Help me find this small town! Like Northern Exposure, moose optional,, in the bottom half of England.

[CondoleezzaRiceKrispies]

Want to move to somewhere with a sense of community and interesting people. Somewhere with a good pub and welcoming to newcomers. Where is it?

why the bottom half of england?

IME you only get the 'northern exposure' kind of feeling in areas where the towns are quite isolated and so more self-reliant - nowhere in the south of england is like that (maybe far south west?).

You will find that feeling in Northumberland, Cumbria, Highlands of Scotland etc.

Agree with maybenow - so if has to be bottom half I'd look at Cornwall, Devon, Dorset

North Norfolk?

Can you narrow down bottom half of the country?

I can name a few villages around me that fits your criteria.

Birmingham and below.
Love the idea of Norfolk, but the nearest I've been is Suffolk!

The town doesn't necessarily have to be isolated, it's more about that idea of it being a real community.

Is anyone able to name specific towns/villages? If you're already living in this utopia and don't want anyone else to know, I promise I won't tell anybody!

Love the idea of Dorset too.

I will PM you the name of the village but it has a cricket club, good pub in the next door village, lots of interesting people, great village school, Artsreach activities and close to the sea?

Flaming heck, sounds perfect!

Does it have slightly bonkers people who organise fetes and that type of thing? I love a fete.

Can't remember if they ahve a fete or not but all the other villages aronud here do.

Yes, I think what I want is somewhere with artists, inventors, history professors, a fete (with torchlit procession), great schools, chicken in a basket, a pub with a donkey and lots of lovely welcoming people.

Very active local art scene

Off the top of my head places like you describe are: Bridport, Hebden Bridge, Glastonbury

Lewes in East Sussex? they are big on torchlit processions.

Bridport
Sidmouth
Shaftesbury
Cerne Abbas
Shepton Mallet
Trowbridge
Frome
Bridgewater
Glastonbury just that bit TOO touristy
and yes, Hebden if oop north

get inspired here .... www.somersetcarnivals.co.uk/images.asp

I was going to say Hebden bridge but that's definetly north.

Royal Wootton Bassett. Fantastic community.

Thanks! Lots of great ideas. Any I should rule out on the grounds of too much lentil weaving and dogs on bits of string?

I would say Bridport too.

Shropshire / Worcestershire / Herefordshire area quite good for towns with community feel...

Grew up in Tenbury Wells, and would say that both it and Ludlow (and places in between and around, like Church Stretton or Much Wenlock) might well fit your criteria. Ludlow's a bit up-market-and-foody perhaps now...

Chipping Norton?

Cornwall

St Ives?

I lived in Shropshire, sorry but I found it pretty unfriendly. Everyone seemed to have the same friends from primary school so didn't particularly welcome incomers.

My suggestion for sense of community - try an island - Isles of Scilly? Isle of Man?

Shropshire, triangle between shrewsbury, much wenlock and church stretton - try condover, longnor, frodesley, plaish, acton burnell, cardington etc

Thanks! Need to do some road trips!