If you left London and you liked living somewhere arty…

[Longdrive89]

… Where did you go? I am starting to feel very restless and London is making me cynical!

We’re going to check out Stroud and surrounds this weekend hopefully.

Where else should we look?

We both have very in demand jobs (healthcare / education type things) and have that freedom. We’re also considering abroad because of this!

Hastings . Far more for your money than Brighton and has a real bohemian/ arty vibe . Lots of Londoners moving down .

@Whichwhatnow I guess that's where we differ- we lived in Bristol
Too and didn't suit me or my H (who is from there) - and we lived in Henleaze. good job there's somewhere for everyone I guess. I guess it also depends what you like doing etc .

Folkestone is great. Brighton is horribly expensive now and full of twats I'm afraid.
Glasgow is one of the best places in the world.

Yes Lewes is absolutely gorgeous but it's even more expensive than Brighton, but if you have the money then go for it.

Norwich - 100%

Yes it’s ludicrously expensive. I know someone who lives there.

Stroud is stuffed full of people from London who either buy second homes or swank about in ostentatious cars. The effect on house prices has been spectacular, one of the few places in the UK where house prices aren't falling locals are well priced out now and the facilities can't cope with the influx. Places in local schools, especially the 'good' ones are like gold dust. The few artists I know are struggling to make ends meet.
And as for getting anywhere, road works plus sheer weight of traffic now means journey times have quadrupled.
And apart from the overpriced, hyped up Saturday Market, most sensible shops have closed and for normal items, you have to go to Gloucester or Cirencester sitting in those jams.

North Bristol is great for secondaries these days. Fairfield is SO good, waiting on recent ofsted which I think will surprise a lot of people and boost the area (again! Along with new railway station, quids in for those who own houses there already) plus trinity, the north Bristol branch of cathedral. RGS (although that’s definitely sliding, still has mainly MC £££ catchment so can’t slide that badly). Let’s see if Montpellier high (low?) can turn things around again too.

‘No good secondaries’ Is Bristol 5-10-15 years ago, not now

A friend lives in Malton in Yorkshire - she loves the local secondary, the pubs and restaurants are fabulous - was really tempted and could see why they moved there. I know you didn't ask for a foodie destination but it has a lovely vibe.

I’m really pleased PPs are suggesting loads of places in the south. Keeps the north clear of potential twats.

Are people who live in the South twats then?

I understand. The north has enough of their own to deal with 😆

I hear you, but it’s a real city with lots going on especially for its size, plus it’s young and fun. My guess is if you’re coming from London, most other UK options will get boring pretty quickly, apart from Bristol maybe. It’s a very friendly city so you will likely make friends fast and there’s always lots going on in terms of arts, food and culture. The other plus side is people like to visit Edinburgh, flights are cheap and even the train is quicker than you’d think from London(fastest train is 4.5 hours) so you’ll probably get more visitors than you would in Stroud.
The summers are much hotter than they used to be even at night but a lot more manageable than down south, and the winters aren’t as cold as you would think. The property is very well priced compared to London, Oxford and Cambridge.

@BlueHeelers last time I went 'up north' there were plenty of em there too- twats seem to get everywhere

I disagree with much of this . However, horses for courses. I don’t think it’s at all friendly. The summers aren’t summers at all. It is congested, polluted and heaving with tourists all summer, in fact all year. The Festival is an absolute nightmare for residents. There is rarely any decent theatre .
The cold wind blows constantly which makes it feel harsh and depressing. Property is VERY expensive. I know Edinburgh and Stroud very well. Much prefer Stroud. It’s closer to London and easy to get to Bath and lovely countryside all around. There is far more going on in Stroud . The people are more varied, more open minded and more dynamic. For me it’s no contest.

Hastings and Whitstable

@BeautifulDayintheneighbourhood i always found Edinburgh lovely to look at but I wasn't keen on the vibe of pissedup
People pouring out of pubs at 5pm and quite an aggressive vibe in some places - we did consider it at one point but went to Bath instead. Still touristy but better weather ! OP hasn't mentioned budget, I like Stroud but if you want that feel and baths not in budget I would pick Frome.

Cambridge

Hastings

/ St Leonard's

Also Slaithwaite and Holmfirth in a similar neck of the woods to HB.

I can't believe that those thinking it's easy to get from Stroud to other places, maybe they go at midnight or 5 am? My last two journeys from Stroud to Frome and Glastonbury via Bath were twice as long as the satnav predicted because Bath traffic has become so appalling. The journeys took place in 5 metre jumps!

Similarly the joke of using the M5 to get to Devon or Cornwall. Friday nights since lockdown feature gridlocked roads in every possible direction and monotonously all-too-regular accidents.
Bristol is a huge relief from small town life and it's worth struggling to get there.
I'm sure Bristol has its anti vaxxers but at least you aren't endlessly accosted by them along with the 5G mast protestors!

Nailsworth used to be a nice little place but I often find myself agreeing with other locals bemused by Fridays and Saturdays which feature drivers going up and down the town hoping at least one parking space will eventually become free because every single space and all the side roads are full and, as someone said to me this morning, 'why do these people buy their ridiculous large vehicles if they can't park them, let alone reverse on the narrow twisty roads!'

As to the trope 'Stroudie' are those the ones who live in Uplands or is it Paganhill? Oh dear no, not the latter, I believe there's social housing there. Perhaps it's Minchinhampton with the horsey set? Or indeed Nailsworth, just make sure you're the 'right' side of Springhill! Lots of food bank users up there.

Still, I'm sure we're talking extended stone Cotswold cottage with high decking and a hot tub and of course, Steiner education except Winstones was closed after a damning Ofsted report and is now up for sale, a snip at £4 million.

Here's a little information about Gloucestershire population growth, Stroud included, www.varbes.com/population/stroud-population
.... up, up and away..... can't wait (not).

Yes. Pissed up people pouring out of pubs all day long sadly.

I don't get this thread... at all...

What is arty about Stroud?

Maybe I don't know what arty means. I am an artist and live in London. It's shit, in a lot of ways, but it would be impossible to a) show art, b) teach art, c) have another reasonably well-paid job on the side to support a and b in odd hours in any other place I can think of.

The other artists I know who have moved recently and seem happy live in Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Ramsgate, Cardiff and Belfast.

There are a lot of middle-class people drinking flat whites in mid-century junk shops in Deal, Brighton, Cambridge, and undoubtedly various other places.

There are lots of rich people who buy art in London, Oxford, Salcombe/ Dartmouth, Manchester...

Totnes