What do you love about where you live? (Either house or location)

[Kismett]

We see a lot of problems come up here, but I thought it might also be nice to see why people love where they live. This can be either about your location, or your specific house.

Even if it's not a dream house/location, is there something that you really love? It could be your whole town or one bookcase, doesn't matter.

Moved to rural Hampshire, much nicer larger house, loads of wildlife, places to walk the dog, nice neighbours, so many things to do - festivals etc. Plus much better for my competition horse!

I love our house as it’s North facing so even in all this hot weather it doesn’t get unbearably hot. I love the location as we have everything we need in the town and there is lots of lovely countryside on our doorstep so lots of nice places to go for runs and walks.

We live in a grammar school area in the North. So although relatively expensive compared to non grammar schools areas locally, it's still cheaper being in the North and we don't have to pay a small fortune for a decent education for our children.

Oh and we have a massive mature garden that I love!

Rural Aberdeenshire.

Endless golden sands, dunes as tall as houses, so much sky, a seal colony.

Beautiful rivers for swimming in during the summer and mountains for snowboarding down in the winter.

Perfect.

@Emma198 It was the festivals that gave it away! My MIL lives there, I love Dickensian weekend!

I live in a small medieval European city and love it. It's a tourist hotspot as it's so pretty, with canals and wonky old houses and a C13th cathedral. Even after all these years I feel so lucky to live here. There are so many free events all year round, music, theatre, food... It's not London (where I'm from) but there's plenty to see and do.

My house is less than 10 mins walk from the city centre, but my neighbourhood is really quiet, opposite a big park with a lake in it. My neighbours are fantastic, there's a real sense of community.

I never would have dreamed I would have ended up living in another country but I really love where I've ended up. Even if the food is a bit questionable!

The mortgage is cheap and it's very quiet

I’m fortunate enough to live in what estate agents describe as ‘one of the most sought-after villages in Leicestershire’.

It’s a great place to live. We have nice pubs, tea rooms and lovely old thatched cottages, but it’s what we don’t have that is the best bit : anti-social behaviour, vandalism, graffiti and chavs.

I love how we can walk to the shops, cinema, bowling, athletics club, swimming pool, restaurants and school. It saves so much time.

I'm outside Altrincham and like the schools here.

Close to the center of the city, practically in the center but officially it isn't (which is better tax wise over here). Front side is a street but in the back it's really green with water and a couple of trees. In the evening I can see dwarf bats flying around hunting mosquitos. I love them.

I live in an upstairs house conversion flat. It's tall, spacious with a loft, big garden.

The best thing is having really nice neighbours. Next door neighbour made us a chutney today and brought it over. When they mow their garden they do mine too.

Downstairs neighbour is lovely, we get on really well.

I'm in London but it's quite green around here, park at top of road. It's easy to feel you're not in the city even tho I am of course.

I moved here years ago from an estate when DCs were little. I was desperate to get out and not have to raise DCs there. So this is heaven to me

I never want to move home.

Bus at the end of the street takes us into town in 10 minutes. We can be at beach in 20 minutes, countryside in 10. Our neighbourhood has a park, swimming pool and local shops plus a choice of supermarkets. Playgroup on most days. People are friendly! We bought a house with garden and it wasn't crazy expensive. Always stuff happening in the city centre.

My house has a ‘SOLD’ sign outside of it as we’re moving for more space but if I could stay here I would. I live ten houses away from a small park with a play area. It’s a green field surrounded by suburbia but we can go there three or four times a day. We’ve seriously considered buying slightly bigger houses on the other side of the park just for this location but the space of the house we are hoping to buy has swayed us.

We've not long moved out of a city to a nearby town so we could afford somewhere bigger and detached, and bought a new new build. I was expecting to feel a bit 'meh' about the area as the town has a reputation for being a bit rough, and thought I would have a longer commute, but I love it! We're really close to shops and some beautiful parks, there's some inreresting restaurants and bars, and my commute takes me less time than it did before weirdly. We have so much more space and being a new build we were able to choose the kitchen, wardrobes, carpet etc. I'm 45 and this is the first time I've had carpet I've chosen myself rather than what previous people left! I love the big kitchen / diner / family room at the back, we have a decent sized garden for the first time ever, and the house is lovely and cool in this ridiculous weather and warm in the winter. Transport links are great. There's also a nice sense of community here.

The only downside is that there are no trees or plants in the garden so you feel a bit exposed but I'm planning on planting some so its not a big deal.

In an ideal world we'd live in a cottage near a beach or in the middle of nowhere but it's not practical with mine and and DHs work, so we'll save that for retirement. I cant see us going anywhere until then unless something drastic happens.

My children are happy in their schools. I feel very safe in my town, will often go out by myself at night. I like the open fire in my house.

When I take the kids to school I know almost everyone I pass, even just to say hi to.

I can hear the cows mooing from the farm up the hill in the very early mornings.

We're next to the water.

My drive to work is stunning, over a bridge and along the river. I see seals most days and dolphins if I'm very very lucky.

Downside: it's a small town with limited properties of the size we need, so we may have a problem finding something that suits if ours sells quickly.

Everyone (except us) is related somehow, so you don't always know who might end up hearing about something you said in confidence!

Rural Essex
We have a beautiful Victorian house we have done up, overlooking the churchyard in a village which I describe as something out of a story - park opposite, super friendly, lovely pub, nice walks, neighbours who feed our animals when we go away...

And we also have a sold board outside. Moving to be closer to husband's work. I'll miss our house but realistically it will be nice for dd2 to not have a box room and to have a driveway and not be so overlooked. But we just can't find anything that beats our house that we can afford! Yet another viewing tomorrow....

In Somerset I am in a lovely light bungalow which has a multifuel stove, gardens all round and a homely feel. Everyone who comes here mentions it. I never tire of thinking how lovely the whole area is around me when I drive around and how it feels like home.

A High street with a variety of shops/amenities/buses are within a 3 minute walk, doctor 5 minutes walk away. There are 2 beaches, walks and woods a short drive away, a bustling town and other resorts along the coast along with the Mendips.

Access to Devon, Dorset, Cornwall and Wales is easy and all are near enough for a day out.

We have moved recently and love it. We overlook a big green (probably six acres) off a road into town. It is so very quiet but we can walk to the cinema, restaurants, work (for me), school (for DC) within ten minutes. We can also walk to a world heritage site (1.5-2 miles max depending on which way you walk). Tennis club, gym, golf club, museums etc. within a mile.

House is new ish but built in a very traditional style with 9.5ft ceilings and big bay windows (to match the 'big house' in the conservation area). No through road, there isn't anything I don't like tbh ... although we are only two months in.

We have plenty of space to extend, can see for miles from the back of the house and are semi-rural but close to a town and major city. I grew up in an inner city area but my child watches people ride their horses down our street and there’s fields of cows in each direction.

My husband would probably say the drive and space for a garage are what makes it for him.

It’s lovely to see so many people enjoying their homes.

SE London but it feels like a town rather than the city. The high street has useful shops and there is a good sense of community. Our neighbours are generally lovely and there are several lovely parks within a short distance. Commuting links are great, and as both DH and I are career driven, this really helps us. We have train links to both sides of the city. There’s loads to do with small kids (we have a nearly 3 year old and a newborn) within a short walk or bus ride, and we have loads of local friends nearby from NCT.

We always thought we’d move out of London when we had kids but I can’t see us ever leaving. It’s just so convenient for living and working. I love my house too, we’ve done a lot to it.