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

[Littlecelticswan]

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.

Bristol is everything you have described OP, we love living here. Very friendly, liberal and diverse. There’s a really good art and music scene, great food culture. There obviously isn’t as much going on here as in London culturally, but still plenty to do.
We’re house hunting with the same budget as you and you can get a decent house for that amount, depends on the area but where we’re looking (nice suburbs, 20 min drive from centre) £550k will get you a good size 4 bed detached with second reception room, office, garden, etc. you’ll get a bit less for that money in the trendier areas but should still find a decent family home.

The OP doesn’t like the Home Counties. Nice areas in Bristol are exactly the same as the Home Counties! I love Bristol but she would need to live in a less than nice area to experience diversity.

Should could try Luton, Watford or Milton Keynes for diversity much nearer to London. Thd idea that everywhere in the Home Counties is identical is totally ridiculous.

Lewes?! Diverse?! Compared to where? Plus do you want actual diversity or naice diversity?

Shoreham is lovely and within easy reach of Brighton,

I live in the Home Counties too and feel your pain!

Whitstable? Not diverse but quite artsy farsty

Edinburgh

@ChristopherTracy
Who recommended Lewes? Cannot see that anywhere?

Stroud

@Auntpodder

Lewes in Sussex, Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire.

@TizerorFizz

Totally agree with Glasgow. We've lived here 15 years now and for our dc it is home. None of them want to leave for uni, dd1 is at Glasgow School of Art and there's nowhere better in Scotland or even the uk. Dd2 is a beauty therapy student and doing great, ds (in the middle) has just applied to do nursing but only in Glasgow or Stirling. They all love this city and are happy to study here and want to leave home but stay local. Dd1 lives with her boyfriend about 10 mins away from us.

It's diverse, interesting, loads going on. Our dc went to the Gaelic school and are bilingual, which is a huge advantage with things like media jobs, and ds is selling it hard for his nurse application. Dd2 has found jobs really easy as a beauty therapist and has a local therapist job as she still studies at college.

Move to Glasgow!! We'd love to have you!

@weegiemum

Totally agree with Glasgow. We've lived here 15 years now and for our dc it is home. None of them want to leave for uni, dd1 is at Glasgow School of Art and there's nowhere better in Scotland or even the uk. Dd2 is a beauty therapy student and doing great, ds (in the middle) has just applied to do nursing but only in Glasgow or Stirling. They all love this city and are happy to study here and want to leave home but stay local. Dd1 lives with her boyfriend about 10 mins away from us.

It's diverse, interesting, loads going on. Our dc went to the Gaelic school and are bilingual, which is a huge advantage with things like media jobs, and ds is selling it hard for his nurse application. Dd2 has found jobs really easy as a beauty therapist and has a local therapist job as she still studies at college.

Move to Glasgow!! We'd love to have you!

Can I jump on this thread to ask a question about Glasgow areas?

We're contemplating a move from SE London with two small children (6 and 4) after falling in love with it a few years ago and visiting a number of times since.

We love our current neighbourhood which has loads going on, a good mix of cafes, independent shops etc but also 'useful' shops, lots of green space and is very walkable/cyclable.

Where might fit the bill in Glasgow? My research points to the West End (but not sure if budget would stretch), Pollockshields, Shawlands and Strathbungo! Would love any feedback on these areas or others. Thanks!

Naice diversity is anywhere with a Lib Dem MP, or a university with an international reputation.

Also the seaside. Generations used to other people coming and going and only intolerant of second homers and benefit tourists. Seaside with an art gallery or independent bookshops - Hastings, Bridport, even Liverpool - could suit you.

Bristol. Not Bath though Bath is lovely diverse it is not!

Oxford then😂HideRanger

Where might fit the bill in Glasgow? My research points to the West End (but not sure if budget would stretch), Pollockshields, Shawlands and Strathbungo! Would love any feedback on these areas or others. Thanks!

Definitely the Southside - Battlefield, Shawlands, Mount Florida, Strathbungo and Pollokshields and even now Govanhill all very diverse and welcoming. Huge number of folk from down south, lots of English accents. House prices rising so be quick.

Birmingham is a good shout.

You could afford outer London if you really wanted - e.g. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114593762

Not a middle class naice area but definitely more diverse than home counties

@Takeittotheboss Oxford and Cambridge would be ideal (may have considered both myself) if only the OP had twice her budget.

Although a truly diverse place is one that isn’t narrow-minded, not one that is blind to skin colour or sexual orientation only as long as it’s accompanied by a university degree, preferably two.

I’m greatly amused by these wildly contradictory takes on Bristol. Perhaps they highlight the fact that everyone means something different when they say ‘diverse’.

What kind of diversity do you want, OP? Class, race, income level …. Or are you using ‘diverse’ as code for ‘naice’?

Manchester’s lovely!

If you have no geographical ties I also think Cardiff is a great bet. It is a v manageable city sizewise, but with loads going on as it is the capital. You also have amazing access to the beautiful Welsh coast and mountains within day trip distance.
I live in London, but know Bristol, Cardiff and Brighton v well due to family links.

@SimonedeBeauvoirscat
I’ve been bemused by some answers too. Clifton in Bristol? Lewes in Sussex (yes I did know it was in Sussex) and Oxford and Cambridge? Oxford has Blackbird Leys but overall it’s not an ethnically diverse city.

I am also wondering what the OP meant about diverse. There is diversity in the Home Counties. You just will find it’s certain towns snd areas. Look at Slough. Very different to Gerrards Cross just up the road. Of course you can find diverse neighbourhoods if you look.

Naice means well insulated from those pesky working class types but put a bit more politely. Nice areas of leeds are expensive in part due to the influx of folk from the rest of the UK as is Hebden B.

I'm pretty confused by the descriptions of diversity for Bristol. Yes, there are areas that have a high proportion of certain ethnicities - Easton has a large Somali population, St Paul's has a large Afro-Caribbean population, Kingswood has a lot of Eastern Europeans. But the areas don't mix. There's next to no diversity in Cotham, Redland, Clifton, Southville, Westbury - just white middle classes. It's certainly very different to London where I lived for a decade where it was truly diverse (at least in the bits I lived in).

Like others, agree with Hebden Bridge. Also Leith and the west end of Glasgow.

I'm pretty confused by the descriptions of diversity for Bristol. Yes, there are areas that have a high proportion of certain ethnicities - Easton has a large Somali population, St Paul's has a large Afro-Caribbean population, Kingswood has a lot of Eastern Europeans. But the areas don't mix. There's next to no diversity in Cotham, Redland, Clifton, Southville, Westbury - just white middle classes. It's certainly very different to London where I lived for a decade where it was truly diverse (at least in the bits I lived in).

I was also confused, so thank you for the reality check. Frome is even less diverse!