I need to leave London asap!

[Hails600]

Hi all,
Loved in London all my life and can't wait to leave!!! Oh it's unbearable for me and my partner. We just had a baby in Feb and starting to look for areas in Kent as it's close to London. We are Carribbean so would really appreciate it anyone knows areas of Kent that are multi cultural like London especially the schools. I have a cousin who loves in Gillingham and she said her son is the only black boy in the school 😯

OP, most of the Uk is less multicultural than London. There is this, however, from Kent live - “Office for National Statistics data shows in 2011 the Black population of Dartford accounted for 3,578 people, or 1.3 percent of the town. By 2021 that had risen to 12,282 or 10.5 per cent. Groups including the Dartford African Caribbean community have been set up to support those coming from London.” Dartford isn’t too far from London, so perhaps that might be what you are looking for.

You could try posting on the Black Mumsnetters board to ask for advice about multicultural areas.

As @zzplex says.

Could you look even further. There are ever changing communities in the UK.

I live and work in a large rural local authority. Since Brexit and many Eastern European people leaving the UK my LA has employed social workers, educational psychologists and other key staff from African countries. We also have a number of doctors too.
In addition care homes have employed from the Philippines, India and Bangladesh.

Fortunately, what was once a very white rural area is changing.

OP, I left SE London and moved to a small town in Kent. It was like going back to the 70s with casual racism, sexism and homophobia abound.

Can you not look at some of the outer suburbs which are in reach of the countryside?

I think of Kent as the most overtly racist of the home counties - why are you looking the over surrey Essex bucks herts etc?

Unexpectedlysinglemum · Today 10:31

I think of Kent as the most overtly racist of the home counties - why are you looking the over surrey Essex bucks herts etc

Essex is terrible in that respect too.

I live in London but have family in Kent. I think I’d be reluctant to move to Kent if I were you, especially with kids. I have definitely witnessed the locals make racist comments especially during the summer when people tend to travel down to the coast.

Also have a black friend who once went to go and look at a car in Kent once with her children. She said she walked into a pub on the way back to get lunch and everyone stared at them and once they were seated a family asked if they could be moved! Perhaps I am naive, but I genuinely couldn’t believe people would be that way inclined in this day & age.

Thank you so much everyone! I don't know how to reply to individual people. @zzplex I will look into that board as well. I do have family in Kent too but they haven't mentioned too much about racism. We did also consider Milton Keynes.

What is unbearable about London?
What are you looking for?

Any reason why you are discounting other cities? As a mixed race woman I would head to Bristol, Cardiff, Reading, Birmingham. Cheaper housing and multi racial. Liverpool has the oldest established Community in the UK and the Bay area in Cardiff has had a Black Community since the 1990s.

What about Brighton in Sussex?

London is unbearable tbf 🤣 I don’t know anyone who likes living here anymore.

If that were true the houses would be cheap!

@Dmsandfloatydress I would consider but I don't feel too comfortable being too far from my mum.

I live in Colchester and would say it is very multicultural, the racist issues in Essex tend to be in coastal towns such as Clacton, Southend etc

It was a question designed to be helpful rather than defend London. What is unbearable? House prices? Crime? Distance to the sea? Weather? Driving conditions? No Betty's tea shop?
If we know then we can help better surely.

@deviantfeline good question. It really is the cost. The constant road closures causing single traffic, the cost of living in general. Crime is everywhere really and there isn't really any escaping it

I was also going to suggest Reading as it’s very multicultural and only 25 minutes by fast train into London. Some of the suburbs are nice like Earley, Woodley & Caversham. Has lots of nice smaller towns nearby like Twyford & Wokingham if you prefer somewhere quieter.

I would say Canterbury is the most multicultural area in Kent - and is lovely. Your children wouldn’t be the only non-white child in school, not even in the class.

Definitely avoid Herne Bay and Margate.

Bit of a curve ball, but is Scotland a possibility? My family hails from there and we’re retiring to a Scottish city. We’ve known the country well for many years and find the multi-culturalism in most Scottish cities one of the real attractions. Plus, it’s beautiful 😃

@Hails600 Tunbridge Wells looks quite diverse. Mind you I was only there for a wedding so not sure what living there is like, but the city centre on a Saturday was buzzing. I didn't feel uncomfortable. Lots of young kids around different races all together.

Tunbridge Wells looks quite diverse

Looks can be deceiving.

@Hails600 come to MK it's incredibly diverse. The primary school I am at has so many different languages spoken. We have children whose parents moved here before they were born and also children who have moved to the UK in their life time. It's a great place to raise kids. But move here before they start school.....pick your area by choice of secondary school - if you can. Loads of great schools. Loads of opportunities.

Dartford and the Medway have similar crime issues to inner London so you won't be escaping anything by moving there. Dartford is more diverse than much of Kent.

There are places a very short distance from Dartford that are not diverse and pretty racist.

The other thing that is awful outside of London are educational and health services. It varies greatly by borough inside London, but outside London is really a lottery. If you can afford to stay inside London, even by renting, I would.

@ThatWarmJadeSeal good point about the healthcare services! Education wise not sure. That would require alot of research also.