WYR Live in the Countryside, Visit the City or Live in the City, Visit the Countryside?

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Would you rather live in the countryside, with trips to the city, or live in the city, with trips to the countryside?

I live in Swansea - five minute walk to the beach and five minute walk to the city centre - best of both worlds. If I want green nature and waterfalls then I can drive here: https://penllergare.org in under 20 minutes.

Why is it shit?

Live in the countryside and not visit the city.

We live in a village very close to open countryside and visit the city every 6/8 weeks for shopping and dinner out, occasionally the theatre. We’re an hour away from the city using public transport as parking is both a nightmare to find and very costly.
Much prefer living in a village to a city as the peace and quiet is bliss.

Poverty! Nothing to do. Unemployment is high, salaries are low, redundancies frequent, rent is unaffordable and house prices are high. Opportunities are few & far between. Hospitals are rubbish. Sea is full of shit and tampons.

We prefer city.

I live right on the outskirts (so, pretty much countryside) of a town that is near a city.
I shop etc in the town.
I rarely visit the city. I visit it less and less with every passing year..

Live in the country and visit the city, which is what I do. I can’t stand the noise and the lights and the sensory overload of signs and cables and road markings etc etc etc, I like trees and birds.

Live in the countryside, visit the city. But I'd need a little village store and a pub within walking distance!

Live in the countryside and since retiring 3yrs ago, haven't been into a city.
Small towns are fine for us.👍

I live in the countryside and love it. I wouldn't cope living in a city - too much noise, hustle and bustle and people.

I'm happy surrounded by fields/sheep/cows 😂

I understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea though.

I live in the countryside (middle of nowhere) and visit the city as little as possible. Last time I went to a city was last September. I've only been to the nearest small town once since Xmas.

I live in a city, just a few minutes walk from a beach. It's perfect for me . . . I can head into the city for trains to London, shopping, the library, cinema, meals out etc or I can wander along the beach for miles

Done both. Live in the countryside and it wins hands down. I think there’s some naivety that you can’t get good food in the countryside - I’d argue we (inland) have better options than the nearest city and so do our relatives (coastal and enjoying all the fresh fish and seafood).

I think key is choosing a location that gives your family what is needs. We live in a large village with amenities. Teenagers can relatively easily get to places etc. I literally have a breathtaking wonderland on my doorstep every day.

If you're in a city and fulfil your notional “dream” to move to a stunning barn conversion in a field in the middle of nowhere with a family of sociable teenagers, a town and shop 5 miles away, it will probably be a bit shit. But also not representative of ALL countryside living.

This is what I have, only in my case I live in a small city. Everything I need is in walking distance, including green space, and there's plenty of buses for when I need them, including ones to a bigger city. We were so glad to have moved here, during lockdown, rather than be stuck in our old village.

Live in the city

Live in the countryside and never want to leave. My kids live in cities, so I do go but fortunately they live on the outskirts. I don't feel comfortable in a city, ppl don't make eye contact, smile or greet each other it is soooo different to what I'm used to.