Thinking of leaving London. Does this place exist? Where is it?

[Speaknowfearlessreputation]

London has gotten so expensive and I am finding that the community I once loved is disappearing too.

If this is on our wish list, where would suit us?

-strong community: friendly, easy to integrate, lots to do
-liberal minded people
-creative people around (I work in a creative industry)
-access to London (doesn’t have to be commutable as I work from home, but DH and I do need to get back once every fortnight or so)
-a charming high street full of independent shops
-not too polluted
-good schools, preferably progressive schools
-great place to be a kid

Where would this place be?

You are looking for Harrogate

I would say whitstable but Kent has the grammar system which isn’t for me (until I retire).

I'm just outside Bristol and it's pretty close to your description, not a huge number of shops but most are independent and there is no empty ones at least (well m&co is but there's someone renovating it). I'm 20 mins by car into Bristol or 45 minutes on bus, when promised train finally starts commuting to London is possible.

South Tottenham

Most of the seaside towns in Kent

Frome is basically Notting Hill now. Big problems with all the incomers. Locals v unhappy about being priced and gentrified out.

I will grant you it's not in the list hipster, but that wasn't what I read as creative. If that is what the OP meant then I humbly withdraw my suggestion and recommend Brighton instead!

”Ely” 🤣🤣🤣

I'm surprised no one has said Woodbridge in Suffolk.

Ticks every box.

The suburb of Hoole in Chester fits a lot of criteria! There’s always lots going on in Chester and it’s under an hour on the train to Liverpool and Manchester.

https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/notting-hoole-chester-suburb-long-21842867?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

I know Woodbridge very well, but I don’t think it’s what ex-Hackney people are looking for. Wonderful a place as it is.

Possibly the best thing I've read on mumsnet in nine years of daily scrolling.

Sounds like you are describing the three Bs: Brighton, Bristol and Bath.

Brighton has the South Downs. All three have everything in walking distance. Brighton to London in an hour, Bristol/Bath in under 1.5 hours.

What exactly do you mean by “progressive” schools? Irritating phraseology but I suspect they will fit the bill…

The thing about London (compared to elsewhere) is that you have options - housing, public transport, jobs, art, shopping, culture, Deliveroo, music, childcare, schools, cabs, things to do at weekends (other than country walks). Don’t leave London, just get a property finder to find you a new home in a more affordable area.

Marlow
Bourne End
Henley and outskirts
Hartley Wintney
Farnham
Amersham
NOT Beaconsfield people there live in a very expensive keeping up with the joneses bubble)
Berkhamstead
Lewes
Chichester

Grants Hill, Woodford etc.

Funny no one mentioned Stratford-Upon-Avon, I think it ticks all of the boxes.

Do you mean Gants Hill? Genuinely interested to hear if that's got creative stuff going on as I have a student friend living in Ilford and she's feeling a bit lost.

I’ve just read your previous posts which I’d missed before. Maybe what you’re looking for is just in another part of Hackney? Jesus Green? Something like this https://www.ahmlondon.com/property/barnet-grove-jesus-green-london/

Agree, I came on to say Timperley or Sale in South Manchester. We moved up here from London and would never go back. It has everything the OP asked for. With lovely people.

Maybe look at Harpenden?

It might not tick all of the boxes listed, but I wonder whether Bristol would appeal to you?

I don't live there myself, I live in Central London, but I did spend a week in Bristol a while ago so that I could look through the holdings of one of the University's special collections and I really liked the feel of the place.

I thought of Bristol when you said that you were in one of the creative industries and it reminded me of seeing Nick Park's studio when I went on a bus tour around Bristol on an afternoon when I wasn't doing any research.

Blackheath or one of the cheaper suburbs around it.

Stratford / Warwick / Leamington