Have you ever been anywhere in England OUTSIDE OF London where you'd consider living?

Let me guess OP. It was sunny the day you were in Cambridge, but not anywhere else. You should check out Norwich and Nottingham too.

I live in a villge outside Canterbury.

[quote]Let me guess OP. It was sunny the day you were in Cambridge, but not anywhere else

Gurl, you is funny.

that looks lovely, OP. I dream of being in London every day. I once stayed in a charming village called Amersham-on-the-Hill which was very pretty but far too small to live in permanently.

I would live in Bath in a heartbeat.

[quote]I dream of being in London every day. I once stayed in a charming village called Amersham-on-the-Hill which was very pretty but far too small to live in permanently.

My BF lived there as a kiddie, R4. We went along and found his old house. They let us in to wander around. I think down the hill is prettier.

Lots of places. There relatively few British countryside areas that aren't really beautiful. My faves - the Cotswolds, Southern Cornwall, Dorset, Guildford, Maidstone, Wales north coast, rural Cheshire, Lake District, Dartmoor, East Sussex, Stratford on Avon, Yorkshire Dales...... :)

Stamford

Durham. Beautiful and very historic ancient cathedral, decent university, lovely views. And I like the North of England better than the south.

I could live just about anywhere in the UK, but since I have a choice, I live at the beach in southern CA.

OP, I loved Cambridge much more than Oxford. It was like a small town and was less frenetic than Oxford.

When I've traveled to Britain in the past I either stayed in London (to travel south) and Manchester (to travel to places in the north and Scotland). Two wonderful places I could live in were Bath, Ludlow, Salisbury, Winchester and Brighton (if you like the water). In the north, I could see myself living in Edinburgh, York and Whitby (if you like the wind and sea).

R9 - oh, I forgot Durham in my post at R11. I've been to Durham and it was a lovely cathedral town. Just got off the train and walked.

There's a Stamford in England?

I guess it was there first.

Tresco, of course, with its subtropical vegetation.

I always liked the idea of living in Kent - so I could pop over to France for shopping and a nice lunch.

Though I don't think it's such a nice thing to do today.

I'm going to big up Canterbury, since I live there.

It's layered with history and not too expensive for the south east. No gay scene, but you really need a large city for that. We've got a cathedral and eerything.

[quote]No gay scene, but you really need a large city for that.

R16 >

South West England, Southern Ireland.

Nice for gardening.

Dorset, here:

I love York and Oxford. Norwich would be too small for me--they roll up the sidewalks at 6pm.

The big industrial cities in the north (Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester) are sort of horrible,

OXFORD

Amused to find two fellow residents of East Kent here on DL. Don't live in Canterbury but very often visit, and love it. The Curzon Cinema is a home from home.

Killiney Ireland, plus its EU + charm of the Irish.

One nice thing about the north generally is Manchester (though it's quite a shit-hole in itself) is really quite diverse in it's traditional populations, they are not as homogenized as in London area and it's fun to go pub hopping in those rural outskirt towns and villages. The people can seem incredibly different from one county to the next, say Derbyshire compared to South Yorkshire, even if it's only a three minute drive away! Always a mix, the people can range from INCREDIBLY warm and hospitable, to cut-off, cold and quite xenophobic of outsiders.

The southern parts of Manchester (actually Cheshire) including towns like Hale Barns and Alderley Edge, and the rolling hills and countryside of Cheshire is especially gorgeous.

I'm English and moved to London 6 years ago...trust me London is a horrible place to live. Overcrowded...immigrants everywhere,expensive,rude people etc

[quote] Let me guess OP. It was sunny the day you were in Cambridge, but not anywhere else

My husband is like this. Years ago when I was looking to buy my vacation house we went through Sag Harbor on a gray, damp, cold day. After that he called the town "Sagging Harbor." A few years later I drove there with him on the car on a warm sunny day and he was all, "They've completely redone this town! I can't believe it's the same place!"

The town hadn't be "redone" at all

London is Muslim central.

I would move to Yorkshire because on all the tv detective shows, there aren't any cars on the roadways. Completely empty, so that our intrepid detectives can drive unimpeded to rescue his/her police partner. It's like Walter White's desert highways in Breaking Bad.

When is London expected to become majority Muslim? It's soon, isn't it?

[quote] Two wonderful places I could live in were Bath, Ludlow, Salisbury, Winchester and Brighton

I guess "two" means something different in the UK.

R29. It already is close in many parts. East London where I am is full of Muslims. ....hijack and burkhas all over the place....very depressing.

The town of Bridport in Dorset. It's super-charming, near the sea. Yeah, it's packed with older than dirt pensioners. But a lot of quietly posh cool kids who used to live in London are flooding out in that direction, opening really interesting and fun bars and restaurants (Dorshi, Pursuit of Hoppiness). There is a bit of an artist thing going on there, too. The village itself is fucking beautiful. And it's not uncommon to see Steve Coogan or PJ Harvey doing their shopping at Waitrose (both have houses near there).

I could also live in Bath.

No one would choose Brighton?

R18. What's southern Ireland got to do with south west England? ?

Well, Bel Air but that seems a bit unrealistic at the moment.......

