Craving the countryside away from London, but where?

[FastQuoter]

Hello,

I'm a mum of two and I and my DH (both African British) crave a more slower pace of living outside the hustle and bustle that is London. Places that we've visited such as Wintstable, Sutton, Meopham have made us swoon greatly.

My question is, which area would you recommend for a black family that wants to escape from the city, wants to grow their own fruit and veg, be part of a community and be able to commute to London for work in under 2 hours? Think buzzwords: farmers market, traditional lifestyle, Christian, picturesque walks

DH is not particularly fussed if there won't be MANY other black folks because we can get on with anyone as long as they are friendly too.

Bromley is super lovely and green, but expensive for what we ideally want. (3/4 bed semi with large garden).

If you live in a village/town area I'm super keen to read your experience.

What's your budget?

You can try North Wales. It's very quiet and peaceful and everyone is really lovely and welcoming. It's not too far from the nearby cities too (Liverpool and Manchester) if you want a break into the city from time to time. I know lots of people here who have their own farm, grow vegetables etc, have livestock and they seem happy.

Have you considered Newbury in Berkshire. Its proximity to the old Greenham Common American air base means we have a small but lovely established black population that have been settled here for decades.

40 mins into Paddington. It's not cheap but much cheaper than London.

Or perhaps Bristol way.

Can't help with location- I'm a city girl and had to be pried out of London to even move to a regional city, but my folks retired rurally in my native country and my dad became... a small fry YouTuber, of all things.

There are black families living off their land and documenting it. Randle family are well known. One of my dad's many YouTube friends is Genesis Homestead. He helped her sort out her composting issue when I was visiting him. There's a bunch of them who communicate about farming things and share tips and have become friendly. He's met a handful of other content creators (still weird to me he now considers himself that) if they pass through his region and has a several abroad he speaks to.

Who knows, if your local area is lacking, your community could be digital and global. It is for my dad!

Good luck with your location search and your plans for rural life.

North Wiltshire. 55 mins to Paddington from Swindon and lots of small towns/large villages that would meet your brief

At the moment £400k, however that may soon change to £500k-£550k

Aww that’s really lovely for your dad!

You know what I probably would document the lifestyle to encourage more black people to be open to it and develop a community whether digitally or IRL. Thanks for the channels, I’ll definitely check them out!

We visited Wales last year and the drive there was wonderful, my DH fell in love with the scenery, the fresh air and the Welsh are so lovely and kind! Unfortunately it’s just quite a way away from family in the city. Sigh..

Hmm 40 mins in is great! I’ll check it out some more. Though I suppose you’d have to travel to Reading for other things like hair products, food items etc right? That’s about 30 mins drive 😖

Canterbury? (very big with the Christian's and there are lots of actively involved Christian's and faith groups.
Student population is diverse, older people less so, but welcoming.

Lots of lovely little villages very close to Canterbury, cheap for the south east.

I keep reading that Swindon isn’t a nice place to live! But yes perhaps can look at the neighbouring villages as I’ve heard Wiltshire is nice overall.

Hastings. You get sea, beach, cliff walks, and you can definitely afford a house with a decent sized garden. There is a smallish black community, but it's growing, and there's an annual reggae festival and an African-Carribean restaurant. You mention Christianity too - which definitely exists - and if by any chance you're Catholic there's the best secondary school in the county (in Bexhill) though there are practising Christians of other denominations too.

Check out Bracknell and the surrounding villages - lovely countryside and a growing black community, and I know of at least 3 black churches (Apostolic on Bay Road, Easthampstead Baptist, and Bracknell Victorious Assembly which is RCCG).

Maybe look for where churches of your denomination have been established around the UK and that will lead you to a perfect place!

Could you rent somewhere in case you don't like it. Possibly try a couple of areas. It's quite a significant change, sometimes grass is not greener. Not to be negative only realistic as we left London and came back after 4 years only because we hadn't sold up. Good luck OP.

I keep reading that Swindon isn’t a nice place to live! But yes perhaps can look at the neighbouring villages as I’ve heard Wiltshire is nice overall.

Swindon is Swindon, not North Wiltshire. Different LA.
Have a look at Marlborough, Brinkworth, Wootton Bassett, Devizes, Malmesbury....

True. Oh I’ve heard Devizes is beautiful and the pictures show that clearly. 3+ hours to London by train though

Realised that I replied you but without quoting 😅

That's certainly an option as we're renting atm. However I think we'd want to pour money into our own property now instead of on someone else's.

Thank you, it's going to require a lot of prayer and research on this one.

Thank you that's a very good shout, we're baptist and know of some churches across the UK. Will need to look into where they are again.

I'll certainly look into Bracknell and it's environs.

Interesting, I've never really considered coastal areas - I'll have to look into it more though I'd honestly prefer a more inner village/ town area with surrounding forests/woods etc

Well that's the problem if you live away from a city/town that has an established black population.

If you choose to live rurally then you have to plan when you get haircuts, when you do your shopping, etc as you can't just walk or jump on a bus to the nearest shops.

Also others who aren't black but live rurally have to do the same but it's less hard as they just go to the nearest large supermarket to get most things. Though I know, from some of the work I do, even they have to plan haircuts.

That’s fair enough, just have to be well organised I guess. For hair I do it myself and as for food I’m hoping to be able to grow more things myself 😊

Ha! Same here. I live in Tonbridge with most of my family still in London. My husband is born and bred locally. At first I used to make a trip to London to do my hair but now, for the last 5 years, I do my own hair. Crochet braiding isn't too difficult and there is a variety of styles. I don't lose a whole day out of my weekend and I fit it around my 2DCs.

There is an international food shop in both Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells so I can get the food I want. My mum visits regularly and brings a bag full too.

We do have a garden possibly big enough for a veg patch and most of our neighbours have fruit trees. My neighbour across the road has an impressive veg patch. I have grown tonnes of lavender in my garden as I love watching the bees and the smell of it is my current obsession.

Plenty of picturesque walks in the area.

Several Christian churches here in Tonbridge so you are ok on that front.

Trains to London are regular enough and the fast ones are about 35mins to 40mins from Tonbridge to London Bridge. I commute from Hildenborough from my North Tonbridge home, whilst Tonbridge station is closer, I avoid the school run traffic and also get a free parking spot as I am an early riser.

Speaking of schools, we are in grammar territory which you will need to take into account for the 11+ test.

As for your budget, I reckon you will need the upper end of the budget to afford anything decent within 1 mile distance of the station.

It's not - it's an hour by train from Paddington from Chippenham or Pewsey and then 30 mins drive to Devizes.

However, outside of Swindon (which is not what you're looking for) N Wilts is extremely white, so I would definitely rent rather than buy to see it it really works for you.

Ah okay! Sounds really lovely and certainly not too far from London.

I did DoE in Tunbridge Wells and absolutely loved it, it was a place I wanted to live - so idyllic and beautiful. But houses prices are certainly not cheap if you’re want the right house.

We may look to rent at first so I’ll see what that’s saying in that region!

Thank you so much for the info!