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.

How about Shooters Hill? SE18 is super diverse, lovely community and loads of green space too.

Well exactly, it's a bit look at my children with their rainbow friends, how liberal am I letting my children mix with them

How dare you. My DC's friends are not there for political goal scoring or for MClass posturing. That's really offensive. My DC go to their local school- all schools are inherently good because they have committed staff and if DC engage in their learning they will be well educated- which reflects our diverse area. Don't let this be another bloody discussion about 'good' schools.

leamington, kenielorth, Warwick are favoured by a few who want to move from the Home Counties.

plenty of green space on the doorstep within a few minutes

every corner has a coffee shop in all there towns, independent shops and restaurants

good schools in all three towns and parks in the towns, plenty of activities, festivals markets

leamington was originally built for the London set to keep their mistresses therefore the building in parts are similar

its an hour and 20 minute to Marylebone

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115721213#/?channel=RES_BUY

5 minutes walk form the town centre in a quite area, 15 minutes walk to the station, 5 minutes walk from a park and 10 minutes from the town park

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116065946#/?channel=RES_BUY. this is on the edge of newbold, a very large area of green, you can see the green dotted lines- you can walk to off church and also round to cubbington there is acre after acre of green land. and you are a few minutes walk from the town so no car needed and one of the best schools in town on your doorstep

@JaninaDuszejko

Did you have a similar thread a few months ago? Sure I remember someone who was very concerned about diversity outside London as if the provinces were all full of racist homophobic illiterate people.

I am currently in an area often cited on MN as a wonderful area to live, and arranging visiting carers for a relative. Today I spoke with a lovely agency, who asked me if we were aware that many if their carers are black (like most of my family). Because so many families refuse to deal with black carers, or are rude or off with them.

This is why people like to check the level of and attitude to diversity. So hold on to your outrage.

Are you black or of an ethnic minority? If so have you lived in lots of different places in the UK and felt equally at home / welcome / hassle free in all?

@JaninaDuszejko and @TizerorFizz
by quoting only the first half of my post you have missed the point of within the second paragraph

I make no claims of any benefits to my DC or me because of the diversity of our neighbourhood. my post goes on to reflect that it's not.the badge of honour that guardian readers may think. Neither is it something to be avoided, as people at the other end of the political spectrum may feel. It just is how my neighbourhood is made up, and importantly is not indicative of anyone's political leanings, availability of independent cafes, or quality of schools.

@TheTurn0fTheScrew
It cannot be both “something to be avoided: as people at the other end of the political spectrum might feel” and “it’s just how my neighbourhood is made up, and importantly is not indicative of anyone’s political leanings”. Most people are very well aware that diverse areas might be the Tory Red Wall seats. The electorate voted Tory because they don’t want true diversity! And those voters included plenty of ethnic minorities!

Glasgow west end is lovely and where most southern seem to move to but it’s not really that culturally diverse, although it would meet the artsy requirements. The state schools are ok (Jordanhill is the best non private school but your house need to be in catchment and wouldn’t be fantastic for your budget) for the other good schools you need to go to the suburbs (east Renfrewshire/east Dunbartonshire) and they’re predominantly white areas with not much culture or art and a lot of closed minds and closet tories, albeit all within 15-20 mins of the city.

@TizerorFizz
Again, you've quoted selectively. For clarity, the whole comment pasted without edit was :

"it's not the badge of honour that guardian readers may think. Neither is it something to be avoided, as people at the other end of the political spectrum may feel'

I am trying, badly it would seem, to highlight that people are reading things in to "diversity" that are not necessarily an intrinsic part of that term, and conflating it with other factors that are unrelated.

Just move to a more affordable area of London, i.e. Zone 4+ East or South East London

@TheTurn0fTheScrew
You have selectively edited your own post!
You did contradict yourself.

Please give a definition of “diversity” if everyone else doesn’t get it.

@TizerorFizz
Clearly we're not going to iron this one out quickly. I'm not sure your picking holes in my definition of diversity will find the OP her sourdough nirvana. I am turning in, and will let the thread get back on track.

@TheTurn0fTheScrew
Ok. It was the op who asked for diversity. You indicated posters are reading things into this term that are not intrinsically part of the term. Therefore it’s reasonable to ask what you see as diversity and why others are wrong. Have a good sleep and mull it over! You do need to back up your views if you say everyone else has got it wrong.

@Weegiewtf

Glasgow west end is lovely and where most southern seem to move to but it’s not really that culturally diverse, although it would meet the artsy requirements. The state schools are ok (Jordanhill is the best non private school but your house need to be in catchment and wouldn’t be fantastic for your budget) for the other good schools you need to go to the suburbs (east Renfrewshire/east Dunbartonshire) and they’re predominantly white areas with not much culture or art and a lot of closed minds and closet tories, albeit all within 15-20 mins of the city.

Sorry, but this is incorrect on all points. I've lived in the West End and neighbours were Chinese/ Scandinavian/ Pakistani - couples of various sexual orientations/ families. I'm not sure how much more diverse you want?

I've already linked to a house in budget in Jordanhill - I know the area well: my sister lives there.

