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

[Crystalsandcoffee]

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.

Ashburton, Crediton, or some smaller village near Exeter or Plymouth, if you'd go as far as Cornwall somewhere near Falmouth or Truro.

Rent your house don't sell it.
When I was a child our neighbours moved out of London because it was too rough. They went to Wiltshire. Their eldest died of a heroin overdose 4 years later. He was 16.

I often wonder what would have happened had they stayed in London. Would they have been aware of what was going on? Did he have too much freedom because they assumed he was safe.

The only thing swallowing up Lewes is the weeds. Knee high sprouting out of every pavement. We don't just have no mow May, we have no mow at all. The grass verges are waist height, rubbish is caught up in it because the council waste collection service is terrible.

Public footpaths are inaccessible even near busy roads. The old cobbles and brick pavements are not maintained. The parks are not maintained. The beautiful old houses are looking damp and partially dilapidated.

But, we have a lovely new wetland habitat for our special rare snail, a wide tarmac path along the river bank and new stick your chewing gum somewhere else signs.

We have lots of interesting knit your own veg and organic clothes shops. A "sewing hub" and every other kind of community hub you can imagine, lots of food banks, and more pubs than you can visit in an all day bender. No one in lewes wears knickers which is worth thinking about. And there is no where to buy socks, or infact any other useful thing you'll need.

It's full of Londoners that the locals refer to as DFLs even if you've been here 20 years.

Another vote for Totnes!

Arundel ?

My first thought was Malvern too. Funnily enough, we are going there again this weekend. Quite a lot going on, they have the RHS Malvern spring show every year, there's the Morgan car factory, a retail park and as @plonkyplinky says, a theatre with a whole variety of shows, including a cinema. Easy access to countryside, good schools including private. Plenty of restaurants and cafes, and a railway station so if you do get bored you can visit the delights of Worcester and beyond.

I live 5 mins from this house in a more modest abode... but my view is better still.

OP you don't have to spend that sort of money to get something fantastic up these parts.

Been in Malvern for 13 years now and there's nowhere else I'd rather be... but if I HAD to, then Stroud or Totnes would be top of my list. Not Glastonbury, it's weird!

@leeverarch

Recommending my local community pub The Brewers Arms - amazing views and food!!

Enjoy your visit 😊

I agree with this. You don't know what you miss till it's gone and then totally unaffordable!

I’m in Kent in a lovely small market town but I don’t think there’s enough for kids to do here, so thinking of alternatives.

Whitstable is pricey (prob not too bad if you’re coming from London), lots of cultural stuff going on there but also a lot of tourists and Airbnbs. Deal is very similar, lots of outdoorsy and water related things to do, looks like the ideal place to live. But neither are villages, not in the true sense of the word. There isn’t lots to do in proper villages in Kent culturally, you’re looking at village events, the local pub, dog walking etc.

Other places that are more culturally lively in Kent would be larger towns such as Folkestone and Margate (guess Sandgate next to Folkestone is classed as a village).

I agree. The teens will possibly bugger off to uni, have a ball in a city and won’t come back.
Almost all the yp where I live smoke enormous amounts of weed, whatever their background.
A surprising amount of locals hate incomers with a vengeance so it’s not easy to make friends.
You won’t be able to afford to move back.
If it’s culture you want, stay in London or a city.

Ashburton isn't a village, it was created a stannery town in 1285!! 😡😡
(Never upset a born Ashburtonian 😁)

We are moving to a beautiful village just on the edge of Bradford on Avon and I’d say that ticks a lot of those boxes!

Folkstone is worth considering and is has nice little cafes, coastal, and apparently is on the way up. (Or Sandgate near Folkstone)

Worthing is another place that could be worth considering, or villages near by.

Broadstairs has a renown annual folk festival, so villages near there also, but may be better for little-uns, rather than older ones. Has a nice sandy beach.

Nb. Never lived in these places, only visited.

Tenterden may be another option?

@KeebabSpider said -

"It's full of Londoners that the locals refer to as DFLs even if you've been here 20 years."
Ditto here (Dorset), we call them DFLs - even though our Londoners tend to be from Maidenhead.

What’s your budget? Minimum requirements (number of bedrooms, garden, semi or detached, etc)?

If you need a minimum of 4 bedrooms and want a reasonable garden but only have a £350K budget the answers will be very different to a £1.2million budget.

Not in the area you are looking, but Bishops Castle in Shropshire has a lot of what you are after.

Jazz Club, small local Theatre (SpArC), a number of local pubs with music, Town Hall music events, Poetry pharmacy bookshop (and events), Carnival, Party in the Park, Open studios, Open Gardens.

If that's not enough, Ludlow and Shrewsbury are (relatively) nearby.

The book shop in Bishop's Castle is lovely. But other than that, God, no. A walk up a dusty hill, that's what Bishop's Castle is.
I really like Shrewsbury.

Totness

The village you are describing does exist- its called Dartington, just outside Totnes. You can't move for organic veg boxes, handmade shoes and local currency. And the Cott Inn even gives you a dream pub.
And you have the South Hams and Dartmoor on your doorstep, the most beautiful river and railway line in England and a proper Motte and Bailey castle to explore.
It's a long drive from SE London though.

Hello @Exx from a fellow Ashburtonian now wondering if you are my sister...
Do you still live there?

This thread is now over six months old.

@Crystalsandcoffee Did you move, and if so, where?

I am an only child so unlikely to be your sister 😁.

I don't live there any more, though lots of my cousins do.

But if your family come from there we are probably related... having researched my family tree loads of the long time Ashburton names crop up somewhere in the past💀.

Framlingham?