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.

@Wrennie24

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.

I'd agree with most of this but NOT Govanhill- don't touch it with a bargepole- crime figures are not good. Also certain parts of Pollokshields are 95% Bangladeshi or Pakistani so there's no 'diversity' if you want a true mix.

All the others are as PP says, but also consider Dennistoun (the new West End but in the East), Jordanhill (if you can afford it)/ Scotstounhill/ Anniesland.

If you want diversity avoid Newton Mearns/ Whitecraigs/ Bearsden/ Milngavie which will come up on your search as desirable. As lovely as they are, and very affluent, they are very much white, middle-class areas. If you can afford West End proper, great, but otherwise edge out a bit (but not Maryhill- it's right nearby but you don't want to live there).

If you're seriously thinking about it feel free to PM at any point mortgagemusings

Lewes?! Diverse?! Compared to where? Plus do you want actual diversity or naice diversity?
Perhaps they meant the different varieties of blackface and culturally appropriative costumes of the bonfire societies?

Brighton isn’t really diverse: it’s rich white people, students, and druggies on the Level, voting green and being gay-friendly.

I came on to say Glasgow but I see it's been suggested! Amazing city and meets all your criteria. You'll get a lovely house for half a million.

I think a lot of people think black or brown or minority sexual preferences equals poverty.

It doesn’t, although perhaps you wouldn’t know this if you don’t already live in a very diverse place.

There's a village in Staffordshire called Leek. Loads of lovely cafes and independent shops. Houses also go for a song!

@HideRanger
The OP didn’t ask for poverty! She wants diversity. The question is, what does this mean? As pp says above, some cities have very polarised areas. So overall they are “diverse” but some areas are more diverse than others. There are often great property price differences. It’s inevitable.

Also, how ethnically diverse is Hebden Bridge? Not really from what I can see. Why would you go there for ethnic diversity? You might for a whole lot of other reasons though!

You cannot classify the whole of the SE as Tory voting middle class wealthy residents. That’s clearly ludicrous. There is diversity in lots of places but some have higher ethnic diversity than others. Liberal though? I doubt it!

I think we’re making the same point @TizerorFizz, which is that diversity means different things to different people. Someone suggested Blackbird Leys in Oxford as being the only diverse place in Oxford and it’s definitely not!

Well that was me! But it was a side swipe at Oxford and the idea that Oxford is diverse. It can be Liberal at times and is certainly arty. But where would you live for a diverse community in Oxford?

@DappledOliveGroves

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).

Just means OP should come and join us east Bristolians - all kinds of diversity this side of the city

Op I live in Brighton/ hove and you can definitely get a 3 bed for around 600k.
It's socially diverse / liberal but not ethnically diverse. Lots of white MC families and lots of poverty in certain areas.

There are also so many sub-cultures within groups, and it’s naive to think the experience of being a minority makes people more tolerant of other minorities.

You can live anywhere in Oxford you could afford, I would have thought @TizerorFizz

Whereas, if you’re a hijabi and monied, Southport isn’t going to be such a good fit.

@HideRanger
I agree with that. I tend to think people know where they are instinctively “at home”. I don’t think you can work your way into groups that are “closed”. Muslims, by and large, won’t go to Jewish schools! People might live near to each other but don’t necessarily mix.

Brighton has more cheaper properties than London

You could get small 3 bed somewhere london

3 bed house sw12 london 81 m2 625k

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110399234?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116012354?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Brighton 3 bed 375 k
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110399234?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Hebden Bridge is not ethnically diverse!!! Not one bit. At all.
It is full of middle class white 'alternative', 'creative' types who are properly up their own arse.

Brighton isn't diverse.

OP, if I were you (and I did do this), I'd stay in a smaller place in London - nowhere compares to it.

@Itsnotdeep

Brighton isn't diverse.

OP, if I were you (and I did do this), I'd stay in a smaller place in London - nowhere compares to it.

In your opinion. There it is: 'Nowhere's as fabulous and diverse and amaaaazing as London'. Many, many on here beg to differ.

@MrsJamin

You won't find the house prices any lower in Brighton than in London. I live in Reading, it's a very diverse town and full of culture, and you might think its just chains but there's a lot of good independent stores too. The main MP in Reading is from the Labour Party.

I second Reading actually. I’ve got a couple of friends there and it seems just as liberal and (if not more) than the pockets of London we all used to live in. Most people that move out are professional people who what somewhere else to live. They seem happier and have more interesting and multicultural fiends than when they were in the big city.

@puffslicious I lived in London most of my life and believe me, once you leave you realise there is a whole world out there that is just as good.

London thinks it’s a bubble and can’t see outside itself.

@RedRec

Hebden Bridge is not ethnically diverse!!! Not one bit. At all. It is full of middle class white 'alternative', 'creative' types who are properly up their own arse.

A lot of London I found was like this! Mock diverse. And far less local community.

Stroud, the nice parts are lovely and full of hippies.

Similarly the forest of dean. Gets a bad rep but has good bits

well yes @Puffalicious . Every post on this thread is an opinion, and that's mine.

Coventry if you want diversity and affordability (and one hour from London on train) - Leamington Spa for arty and trendy and stylish and a bit of diversity (depending on where you live) but a bit more pricy.

[quote BiscuitLover3678]@puffslicious I lived in London most of my life and believe me, once you leave you realise there is a whole world out there that is just as good.

London thinks it’s a bubble and can’t see outside itself.[/quote]
Yup. Narrow minded, ironically.