Want to avoid nastiness

[helenna05]

Hi!
Looking to relocate from north to the south/south east or west.
However I'm really worried that over time the seeming awfulness of London gangs/deprivation and scally behaviour is going to spread out and rot away at the areas around there.
I don't want my baby to grow up around deprivation, gangs and what I see as the nastiest type of human behaviour.
Where can we move in the south that will as much as possible avoid the grossness? I just don't want to be exposed to that kind of stuff, it bleaks me out. I want my son to grow up in a safe place.
Please don't use this message to make a point about me being stuck up or whatever, only genuine advice please.

@beckyyl

Really depends how close you want to be to the city or if you want to be a bit more rural.

Where I live I'm in a town, with plenty of schools and transport links etc. Norwich city is around 40 mins away. The seaside is 15 mins up the road. And if you go 10 minutes the other direction your in the middle of no where surrounded by fields! Our area is very much classed as 'the country side' really.

You can get transport links very easily, trains busses etc.

Ah that's good! I've heard good things about norwich, my dad went to uni there. Are there places in that region which you might recommend? Thanks again for your help :-)

Norfolk to Bedford is a significant distance. Being 3+ hours from family is not “close”.

@tofuschnitzel

Well you could try looking up crime rates for the areas you are interested in moving to. However, all areas have crime and even nice areas have issues with drugs and violent offences. There have been many articles recently about drug dealers in rural areas coercing teenagers to work for them. I don't think it's realistic to think you can get away from crime completely because the issues are widespread, they are not confined to the cities.

Oh I know you can't get away from it completely, but some areas are safer than others and less likely to deteriorate.

You’re from Leeds? The Leeds that has Chapeltown in it? There’s areas of Leeds i’d rather set fire to myself than live in. Surely you know this? But Leeds isn’t just those areas is it? My city area has one of the poorest constituencies in the uk, and one of the wealthiest. That’s cities for you. You do your research and move to the area that’s best for your needs and budget surely, same as with any relocation. Why the handwringing? It does come across as goady.

This is what you can get in this corner of Cambridgeshire. Rail link into London in an hour, decent shopping in Cambridge and lots of nice dog walks - if those float your boat. Not a gang in sight!

Falcon Drive, Hartford, Huntingdon PE29 1LP
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77436894.html

If you're moving to be close to family, move where they are. Ask for their recommendations.

The towns like Bungay / Beccles are lovely, both are little market towns. Even Carlton Colville is a lovely place to live.

Wouldn't personally go as far as Lowestoft, or Great Yarmouth. Carlton Colville would be the furthest towards there that I would go.

You do pay a little more for Beccles but for 375k you could still easily get a 5 bed detached house (not sure what your looking for but it's a very nice budget to have in that area) x

Every place has crimes but I wouldn't think twice about leaving my car unlocked or walking around at night here. I've left my keys in my front door numerous times on show to the world!

@MadameButterface

You’re from Leeds? The Leeds that has Chapeltown in it? There’s areas of Leeds i’d rather set fire to myself than live in. Surely you know this? But Leeds isn’t just those areas is it? My city area has one of the poorest constituencies in the uk, and one of the wealthiest. That’s cities for you. You do your research and move to the area that’s best for your needs and budget surely, same as with any relocation. Why the handwringing? It does come across as goady.

I live in Leeds, I'm from Luton. And yes, a good deal of it is horrible, with some pockets of loveliness like Roundhay. I understand that cities have good and bad places. But some are generally much more deprived, with higher crime, worse employment opportunities and the deterioration you can see in many northern cities like Hull. I'm just trying to avoid living in the vicinity of a city which is going downhill!!

@beckyyl

The towns like Bungay / Beccles are lovely, both are little market towns. Even Carlton Colville is a lovely place to live.

Wouldn't personally go as far as Lowestoft, or Great Yarmouth. Carlton Colville would be the furthest towards there that I would go.

You do pay a little more for Beccles but for 375k you could still easily get a 5 bed detached house (not sure what your looking for but it's a very nice budget to have in that area) x

Every place has crimes but I wouldn't think twice about leaving my car unlocked or walking around at night here. I've left my keys in my front door numerous times on show to the world!

Ah right! Thanks for this! Why would you say it would be best to avoid Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth?

Come to Gloucestershire, sleepy villages and the houses are cheap.

I’ve actually lived in both Bradford and just outside Hull recently. Very warm and friendly and I didn’t ever feel unsafe. You choose your neighbourhood wisely and make friends locally....

@24butfeeling80

Come to Gloucestershire, sleepy villages and the houses are cheap.

Ah really? I don't know that area at all, just Bristol/Bath really. Could you advise where would be good to live in that area for a family with a new baby, we need good public transport also. Thankyou

I mean they're by no means the worst places but I wouldn't 'choose' those areas over the market towns

@Twickerhun

I’ve actually lived in both Bradford and just outside Hull recently. Very warm and friendly and I didn’t ever feel unsafe. You choose your neighbourhood wisely and make friends locally....

I was in Hull for five years and worked in Bradford for almost as many and Hull especially has seriously gone downhill since I lived there which has been so sad to see. The city centre is starting to look derelict :-(

@beckyyl

I mean they're by no means the worst places but I wouldn't 'choose' those areas over the market towns

Ah right so beat avoided then? Why is that? Is it best to be in the vicinity of Norwich as your nearest big place?