I was in Guilford for a few days and it seemed more or less like a typical suburb, although with a twist. The properties are organized a bit different from what you'd expect in a typical American suburb in the Northeast.

Perhaps due to the fact that Guilford was founded by Saxon settlers after the fall of the Roman Empire, over sixteen hundred years ago ....

[quote][R29]. It already is close in many parts. East London where I am is full of Muslims. ....hijack and burkhas all over the place....very depressing.

well no wonder as you were the one who wrote

[quote]I'm English and moved to London 6 years ago...trust me London is a horrible place to live. Overcrowded...immigrants everywhere,expensive,rude people etc

You live in the shithole part of London - you say so yourself.

You're all over this thread with the Muslims, in fact

[quote]London is Muslim central.

[quote]No one would choose Brighton?

I don't like a cold sea, personally.

Lincoln.

Lincoln again.

You can walk along Lincoln Castle walls.

The term "A Fool's Paradise" would be a description that would fit many of the UK's largest cities these days, especially London. Couldn't pay me any money to live there.

Brighton just isn't a friendly place imo.

What about the lesser known gay areas? I know Dorset was gaining some traction in the area around Bournemouth/Poole known as "the triangle". It has some incredibly beautiful beaches, and a sunny climate (compared to rest of the UK), it's also somewhat less tacky than many resort towns.

"The English Riviera" part of Torbay has always had a interesting gay scene, including UK's first gay resort, but it's been several years since I visited last. It's cut off and seems quite dead there out of season.

It does seem that gay owned and operated venues in the UK are becoming more common.

[quote]You can walk along Lincoln Castle walls.

I'm DYING to do that.

Any been to Broadstairs in Kent? Meant to be lovely and kind of cool.

Reading.

Stratford-upon-Avon or Bath. Or somewhere in Cornwall or Devon.

R2, Does it comprise a circle of buildings and one little store, up a short drive?

[quote]Any been to Broadstairs in Kent? Meant to be lovely and kind of cool.

Not cool. Old fashioned seaside village. It's OK.

How about picturesque Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight?

Isle of Wight is creepy and a hassle to get on & off (preferably).

R15/R16 yeah, Canterbury is bloody lovely, if a bit sleepy. I lived there for a couple of years. It’s very safe & communal for what is technically a city adjacent to London, you can wander around at night and feel totally at ease; rare for any British city nowadays.

The locals there are big into sustainability and living like hippies, it’s a cool scene if you like hanging out with oddball stoners & nutcase students. I found myself hanging out in the cafes and weird little alleys downtown a lot, going to open mics or hashish places and such. The pubs are cosy and the beer is excellent, naturally (there are many home breweries in the county). The festival is good fun if you don’t mind Ren-Fair fromage, and everyone’s friendly.

There’s also something charming about all the Tudor architecture and the cobbled streets, and it’s so cool to imagine the luminaries that have walked there before. I have to admit I wandered into the cathedral looking for peace (and I’m not a Christian). The Marlowe Theatre does some very interesting scratch productions that you can catch before they make it to London, and there’s a good folk music scene.

The countryside is a wonderful feature, and I spent many a glorious spring & summer weekend just walking around the fields & forests surrounding the city. The green belt is somewhat protected in Kent, I believe? I think the river might be the best part of all, though. It winds through the town clear as crystal, ducks swimming on it...gorgeous. The weather is mostly mild too, being close by the seaside of Whistable & Margate (industrial, depressing, don’t go there).

There isn’t much I didn’t like about Canterbury. The only offputting parts are all the posh snob commuters & retired people sneering at you from their Audis or in Waitrose, and the very slow & stuffy pace of life. It’s not a place for young people or party animals unless you’re at the Uni. Give it a miss if you like glamor & action dusk ‘til dawn; Canterbury goes to bed early. Otherwise, it’s ideal for everyone, I’d say.

In what town did Hyacinth live? Where was the series filmed?

R45 Broadstairs is very expensive, especially considering it's in Thanet. And with being in Thanet, it has all the same problems that the other towns have (very elderly, high unemployment, a little on the rough side).

Of the Thanet towns, I'd recommend Westgate. It's basically Broadstairs, only cheaper.

I went to boarding school in Broadstairs. It was like a prison. We were taken to the beach only once in all the time I was there. We were marched along the promenade in our macs and caps in a crocodile.

Isle of White? I think I'll move my base of operations there!

I love that you have a town named after our president Lincoln! That's very respectful.

Luton is my dream town

R53 it was filmed in lots of different locations and the opening sequence with Hyacinth’s invitation to an executive-style candlelit supper gave the town in her address as Fuddleton, which doesn’t exist. It was meant to be somewhere in the West Midlands.

Thank you, R59. What is the West Midlands like? Is it looked down upon?

yes, England's version of flyover, R60.

It’s grey and industrial and not particularly interesting r60. Someone with local knowledge might have better info but from what I saw it wasn’t that great.

R60 it’s be the Lost World to most urban Americans, especially gays, culture-hounds or those with a good amount of money.

