Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Recommend somewhere to live. 1.5hrs from london

46 replies

wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 21:32

So I have a friend who is currently living in London and doesn't like it. He finds it too big and unfriendly. It's also, of course very expensive.

He is newish to the UK, from Africa. 20 years old. He is currently studying English and working part time. He should be able to transfer with his job. He is hoping to go to university in a year. He would like to stay close enough to London to visit relatively cheaply and easily. 2 hours max.
Ideal would be somewhere with an fe college and uni. Somewhere with reasonable rent or a real chance of getting a council flat. Somewhere friendly. Big enough for a night life. Somewhere with some ethnic diversity preferred. Hes been to Northampton but doesn't want to live there. He hasnt articulated why.

Where would this place be?

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 16/07/2019 21:37

Bristol. It's about an hour and a half from Bristol Temple Meads station to Paddington. Very diverse and slightly cheaper than London, although I have no idea what the social housing situation is like.

Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 21:50

I know a few people who've left London for Bristol. Never actually been myself! Just Bath. Maybe worth a visit. Thank you.

OP posts:
soberken · 16/07/2019 21:59

Reading?

RandomMess · 16/07/2019 22:16

Not sure how you find out about social housing, I don't think anywhere in the SE provides much for single people unfortunately.

Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 22:19

Reading I also hadn't thought of.

I dont know either random. I'm hoping there are posters with local knowledge.

OP posts:
Isthebigwomanhere · 16/07/2019 22:21

He stands zero chance of social housing.
The waiting list is so long and as a single male it would be even longer!

Go north for cheaper rent

user1474894224 · 16/07/2019 22:21

Social housing - for an individual who has voluntarily moved here from overseas.....does that exist??? (I'm not from Northampton - but not from a million miles away....what's wrong with it?)

AwkwardPaws27 · 16/07/2019 22:22

Bristol is cheaper than London, but not cheap (big exodus of people from London to Bristol!). I'd probably look north - Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield. Another city outside the commuter belt, he can always book advance train tickets for cheaper trips to London.

Would he be eligible to apply for a council flat (assuming he is here on a student visa from your post, do correct me if I'm wrong)? There is such a shortage in most of the southeast (and many other areas of the UK) that I doubt a single male with no local connection or significant vulnerabilities (LD, physical disability or MH problem) would be likely to get one.

If he is moving elsewhere for uni next year, does he have a list of places he is applying to? Maybe choose an area near his preferred uni, as this could be a "trial period" before starting uni to make sure he likes the area?

Fontofnoknowledge · 16/07/2019 22:23

Eridge. Super rural yes 3 miles from Tunbridge Wells. Nothing better.
London Bridge 50 minutes .Free parking,

Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 22:28

I wouldn't describe it as voluntary.

OP posts:
sparkler10 · 16/07/2019 22:31

He’s new to the UK and is hoping for a council house? Really?

Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 22:32

I've tried to persuade him to move to my home town but that is way too far north for him, in Scotland! Hed maybe stand a chance of council housing there.

I think you are right about anything vaguely commuter belt will be too expensive.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/07/2019 22:35

Warrington for London trips is pretty quick, there is a uni campus there. Even Preston is just under 2 hours on the fast train with UCLAN...

Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 22:35

Not everywhere has a shortage and his friend in Northampton is getting one but that's because he was essentially leaving care having arrived as a minor.
.anyway my OP isn't all about the council housing.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/07/2019 22:35

Southampton?

user1471449295 · 16/07/2019 22:37

Having worked in social housing, no he will not qualify. He needs a room in a house share.

user1471449295 · 16/07/2019 22:37

I would also suggest Southampton

Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 22:39

Personally I think he would be better in a house share from a socialising pov but he thinks he would be better on his own. This thread is partly about finding out what is realistic.

OP posts:
Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 22:40

I'll put Southampton on the list, thanks.

Bridge might be a tiny bit too quiet! Smile

OP posts:
EnolaAlone · 16/07/2019 22:40

Nottingham or Leicester.

Original poster
wafflyversatile · 16/07/2019 22:41

Eridge! Not bridge.

OP posts:
Jamhandprints · 16/07/2019 22:43

Coventry.

RandomMess · 16/07/2019 22:44

Look along the west and East coast lines up to Scotland, fast services to London. Then which ones have a uni.

WBWIFE · 16/07/2019 22:53

Bristol isn't cheap to rent or live and he most certainly wouldn't be able to get a council house.

I know many people with kids even that still waiting for housing 3-5 years down the line. Massive shortage of social housing in Bristol

Crunched · 16/07/2019 23:00

Birmingham; choice of educational establishments, great nightlife and very friendly.