Finding a bohemian/friendly community to move to

[KateD83]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice about lively and friendly, preferably bohemian communities in the UK. I'll be moving some time this year and am worried about being isolated moving to a new place in my late thirties and not knowing anyone at all (I was ill last year and became very isolated and don't want it to happen in a new place). I'm looking for somewhere that has plenty going on and a strong community feel, somewhere a little alternative would be perfect. As I work remotely I don't have any real ties, and I don't know where to start. Any advice very gratefully received!

Findhorn Foundation

Do you mean you’d like to live in an intentional community type of place? Or a town that has that vibe?

Parts of Brighton & Hove might suit you. There are lots of cultural things organised & I find it to be generally friendlier than most places. Good luck.

Town or country-ish?
Town I'd say Bristol.
Small towns/more rural - Totnes, Hebden Bridge.
I'm sure there are lots more but those spring to mind - I lived in Bristol for years and my daughter lives there and loves it, it has strong community sense and great alternative culture of all kinds.

Thanks so much for your replies! I am looking for a town (or city) that has a friendly community vibe, rather than an intentional community (although I hadn't considered that!). Does anyone have any advice on areas of Brighton and/or Bristol that are friendly and community-oriented?
Thanks all

Hanover in Brighton (locally known as Muesli Mountain) has a really strong community.

Close to Brighton is a town called Lewes that would suit what you're looking for. It's quite pricy in terms of housing being SE and good links to London but has a lovely vibe.

@KateD83 St Werburghs in Bristol

Bristol - South Bristol - Windmill Hill and the North Street area (both part of Bedminster, which as a whole is a mixed bag). East Bristol - St Werburghs. North Bristol - Gloucester Road area.
I really love Bristol and I know lots of other people who do, too.
That's not an exhaustive list by the way, it's just the bits I know best that I know would fit your bill.

Saltaire in West Yorkshire, there always seems to be something going on there.

Bristol is good, neighbourhoods vary, we are actually n Somerset but only 30 mins from city centre. Most neighbours are ex Bristol

Hebden Bridge
Frome

What’s your budget? I’m nrighton Perhaps check out Hanover, Queen’s Park & poets corner areas. The city feels pretty small tbh so most areas have nicer bits.
If on fb you could try posting on the group ‘Brighton girl’ as there is a good community there.
You may also consider the forest row area ☺️

Thank you so much everyone! Any areas of brighton or bristol to avoid? I'm new to either area and there's so many different bits, it would be good to know where not to consider...I'll be living alone so if there's any sketchy bits I should avoid please let me know My budget is up to about 340k so thanks to inflated prices I can't afford as much house as I could a year ago

Norwich

Totnes

Or ashburton nearby which is like totnes 20 years ago so yet to hit its peak

Machynlleth in mid Wales. It's a small market town that's heavily influenced by the nearby Centre for Alternative Technology.

Bristol - I'd agree with St Werburgh's and Windmill Hill, also possibly Totterdown and Montpelier.

Frome, Stroud and Totnes might also fit the bill if you want somewhere a bit less urban. And from what I've seen of it, parts of Norwich would also be good.

Maybe you could try looking at election results around the country and see where the highest number of Green Party votes are, as I think that may correlate with the kind of vibe you are looking for in an area? I am pretty sure all the places mentioned so far have strong Green electorates, except that Frome and Stroud have all-independent local councils.

Do you have any like-minded friends or contacts who could give you a way in to any likely places?

Totnes or Ashburton

I was also going to suggest Findhorn.

Frome
Stroud
Bristol
Totnes
Hebden Bridge
Brighton
Lewes

They would be my choices. Whitstable is decent too.

Bristol is a great city. Worked there for years but live in village just outside Bath.
West country is a good choice as there are still affordable pockets. My sister lives in Axbridge & loves it. Quite a few lovely houses in your price range. Loads going on all the time & Bristol, Cheddar, Devon, Dorset all within easy reach.
I was born in Brighton and lived there as a kid but ended up in the west country 22 years ago and can't imagine leaving!

I know this is an older thread but it’s really useful for future thinking!! For my two penneth I’ll add Shrewsbury has a good community vibe, lots of arts and eco things going on. Lots of rural South Wales has that kind of vibe. Congleton has quite a bit going on has a good yoga/vegan café there that always runs events and has that vibe.

Llanberis area there is quite a good community, also as previous poster said Machynlleth area near CAT. There is also a community in South West Wales in eco self builds, but not sure of the name.

Great thread! I'd love to find a boho community near Monmouth.