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Rural living

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

Wanting to move rural but somewhere vibrant — doable?

191 replies

esgill · 26/02/2025 23:01

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?

OP posts:
Spidey66 · 27/02/2025 18:50

itsjustthewayitwas · 27/02/2025 18:26

What are the pros and cons?

I typed some of the cons in my other post....public transport, little diversity, lacking a bit in some retail. While it's generally a friendly town, there is a slight underbelly, but less than London where we were from. Occasionally you can smell cannabis around, that sort of thing.

However, it's a friendly town and there is lots of activities to take part in, though maybe a bit top heavy in the yoga front!

Lots of green space. We moved in October last year, so are looking forward to making the most of it. Our dog is going to have lots of country walks!

There's a very independent feel, Catherine St and Cheap St have wonderful indie shops, cafes and restaurants. There's a small precinct with a few chain stores eg WHSmiths, Boots, Peacocks, Fatface, Poundland etc. Every month except Jan and Feb theres an independent market on the first Sunday which is part farmers market, part arts and crafts, clothing, bric a brac etc. It takes over the whole town centre and has a lovely atmosphere.

There's an independent cinema at the precinct and 2 theatres. There's also the Cheese and Grain, a lovely venue which holds loads of events, lots of tribute bands (we saw Bootleg Blondie last week), but also bigger names. Foo Fighters and Paul McCartney have used it was a warm up for Glastonbury.

It's close to Bath and Bristol if you need a city fix.

I've noticed how theres little traffic jams in comparison to London. Even during rush hours, unless there's roadworks or something the traffic is moving.

I love living there, it's much calmer than London!

itsjustthewayitwas · 27/02/2025 18:52

Spidey66 · 27/02/2025 18:50

I typed some of the cons in my other post....public transport, little diversity, lacking a bit in some retail. While it's generally a friendly town, there is a slight underbelly, but less than London where we were from. Occasionally you can smell cannabis around, that sort of thing.

However, it's a friendly town and there is lots of activities to take part in, though maybe a bit top heavy in the yoga front!

Lots of green space. We moved in October last year, so are looking forward to making the most of it. Our dog is going to have lots of country walks!

There's a very independent feel, Catherine St and Cheap St have wonderful indie shops, cafes and restaurants. There's a small precinct with a few chain stores eg WHSmiths, Boots, Peacocks, Fatface, Poundland etc. Every month except Jan and Feb theres an independent market on the first Sunday which is part farmers market, part arts and crafts, clothing, bric a brac etc. It takes over the whole town centre and has a lovely atmosphere.

There's an independent cinema at the precinct and 2 theatres. There's also the Cheese and Grain, a lovely venue which holds loads of events, lots of tribute bands (we saw Bootleg Blondie last week), but also bigger names. Foo Fighters and Paul McCartney have used it was a warm up for Glastonbury.

It's close to Bath and Bristol if you need a city fix.

I've noticed how theres little traffic jams in comparison to London. Even during rush hours, unless there's roadworks or something the traffic is moving.

I love living there, it's much calmer than London!

Edited

Interesting. I would like to move somewhere within easy travelling distance of Bath and have considered Frome but never been there.

Spidey66 · 27/02/2025 18:55

You should visit!

TizerorFizz · 27/02/2025 19:01

@Mielikki This thread really proves people don’t live rurally! We have no bus service. We do have a station quite close but you would have to walk to the nearest town 3 miles away. Cities and larger towns do have more going on and of course “village” type neighbourhoods in towns have options. Holiday areas attracting the rich from London, North Norfolk and Cotswolds, have enough going on but if it’s a village, might be miles from a station and no bus.

Rellotello · 27/02/2025 19:17

Totnes
Frome
Stroud

Crikeyalmighty · 27/02/2025 19:58

@Spidey66 my 85 year old father in law has just got a bungalow there- moved from Kent - he wanted somewhere lively with all facilities , on the train and not too big and relatively close to us - we live in Bath and nice 3 bed bungalows in pleasant areas were a fair bit over budget. He pops over a fair bit and we do to him- it's a bit lacking in actual big retail but good for cafes, markets, bric a brac, bars, pretty indie businesses and a M&s Foodhall, lots of supermarkets etc and if you have kids it's wall to wall storytelling, junior yoga stuff if you look on the notice boards

Great modern medical centre too, Gp , small minor injuries unit, cottage hospital and physio centre - all on same site ( five minutes walk from him too )

Crikeyalmighty · 27/02/2025 20:25

@esgill here's the kind of thing you get for the money- I've added in 'let agreed' as they go quick in Frome for anything ok

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157009442

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157009511

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158617436#/?channel=RES_LET

HoratioBum · 28/02/2025 01:55

I don't think it's the case that people on the thread don't understand what rural means - more that we're struggling to help the OP fill her criteria.

Having lived in London my whole life, moving to a large town has been quite the adjustment. In London you can't move for exhibitions. You'd never be able to see all the ones you want to.