There’s spectacular countryside and a deep local history, but you only get that as a native or longtime resident. To a newcomer it would be terrifying; all impenetrable accents, chilly locals, pokey little towns & villages with creepy Stepford Wives (seem ‘Shaun of the Dead’? Like that) and farm machinery everywhere. Poverty & meth is rife too, and there are a ton of Eastern European migrant workers and Irish gypsies about. The black/Asian communities that do exist are small & ghettoised, as well.

Many are quietly homophobic, but accepting of Trans. Good fucking luck finding a single gay club. The class/wealth divide is obvious in the sticks and the population has a severe ageing issue. There’s also nothing going on culturally, although some student cities such as Bristol are rejuvenating at a good clip.

It’s somewhat like the trashier redneck parts of Appalachia or the Midwest. I’ve heard Birmingham (UK) compared to Detroit before now, and Gloucestershire compared to the ghostlier parts of Nevada.

Harrogate

I had sex with a guy from Harrogate once. This was in the 90s so he must be in his 40s now.

[quote]This was in the 90s so he must be in his 40s now.

Gosh!

Anyone from Hastings here? It looks like a lovely town.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

[quote]Anyone from Hastings here? It looks like a lovely town.

No it's horrible. Full of people living on public assistance.

Northumberland. It's so bleak! Actually Cambridge is lovely and relatively close to London. Oxford, town not University, feels like a slum to me.

[quote]Any been to Broadstairs in Kent? Meant to be lovely and kind of cool.

I believe Whitstable's the cool Kent seaside town.

or maybe just 'fashionable'.

British seaside towns make me long for (the nicer) American seaside towns. So much more stylish and REAL summers.

York

Is Brighton still flush with young lesbians? It used to be, in the 90s & early-mid 00s.

Oops sorry - American DLers don't like it when I say nice things about America. They go all silent and odd.

True R71. Our coastline is stunning, but oy is the summer weather shit! Would much rather visit Cape Cod, etc.

Whitstable's nothing special.

Brighton is now a hipster suburb of London.

A beach covered with medium sized pebbles.

Aggressive seagulls.

Those are my memories of the place.

Allerdale, Cumbria.

Brighton is insufferable.

But I'll stick with London, thanks. South Ken is my favorite base.

All lovely but you might have to travel abroad for dental care.

[quote] There’s spectacular countryside and a deep local history, but you only get that as a native or longtime resident.

No, they are available to anyone with a brain and access to transport.

[quote] Many are quietly homophobic, but accepting of Trans. Good fucking luck finding a single gay club.

BULLSHIT. Our redneck/working class population is about 100 times more accepting of gays than your equivalent in the South/Midwest. Poor whites are not religious in the slightest.

[quote] It’s somewhat like the trashier redneck parts of Appalachia or the Midwest.

See above

[quote] Poverty & meth is rife too

Poverty yes. Meth no.

[quote] there are a ton of Eastern European migrant workers and Irish gypsies about

True, but in only certain places.

[quote] The class/wealth divide is obvious in the sticks and the population has a severe ageing issue.

True.

[quote] To a newcomer it would be terrifying; all impenetrable accents, chilly locals, pokey little towns & villages with creepy Stepford Wives

Ye Gods. You haven't visited in around 40 years, have you.

What I can't understand/bugs me about Brighton is why they don't rebuild that fucking pier (that got burned down)

All that lottery money etc...that's the sort of thing it should go on.

I have my eye on Windsor Castle.

R79 why are you posting a pic of Russians?

I take it the fact, published by OECD no less, that the British have the best dental health in the world hasn’t reached darkest West Virginia yet, where toothpaste is an exotic import?

Bath

Seeing all the strong British boys with their big poles pushing their punts on the river in Cambridge is a view worth having.

[quote]I prefer Luton - a lovely airport and quaint mall. A town with a nice mix of mosques and Irish pubs, where Muslims live peacefully next to Irish Catholics.

And then there's reality . . .

[quote]I prefer Luton - a lovely airport and quaint mall. A town with a nice mix of mosques and Irish pubs, where Muslims live peacefully next to Irish Catholics.

And then there's reality . . .

R86 Continuation

Luton: U.K. Commuter Town With Reputation as a Jihadi Breeding Ground

From The Telegraph, The rising tide of anti-Semitism

Only 25 miles north of Barnet, in Luton, one of the town’s main mosques, the Luton Islamic Centre, publishes statements on its website describing Jews as the “brethren of swine and pigs” and calling for “victory over the Jews and the rest of the enemies of Islam”.

One text on the “Palestinian Crisis” asks: “How do the brethren of swine and pigs [Jews] have the upper hand over the best Ummah among all the other nations [Muslims]?”

Another text states: “The Jews strive their utmost to corrupt the beliefs, morals and manners of the Muslims.” After the Paris attacks, the mosque tweeted a lecture by Qadeer Baksh, its imam, saying that Muslims would be caused “much harm” by the “Christians and the Jews, the extremists among them”.

R87 Sarcasm friend, sarcasm, regarding my praise of Luton.

Horrible weather, incomprehensible Northern accents, degenerating socially/politically, entrenched bigotry. Pass.

They call it Luton because the locals are Loot'n at every opportunity.

Birmingham's place as Britain's second city seems increasingly secure. Frankfurt it is not, but they believe it will be eventually.

Newcastle seems like a nice place.

