Moving to north Wales?

[wherethecityis]

We are considering moving to north Wales.
We are going to check out some areas next weekend, and were wondering where is nice to live within a reasonable commuting distance of Bangor?
We would want to be further east than Bangor, and preferably near the coast.
Thanks

Yeah I don’t think that issue is just in north wales, teens drink in many places. Maybe it’s just mine who don’t and it’s goes on here, though I don’t see the same anti social issues in the local social media groups here as there. Chester is a lot nicer to be fair, my brother lives there. More multicultural but not on a par with London. For me that’s super important as my kids would stand out and I’d hate that as their current school is really multi cultural too. There’s lots of positives moving out to somewhere quieter too, my DS (19) was mugged last week here in south london in broad daylight. Times like that I wish I’d have taken them to Wales. I think for me I’ve got the benefit of knowing what it’s like when choosing to leave London. I love it here and it’s the draw of cheap housing tempting me back, but I’ve not 100% decided yet. There’s definitely many positives living in North Wales, it’s a much quieter pace of life, safer, cleaner air. If you’re close to cities like I’d be (10 miles to Chester, 25 to Liverpool) still plenty to do, and it’s only 2hrs 10 from Chester to Euston. If you’ve got a cheaper cost of living more money to do that kind of thing.

I grew up in Buckley and whilst there might be negatives about it, the people are lovely and such a lovely community. I miss that being here in South London / Surrey. You’re much more anonymous.

Check the schools. Most are welsh speaking in north wales.

With kids in school stay on the Conwy county side of the border and commute into Bangor. Conwy schools are more English speaking unless you pick on with a lot of Welsh speakers, Dd learned and was fluent in 2 years. Gwynedd is much more Welsh speaking in School as is Anglesey. Commute traffic on the bridge off the island is notoriously bad.
We are up the Conwy valley. about 30/40 mins from Bangor on the A55. Traffic is fast in winter slow in summer especially of Friday day heading West and on Sunday nights heading East.
Nice spots to live round here are
Conwy (town and outskirts)
Deganwy English school
Llandudno has some bad spots but English schools
Penrhyn Bay 50/50 school
Rhos on Sea English school
Anywhere up the Conwy valley all the villages (some have bad internet others are great for signal) Both sides of the river not Llanwrst. (Dolgarrog and Eglwysbach schools are very Welsh though) People drive the kids to the less Welsh schools in Conwy and Glan Conwy from there.
Colwyn Heights (not Colwyn Bay) English school
Abergele (not near the beach or Pensarn) English and Welsh schools
Prestatyn and near there like Meliden is lovely but further from Bangor to drive.

Well us locals love a Welsh learner, especially on who works at it.
My Welsh is atrocious and I'm born and bred here. My Dd (foreign born) speaks it fluently.

I lived in Flint for many years, no work, no money, nothing for teens to do. Would not recommend it. By all means move up North, but not to North Wales if you have teens.

@Strictlyfanoftenyears We don’t have teens luckily. Our kids are at an age where a beach and a playground are all they want 98% of the time.
Based on what so many people here have said, I think we’d probably look to move somewhere busier once they reached secondary school age.

I live very near Bangor and have loved it for my teenagers. I am not from Wales. Okay, yes, they have been drunk in fields. I also drank in fields/parks as a teenager. But they also have independence, are confident, and it is a close knit community and I know they are safe. Everyone is looking out for them. They have excellent outdoor skills. They now attend competitive universities in London and like coming home for the holidays. They always comment on the air and water. We have a huge house.

I feel like they had an excellent childhood and happy teenage years. Growing up in N Wales feels like a privileged experience to me.

What amazing things do teenagers do elsewhere?

Talk about generalisation. Buckley is nowhere near the area you are looking and not typical of most towns and villages in the area; Rhyl would be the nearest comparison and I would advise avoiding there.
Rhos-on-Sea, Llandudno, Conwy, Dwygyfylchi, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan are all nice towns or villages along the A55 but there are plenty more villages a little further off the A55. Depends whether you want a town or quiet village which ones would suit you best. Llanfairfechan would be the most Welsh speaking of all of those previously mentioned but it is certainly not essential for any.

Where? There is nothing upsetting to see particularly in Buckley, even the council estate isn’t grim looking.

Are you all in good health? Healthcare in North Wales is notoriously bad with scandal after scandal involving the area health authority which is again in special measures.
And god help you if you get cancer. Betsi cadwaladr has failed a lot of people.

Llanfairfechan and especially Penmaenmawr had huge drug problems a few years back, not sure what it’s like at the moment as I’ve not been for around 5 years since relatives moved. I don’t miss travelling that way on the A55 in summer, it’s hell and bumper to bumper.

Menai. Less than 10 minutes from Bangor, across on Anglesey with great views.

I hope you are not English? There is a deep-rooted dislike under the surface in many areas. I have two sets of relatives in Wales who are English and both have had to ignore blatant racist behaviour against them. I say they have to ignore because they now can't afford to come back to good old blighty.

