do you live somewhere amazing?

[RiverTam]

I'm talking location-wise, not house-wise.

After a summer of being out and about in the countryside we are (again!) pondering a move out of London. So I thought I'd turn to MN with this question.

Do you live somewhere amazing - I'm talking about fantatsic countryside/beaches, that kind of thing, somewhere you'd recommend unreservedly? Good schools, decent housing, access to a bit of culture should you fancy it. City, small town, village.

It's me, DH and DD (4).

Anywhere in England. North, south, east or west, or slapbang in the middle. But not London .

Just somewhere you think couldn't be bettered. Oh, and why would be good to know too!

Yes, sorry!

I guess I found 'amazing places to live' rather sweeping, and was answering that basic premise.

Bath. 90 mins train to Paddington. Beautiful city; Bristol just down the road too. Lovely countryside within walking distance of the city centre.

Here's what £700k could get you.

York might suit. It's not terribly cultured but it's got a theatre, museums and a few festivals, there's often European markets etc going on, some good parks and obviously lots of history. The city centre is nice to just walk around, especially along the river (Ouse) paths, but very busy during tourist seasons. Location-wise it's about 40 mins drive (25? on the train iirc) from Leeds for more big-city options, Manchester is roughly between an hour to 1h30 away (whether airport or city), Scarborough and Whitby can be very busy for traffic but normally an hour or less away. Plus there's the moors and dales if you fancy some spectacular nature and Ripon has a lovely NT site (Fountains Abbey with water gardens and deer park). It's pretty accessible for getting around the country as far as trains go too; there's commuter trains to London that are about 2hrs otherwise it's just over 3hrs. All that depends on if you mind the travel!

It's a lovely city but a bit boring; I was at uni there years ago and worked with someone who was born and grew up there and she couldn't wait to move somewhere a bit more exciting, but mostly people love it and I only hear positive things.

wow, that's very nice! Bath is also actually somewhere where DH and I might actually be able to get jobs in our industry. Somewhere I've visited but not really thought about living in.

Minkah - I'm broadening my horizons here and am interested in what other people find fantastic about where they live. We are in the very fortunate position of probably being able to live mortgage free if we leave London, and could therefore almost do anything (DH found a house with caravan park for sale yesterday, not something I would have thought of doing but hey, why not?).

I love Fountains Abbey, it's one of my favourite places, I went as a child as have such vivid memories of it. Can't wait to take DD there. And York is a gorgeous city, remember the Jorvik Centre, but it does feel very small, because it is, I suppose! But we'd certainly get a lot of visitors!

I think I'm getting more sold on 'oop north', more so than DH who isn't so keen, but at the very least I'm going to push for going on holiday there next year.

Birmingham! I know it gets rubbish press. But we have great parks, beautiful countryside on our doorstep, a city centre which has everything, and if you want to go elsewhere, the transport links to the rest of the country are brilliant.

Spindelina

I would turn up on the doorstep of that Bath house with a suitcase full of spondoolies and ask to move straight in.

I love that City sooooooo much!

we know Brum well, DH grew up there and FIL still lives there so we go up a lot, and I agree, it's a great city and easy access to the countryside (couldn't be further from the sea if it tried, I guess!). I think we could even afford Edgbaston or sommewhere like that.

But not sure that DH wants to go 'back', IYSWIM.

It depends what you class as amazing! I love where we live, but mainly because we are happy there.

We're in Cheshire and whilst we live in the 'burbs with no view of the sea / beach etc, we have most things within a pretty short drive. Manchester City Centre is half an hour away on the tram / train with all that has to offer, theatre / museums / trendy bars and restaurants, gorgeous places such as Dunham / Tatton within a bike ride, amazing schools and a real sense of community. Local market, lovely high street within walking distance with boutiques / restaurants / independent shops. Airport a 10 min drive away, fast trains to London.

Street party every year in our little cul-de-sac, gap in the hedge in the back garden so our children can play with neighbours' children, know, speak to and socialise with our neighbours (never happened when we were in London!) and a better work / life balance.

Wouldn't go back to London with children for anything.

Another one here who doesn't buy all the 'everyone is racist/ukip/tory/narrow-minded outside of London' nonsense. I lived in London for ages and did not notice it being a haven of enlightenment, intellectualism and benevolence to all.
Whereas when I've been spending time in our new area, people have been so friendly and helpful.
Wherever you live, there are always people around whose views you don't share. You don't have to make friends with them!
We left London 12 years ago and I don't think I'd ever live in a city again.

Northumberland is lovely

Essex, if you still like London but don't want to live there. Where I am, north Essex and on the coast £700k will buy you a lovely detached 5 bed with a bit of land. You can get to London in an hour, have the coast for walks, water sports, lots of lovely countryside to play in. More and more farmers markets etc. cropping up. Decent gastro pubs. Nice local towns and villages and hopefully a decent school if you pick wisely. In the smaller towns great community spirit.

Wiltshire is lovely - I live within 30 mins of both Bath and Salisbury, delightful. If i want more action it's Bristol but that is a bit of a slog to get to.

I've also lived on the edge of the Peak District which was great and close to both Sheffield and Manchester.

No beaches close to either of the above - my old home in Spain was though.

"Another one here who doesn't buy all the 'everyone is racist/ukip/tory/narrow-minded outside of London' nonsense."

Hear hear.

Comments like that say more about the person who said it than anywhere outside of London.

Minkah I find your views rather narrow and xenophobic London centric

Yes, I was expecting exactly that kind of response, bun baker.

I was just speaking from experience, but have no axe to grind and don't mind being ignored. No worries.

spindelina that house in Bath, and Bath itself, is fab!

Oh, and I'm originally from the London area, and my family are the worst lot of London-centric people I have ever met.

They talk about "up North" as it is were another country.

We just need someone to say "and you can have a mansion up north / in the country for the price of a London shoebox" and we'll have a full house of northern misconceptions

Heh heh! I won't drag the thread off topic of amazingness any further, but have to add in I do understand how annoying London centric ness is, having relatives in sheffield and spending a lot of time there growing up,I got dished plenty of prejudice from all the sheffielders I met who instantly on intro made negative reference to London as 'posh' and 'rich' and 'superior' etc. The North South divide was drummed into me by northerners, when I was in the North.
Ridiculous, isn't it. We're all human.

we live in the south lakes, enough of the lake district to not be in the hoards and close to morecambe bay, great schools, food and area.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45966427.html

Edge of a village overlooking a valley just outside of Bath. Rural but Bristol and Bath close by and not far from London on the train.

I see deer from my house regularly but still have shops etc nearby.

Christchurch/southbourne in Dorset is amazing!! Right on beautiful sandy beach and riverside.. Minutes from the edge of the new forest. Could not wish for a more lovely place to be

If i was going to move anywhere from where we live now it would be the isle of man - cracking place to live, lots of culture etc going on, fantastic schools, and very low tax rate.

schools system on the island is so much better resourced than the UK

Another for far flung reaches of Cornwall. Quiet for most of the year, a vibrant local community, fabulous local state schools, a mile from the beach.

Love love love it.

I'm in north norfolk
It's beautiful.
In fact I'm about to go and walk the dogs on the heaths with a view of the sea

Would agree with some of the comments about Ukip. We do have a problem with them around here but all I can say is if you fancy moving here, please do as the anti ukips need more support.