R93 Birmingham isn't as nice or nicer than Frankfurt? Wow, I would have expected better.

I lived in Hartburn near Stockton on Tees decades ago. For a native Texan it was a fasciating new world.

The centre of Newcastle is pretty in parts, R94, but the nightlife is an acquired taste. I remember once helping a woman dressed as Wonder Woman climb out of a bin at 2.00am - it's that sort of place. Sunderland, nearby, is probably the most depressing place I've ever been but Newcastle can be lots of fun if you're in the right frame of mind.

I'm surprised at the comments about Hastings, Broadstairs, etc. I thought they were now full of hipsters selling old vinyl and decent coffee? Just the other day I was told Broadstairs is the new Margate.

I have a Luton intolerance....

[quote]and the rolling hills and countryside of Cheshire is especially gorgeous.

Perhaps but the cats there ruin everything about it.

gurl, you is funny!

Chigwell

[quote]Just the other day I was told Broadstairs is the new Margate.

Margate isn't the new Margate quite yet, but it's getting there.

Lovely places can have very unlovely politics. NE Somerset, which includes Bath and some picture perfect villages is represented in Parliament by the very anti-gay Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is a semi-aristocrat (father was a Life Peer, money from "invertments") and a rising star in the Conservative Party who also seems like a candidate for Upper Middle Class Twit of the Year. Historically, that area leans heavily Tory. A lot of agrarians who think that conservatives are good for them.

I've also heard St Leonard's is the new Margate R102, which of course was the new Dalston, so I'm guessing by next week we'll all be moving to Whitby.

I'll add Bourton-on-the-Water.

Sweet Jesus, nowhere intententially becomes a new Margate.

You'd LIVE in Bourton-on-the-Water? LOL.

Become a detective and solve local crimes?

I think the Cotswolds look absolutely amazing.

Please British DL, tell me more about this place; it all looks like Heaven to me.

My parents lived for a while in The Cotswolds, which in effect meant Iived there - so I knew it quite well.

And is the area as amazing as I'm imagining it to be R110? Is it an okay place to live if you're older (past 40) and single?

It was near Chipping Norton - which locals called Chippy.

There was a small cinema/theatre - which, as it was 1979-80 - showed some excellent current films.

I saw the play of Abigail's Party there and it was very, very good.

Wow! It's still there!

Chippy!! A place called Chippy would have to be delightful!

So that's only an 1 hr 42 minutes from London. Not bad.

[quote]Is it an okay place to live if you're older (past 40) and single?

Oh, yes - best age to live there and many single folks, I'm sure.

Chippy's a small town, not a village. But it's quite bijou.

[quote]So that's only an 1 hr 42 minutes from London. Not bad.

& about 30 mins to Oxford.

The nearest train station is Charlbury.

Sounds great then R115!

On a side note, I love those British towns that have hills nearby where you can hike and look over the village from afar. In the movie Calendar Girls the ladies did their morning hike and tai chi on one, and it looked like such a great way to start the day.

[quote] I love those British towns that have hills nearby where you can hike and look over the village from afar.

Yes. When I was a kiddie we had a cottage in the Chilterns and used to ride up Coombe hill and look down over Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire. Many hikers take the train from London (Marylebone Stn.) to Wendover and hike up Coombe Hill.

That's just so nice R118. My dream life.

Who on Earth wants to live in London? I mean, apart from the idiots who never actually set a foot on British territory but believe it's oh-so-beautiful from what they've seen in movies? It's also not nice if you're gay.. Londoners are just as pretend-friendly as they are pretend-open minded. In fact they are the opposite to everything Americans think they are from what they've seen on the internet when googling their favorite British actor.

Brighton ain't too bad. Also: gay.

Think older gays often open antique shops in these kinds of places or tea rooms.

R121 The only way to keep this dream alive is to never visit England, babe. They're a homophobic bunch. The real people that are not celebrities, that is.

Nonsense r122. I’ve lived there. I lived in Scotland and England and never heard a homophobic word. I didn’t visit Wales or Northern Ireland so can’t speak from experience there. You’re either just ignorant or trolling, I don’t know which.

A bit of both, R123.

Which is the best place to stay when visiting Dorset?

I adore Kent, around Canterbury. History, Culture, looks like a picture book

Windsor Castle

When is mankind expected to become majority atheist? Not soon enough, is it?

Can anyone tell me about Northampton? Would it be awful for a young gay man?

I stayed in Cheltenham once and thought it might be a nice place to live, but when I mentioned that to a Brit I was roundly mocked. So I guess there’s something horribly wrong with it.

Has anyone else been watching "Homes by the the Sea" on Netflix? Very much recommend it... good for getting to know the different coastal areas of the UK and also a good dream-home fantasy fix. Really awesome show.

Port Isaac

All these cottage-y villages are nice, but can you get decent internet service? I mean, *I* am not going to Raj's Internet Cafe and surfing on Datalounge using a connection that everyone and their brother has used. And you'd have to pay for a tv license.

England is so beautiful, I've never understood the obsession with London. We aren't like that about NYC or DC.

Is Eastbourne nice?

R31, Here's the thing: We have people here looking to visit or live in Paris and England for the uniquely Parisian and English charm, cuisine, culture, and landscape.

