Looking for advice! We are looking to move house - and are doing research into where to move to. So thought I’d ask on here: where do you think is the most lively place to live in the uk? Most beautiful, most friendly, best quality of life etc etc? We don’t want to live in the middle of a big city, but apart from that have an open mind. We love nature so access to nature is a big priority. Would love to hear people’s views on this! Thanks!
I’ll look at these - thank you!
That’s really interesting - thank you. Places can have reputations that are not always accurate!
The Northumbrian coast is lovely with some delightful towns. I like Morpeth as it's large enough with plenty of amenities and has good transport links.
I do like a nice market town. Further south west have Hexham and Corbridge (which is quite small). Much further south is Stamford which is nearish to Peterborough is delightful, it can be very busy.
To say nothing of the steam trains - bliss!
maybe living on the edge of a small town maybe.
I was considering this too - the nearness of shops and services but without the high crime, bustle and noise.
I'm sorry this was your experience, I think people who live in tourist areas get very defensive because so many visitors are rude, condescending and treat us like we're second class citizens, this is especially true in Wales and I think Scotland too. I'm English myself, but I'd never treat someone in such an imperilaist manner, its like we're a conquered people not a part of the UK. When you're told that laws don't apply to an English tourist, only to you as a resident, that you've spoiled someones holiday by asking them to put thier dog on a lead, when you've been threatened by tourists, when you have any kindness thrown back in your face, you do get defensive and extremely wary.
We have a 20mph speed limit in built up areas here, thats regualrly ignored, some locals don't stick to it either, but you see many more people ignoring it in tourist season. The actions of some second home owners during covid when we were in lockdown was truely attrocious, not only were people ignoring lockdown by travelling, but some were sending their baggage down by courier in the hope htey wouldn't get stopped at the boarder and sent back by police.
National government does need to do more, but they'd need to remove their collective heads from thier backsides first, Wales, Scotland and NI have devolved governments with varying amounts of power and control over some things. Our governments can do somethings like double the amount of council tax on second homes and introduce a tourist tax, but then there are howls of outrage from Westminster about are we exceeding our powers? I'm not sure any government has ever really got its head around things like funding for hospitals who's use goes up hugely in holiday season, or the fact that so many staff have to have specialist training for search and rescue, mostly for when people try and climb mountains in flip flops and other stupid things, again attitude is a problem.
The Barnet formula which dishes out money is broken and has been broken for decades, London and the south east get far more money spent on them than aywhere else and that includes English regions too, particularly the south west which always seems to get shafted
That is a very good suggestion - because it doesn’t immediately spring to mind but you’re right: it’s near the beautiful Peak District. Thank you - that hadn’t been on my radar until you mentioned it.
Sheffield!!
Known as the outdoor city it’s on the edge of the Peak District. People are friendly and down earth. It may not be the most polished city but it has great places to eat and drink.
Nature is on your doorstep it only takes 10-20 minutes from some parts of Sheffield to reach the Peak District 
Just to be clear we obeyed speed limits, took our litter away to recycle, respected parking restrictions, used public transport as much as possible, and we did bring our manners, we always do. The terrible and dangerous driving which we saw a lot of was by young men in fancy cars who definitely weren’t tourists, just part of the local scene. Also I do appreciate the cost of living in such beautiful areas has risen beyond the reach of many locals. On the stranded train we got chatting to a young man who lived in Cornwall and whilst he was amiable and kind in sharing his water and snacks his annoyance at tourists, which we were, was clear and we left the county some days later feeling criticised and in part responsible for a huge issue which in reality is solvable only by national government.
Have you a list for what you'd like, in a house and an area and what sort of budget, garden or land, as thats going to massively affect where you can go.
AnA, I live in a tourist area, and tourists do not pay for people to live here or anywhere else people may like to visit, if anything the opposite is true and many locals can't afford to live anywhere near where they grew up and have family, everywhere has been bought up as airb&b's and second homes that are only lived in for a few weeks of the year. It artifically inflates house prices, many second home owners and airb&b owners contribute little to the local economy, except an increase in rudeness and anti-social behaviour. People who believe that because they're relatively well off it gives them the right to ignore things like speed limits, parking restrictions and even things to keep us all healthy and safe.
For the most part people welcome visitors, we just wish they'd remember to pack their manners.
I lived in rural Derbyshire for four years, quite definitely both big and little C conservative, inevitable as to be able to live there one needed to either very lucky, very financially skilled or an inheritor of a large sum of money. I shared their big C politics but didn’t find the small c nosey village atmosphere pleasant so moved to a post-industrial area in Greater Manchester.
Definitely check out the government flood maps, Hebden and that area would be a total non starter for me on that basis. But so many areas are high flood risk now, one serious consequence is rising insurance costs for property, this impacts house prices and eventually properties become uninsurable and consequently unsellable as no bank or b.soc will lend on them
We found the locals very unfriendly to tourists, bit ironic as we were paying for them to live there. The service in some of the cafes in Newquay was utterly dreadful, there was obscene graffiti, litter and vicious seagulls. We stayed in Truro which was pleasanter than the coastal towns but no better say than Loughborough in the East Midlands. The train service looked ok on paper but one broken signalling cable stopped the entire line from Plymouth for six hours, so of course there were no taxis to be had. Of course it was pretty and St Ives amazing for its art, but having a physical disability meant there wasn’t much I could access, plus walking was slow and painful.
We went to Alnwick and didn’t find it especially friendly. The pubs were noisy and rowdy like they get all over the country, bikers in the main street, scary teenagers, a burnt out warehouse opposite our hotel and not cheap. I have livec many English areas over my life the thing about the north being friendlier than the south is a complete myth in my experience.
My son (who is an adult now)
Is he happy leaving his current job (if working) or volunteering role (if volunteering) - if he is then try get somewhere with the same opportunities if he ever decides to re-join the industry he was working / volunteering at.
Maybe look at things where there's a range of activities etc to suit all of you - maybe could do together or separate.
Folk from County Durham are very friendly and the rural scenery is lovely, especially Teesdale and Weardale.
I’m still considering retirement there because I love Dorset and Devon so much, it’s just quite brutal if you are used to all mod cons. The thing about London I find is that you need to think about it a bit like a tourist sometimes to enjoy it ie go on an open top bus to view the sights at Xmas to relive that feeling. I’m quite lucky to live in the riverside and right by Kew and Richmond park. The centre can be a bit soulless at weekends.
The South West is still top of our list at the moment. I lived in London when I was at Uni (a long time ago now) but it was too much for me really - too busy and overstimulating, and I didn’t feel very safe there. I think though that the access you have there to so many wonderful things to do is really wonderful. I saw so many bands, went to so many concerts and plays and exhibitions- I’m so glad I lived there for a while and got to experience that. So many wonderful memories of all of that.
I’ve live in Dorset, Bath and Henley on Thames for extended periods, I’ve always returned to central London. Because everything is here. Even on low days you can al says find something to do. I found the southwest one on my favourite regions for its beauty but also with youthful options energy it’s a lot easier to glaze over imperfect things. Now I’d much rather pay for things which work without making excuses. Plus you can still get nature in the city, if you live by the river and parks. It’s just a lot less isolated. The only thing I miss is sandy beaches but the river foreshore is kind of an underrated beach.
Thank you - it’s not an area I e considered yet - but I will investigate! I’ve heard of Alnwick - that’s supposed to be really nice I think? I find it really interesting that some parts of the uk have a reputation for being more friendly than others. Who wouldn’t want to live around more friendly people after all - it’s a definite advantage!
