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Rural living

Looking to relocate to the countryside? Find advice in our Rural Living forum.

A plan to move somewhere of natural beauty, family friendly and culturally vibrant

49 replies

Crystalsandcoffee · 27/06/2024 13:59

Hello Lovely People of Mumsnet.

Im attempting to research villages around Somerset, villages around Kent, and villages around south Devon, with the intention of moving. We currently live on the edge of South East London. And have seen a dramatic change in general attitude, crime and youth culture over the last few years. The area we live has never been completely our vibe, as such, but since procreating we feel an incredible urge to run for the hills. We used to have a real sense of community, feel more Kentish than London, but we’re slowly being swallowed by the city and are adorned by its abundance of problems. We’ll be moving from so many people we treasure and love, so we want to get the move right.

We’re looking for a village, preferably near enough a town, so there is stuff for young adults to do. Somewhere with a quirky edge, a bit of character, a bit arty, and if possible a free feeling culture to the place. Maybe a bit of a Glastonbury vibe, just scaled down a bit. The ideal would be a nice pub with a bit of live music (rock, folk…), some cafes, quite civilised and safe, near some nature, some nice schools……. Am I asking for the moon on a stick, or are there places like this out there?

Thank you so much for reading this. I appreciate any suggestions you may have.

OP posts:
Sam0136 · 27/06/2024 15:33

Having exactly the same dilemma! Interested to see what replies you get!

PotOfTulips · 27/06/2024 15:54

I think it's highly unlikely you'd get all of that in one village. Can you specify your most important criteria out of your list?
One key item to consider is travel, do the young adults you mentioned have their own cars? Buses in villages are usually very limited.

plonkyplinky · 27/06/2024 16:26

Malvern. Plenty of outlying villages.

Town is vibrant with stuff going on. 8 miles from Worcester. Good schools.

We have a theatre so lots of B-listers floating about in Waitrose 😂

11QR · 27/06/2024 16:47

Not a village but have a look at Totnes in S Devon

Kitsmummy · 27/06/2024 16:56

Look at Wedmore in Somerset...beautiful little village but has 3 great pubs, a music cafe, another cafe, shop, butchers , fish mongers . Has a beer festival, arts festival etc etc. about 20 mins from Glastonbury

NoSquirrels · 27/06/2024 16:57

You don’t want a village, if you’re after ‘culturally vibrant’, you’ll need a town.

JawJaw · 27/06/2024 16:59

Lewes in Sussex
Bridport in Dorset
Stroud in Gloucestershire

Not villages but vibrant small towns surrounded by countryside

rewilded · 27/06/2024 17:00

plonkyplinky · 27/06/2024 16:26

Malvern. Plenty of outlying villages.

Town is vibrant with stuff going on. 8 miles from Worcester. Good schools.

We have a theatre so lots of B-listers floating about in Waitrose 😂

Hey! Don't tell anyone.

MrsLeonFarrell · 27/06/2024 17:01

One thing to remember with a village is that there is no guarantee that the current businesses and services will be there in 5 years time. A small town would probably be a much safer bet.

ThisHazelBee · 27/06/2024 17:01

Might be worth a couple day trips to Leigh on sea and Maldon as they aren’t too far from you.

qwertyasdfgzxcv · 27/06/2024 17:01

Most of Somerset and Devon is not culturally vibrant! I'd go for somewhere a little nearer to Bristol so you can go there for the culture. Bristol is a great city so many somewhere on the outskirts or nearer to bath.

Pinkypinkyplonk · 27/06/2024 17:03

Thame area, or outskirts of Oxford

Readingallthetime · 27/06/2024 17:05

Bradford on Avon would be perfect! It's beautiful, vibrant, and fairly close to Bath and Bristol. More of a town than a village. Some friends of mine live there and I'm envious. 😊

hoggyhedge · 27/06/2024 17:05

Totnes

ArabellaFishwife · 27/06/2024 17:08

Before you mentioned Glastonbury, that's what I was going to suggest. Malvern is a good shout, as long as you don't mind a bit of a gradient. Expensive, but if you're coming from London, that might not be too painful.

DoloresDelEriba · 27/06/2024 17:08

not villages, small towns…
Bridport
Honiton
Petersfield

larkstar · 27/06/2024 17:09

@plonkyplinky @rewilded Great Malvern is a good shout.

PurBal · 27/06/2024 17:46

You could just move to Pilton?

MadameMassiveSalad · 27/06/2024 21:01

Following

qwertyasdfgzxcv · 27/06/2024 22:05

Oh seriously not Glastonbury. It also always comes up when Mumsnet does those places that people don't like and felt uneasy about. It's awful! Honiton is also not very good, but Bradford on Avon might be worth considering.

Greenbike · 27/06/2024 22:18

Contrarian view: stay in London. Your area probably hasn’t changed as much as you think - it’s just that you feel differently about it since having children. And it’s natural, when you have small children, to crave safety and green space. But children are as safe in London as they are anywhere. The schools are usually better in London. And when the children become teenagers, they’ll have a much better time in a big city than they would in a small village. As will you, because unlike in that village you won’t have to drive them everywhere.

Bearpawk · 27/06/2024 22:20

I'd look near Stroud, Frome, shoreham or lewes

hattie43 · 27/06/2024 22:25

Hastings

Dmsandfloatydress · 27/06/2024 22:26

I'm your people and you want:
Abergavenny in Wales
Stroud
Hebden Bridge
Frome
Lewes
Totnes.

Go and check them out. All leftie, quirky , alternative vibe. Pick a village on the outskirts of one of these such as Nunny near frome or Crickhowell near abergavenny. Done! You can thank me later 😉