Those of whose ilk you speak think not, are aware not, and care not of any of those factors. They look upon Western Europe as merely land beneath their feet, to trample, litter, and spit upon; and upon Western Europeans as merely creatures beneath contempt, to trample, rob, and spit upon.

The Louvre was closed for one day because of fear of aggressive gangs of pickpockets? Soon it will be closed forever because of aggressive gangs of vandals.

So strange that "alt-right" trolls try to paint Europe as Newark with a foreign accent. All this talk about how Europe has been rendered a wasteland by the gypies and "mozzies" but you wonder if any of these rightwingers have ever even [bold]been[/bold] to Europe. I was in the Netherlands just a few months ago and it's the same as it ever was. Literally no change.

gypsies and I meant to put it in scare quotes lol

Manchester is a really vibrant City as R24 said. But most sensible people live a few miles from the City Centre.

As well as the very expensive Southern districts (Cheshire) there are also some nice places to The West.

Worsley & Monton Village are very popular and only a short drive/taxi ride (5 miles or so) from the City Centre nightlife.

I love it when English people talk to each other. They're so cute, and they use such funny words. Keep it up, laddies!

R120, I've been about ten times, sometimes for months-long visits. London has the British Museum for starters, Harrods, Westminster Abbey and Parliament, Covent Garden and Carnaby Street, beautiful parks and stunning pageantry, the West End, St. Paul's, the Tower and Crown Jewels, the streets of Jack the Ripper and the bunker of Winston Churchill, Scotland Yard and "221-B Baker Street," .....

But maybe it is now irrevocably altered.

Any thoughts on Dover and Bournemouth?

[quote]The Louvre was closed for one day because of fear of aggressive gangs of pickpockets?

How the hell did they get in? Everytime I've been by the Louvre, there's like an hours wait to get in.

Derbyshire if I can live at Chatsworth, sans touristes

[quote]Any thoughts on Dover

Mainly underwhelmed, as it's moribund and sketchy, but with notional green shoots. Some interesting old houses to be had for good prices.

Just over an hour to London on the fast train, close also to the Kent seaside towns, and Canterbury, which seems popular on this thread. And then there's neighbourly France.

Not a bad punt if you're youngish, want a good housing bang for your buck, and take a long view of regeneration.

R139 picture is my quintessential English placid scene. Americans have fashioned many of their most prestigious older suburbs to look just like that!

What makes you think you're going to be able to live in the UK? You talk as if all you need to do is hop a plane and start paying rent. It's more complicated than that.

Cornwall always appealed to me for some reason though I've never been. How is it?

I've visited Bristol and Brighton on short trips and found them pleasant enough, but I suppose long term living is always an entirely different experience.

R30 - I was suppose to type "A few" in my post at R11 but my brain must have gone blank and instead I typed "two".

I commend you on your eye for detail.

Cotswolds/South Downs, Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, Canterbury.... Many quasi-suburbs, just outside London, Manchester (certain areas), Devon, Brighton Beach.

OMG isn't that lovely @ R132!

^Quite! Isn't that the fictitious setting for the country Dr. Show Doc Martin, or am I too confused? Looks like it, but they use a made up name for the setting of the show. Bet it's spendy ££££££!

[quote] No it's horrible. Full of people living on public assistance

Horrors! Not... [italic]poor[/italic] people! They're the worst!

The trouble with Cornwall is that it's a peninsula - so you have to travel back sometimes a few hours to get to "the mainland".

Also the weather is often more extreme.

Though - it is also more temperate than the rest of England, palm trees can grow there. But don't expect Florida!

Which Cornwall towns are the nicest? What are the best beaches there?

and what is glorious about Cornwall, is that the green fields go right down to the sea.

Truro is very nice.

Badger's Drift is charming. But the crime rate is very high.

Lovely shot R156

OMG! Did anyone here see The Camomile Lawn, back in the 1990s - all set in Cornwall?

It was nick-named Camomile Porn - because everyone was always taking their clothes off.

I'd rather live in the equivalent place in America, personally. I like REAL summers and American seaside resorts have more style.

I love the signage in America in these sorts of towns. So colorful and creative.

Chippy Norton and the Cotswolds are lovely. My Dad’s side of the family has lived there since the 1800s. My grandmother grew up there, and I still go back to visit cousins every few years. It’s a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the NYC area. Quite expensive though.

The Cotswolds.

I'd pick Nantucket over Cornwall, any day.

[quote] I'd pick Nantucket over Cornwall, any day.

That's nice, hon, but that's not what the thread's about.

OK - last one.

Heaven USA >>

Oh really? I'd pick Cornwall, R165..

[quote]Oh really? I'd pick Cornwall, [R165]..

No, the English are miseries.

In America "How ya doin' today?"

"Have a good one!"

"Enjoy!"

NOTHING makes DLers go silent like someone being PRO-America.

Silence falls.

Loved Bath. Love the Cotswolds. Love the area ad towns around Windsor Castle. Loved Oxford.

I've lived in America, R169....

Does this help?

Just noticed that Manchester had been mentioned a few times without any pictures or real insight into the City Centre, just lots of pics of nice suburbs surrounding it.

