To be sick of people looking down on the town I live in?

[Beboopbadoopie]

I'm 40 and have lived here for 10 years, before I had kids and after (I have 2 under 5) and recently we've randomly bumped into several old school friends in different places and when we say where we live they say something like, 'oh really?' and one person even said 'why!?' and another told me its a dive! It's happened lots in the past too. Where we live is not terrible, it's just the worst looking town locally (live in a very pretty area) and the high street is pretty much dead. I think people think it's rough but I've noticed a lot of posts about crime in other 'nicer' local towns so feel it's kind of a similar level (I have never felt unsafe here but there's the odd shop break in or smashed shop windows but nothing major and I've noticed these incidents in nicer towns nearby too)

We bought here because it's a lot cheaper than everywhere else (for a reason it seems!)We renovated our house so we are in a good position financially now which means I only have to work part time and am around more with the kids which I want. We have a lovely house, amazing neighbours, a great park and leisure centre around the corner, 3 good cafes (not loads but better than nothing), a great library for the kids, several supermarkets, a train station to that goes directly to major cities.

I'm getting pretty fed up with the negativity from other people because it makes me feel a bit shit, and I'm bringing my kids up here and that's what people are going to think when they say where they live and I don't want people to look down on them. I have thought of moving but feel it's an extreme reaction and also we'd have to double our mortgage. How can I stop it from bothering me? It's so annoying!

Croydon has some lovely areas and private schools. They had one of the first airports. They have some gorgeous Victorian and Edwardian houses.

We have some stunning countryside and beautiful villages all across the Midlands!!!

Where in England isnt run down? The whole country looks like it peaked in 1939 and gave up the ghost after that.

If you love the town and it works for you the screw them all.

I lived in a pretty, prosperous East Midlands village surrounded by lovely countryside and hated every second. I’d been far happier living next to a crack den in north east London.

Yes. I grew up in one.

The town centre has gone downhill, but there are a lot of residential areas that are lovely - Sandilands and parts of South Croydon, Selsdon and Sanderstead for example.

Your post makes no sense.

YOU generalised about 'southeners'

Tell people they get an opinion when they pay your mortgage/rent. Until then, they should zip it.

And that at least you don’t have to ship your kids out of town to get them to a decent school.

I am from Teesside but live in the South East. Don't worry I always stick up for the North when the Southerners get going! 😅

Do you challenge them when they're having a go?

Lots of places have bad reps from years past that linger, especially with people who've either never lived there and only know the stereotype, or people who grew up there and left before it got better.

Be honest though...is what they're saying accurate? You'll never convince people that a town with an empty high street is great for shopping, but you might be able to surprise them with some benefits they're not aware of.

Southerners living in the NE are snobbish about Northerners? Seems unlikely.

It’s lazy stereotyping.
My home town ALWAYS comes up on these threads. It’s come a long way since the 80s but ignoramuses on here still trot out the same old tropes.

London and the South East alone bring in 45% of tax revenues each year to the UK so of course they will get more investment.

I’m originally from Mansfield and I live in Bath - all I can say is there’s ups and downs everywhere - my Mansfield friend envies me the ‘naice ’ shops, the buskers, the bars and old pubs , the vibe on a nice sunny day . I envy her the ability to have a very nice house, work very very part time, retired at 55 , 4 holidays abroad a year and the fact she has grown up children and grandchildren locally .

lifes about choices and so long as you are happy with your choices that’s all that matters.

Swindon?

Twinned with Southwold!

There's lots of snobbery about the town I live in. Yet we have loads of people visit for the local forest as it's beautiful there. I love where I live.

I used to live in Hull, and got so much flack for it. But I found everyone to be really nice and found it to be a quiet city with a great feeling of community. I understand why it isn't for some people. We left to go somewhere with more chance of progression in my husband's career. But, it doesn't deserve the reputation it gets

My money is on Chippenham! Surprised no one else has mentioned it.

I’m guessing aldershot!

Chatham
Strood
Rochester

Eastleigh

Or boscombe!

Congrats! We live right next to it unfortunately 😂

Heckmondwike
Cleckheaton
Dewsbury (Karen Matthews, no further description required)
Ravensthorpe
Shields in NE
Huddersfield
Barrow In Furness

I live in a village just up the hill from Cleckheaton on an estate, its actually a really nice area with a wonderful school and delicatessens and bakeries in walking distance.
People think its rough but if it was I would not have brought up 3 children here, the neighbours would give you their last biscuit if they thought you needed it.