Pennaenmawr and Llanfairfechan would both give you a community with easy transport links to Bangor.

I'll defend Buckley too (not that I think it's an option for op). I don't often have reason to go there, but it's just a regular little town. Not picturesque and not worth going out of your way to visit, but it's not a barren wasteland.

We are, but then so are most of the people I’d be working with and they seem to cope ok

Anglesey is maybe your answer. Menai Bridge, Llandefgan, Beaumaris but further into Anglesey might be a bit too far for you. Nice cafes, pubs, deli etc in MB as it’s quite well heeled around there. Secondary school is great (it was a few years ago but I think it is still good, plenty went to RG universities if that’s your thing). As a non welsh speaker but someone trying to learn you will be fine around there. Many of my friends born and bred are still only second language welsh speakers so while schooling is bilingual your kids will be fine. For young kids it’s lovely, as kids get older Bangor provides some life (but nothing like what you’re used to) due to student population. Bangor town centre gone downhill. I think a lot of people still head to Chester, Liverpool etc for a proper shopping trip.

Had never seen poverty like…. Buckley? I’ve lived in Buckley, it’s got its areas like most towns and there’s a not going on of an evening but it’s hardly the ghetto.

op you might like conwy? Or further east, Mold is nice and only 20 mins from Chester. Learning Welsh in English medium schools will be fine for your children if they’re primary. I’m a teacher and have taught loads of kids who have come over from England, they pick up Welsh no problem. English medium schools don’t really teach Welsh to a particularly high standard in primary, particularly towards the English border.

my kids are enjoying life in northeast wales. They go into town to meet friends and in a couple of years will be able to get the bus into broughton and Chester. As they get older, the train to Liverpool. We only need to drive half an hour to reach nice beaches.

the further West you go, the more beautiful the scenery and the more Welsh is spoken. In Gwynedd I think nearly all (if not all) schools are welsh medium which might be a bit much for you and your kids. I have nothing against welsh medium schools as my own kids attend one but do think it might be hard coming from London to pick up the language

Oh also op my mums family came to north wales when she was 13 from London. They received a lovely welcome and never left. We’re not all racist to the English!

May I ask how realistic it would be for an adult English speaker to learn welsh? I did a one day Introduction to Welsh course here in London at the Welsh centre on Grays Inn rd. After that I couldn’t even say yes or no in Welsh. I’ve belatedly realised that could be because when answering a question people tend to retake the sentence and add “not” or “is/am” ( but I could have that wrong!). I speak 2 foreign languages but find welsh really tough.

Your kind off banging your head against a wall with trying to learn Welsh. Are you aware that the northern and southern dialects are so different that they struggle to understand one another ?

Yay! Can’t wait 😬

@DrySherry , the Welsh language is the same in the north and south other than some dialect. You'd probably find that someone from the east end of London might struggle to understand a Geordie.

@wherethecityis , there are no Welsh words without vowels. We have more vowels than you lot. A, E, I, O,U, W, Y.
Some letters are two characters - Ch, Dd, Ff, Ng, Ll, Ph, Rh, Th
A word like Ffydd is 3 letters, one of which is a vowel (Fydd sort of rhymes with seethe, and means faith)
Dd always sounds like the TH in 'the' or 'that'
Th always sounds like the TH is 'thing' or 'thong'
Welsh is phonetic which makes it easier.
If you make an effort, it doesn't matter if you get the odd word wrong.

@DrySherry , we don't say Yes and No in reply to every question. The response varies depending on the question. For example, to 'Were you here last time?', you'd say 'I was', to 'Are you going to work tomorrow?' you'd say 'I'm not'.
'DrySherry ydych chi?' Ia (Are you DrySherry? Yes)
'Ydych chi yn briod?' Ydw/Nac ydw ('Are you married?' I am/I'm not) etc.

Buckley's fine. Probably not the most desirable of villages but I have friends who live there.

This. I'm first language English and used to think it wasn't an issue not learning but only when my welsh partner told me the history and how it was almost lost and how important it was to them all. Wales is beautiful, friendly country and any effort with the language means a lot 😀

That's not my experience only issues I've seen is where people are dismissive of welsh culture and language with the "I don't need to learn the language/ it's not an issue me not speaking it they can just speak english". There is a lot of painful history that is dismissed.

Is it Gwynedd council you'll be working for op?
I would be looking at places like Conwy, deganwy, rhos on sea, Llandudno, llanfairechen.

I think moving teenagers from London to north wales would be a big shock, but primary school age and below will be fine. We have amazing beaches, lakes and mountains and places like Chester and Liverpool aren't far away. You'll all have to adapt but I have loved bringing my kids up here (also originally from London).

It's only really Welsh speaking west of Bangor and some parts of Anglesey, so whilst it's lovely to learn some of the language I wouldn't over think it. The main thing is your are respectful of the Welsh culture. Your kids will pick it up and most schools in the areas you are looking are bilingual.