This is the 'Official Tourist Site' though so remember do your own research.

[quote]What makes you think you're going to be able to live in the UK? You talk as if all you need to do is hop a plane and start paying rent. It's more complicated than that.

Quite true -- but with BREXIT my suspicion is that, for Americans at least, things will get a bit easier than needing the contacts one typically needs to apply to live in the UK.

It used to be that retirees with a certain fixed income could get in, but that's not the case anymore. That might be reestablished, for instance.

But you're completely right -- one can't just traipse from one country to the next and live wherever one wants! It's especially funny that we Americans think that's the case, considering that a certain (mouthbreathing) element gets very angry when people traipse into our country....

If you want something enough, you can swing it.

I live in Harrogate now. 4 years in Leeds before Harrogate, and 10 years in London prior to Leeds. Getting away from London was the best thing I've ever done. Harrogate is a beautiful place, and on the doorstep to both Leeds and the stunning Yorkshire Dales. I'd quite like a city apartment in York, I love spending time there.

I'd love to leave London - but I don't dare. I'm FROM here.

I love THE SIZE of London. You can just walk and walk and walk forever and never see it all.

Even this evening I walked home and discovered little alleyways I've never seen before. I love that.

& saw beautiful houses.

and sometimes it really does look like Mary Poppins Land.

R178 I think that 5 bed house sold for £6.5million ($9million) + Tax recently? Looks like it needs work also internally.

R178/79... Yes it truly is lovely! I miss it, used to live in Bayswater in the late 80's. Have been back on and off quite regularly over the years, and always discover some mews, or secret backstreet I had yet to discover. The layout, and design provides so many hidden gems, since it isn't a clean grid.

R174, I remember the cooler music scene used to be in Manchester, rather than London, w/the exception of Brixton. Very laid back people w/out trying to be so very posh.

[quote]The layout, and design provides so many hidden gems, since it isn't a clean grid.

Yes and layers of history.

In the summer they have open days when you can go inside many of the secret private squares.

[quote][R174], I remember the cooler music scene used to be in Manchester, rather than London, w/the exception of Brixton.

you mean THIS era?

Depressingly The Hacienda (Madchester) is a block of relatively expensive apartments now. Still a big music scene if you know where to go.

Oxford is actually pretty awful.

yes, apart from the beautiful colleges.

I was shocked at how crap Harvard looked in comparison.

My favourite city in the UK is actually Glasgow. I would move to Scotland and live between there and Oban.

The architecture of the Oxford colleges are stunning, but the atmosphere of surrounding suburbs and towns are pretty bleak. Lots of pale, unhealthy looking, diffident youths and petty crime and not that much culture.

You have horrible taste, R193.

We arrived early evening at Oban and turned round and left. Horrible depressing place.

& Glasgow - oh, dear!

In any one of the palaces there

Yes, Oxford is a dreary, heavy city.

Any city that has a graveyard at its very centre is suspicious to me.

>>>

[quote]In any one of the palaces there

Really worked out well for Diana - so have a go!

R196 = >

I've put a lot of thought into emigration to the UK, as well as obtaining an Entrepreneur visa and the pathway to Permanent Right to Leave. I'm currently in the hospitality industry as the GM of a restaurant and would open a restaurant/bar in the UK. I would aim for a university town or a market town of at least 20K thinking that those cities would be more open to a gay American owner. I've worked in a village pub near Devizes for two months (sort of a bartender exchange program) and cannot see myself being happy/successful as the village landlord. I really like Bath, as well other places in the SW (especially Malmsbury, Salisbury, Wells, Bridport, and Dorchester).

Is Tunbridge Wells nice?

My next trip to the UK I will go to Cornwall. Good luck to you R200. If I went there I'd open a bakery. some thing smallish in a nice town. I'd be happy. They really need help with their sweets.

[quote]I'm currently in the hospitality industry as the GM of a restaurant and would open a restaurant/bar in the UK.

Gurl, you want to make money in England?

Open an American style breakfast place featuring American pancakes.

I MEAN it.

You'll be RICH.

I'd do it if I had the know how.

In fact, maybe I should find a way of doing it myself.

I know someone who opened an American burger place and it's doing well - like most American food/burger places. But there are so many.

American cake places are also HUGELY popular now.

NEVER underestimate the British love for Americana.

There are American (rip-off) candy stores opening everywhere too.

[quote]American cake places are also HUGELY popular now

HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY >>

r201, if you are rich, white and over-75 Tunbridge Wells is amazing.

Yes, Rye. It's the inspiration for Tilling in the Mapp and Lucia novels and was the home of Henry James, E F Benson (of course) and Quaint Irene (AKA Radclyffe Hall).

Again, to whoever is going to Cornwall... check out "Homes by the Sea" on Netflix because the first episode is filmed there.

Looks lovely, R208

Home Counties on fire!

[quote]Have you ever been anywhere in England OUTSIDE OF London where you'd consider living?

Nowhere WE'VE been to!

I couldn't contemplate half of the places mentioned on here?

How would one get to Harvey Nichols or Liberty?