If you genuinely want arts stuff, for example, where I am now, you have to be prepared to visit what is on offer locally - and once you've done that, you've got to wait until the next exhibition. Ditto with the theatre. And the quality isn't the same. You have to accept that there's less choice and things often move more slowly than in a city.

coxesorangepippin · 28/02/2025 02:03

Honestly hebden bridge is bloody dire in the winter, super dark because of the valley

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/02/2025 08:02

Lewes often comes up in threads like this, but it may not be "affordable" to you.

SneakyLilNameChange · 28/02/2025 08:04

rivalsbinge · 26/02/2025 23:45

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

I wouldn’t say Winchester is like that…it’s pretty but not really artsy, not an ‘exciting’ or vibrant place to live and zero diversity. Trust me I was a teenager there 🤣

ErrolTheDragon · 28/02/2025 08:22

coxesorangepippin · 28/02/2025 02:03

Honestly hebden bridge is bloody dire in the winter, super dark because of the valley

In general it's probably a good idea to visit somewhere you're thinking of moving to for lifestyle reasons in the depths of winter!

Mielikki · 28/02/2025 10:03

TizerorFizz · 27/02/2025 19:01

@Mielikki This thread really proves people don’t live rurally! We have no bus service. We do have a station quite close but you would have to walk to the nearest town 3 miles away. Cities and larger towns do have more going on and of course “village” type neighbourhoods in towns have options. Holiday areas attracting the rich from London, North Norfolk and Cotswolds, have enough going on but if it’s a village, might be miles from a station and no bus.

Agreed - I'm utterly mystified by these suggestions. 'Rural' clearly means something completely different to a lot of people.

TizerorFizz · 28/02/2025 10:10

@Mielikki I think most posters have no idea about living rurally. They don’t do it so don’t know about lack of transport and activities nearby. You might get a church and maybe village hall community events but not much else without travelling. If the op meant a town she should have said so but posters seem very confused and have not considered the rural requirement at all.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 10:12

@TizerorFizz she mentioned about vibrant and eateries etc , so I think we can conclude she means a proper place but with nice countryside around it as I've yet to go somewhere properly rural that has a great choice of stuff to do plus lots of eateries etc

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 10:14

@SneakyLilNameChange where has she mentioned diversity ?

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 10:22

I think it's fair to say too that anywhere 'bohemian and artsy' and with very nice countryside close by is also going to have a decent tourist industry and the OPs budget is very much at the lower end for anywhere like this in England or even Wales for renting . That's the big issue, it's not that places like this don't exist. We have all of this in spades around Bath in the villages- but the budget would need to rise by at least a few hundred.

This would be another possibility though OP , beautiful upmarket village with cafe, shop and2 pubs just outside ( around 2 to 3 miles)) Bradford on Avon ( Bradford is on train and good buses) -

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158598761

TizerorFizz · 28/02/2025 10:38

@Crikeyalmighty Still not sure why cities have been mentioned so much. Visiting a city is not easy from many rural areas. Living in an arty bohemian area in a town or city is far more likely. However maybe op should have said that. Holiday areas won’t be cheap. Ordinary towns with countryside around them might be cheaper but air bnbs in holiday areas affect what you can rent.

TizerorFizz · 28/02/2025 10:44

Hebden Bridge has rentals much cheaper than Bath.

Bath has students driving up prices and is very desirable. However cheaper than my local county town that’s 50 mins from London. Has virtually nothing op wants though!

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 11:04

@TizerorFizz oh I agree- and I like Hebden Bridge- certainly places in yorks or somewhere like uppermill or even Whitley bay or Tynemouth or Alnwick in NE will be cheaper - I don't think she wants proper rural - just a bohemian feel to a place with good countryside- there are plenty but the budget restricts the choice for reasons you have said

OldChairMan · 28/02/2025 11:12

Totnes and Frome might fit the bill.

(Are you meaning to cross bits out, OP? Like olde days MN?)

HhalloNine · 28/02/2025 12:15

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 11:04

@TizerorFizz oh I agree- and I like Hebden Bridge- certainly places in yorks or somewhere like uppermill or even Whitley bay or Tynemouth or Alnwick in NE will be cheaper - I don't think she wants proper rural - just a bohemian feel to a place with good countryside- there are plenty but the budget restricts the choice for reasons you have said

OP will be able to afford Tynemouth if she is fine with a flat. Houses are too expensive at her £1200 budget. Rentals ( and sales) go so quickly too.
Tynemouth rentals

Whitley Bay might be doable, but less what she is looking for in a community.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 12:46

@HhalloNine blimey, that makes it more expensive than down here in Frome and Corsham and even sometimes Bradford on Avon - all of which I think have the vibe OP is looking for .

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 12:57

Here is a nice one just outside Corsham which is a very lovely small town - beautiful countryside - this cottage is riralish but only 2 minutes into Corsham - 8 miles into Bath and a bus every 20 minutes, 15 minute drive- 3 miles into Chippenham - Corsham has lovely pubs, several restaurants and cafes, great butcher and deli, excellent Chinese, big coop and peacocks walking about!! Camilla's big home is there as is Dominic wests - it's on the up!!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158502563#/?channel=RES_LET

TizerorFizz · 28/02/2025 13:09

What time is the last bus? They can stop too early for a Cinema or meal out in the evenings and then it’s taxis.

Tynemouth. Great shout for Newcastle and coast. However north and south travel not always great.