Bad areas aren't the issue. Shit parenting is the issue.

Even someone in the crappest parts of London can thrive if they have parents that inspire them to do their best.

Don't be judgmental about London and parts of the UK. London is far from perfect, but so are lots of areas in the South. Parts of Bristol have HUGE drug problems - just because it looks pretty doesn't mean there aren't issues underneath.

I’ve lived in two of the cities you describe as grim and absolutely loved them. I now live in one of the places on your aspirational list (but wouldn’t be able to for £375k). There are good and bad areas everywhere and it’s largely what you make of it. The upbringing you give your son is as much of a factor as where your house is.

Lots of people have taken offence to your post. This is a classic case of, it’s not what you say but the way that you say it. Try something like ‘Hi everyone we are looking to move south to be closer to family. Can anyone recommend any nice areas with good schools and transport links where I can buy a 3 bed house for £375k please?’

@ireallyamthewalrus

I’ve lived in two of the cities you describe as grim and absolutely loved them. I now live in one of the places on your aspirational list (but wouldn’t be able to for £375k). There are good and bad areas everywhere and it’s largely what you make of it. The upbringing you give your son is as much of a factor as where your house is.

Lots of people have taken offence to your post. This is a classic case of, it’s not what you say but the way that you say it. Try something like ‘Hi everyone we are looking to move south to be closer to family. Can anyone recommend any nice areas with good schools and transport links where I can buy a 3 bed house for £375k please?’

Yet, not everyone has taken offence to it. Plenty of people have responded perfectly reasonably.

Sounds like you need a special version of Zoopla with search terms "White Company store within 5 miles"

Being a bit more serious you can't make a decision like this without going to visit a few shortlisted towns. Start with transport/distance to family and jobs and go from there

@unbotheredbutbewildered

Bad areas aren't the issue. Shit parenting is the issue.

Even someone in the crappest parts of London can thrive if they have parents that inspire them to do their best.

Don't be judgmental about London and parts of the UK. London is far from perfect, but so are lots of areas in the South. Parts of Bristol have HUGE drug problems - just because it looks pretty doesn't mean there aren't issues underneath.

I understand what you're saying, and in general do agree, but the culture of an area does have an effect on children and young people, this is just sociology.

@ireallyamthewalrus

I’ve lived in two of the cities you describe as grim and absolutely loved them. I now live in one of the places on your aspirational list (but wouldn’t be able to for £375k). There are good and bad areas everywhere and it’s largely what you make of it. The upbringing you give your son is as much of a factor as where your house is.

Lots of people have taken offence to your post. This is a classic case of, it’s not what you say but the way that you say it. Try something like ‘Hi everyone we are looking to move south to be closer to family. Can anyone recommend any nice areas with good schools and transport links where I can buy a 3 bed house for £375k please?’

Why don't you live there now?

@Neighneigh

Sounds like you need a special version of Zoopla with search terms "White Company store within 5 miles"

Being a bit more serious you can't make a decision like this without going to visit a few shortlisted towns. Start with transport/distance to family and jobs and go from there

You're assuming a lot. I don't mean posh places. I'm trying to narrow down our search and focus on places good for families with low crime rates, good employment and opportunities. There's no reason why that is a bad thing.

@helenna05 - it’s not far from Bristol. I live just over the bridge in the Forest of Dean.

To be fair, if it’s public transport is a necessity for you you might get a bit stuck unless your looking into the central towns which do tend to get a bit rougher.

I’m in a little village with our new baby but there are few busses a day. A few taxi companies around and a train station not so far away.

Lovely place for family walks and days out but it’s definitely an easier place to live if you drive as a lot of the nicer areas are pretty rural.

[quote 24butfeeling80]@helenna05 - it’s not far from Bristol. I live just over the bridge in the Forest of Dean.

To be fair, if it’s public transport is a necessity for you you might get a bit stuck unless your looking into the central towns which do tend to get a bit rougher.

I’m in a little village with our new baby but there are few busses a day. A few taxi companies around and a train station not so far away.

Lovely place for family walks and days out but it’s definitely an easier place to live if you drive as a lot of the nicer areas are pretty rural.[/quote]
Ah it looks lovely there, but have really struggled with Bristol's bus system in the past!

Often people criticise those in London or "the south" for stereotyping "the North" , saying it's very diverse and got cities, towns, rural places and some parts are better than others. And now the opposite is happening.
OP, can you be more specific about where you would like to be near, what you need from an area. "The South" seems to incorporate Norfolk, suffolk, Bedfordshire, London , Brighton, all of which are very different and quite spread out....but it would help to know where family are that you would like to be close to, what you are hoping for within your budget (how many bedrooms etc) whether you drive etc.
That will help other posters recommend somewhere that might be suitable. If for example, your family are in Bedford and you moved to Brighton, there is a direct train link, but it's very expensive. If your family are in Surrey and you're looking to move to suffolk first example it would probably be a complete pain to do on public transport.
For the record I've lived in "the south" my whole life (suburbs of London, tube zone 2 and now home counties) I've never felt unsafe in any of the places.