Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Multicultural families

Here's where to share your experience of raising a child or growing up in a multicultural family.

Original poster

Black family - moving outside of London

82 replies

Forfamily · 26/08/2019 23:12

Hi All.

I wonder if you can help?!

Myself (Jamaican heritage) and DH (Nigerian) want to move outside of London but are finding it a bit of a struggle.

We want to step away from the business of London and live in the countryside (not the sticks!) where our DD's (6 and 3) can play outdoors more and have access to better schooling opportunities etc.

Along the search so far we have found that in some parts of the North England you can get a double take or two (being either the only black people there or one of the very few) or the area's we can afford are really rundown and not the places we want to live.
We were in Leamington Spa and I fell in love with the high street, parks, even the people seemed friendly enough but some parts were really rough and sadly those area are more within our price bracket 🙁

It's so scary as you just don't know what your getting yourself into as we are stepping into the unknown. We both have been in South London all our lives.

So of there's anyone that can give suggestion on areas that would be great! Or if you are in the same position- get in touch!

What we are looking for:
•Great community/friendly town
•Access to local amenities
•Town centre with good high street store Next, Zara, M and S, H and M and good charity shops tooSmile
• Good schools
•Period properties
• Local parks that are safe
• Somewhere accepting so we all can make friends and settle well.

I hope you can helpGrin

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Newearringsplease · 26/08/2019 23:14

There's some nice places in Coventry and it's pretty diverse, and you can still visit Leamington Spa!

abitoflight · 26/08/2019 23:46

Price range?

PotteringAlong · 26/08/2019 23:48

Are you classing Leamington Spa as northern England? Grin

Newcastle?
York?
Leeds?

Heratnumber7 · 26/08/2019 23:58

North Wilts, just a long the M4 (not Swindon though)

twilightcafe · 27/08/2019 00:01

We've been in Banbury for nearly a decade. You most certainly won't stick out here, or get funny looks. I've seen you a PM.

Cabezona · 27/08/2019 00:01

Leamington is midlands. You'll have to learn that if you move there.

Northamptonshire, Coventry, derby? All would fit and probably in budget?!

Wearywithteens · 27/08/2019 00:16

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Comefromaway · 27/08/2019 00:19

There are parts of Birmingham that are close to the countryside although Birmingham itself is obviously not.

Floralnomad · 27/08/2019 00:29

Lots of places in Kent would fill the brief .

PancakeAndKeith · 27/08/2019 00:32

Do you need to be near anywhere for family etc?
Norwich is nice, affordable, multicultural and you can be in London in 1h45.

ElliePhillips · 27/08/2019 05:40

Cheltenham perhaps?

I'm black, my husband is white. I'm a Londoner. I've just got back from visiting my best friend and her husband (both white) who live Cheltenham and it was really lovely. Pretty city and great countryside surrounding it.

No-one stared at us, (or our child), or me in particular while walking around the town centre. A lot of black people were on our journey there from London who seemed local.

I once listened to a Radio 4 doc about BAME British people who worked at GCHQ and quite a few said they were Cheltenham and Gloucester born and bred and sounded happy about that.

MrsSchadenfreude · 27/08/2019 05:46

Norwich is multicultural???

HollyBollyBooBoo · 27/08/2019 05:51

I wouldn't class somewhere like Norwich as multicultural. It's about 90% white British population compared to somewhere like Nottingham that is 65%.

Op if you want to be in the midlands there are plenty of places in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire that would fit the brief.

What's your price range?

Lanaa · 27/08/2019 05:54

Norwich Norfolk is the least multicultural place aI can think of. I quite like boating on the broads but the stares are irritating. One shopkeeper almost fell over when my white DP came up and kissed me and another's first words to me were, "Oh, you can speak English."

What about Manchester and surrounding areas. Great facilities and shops in and around the city, good transport and some really nice suburbs, small towns surrounding.

Lanaa · 27/08/2019 05:55

Avoid Mansfield if you want Nottinghamshire.

caranx · 27/08/2019 05:58

Leicester city is v diverse, something like 50%white, 40% asian, 10%BME

Somewhere like Oadby in south Leicester might fit your brief depending on your budget...

Divebar · 27/08/2019 06:01

Norwich is possibly the whitest place I’ve ever visited. Nottingham is very cool but probably too urban for what you want. Somewhere on the outskirts like Southwell or Newark maybe ? ( Newark being the more affordable.... not sure how multicultural they would be though)

BoopBoopedooBoo · 27/08/2019 06:03

Gloucester. It's lovely. It's very working class in appearance, but I found it friendlier than Cheltenham. I quite miss it.

There was community spirit when I lived there a decade back. And it was multicultural

greentheme23 · 27/08/2019 06:16

If you want multicultural and rural then Bradford or Leeds surely? We live in Leeds and there are many rural areas. We have just had two days of the West Indian Carnival here. Your certainly not going to get stared at for being a black family here!

Toneitdown · 27/08/2019 06:19

There are lots of districts in Manchester that would tick all of those boxes. Although I'm getting the vibe you don't want to go too far away from London...

Sewingbea · 27/08/2019 06:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Forfamily · 10/09/2019 11:26

Oh wow! I'm overwhelmed by the response. We've just got back from holiday to a stream of replies! Thank you all for taking the time out to give suggestions on areas we can look into.

Sorry, I was half asleep when I wrote the OP. What I was saying was after heading north and not feeling we would like to settle there we moved on to the Midlands (Leicestershire/ Lem Spa).

Something that's heading the decision with location is schools; we are currently spoiled where we are and I think that's what's making so hard.
But I will for sure take on board areas mentioned and we'll take some more trips!

OP posts:
KennDodd · 10/09/2019 11:33

Where I live is lovely. Near the coast, really nice city close by with good employment opportunities and some of the best schools in the country. It's overwhelmingly white British though, I don't know if that might rule it out for you?

medicstudentmum · 10/09/2019 11:34

We have just moved to the West Midlands! We've ended up in a small village which is beautiful and has lots of lovely dog walks in open countryside, yet you can hop on a train and get to Birmingham in half an hour! Where we are it's about 10 miles from Leamington. The thing that attracted us to this area was the fact that there are lots of very good schools hereaboutsSmile

Original poster
Forfamily · 10/09/2019 11:36

@sewingbea Wow. Super informative! Thanks so much.
I have been checking out the areas you have mentioned and I will definately be heading to Coventry one weekend soon. Its not too far from london as that is important to us and the easy commute for DH is even betterSmile

Are there any areas to avoid in your opinion?

Really appreciate it!

OP posts: