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.

@Itsnotdeep

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

It's a very narrow minded opinion. It actually smacks of parochialism. Have you ever lived anywhere else for comparison and to back up that opinion?

No wonder people feel bitter about London-centrism. We have a wonderful country with so much to offer.

Imho in threads like this the question can be framed in various ways, but essentially it comes down identifying where are all the 'people like us' middle class, socially liberal areas. As oopposed to middle class, ethnically diverse but Tory-voting, or Labour voting, ethnically diverse but working class etc, etc.

Thank you so much Wrennie24 and Puffalicious. This is really helpful and positive (although less great to hear prices are rising rapidly!). Yes I'd already struck Newton Mearns etc off the list - we're not looking for affluent white suburbia no matter how good the schools may be. We we are seriously thinking about other areas though so I may well PM you Puffalicious, thanks for the offer.

Forest of Dean is not diverse 😂 It's like the whitest place I've ever visited!!

Leeds
Liverpool
Lancaster

I think London does have a lot to offer but only if that’s what you want. The countryside around me is AONB, but we haven’t many decent restaurants, the theatres are not as good, the museums are not as diverse and as for public transport - not in my village! But there are endless walks for dogs! I love London for my culture fix and I can easily see why people love it.

Yes Puffalicious I've lived for long periods of time in 6 other cities/towns/villages across England. Including Brighton which she asked about. I have also got relatives across the UK (and in fact the world) and have travelled extensively. 2 of my children live in other cities in the UK. How about you?

The OP has asked for a liberal and diverse place and, in my not at all parochial or narrow minded opinion, I have suggested that she could go back to London. Other places I think she could think about are Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Or Leeds. All are places which are mentioned in this thread, but which aren't as middle class as Lewes or Hebden Bridge.

If all she wants is a left wing , non tory place, then sure, I'm sure Hebden Bridge is fine. As are Bristol, Brighton and Lewes.

Your budget would be plenty for any northern city. Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield all tick your boxes.

@tizerorfizz - Most of Oxford is diverse, not just Blackbird Leys and not all houses cost a million quid (though some do). In my daughter’s class at school, most kids including her have parents with a mix of nationalities and backgrounds. I think it’s definitely more diverse than Cambridge where I lived previously.

You want to live in Hebden Bridge. Simple as that!

I even found you the perfect house...
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116685095#/?channel=RES_BUY

Frome and Stroud not remotely diverse.

Both liberal yes, but quite hippyish, yes. A decent mix of people from working class to upper class, yes. Do these groups of people mix, no not at all.

Culture - almost none.
Racial diversity - even less.

I think somewhere a bit bigger, like Birmingham or Bristol would fit the bill but it does depend on what you mean by diversity.

@Itsnotdeep

Yes Puffalicious I've lived for long periods of time in 6 other cities/towns/villages across England. Including Brighton which she asked about. I have also got relatives across the UK (and in fact the world) and have travelled extensively. 2 of my children live in other cities in the UK. How about you?

The OP has asked for a liberal and diverse place and, in my not at all parochial or narrow minded opinion, I have suggested that she could go back to London. Other places I think she could think about are Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Or Leeds. All are places which are mentioned in this thread, but which aren't as middle class as Lewes or Hebden Bridge.

If all she wants is a left wing , non tory place, then sure, I'm sure Hebden Bridge is fine. As are Bristol, Brighton and Lewes.

What about me? Have lived in 2 other major cities in the UK, 1 Irish city, 1 major international city and am very, very widely travelled, also with relatives and close friends across the UK and the world. So similar.

Great that you're widening your suggestions, but you did narrow it completely to London at the point I commented and London-centrism irritates the hell out of me.

@mortgagemusings

Thank you so much Wrennie24 and Puffalicious. This is really helpful and positive (although less great to hear prices are rising rapidly!). Yes I'd already struck Newton Mearns etc off the list - we're not looking for affluent white suburbia no matter how good the schools may be. We we are seriously thinking about other areas though so I may well PM you Puffalicious, thanks for the offer.

Anytime.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116908199#/?channel=RES_BUY

There's a few similar on that site.

HideRanger

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.

By those criteria Orkney or Shetland would fit. Liberal MP, seaside, art gallery and independent bookshops. It's not ethnically diverse but there's a lot of mixing of the different classes. Not much fun being the smart middle class kid in a socially diverse school though. And, for the avoidance of doubt I'm not recommending it as an option.

Fascinated to see Leek mentioned upthread and that it gets mentioned in a thread like this. It's true that it has a lot of character, really nice houses are very reasonable but it's not well connected and....hold on...very very white and very Leave...like most of Staffordshire. But there seems to be a slow, creeping, kind of underground trendy movement which is interesting.
I'd also recommend Buxton nearby, a bit more connected, the university, the festival, fantastic large houses not too expensive. But watch out for the winter weather!

@NellieWellietheEllie

Come to Cardiff. If you like the Guardianista, media lovies, cafe culture then go for Pontcanna, which is full of very nice people being very nice. But the best kept secret in Cardiff is Llandaff North - it ticks all your boxes, is a great place with great community & you can practically buy a mansion for your budget.

Agree Cardiff is a good call, especially as the OP is Welsh. Llandaff North is lovely, but there aren't many mansions there and it's not the most ethnically diverse area of the city, if that's the sort of diversity we're after here.

I wonder if areas like Roath and Penylan, maybe Roath Rec/Waterloo Gardens and in walking distance of City Road for a slightly more city living/ethnically diverse feel.

Sorry, grammar put the window there, but hopefully you can make sense of it!

put=out. FFS.

I think with your attitude, you are best off in a large city, such as London.
Large numbers of indigenous 'English' ( dare I say it) people have left cities like London now and it appears that the diversity and culture that you so crave for, you will find by returning...

I hate posts like this.

I'm not sure the OP has clarified what they mean by diversity either.

Cambridge? The city though not the shire. The shire is very white Tory (grew up there and used to live in John Majors constituency)

The city though has the diversity that the university brings as well as a ton going on culturally etc. there are loads of little museum and events run by the university.

It's expensive though ...

I'm in Cardiff and would agree it would suit your requirements. We are on the northern outskirts which isn't at all ethnically diverse, but areas like Roath and Grangetown are much more diverse and close to plenty of culture. Plenty going on for families all over the city. I have actually spoken to someone from an Indian background who moved from the home counties to Roath and was telling me she preferred it and really liked being close to City Road. I think you'd find something decent in your price range.

As green spaces are important, you've got lovely spaces like Bute Park, Roath Park and Cardiff Bay in the city, Garth Hill, forests and nature reserves on the outskirts and then you are within 45 min drive of Brecon beacons and several lovely beaches.

Labour Council and MPs (although Cardiff North occasionally goes tory and Cardiff Central has been lib dem).

I'd imagine many cities would have similar benefits though!