer in the last 25 years. Has anything opened up where Cotswolds was?

@marzipanlover81 that's a lovely place- I feel same too here in Bath for similar reasons - yes the tourists and coaches can be a fag but at least it keeps it lively and mixed chain/indie - both to me are the right size, big enough to have lots of choice, small enough to be able to cross town to meet a friend in 15 minutes

Another vote for York here. Although it does get absolutely rammed in summer, and even more rammed during the christmas markets. But the suburbs are all very safe, and there are no dodgy areas, by the standards pf other places. Very good for schools as well - 4 outstanding high schools in a city of 100 000. However, property prices are very high for up north.

My home town too! The BDP would have you think otherwise, but it’s really rather nice ..

Bath looks nice and has lovely stone but scratch the surface and it’s not great.

But nowhere is. Unless you have at least a million. In which case you’ll live somewhere that’s an enclave of similarly deep-pocketed people and are part of the wider problem.

If it’s Twickenham yes, very nice around that part of town.

In that case, avoid the whole of North West Kent like the plague. The whole area is exactly as described in your OP 💐

no

i don’t have a million

i have lived here for over a de add so certainly “scratched the surface”

and my town is wonderful and thriving

I live here too...and (mostly) agree, but it does have its problems and pockets of deprivation (I visit some of them for work).

(Did you see Sostrene Grene is opening at the end of the month? Things may be on the up at the top end of town!)

hooray yes!!!!

undoubtedly
but pockets of deprived area doesn’t mean a town has “gone to the dogs”

Belfast and Derry are great thriving cities. How times have changed

There are more exciting names coming...if my daughter's intel is correct (she temps in the uni hols in the RVP).

@Climber84 I really don't recognise the picture of Cambridge you're giving. We recently moved from there to Suffolk, and unless it's changed drastically in the past 18 months then its not the hotbed of crime and drug dealing you seem to think it is. Our son lives just outside so I'm regularly back there. I feel very safe in the city centre. There's loads of independent shops if you stay away from the Grand Arcade.

It is expensive though

Saffron Walden is pretty but dull. Schools are all reasonable and secondary has just been given outstanding rating again by Ofsted. But I find it boring and soulless. Kids are part way through secondary and so no way could we move now but I am so bored I could cry.

Cambridge is nice but expensive. Chelmsford is busier with a lot more going on.

I wanted to defend Brighton as there is loads to do and see, brimming with cafes, restaurants, exhibitions, clubs, shops, gyms etc…
Then I sat outside a cafe with a coffee and in the space of 15 minutes I’d been asked for money three times. I don’t mind once but three times in 15 minutes and they were all whacked out of their minds 😞

Sad as Brighton has got some real pros - but also some real cons.