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?

I second this. The borough of Greenwich is a gorgeous area and parts of it are inexpensive, very green, etc. I always find SE London much more friendlier than north of the river. It's only about 25 minutes away from Central London.

I imagine what I call arty isn't what others call arty to be honest.

Do you mean gentrified posh theatre seats 'arty' or actual artists living on the bones of their arse 'arty'? Do you mean 'lots of art galleries with a gallery shop as you leave' arty or 'grafitti' arty?

Many places that are actual artists arty are crunchy and haven't been gentrified [yet]. But I'm guessing that isn't really what you want.

I live in Plymouth. It indeed does have excellent grammars. Dd1 is at one and I'm very pleased with it. Progressive it is not! I grew up in the progressive schools movement (hence I'm recommending Letchworth) so I know!!

Plymouth is my home and she's a battered and world weary city going through a gentrification at the pace of an elderly snail.

Plymouth doesn't tick the boxes though I had good rail links. Still plenty of home school preachers clogging up the toddler activities though 😉

OP what you're looking for just doesn't exist. I've visited all the places below and lived in a few and I don't think any of them come remotely close to what you will have in Hackney.

I think you need to choose priorities. For example I found Leicester and Nottingham very arty and creative compared to the south west. Great rail links to london. Not sure if progressive schools but many many schools to choose from due uk population density.

If I had no ties to where I am I would consider Cambridge it's gorgeous and ticks many of your boxes. Very pretty town with loads going on.

What is a progressive school? I’m not sure Hackney has many tbf, or London in general. The general drift seems to be towards strictness and structure as that’s what works with deprived intakes.

In terms of counter culture type places I automatically think of Stroud, Bristol, Brighton, maybe Margate. Places like Aldeburgh or Whitsable I think of as arty but more traditional. I know a lot of creative types who have moved out of London to the Kent/Sussex coast, places like Deal, Folkestone, St Leonard’s etc. You might look at Shropshire/Welsh borders too - totally underrated I think! As a softy southerner I’m probably missing over half of the country but others can advise north of Birmingham…

St Albans, around Fleetville/Oakwood

I love Bath, Bristol and Brighton. They are good cities to live with kids.

If you want a city -Norwich.Under a couple of hours on train into Liverpool Street.Lot's going on.Good music and arts scene.

Just to add the people we know in London that have moved out have gone to Folkestone, Hastings & Whitstable.

Bristol primary schools are good but the secondary schools cannot be described as "progressive". Almost all are academy chains doing their best with large numbers and very mixed intakes. Don't forget that schools outside London get less money per pupil so have to do more with less. The one or two naice ones have tiny catchments - I don't have any direct experience of them though. You are unlikely to have a choice of school as there is high demand.

Bristol is also not walkable unless you live very centrally which means poor air quality and no access to green space.

Lewes if you want a town
Forest row if you want a village
East Grinstead if you want slightly cheaper, better transport links, and are happy to drive to forest row (3 miles) for your dose of creative.

Also thought you are describing St Albans!

Berlin

I thought that as well! Progressive schools 🤣 and my children go to them!
Not diverse
Not progressive

I miss London

Came in to say Norwich - seems I'm not the only one thinking it.
Very arty city, lots of independent shops, green areas and easy to get to seaside.
London's doable, if a longer trip than ideal.

i've never lived there so have no idea about schools or transport or any of the the things you are looking for (#helpful) but i've been doing some work in Southsea recently and i love it. it's arty and fun with a really innovative vibe.

Brighton probably meets most of those requirements. I thkn they may even bus children from poor areas to rich so that comprehensives are really mixed so it is very socialist which might tick your progressive box.

SheerLucks
Can't agree with this - both Seaford and Eastbourne have a thriving creative scene. The idea that the population is elderly is rather outdated.

Eastbourne just hosted the Turner Prize for goodness sake.

Totnes?

What's the budget OP , what size place needed and rent or buy- ? As that makes a big difference to what we can suggest.

We live in Bath which is ideal and has great schools of all types , but it ain't cheap, especially if you want to buy a 4 bed house etc- but then I don't want to judge what you can/cannot afford or need!!

Places like stroud and Frome and Lewes and Canterbury and Brighton fit your criteria well too , as does Norwich

With regards to St Albans- I've lived there twice and it's as pricey as London and although it has a Lib Dem MP, it's quite 'banker' territory too- I personally don't think it has the vibe you are after . I would say the same about Guildford which I like a lot too

Norwich? Direct train to London

Can’t believe people are suggesting Woodbridge. They voted for Therese Coffey in their droves! It’s about as far as you can get from Hackney in every sense.

@IglesiasPiggletheSecond I know- I don't think some people quite get what the OP is driving at -