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Original poster

Arty commuter places?

53 replies

Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 10:39

Exploring moving at the moment. Looking for a commutable arty/creative type town/village to London. Commute up to an hour. Maybe slightly more for right place. Have £700k max. Need 3 bed min. Have 2 children. Where would you recommend?! TIA x

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lastnightIwenttoManderley · 16/12/2014 10:53

Can you expand a little on the arty/creative type thing? Do you actually want crafting on your doorstep? Or more just a place which has a more culturally diverse attitude rather than Middle England pearls and twinsets?

Any preference on direction out of London i.e. Family in Kent/ Scotland/Hampshire which would steer you?

RCheshire · 16/12/2014 10:59

Knitting clubs I assumed ... sorry OP!

I'll assume you mean what I'd mean by that - which means places like hebden, totnes and Brighton. No places I know of like those closer to London. Lots try to be but end up a little "middle England wannabe edgy"

Somethingtodo · 16/12/2014 11:05

There are lots of places with a chi-chi cafe culture (Tunbridge Wells, St Albans, Winchester etc) -- but this is nothing more than middle class chains of coffee hops and restaurants....I think that the home counties are a victim of being so close to world class arts in London so just cant compete...only other suggestions are Cambridge or Oxford?

bigTillyMint · 16/12/2014 11:05

Whitstable is pretty arty, but might be a longer commute?

Blue69 · 16/12/2014 11:36

It would be Brighton, wouldn't it?

Bramshott · 16/12/2014 11:40

London does this wierd sort of "sucking" effect and its quite difficult to find a vibrant cultural scene without going a fair distance out, as people have said. You will probably have to decide what's most important to you - ease of transport links or the arty/creative stuff. Normally the worse the former, the better the latter...

toadhillflax · 16/12/2014 15:31

Cranbrook, Kent? No chains, all independent shops/cafes, theatre groups, a fair few galleries, art studios etc.

Original poster
Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 17:31

Yes as I suspected not much out there within reach of London. Yes not so much knitting on doorstep but that wider arty independent type feel I guess I mean.

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Original poster
Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 17:32

Lastnight any direction really if we ca find somewhere we could see ourselves living.

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Original poster
Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 17:34

Toadhill will take a look at cranbrook.

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Original poster
Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 17:35

Sorry drip posting here....Cambridge sounds interesting. Dh not keen on Brighton. I quite like it.

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Hedgehogsbuzz1 · 16/12/2014 17:35

Wolvercote near Oxford is quite alternative I've heard. No idea if it's true.

JulyKit · 16/12/2014 17:36

Lewes sounds right up your strasse, Lost.
That said, IMO there's 'artiness' anywhere if you're willing to look for it - or if you've the creativity and charisma (and spare time) to get the ball rolling yourself. But if you want to buy into obvious 'artiness' then look no further than Brighton/Lewes.

newgirl · 16/12/2014 17:36

St Albans has a film fest, a lit fest, 4 theatres, a new indie cinema? Does that help?

Original poster
Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 17:37

Am a bit nervous about the middle England chain culture thing but perhaps I'm being shortsighted and out of touch. Thought about TW or St. Albans but it doesn't quite sit well. Though schools good!

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JulyKit · 16/12/2014 17:38

Yep, Wolvercote's lovely (v v expensive indeed). Quite 'alternative' especially along the canal - but I'm thinking a musty houseboat probably isn't what Lost is looking for Grin and I'm not sure £700k would get something that fab for a family in N Oxford.

overmydeadbody · 16/12/2014 17:39

No, not Cambridge.

Cambridge is the opposite of Arty.

It is full of engineers and maths professors.

If you're looking for arty it is not here (in Cambridge)

ocelot41 · 16/12/2014 17:39

Wivenhoe but a bit over an hour? Canterbury?

JulyKit · 16/12/2014 17:39

What's wrong with Tunbridge and St Albans Lost?

Original poster
Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 17:40

July true true there is...

And yes perhaps I should instigate it and not "buy" into it

Good food for thought chaps

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ocelot41 · 16/12/2014 17:44

Wye is also a beautiful Kent village with a sizable greeny community and is within a hop skip and a jump of Ashford International which is 37 mins to KX. I luffs it. Quieter than Lewes, Totnes etc though.

JulyKit · 16/12/2014 17:45

The thing is, Lost, I'm not sure that 'arty' and 'commuter' sit that well side by side, IYSWIM... Grin

I'd love to be that person who gets 'artiness' going in an area where it's not really been much of a thing, BTW! It's a bit of a fantasy of mine, truth be told. Blush

JulyKit · 16/12/2014 17:45

Ooh,I like the sound of Wye...

overmydeadbody · 16/12/2014 17:47

Can anyone describe 'artiness' anyway, what would it look like in a town?

Maybe Cambridge does have what it takes?

Original poster
Lostmarblez · 16/12/2014 17:48

Not sure why St A and TW not sitting well...think should go look round again. Blooming expensive! wasn't sure it was quite the vibe I was after but f knows! I know st a has great pubs GrinGrinGrin

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