Or an International Airport? The UK can make you a bit 'Stir Crazy'

So nice to see a lot of Cornwall lovers here (and I love the crazy weather!). Padstow is a nice town, too, but I understand that the usual assortment of rich cunts have infiltrated it the last dozen years or so---ruining it for many with far less money. I wonder how the locals have fared? I stayed there for a couple months with friends back in the late '90s, but not nearly long enough it seems. I'd live there part of the year anyway in a heartbeat if it were affordable.

Bournemouth is lovely in the Summer. Canterbury: wow. Leeds is supposed to be up and coming. But York was the nicest.

I want to visit Dorset

Isle of Wight. I toured the island in 1979 and fell in love with the place, the majestic cliffs, heavy rolling fog around dusk and the peace and quiet. We had strawberries and cream at a quaint little home/cafe. I loved the isolation of the place and walking the beaches.

But that was long ago. I'm addicted to Escape to the Country. I work at home and I swear I watch the repeats all afternoon every day with Jules "...And you've got BAGS of space!" Hudson.

Love that show.

The Isle of Wight gave me the creeps - and it's hellish to get to and get off.

I think it's changed in recent decades.

[quote] loved the isolation of the place and walking the beaches.

Not much isolation now.

I first went as a kiddie in the 70s - visited Victoria's house. Just drove up and went in. NOW > car park, booking times, coaches, horrible.

and tres pleb.

I agree with r203. British breakfast is shit. Get an American breakfast spot open and you would be rich. Pancakes, eggs cooked different ways, Southern grits, Southern biscuits. I wonder if they franchise Cracker Barrel over there?

I thought Leeds was one of the tows that had a Religion of Peace problem.

Yes R185, I was an Uni in the 80's, many of us would travel to Manchester for shows/concerts.

R220, America is 85% Christian and has way more violence than the UK

The population of the US is 323.1 million. The population of the UK is 65.6 million. Let's compare numbers when the populations are more equal.

Frinton on Sea. It was hell on earth.

Actually r222, the UK has a higher violent crime rate than the US. Different methodologies, yes, but even taking that into consideration there's more violence.

Murder is higher in the US because of all the guns.

R225, that's not true

Who is that idiot @ R225, spouting fucking nonsense.

Why not actually find something out before mouthing off, r226 and r227?

Violent crime rate in the UK is regularly 4-5 times higher in the UK than in the USA. Even taking different methodologies into account that still suggests a higher absolute crime rate.

Peak district in Derbyshire is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I was a frequent guest at Alan Bates's country house and its divine.

[quote] like REAL summers and American seaside resorts have more style.

I live in one of those US East Coast seaside towns. It's boring as fuck from October-May, then overnight it fills up with tourists and terrible drivers. And in fall/winter/spring, weather gets real. Nor'easters, blizzards, non-blizzard snowstorms, sleet, autumn hurricanes, 3 day long nor'easters in spring, gale force winds most of the winter. Black as pitch after sunset. And for all that, you pay an arm and two legs for property. A tear down is now over $1M.

And it's hunting season now. Since November 1, I've heard blam-blam-blam all day long. Rifle shots often wake me up at daybreak.

R228 is full of it.

How about Ireland? Can I pick Ireland? I'd pick Ireland.

[quote]How about Ireland? Can I pick Ireland? I'd pick Ireland.

Not really, on a thread about England.

R231, truth hurts don't it? 😀

[quote]Bristol reminded me of Boston MA - liked it at first, but was glad to leave. Very provincial.

Bristol was the kind of place where you'd say something in your American accent and they'd be shocked and say "Where are you from?" I don't think the get many outside visitors. Some would even ask why are you here in Bristol? Like it was such a strange choice for a place to visit.

I'd never move to the UK. I don't look good in a burka. They don't come in my color pallets.

The UK is going downhill fast. Even when I visited Buckingham Palace I was shocked at how dirty the carpets were. I was like, hasn't the queen heard of steam cleaners?

[quote] Yes, Oxford is a dreary, heavy city

[quote]Even when I visited Buckingham Palace I was shocked at how dirty the carpets were. I was like, hasn't the queen heard of steam cleaners?

It was YOU who brought the dirt in, my dear.

Don't make excuses your majesty. Miss Crawford would have got down on her hands and knees and scrubbed the carpets. You should too.

I really loved visiting York. Can any English posters tell me more about it (jobs, cost of living, culture) compared to the rest of the country?

[quote]Can any English posters tell me more about it (jobs, cost of living, culture) compared to the rest of the country?

I doubt it, darling.

I did a study abroad at Cambridge in 2000...couldn’t believe how beautiful it is. It’s also not totally isolated, with a shopping mall, etc. It felt at the time like a paradise—everything except the druk people screaming and peeing in the middle of the streets all night.

Hi r232! Let's expand our options. Can I pick Chechnya? I'd pick Chechnya.

R208, Do you live in Rye?

The climate in the southwest is relatively mild and the countryside is gorgeous, especially Cornwall. I also like Devon and Dorset. Lyme Regis is very pretty. I have a friend who lives in a small picturesque village in Devon and there’s not a whole lot to do there. It seems to me that one would need to be a self-sufficient type of person in order to be content in such a poky little place. At least it’s within easy driving distance of Exeter, which I liked apart from seeing a dead person in the street opposite the cathedral whom everyone was studiously ignoring.

r230 is Little Edie Beale's child she secretly adopted out.