Again 'good schools' are everywhere, let's not get into this debate again. 'Good' schools are not exclusive of the white/Asian middle class machines of certain areas of the South Side FGS! Hyndland/ Hillhead/ Notredame are all in the West End and are good schools. I teach in the East End in an excellent school (working class kids do not a 'sink school' make. This enrages me!). My own DC go to their local comprehensive, DC1 goes to St Andrew's this September. I cannot stand this judgement of schools.

Rant over.

@drspouse

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.

Is it? As someone who grew up in one of the home countries I went to school with all sorts of different people, I went to uni in the midlands and lots of my friends were from the north and they all went to school with only white people. This was 10 years ago so maybe changed now, but the Home Counties are be fairly diverse IME

If it's the NE - maybe that's true. I'm in the NW.

@StrifeOfBath If the OP was posting on BlackMumsnetters and asking which areas are good to live in if you are BAME that would be a different thread from this one and I'd respond differently. However, the OP has only told us she is Welsh and her DH is from London, we have no idea of their ethnicity. No concerns about experiencing racism have been expressed on this thread. No explanation of what 'diversity' means has been made and PPs have repeatedly asked if it's ethnic diversity or LGBT diversity or economic diversity that is being discussed.

It is very easy for a certain section of upper middle class society that view themselves as very 'international' who have worked around the world and with friends from different countries to praise themselves for their 'diverse' social group. However, every member of that social group comes from the urban, upper middle class, privately educated section of each country. They may view themselves as stateless but they very much are not classless and it doesn't take much to scratch off the surface and discover their disdain for those who have had fewer opportunities than them. Those are the people I'm criticizing for wanting 'diversity', not those who don't want their children to experience racism at primary school.

East Oxford. Particularly around Magdalen Street kind of area. Just bought a small second house there and I think it is great! Lots of families, young professionals, arty types, academics, but also people who have lived there for years and definitely ethnically diverse. Some great foody places round the corner, near lively Cowley road, and about 1 mile from the centre proper. You'll get a good sized 3-4 bed terraced victorian with small garden for that budget.

Magdalen Road not Magdalen Street. Magdalen Street is right in the centre and no-one lives there!!

I'm surprised that Frome came up on here. Frome is so very white! Not at all suitable for your requirements.
I live in Lewisham SE London in a 3/4 bedroom Victorian terrace which is worth 500k.... so you can definitely buy in London with £550. You could buy a run down house on a good street and do it up?

@JaninaDuszejko
Those are the people I'm criticizing for wanting 'diversity', not those who don't want their children to experience racism at primary

I’m with you on that!

Meanwhile I am exasperated by thread after thread of wide eyed MN posts warbling on about how lovely their area is while having no idea what life is like for certain members of the community. Utter disregard for the poverty (cultural and economic) of those on the outskirts of their charming Ye Olde Town quarter , experiencing rural /coastal deprivation. Also dismissing concerns of racism or xenophobia when those it affects have experienced it.

Lots of suggestions on this thread of places to live are blithe to all that.

I would look at Swansea In your position.

You would have a great house for your budget. It is diverse and vibrant, there are 26 different languages spoken at my Childrens school.

Beaches, castles, fab parks and increasingly good restaurants, bars and coffee shops.
Uplands is vibrant but studenty, sketty is quieter and has some gorgeous leafy streets and lovely housing. All have easy walking access to Brynmill, Cwmdonkin and singleton park and walking distance to Swansea beach. It is a short drive to Gower.
SA3 is smarter, surfy vibe, walking distance to Langland and Caswell beaches, but more white middle class and pricier.
Schools are excellent in both areas.

I moved here from Bristol 20 years ago, best move I ever made.

Southsea on the Hampshire coast! Its compact, liberal, has a great range of bars, restaurants, independent shops and other stuff and is relatively diverse. Its well connected - direct trains to London and Cardiff, ferries to France, Spain and Isle of WIght. And you can live within a five minute walk of the seafront. Southampton and Chichester are both within 30 minutes drive/train

It joins on to Portsmouth but has a distinct identity - its where most of the students/ staff at the university live and so is educated and liberal. Portsmouth has naval museums for the family and the Hampshire countryside and South Downs are within a short drive.

Plus you can get a decent 4/5 bed terraced house for under £500,000.

In terms of public sector jobs you've got Portsmouth City Council on your doorstep plus Southampton, Hampshire and West Sussex within a short distance.

We moved here five years ago from inner London and love it!

Yes to Southsea in terms of feel. However, secondary schools are pretty poor. And it is very hard to get anything like a decent sized garden (though that is partly compensated by the beach etc). My sister is reluctantly moving to a nearby small town, mainly for school but partly for garden/parking/road noise etc

Bristol east, we have a hugely diverse area. It’s below your budget but prices are rocketing particularly in Easton. I’m of a similar mindset to you, moved away from suburbia and I absolutely love the vibe here. It’s not completely gentrified here too so it’s still a growth spot. 10 miles from Bath as well. If you need to be in London it’s only an hour and a bit straight up the m4.