To ask where I can move that won't have depressing random nutcases and law-exempt criminal youth around every corner

[Fragmentedbrain]

I know it's nice to have a social safety net and I want that but we don't have it now it's just unfunded chaos and the press moaning about public sector workers.

So, Switzerland? Singapore? Where is feasible (in my forties so recognise that I'd need to make a damn good case for myself). Somewhere boring and hardworking with rules and clean streets and a health service you can access and no toleration for the stuff that's everywhere in the UK now.

I am prepared for the answer to be hard cheese you left it too late and now just need to stay indoors as much as poss until the sweet release of death.

The Highlands of Scotland !

But you'd have to eat haggis 😂😂

In 1995? It was shit.

To be fair, the 90s were fantastic, particularly the late 90s.

However I think things are pretty fantastic in 2025, so maybe I’m just a glass half full person!

@Fragmentedbrain Just come to Brixton and embrace the fun!!

I am in a lovely area of a national park - and it's got a foothold. Only in the past 5 yrs though. There appear to be no laws to keep a check on it.

I grew up in a world where we all believed the working class had no voice so we tried to advocate for that.

Now, they are the ONLY FUCKING VOICE: politically, culturally and across all media.

One thing I wouldn’t go back to is the consumerism of the late 90s/early 2000s. I was just a child but I remember how much STUFF people owned and how it was something to aspire to. And this was at a time when stuff was so expensive - £12 for one album vs £10/month unlimited music on Spotify, the cost of electrical goods and furniture was outrageous, etc. Granted everything else was cheaper so there was more money for stuff, but still, I’m so glad we’ve embraced minimalism and can spend more time and money on experiences. Surely that’s one advantage of living in 2025, OP?!

There are loads of places to live within the UK that don't have these issues. It's not my cup of tea but you could move to a village or town in the Cotswolds and be pretty certain not to encounter them. Or somewhere like Lewes or Rye?

Yes.

Bloody working class, speaking. How dare they!

I don’t think the UK is as privileged anymore…

And agree with other posters, London is cleaner/safer/better in so many ways than it was 30 years ago, and incomparably so compared with the 80s

Just move to a nice village in the countryside, eg Suffolk or Dorset or Gloucestershire?

What is your basis for comparison?

Surrey, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds are lovely e.g. Wiltshire

Cost of living, education, healthcare, quality of life

Surely there’s hundreds if not thousands of small leafy middle England villages mostly white middle class. Sounds like that’s what you’re looking for rather than a city?!

You’d definitely love Singapore. We lived there for a few years and it is exceptionally safe. And people follow the laws and rules and are just generally respectful of others. The last time I lived there a jay walker actually made the evening news because it was so unusual for someone to break the law in that way. We saw a police sign board, complete with life size police officer cut out, advertising the scene of a crime one day, at our local shopping mall. Wondered what on earth could have happened. Apparently someone’s bike had been stolen. They take things seriously there. Never got used to people just getting up and leaving their laptop, phone, bag, wallet etc on tables in restaurants, malls, outside in parks whilst they went to order or to visit the loo of whatever. Unlikely anyone would be nicking them so it was totally normal. It was so nice having relatively young children and knowing they safe walking around, going to the mall, down to the park etc. Think cyber crime is probably their biggest issue regarding crime.

I've been thinking about there a lot. I have skills I could use there... I understand the working hours are no joke but I guess if I want a certain lifestyle it's the price to be paid. Why did you leave in the end?

Just go somewhere with hardly any poor people.

Like some little Surrey Village. Or something.

Is that a joke ?!!!

Compared to?

There are places in the world where women aren’t allowed an education.

Healthcare in the UK places highly globally. Yes it’s stretched but it is open to all and the UK has some incredibly advanced medical treatment available.

As for quality of life… I understand wages have not increased at the same level as inflation but poverty is measured differently in ‘developed’ countries. Extreme poverty is more prevalent in ‘developing’ countries.

You are privileged.

Switzerland, Luxembourg.
Shetland Island?
I know someone who used to live in Shetland and would do anything to go back there.
Cape Verde that’s meant to be idyllic.
Turks and Caicos, our neighbours emigrated there.

There must be some nice places in the UK?
Cornwall, or Bath? Isle of Skye.
(I’m from a notoriously crap town in the NW of England so most places are better to me).

Was that to me?
We left as it was a limited contract. Did a few stints over the years. But ultimately you the skills they’re looking for and a company willing to pay. IT in case you’re wondering, but a specialist business area.

I will come back to you with stats to back this, but I do regularly read league tables comparing healthcare, housing etc and global happiness indexes.

Also, I’m comparing the UK to the UK over the past 10-20 years. It’s definitely got worse in my opinion. Tho yes, we do still have ok ish healthcare and relatively good education… but there is inequality in terms of access depending on your socioeconomic background.