Canterbury is lovely. i've been there twice for day trips. Quick shot to London too.

[quote]At least it’s within easy driving distance of Exeter, which I liked apart from seeing a dead person in the street opposite the cathedral whom everyone was studiously ignoring.

So often the English way. If someone opts to drop dead opposite a Cathedral, it's a free country, and none of our business. Best of luck to them. Live and let die.

R249, it was surreal! I turned to my partner (who is English) and said, “Oh my God! There’s a dead person!”

“Yes.”

“Shouldn’t we do something?”

“A bit late now, don’t you think?”

Too much R250! England is wonderful, they don't call it Great Britain for nothing!

Bath I would not hesitate. I really really enjoyed Manchester & the Peak District more than I thought I would.

Nice comeback from your partner, R250. On the plus side, the Cathedral made for a picturesque exit, so there's that.

[quote] So nice to see a lot of Cornwall lovers here (and I love the crazy weather!). Padstow is a nice town, too, but I understand that the usual assortment of rich cunts have infiltrated it the last dozen years or so---ruining it for many with far less money. I wonder how the locals have fared? I stayed there for a couple months with friends back in the late '90s, but not nearly long enough it seems. I'd live there part of the year anyway in a heartbeat if it were affordable.

Yes, when I lived there 15 years ago this was starting to happen. It had long been a rich seasonal resort (Princess Di's favorite UK summer haunt) from a charming fishing village, and the locals were understandably apprehensive (yet optimistic) that it would increase tourism, services and land values. I hate to imagine how it might have changed now. Many beautiful villages and countryside nearby that have seemed to have stuck in time.

Padstow is really cheap compared to Brighton or London (any other decent areas of The UK)

A decent house for £2 - £4,00,000, a sea view 2 bed Apartment for £5 - £7,00,000,

Property is generally very expensive in The UK by US standards.

Surprised Edinburgh hasn't been mentioned. I found it really lovely when I visited. But I like a low key life. And maybe it would be too cold and wet..

Maybe because it's in Scotland, R256.

ooops right, R257

Scotland does keep getting mentioned, which seems weird when The OP's question specified England? The largest Island of The UK is Great Britain (Britain), which encompasses, England, Wales & Scotland. Wales hasn't been mentioned either? Except for Cardiff property is very cheap.

The nice areas of Edinburgh are also expensive.

Cornwall. A close friend of mine lived there for 4 years and it is absolutely beautiful.

However I think the most beautiful and best part of the UK to live is not England but Scotland which is a fantastic country with fantastic people and culture.

I've noticed Bristol mentioned a few times, did anyone consider crossing one of the (very short) bridges into Wales?

Same with Cheshire, from Chester to Wrexam (Wales) is 12 miles.

^^ Wrexham

If you like Castles Wales is The Place to visit.

Here's a good series to check out

[quote]I've noticed Bristol mentioned a few times, did anyone consider crossing one of the (very short) bridges into Wales?

Yes, I did.

We went to some beach and then had lunch in a pub and went back to Bristol.

Far more impressive, we stayed in a town on the Scottish border and just crossing the border the contrast was phenomenal. Odd, in fact. Suddenly much less built up. Much bigger landscape and a hidden beach we found. I'll have to look on a map to find the names of the places.

On the English side, we went to Lindisfarne, which was magical and I think separated from the mainland for part of the day. I lost all my photographs on a computer that broke down.

Yes, God - I found a photo of the Scottish side, near Berwick Upon Tweed (which is in England) crossed the border and saw THIS >>

(sort of captures it, but of course it's cropped)

[quote]I'd pick Nantucket over Cornwall, any day.

You'd probably pick Dollywood over Rome, too.

R265 The border between England and Scotland has moved back and forth for thousands of years. The current border bisects the ancient kingdoms of Northumbria/Bernicia and Strathclyde/Cumbria which is essentially a nonsense. Lindisfarne (Holy Island) has an amazing history dating back about 1,500 years to St Bede.

Central and the South West of Wales is very difficult to navigate and the whole of Wales deserves a new road network. Pembrokeshire is easily as stunning Scotland (and a little warmer)

R263 Caerphilly? I was obsessed with the "murder holes."

Does anyone have experience of dogging in England?

Loads of great places to live in the UK. I live in the Wuthering Heights part of the country, beautiful purple moors and lush green hills.

For those outside of the UK considering a move here it's worth remembering that the country is very small so wherever you live it's not very difficult to travel to most places within a day either by road or train. It's one of the things that make up for the mostly abysmal weather.

Chorlton-cum-Hardy ... just because I like to say it out loud

[quote] ...it's worth remembering that the country is very small so wherever you live it's not very difficult to travel to most places within a day either by road or train.

And yet I haven't been to half the places mentioned in this thread. There are some I've never even heard of!

That's a shame R273

London is so large and varied I can see why someone wouldn't feel the need to venture out. I don't know if I would want to live there but I love visiting.

I think I've been to at least a third of the mentioned places. I guess I'm at least well travelled in my own country if nowhere else!