Aspirational Places to Live Outside London?

[Catycity]

Just curious and wanted to canvas opinion. What do you consider to be aspirational places to live outside London?

London is up there, but there’s a lot of talk that covid has changed the dynamics a bit. Also, London is a big place and not all parts of London are aspirational places to live.

Outside of London, where else would you consider as an aspirational place to live? It could be towns, villages or cities...

Well if you go by prices, St Albans seems to up there.

Surrey

@Wearywithteens

Lol! Waitrose is the litmus test for an aspirational place to live! That’s probably very true as well!

Aspirational place to live

@Wearywithteens yes the Times list is good, but there are some hidden gems around the country that might not make their list. Places like Repton are not big enough for a Waitrose but aspirational nonetheless (thanks to the School etc).

Sonning-on-Thames

Love it when they list a nearby Waitrose in estate agents info!

I think York, Cotswolds, Cambridge, Oxford, I would imagine Edinburgh surely? Or are we just doing England?

Yes! Edinburgh! U.K. in general, not just England.

Aspirational?

There are bits of Cumbria that have beautiful (and extremely expensive) houses, but no Waitrose anywhere in the county. We have Booths, though

@Thickhead

Aspirational?

Yep. Aspirational, meaning sought after location.

Location, location, location and all that.

I always think of Brighton as somewhere where people aspire to move to from London.

Also St Albans, nice commutable villages in Surrey, lots of Cotswolds villages.

Almost anywhere that features on Escape to the Country.

Guildford, Reigate, Oxted, Seven Oaks, Amersham, Beaconsfield, Marlow, Henley, many of the villages around these places. They are all affluent and expensive places to live which have speedy commutes into London so attract commuters and have a good stock of large houses and plenty of green space.

Oxford, Bath, York, Chester, Winchester.

Most of the big cities such as Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool have suburbs that are highly sought after.

Aspirational though sounds......a bit social climber tacky. Go somewhere because you like it bit because it’s a currently in place for those who wish to rise up the social scale and boast about where they live.

Parts of North Norfolk - Holkham and the Burnhams (Burnham Market known as Chelsea-on-Sea.) Bath and some surrounds.

And Woolwich is getting a Waitrose soon. The view of MNers is that it’s a stabby shithole, so the litmus test is clearly on the out.

Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Cambridge

@Catycity

We have a Waitrose and a Lidl and sea, is that enough? The houses on the cliffs are amazing, ours less so thus affordable for mere mortals

Henley
Winchester
Alresford

Berkhamsted
Thame
Marlow
Burnham Market

I have read that if you are looking for the rich and famous Bruton in Somerset is having a moment

Bourton on Water
Lymington

Woolwich Waitrose🤣!
I think anywhere with a Booths surely!

St Albans, Surrey etc very bland. I would say Edinburgh would be aspirational - a dynamic place.