Wanting to move rural but somewhere vibrant — doable?

[esgill]

I grew up in a small artsy town in Dorset which I detested by the time I was a teenager — I dreamed of London and places where things were happening and I went there and then Edinburgh. Now it’s too expensive with a 17 month old and also I do remember some of the better sides of my childhood: making dens in the woods, swimming in the sea, feeling safe, a relatively decent state school, natural beauty etc.

We are looking for something and I’m not sure it exists:

-somewhere with natural beauty and nice architecture.
-somewhere vibrant — an essence of London, Edinburgh or big capitals in outlook and eateries etc
-community vibe
-affordable housing
-train links (I can’t drive — I have epilepsy). —ultimately, somewhere that doesn’t feel like the end of the road/a place you go to die. I feel very sensitive about this from my own upbringing.

any suggestions?

York. Glasgow.

Brighton

Saltaire (or Shipley for cheaper house).

Harrogate

Neither of those are rural! No. You cannot get vibrant and rural. You can get chi chi town and rural. Coffee shops and an artisan bakery. Hopefully a station to get to London or Manchester! Properly rural is quiet.

I sort of feel you can — like Ubud in Bali has lots going on — events, community stuff, yoga, vegan cafes, world class cafes, an international crowd — but feels like a small pretty town. Glastonbury has a bit of it but might be a bit too alternative for everyday.

Hebden Bridge?

I don't think you can have really rural and all that you want though. Really rural would not have great transport links.
Glasgow is a huge city…massive, certainly not rural @VivaLaSpag

So you want a small, pretty town

that isn't rural

I was shocked how much I love going on holiday in Norfolk and the weather is great.

Norwich is a nice city.

People always friendly.

London in an hour.

Affordable in places when we looked in estate agent windows.

Loads of National Trust.

Loads of nature walks.

Lovely fish restaurants.

Good markets for food.

Honestly, we went on a cheap holiday deal and I loved it.

No idea about schools or areas to live but anywhere near a Waitrose and Lidl and I’ll be happy.

Hebdon Bridge! I don’t know anywhere with an international crowd in the rural parts of the uk. Yoga - possibly in a town. Vegan? Nowhere i know. Just would not get the trade. I’m not sure what a world class cafe looks like so don’t know if I’ve got one or not. Probably not. Community things - to some extent - yes. When someone wants to go to the trouble of organising things in the village hall. Quiz night and harvest supper - that’s the usual fun here. We used to have a ball until people started counting the £££ and didn’t buy tickets. Living rurally you have to go with the flow or do it yourself if you want something enough. But I’m not in Bali so cannot know that lifestyle.

You probably want a small town with good access to country/sea rather than truly rural, and maybe a train link to somewhere bigger as well.

You've just described Winchester and Farnham and potentially Guildford and surrounding villages but I don't know your budgets?

Norwich is nice but is definitely not vibrant!

Stroud

We just visited relatives in Norfolk and it was mind blowing how lovely and busy it was, and the house prices are so affordable compared to Hampshire.

I was adding to my list of places to downsize too, everyone was so friendly as well and lots of beautiful period homes.

Berwick upon Tweed
Alnwick

Lewes
Chichester
Arundel

When you say ‘affordable housing’, what do you mean? @esgill .

Your budget is going to be the biggest limiter.

I was going to suggest Henley on Thames but it's not affordable!

Findhorn
Isle of Skye

Affordable housing, in Brighton? hahahahaha

Where exactly in Norfolk is lovely busy and affordable?

@BarneyRonson we stayed in a tiny place called Hillingdon then went to Norwich.

Like I said I'm looking at prices vs Hampshire! So maybe not that cheap.

Bruton
Brighton
Bristol
Bath

You don’t mention a budget, but all these places are expensive already, for all the reasons you’ve outlined in your wishlist.

Nice cities but rural?