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Original poster

Liberal / diverse places to live to outside of london for family

178 replies

Littlecelticswan · 30/12/2021 20:26

Pretty much what the title says. We’re a family of 3 (7 months old DS) and two dogs. My partner and I met working in social care in london and when we finally bought our first home we ended up just outside of the M25 in a home county town. Whilst we love our house, the nature on our doorstep and being close to his family, I’m going a little crazy living in Tory heartland. I never imagined I’d live in the Home Counties 😱It’s distinctly lacking in diversity around here (I’ve overheard overtly racist remarks in town) and is a bit of a cultural nowheresville. I’ve lived all over Uk as well as overseas and I value independent shops/cafes, green, open spaces, second hand bookshops and cultural events/activities. I know I sound snobby, but I know that this is not where I want to raise my son long term.

Any suggestions for liberal/artsy areas which have lots to offer for families? Before people suggest it, we can’t unfortunately afford anywhere decent in london on our salaries unless we massively downsize. We currently have a 3 bed terrace with a garden and would ideally like to have something similar in a area where we can find likeminded people. We have a budget of about £550k. I really like the look of Bristol, Cardiff or possibly Brighton but I would like to have my kind opened to other areas.

OP posts:
Etinoxaurus · 30/12/2021 22:45

@Puffalicious
I’m not from Glasgow but have been visiting 3 times a year for the last 5 years and can’t quite believe it’s only a(n admittedly long) drive but so different friendly and interesting from darn sarf
If I had my time again I’d make my life there.

MySaladDaysAreGone · 30/12/2021 22:46

Norwich! Lovely boho vibe.

HeronLanyon · 30/12/2021 22:47

Blimey - I’m wanting to move to Glasgow now ! You had me teary eyed at ‘proper European city’.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 30/12/2021 22:48

Damn. I was going to suggest Hebden Bridge.

Agree not very multicultural but not far from places that are.

drspouse · 30/12/2021 22:50

The North is much more diverse (if you mean ethnicity not ooh my child is trans) and liberal (if you mean Labour voting not woke) than the Home Counties.

Xmasiscancelledagain · 30/12/2021 22:50

Definitely Liverpool for diversity. Its historically one of if not the most cultural diverse city outside London.

Culturally, Manchester might be a better bet.

Alternatively, buy a house in Warrington on the M62 commuter belt and you've got IKEA on your doorstep.

HeronLanyon · 30/12/2021 22:51

Isn’t Henden Bridge really very tiny and with quite a drug problem ?? (Doesn’t everywhere but I’m remembering seeing a documentary recently) and if it wasn’t Hebden then apologies to all from and in Hebden Bridge.

CeleriacOfTheNight · 30/12/2021 22:53

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Damn. I was going to suggest Hebden Bridge.

Agree not very multicultural but not far from places that are.

I'm not knocking the place (I love it personally) but it had had a few mentions and just wanted to raise that point!
CeleriacOfTheNight · 30/12/2021 22:56

@HeronLanyon

Isn’t Henden Bridge really very tiny and with quite a drug problem ?? (Doesn’t everywhere but I’m remembering seeing a documentary recently) and if it wasn’t Hebden then apologies to all from and in Hebden Bridge.
Yes to both, but it also has some lovely shops, bars and community projects Grin
mangoontoast · 30/12/2021 23:06

Nottingham. Culture, arts, diversity. And art of house in a nice area with that budget.

HeronLanyon · 30/12/2021 23:08

celeriac 4,500 is smaller than I thought. Good it’s still bastion of a great alternative scene !

Puffalicious · 30/12/2021 23:09

[quote Etinoxaurus]@Puffalicious
I’m not from Glasgow but have been visiting 3 times a year for the last 5 years and can’t quite believe it’s only a(n admittedly long) drive but so different friendly and interesting from darn sarf
If I had my time again I’d make my life there.[/quote]
This is so lovely. Indeed, people are most surprised when they come. It's always been cultured, particularly on my lifetime, and my DS17 loves his town so much he doesn't want to leave to go away to uni. It's a cool place but super friendly. Obviously you need to be versed on where to live for your specific needs, but there's plenty to choose from and with a population of 1 million we're diverse.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 30/12/2021 23:09

I always suggest Hebden Bridge as a joke when folk ask for this type of vibe.

HeronLanyon · 30/12/2021 23:12

jay it’s mentioned a lot when people are contemplating Bristol and Brighton etc (and maybe by you!) and I always think ‘hang on . . ‘

Puffalicious · 30/12/2021 23:13

@HeronLanyon

Blimey - I’m wanting to move to Glasgow now ! You had me teary eyed at ‘proper European city’.
Grin Come visit! You're a quick train ride from the capital to see the Castle, be a tourist (it is nice) then come back over for a bloody, good night out.
Plumrade · 30/12/2021 23:14

Budget of £550k for a 3 bed house? There are plenty of areas of London to choose from for that budget.

Original poster
Littlecelticswan · 30/12/2021 23:15

Thanks for all the comments, lots of great ideas here! I love Lewes, Liverpool and Edinburgh but must admit I’ve never thought about moving the family there.

@Ulelia no real geographical limits really as we can get jobs anywhere. My DH is from London and I’m from South Wales. But my brother is living in York and my sister in Cornwall so we’re pretty spread out!

@JaninaDuszejko not me no. haha I’m Welsh so I know there’s life and culture outside of London…. Convincing my DH about this is another story.

@Indiaplain never heard of Wivenhoe. I’ll check it out 😊

OP posts:
Tisaxon · 30/12/2021 23:20

@ballstoit

Leicester is very diverse and transport links make it easy to travel all over the country. With a £550k budget you'd be easily able to afford a 3 or 4 bed property.
Leicester is ethnically diverse but a total cultural dead end — the city centre is run down, bookshops consist of a branch of Waterstones, there’s an independent cinema and a theatre that mostly hosts touring musicals or comedy, and no museums you would go to more than once. Leicestershire is overwhelmingly Tory.
BigotSpigot · 30/12/2021 23:27

I thought Manchester or if you want South then Bristol.

DappledOliveGroves · 30/12/2021 23:32

I wouldn't say Bristol is especially diverse. We live in Southville - very nice but full of white middle class families. Lots of independent shops and restaurants, though, and lots of culture.

jennymac31 · 30/12/2021 23:32

Would definitely recommend Bristol, as it's vibrant and very diverse (i moved from London 17 years ago). It's a nice place to raise a family but your budget of £550k won't get you a 3 bed house in certain areas of Bristol (e.g. Clifton, Redland, Henleaze, Bishopston etc) so you might have better luck looking at South Bristol.

Warmduscher · 30/12/2021 23:33

Leeds is brilliant. We’ve just moved here - bought a gorgeous 4-bed 1930s semi in Headingley with a huge garden, directly opposite a beautiful park - it was way under your budget OP.

It needs some work doing but we’re still well under budget for what we sold our tiny 3-bed in Surrey for.

Blinky21 · 30/12/2021 23:39

Birmingham, particularly South Birmingham suburbs, Bristol or Manchester

NotMeNoNo · 31/12/2021 00:17

Nottingham's near the Peak District, decent dog walking countryside locally, pretty reasonable cultural choice (and easy traveling distance to quite a lot more). It's not super posh (except some parts) but I guess you would stay in Torytown if that was important to you.

StarCourt · 31/12/2021 07:55

Moseley in Birmingham sounds a great choice for you