If You Could Live Anywhere in England, Where Would it Be?

[blandy]

5 hours ago, AJ said:

I couldn't live in England. I would find it difficult adapting to the cost of living

Aus is more expensive, in my experience. The lower cost of living would be a benefit for you. That said, the weather, the less optimistic outlook,the gloom and all the rest of it - Australia is better. On the worse side, culture or cultural life is richer in the UK for now, at least - I guess because it's less geographically isolated.

That said, I was walking through the park the other day, well 2 or 3 days ago, and they were setting up a stage for Crowded House to play 3 nights. Last night, tonight and tomorrow. You couldn't get a better place for that, tbh. They put loads more seats out and beer stalls and stuff. But it's kind of a surprise, an exception, to have this kind of thing. Like, I think 3 years ago, when I was here - on the card for a Paul Kelly concert (making gravy!) was Courtney Barnett. remote outpost perhaps, but striving in a way that the UK doesn't need to, to get  cultural stuff to happen.

 

[bickster]

11 minutes ago, blandy said:

and they were setting up a stage for Crowded House to play 3 nights

Well thats one for the reasons not to live in Australia list

[blandy]

1 minute ago, bickster said:

Well thats one for the reasons not to live in Australia list

I like Crowded House, you philistine!

[bickster]

Just now, blandy said:

I like Crowded House, you philistine!

Maroon 5 for convicts

[mjmooney]

12 minutes ago, blandy said:

I like Crowded House, you philistine!

Me too. Neil Finn's a talented bloke. 

They're probably a bit too Beatley for @bickster. 

[blandy]

2 minutes ago, mjmooney said:

Neil Finn's a talented bloke. 

He is. Seems like a nice guy, too. Thanks

[AJ]

26 minutes ago, blandy said:

Aus is more expensive, in my experience. The lower cost of living would be a benefit for you. That said, the weather, the less optimistic outlook,the gloom and all the rest of it - Australia is better. On the worse side, culture or cultural life is richer in the UK for now, at least - I guess because it's less geographically isolated.

That said, I was walking through the park the other day, well 2 or 3 days ago, and they were setting up a stage for Crowded House to play 3 nights. Last night, tonight and tomorrow. You couldn't get a better place for that, tbh. They put loads more seats out and beer stalls and stuff. But it's kind of a surprise, an exception, to have this kind of thing. Like, I think 3 years ago, when I was here - on the card for a Paul Kelly concert (making gravy!) was Courtney Barnett. remote outpost perhaps, but striving in a way that the UK doesn't need to, to get  cultural stuff to happen.

 

You are right. Our cost of living is higher. What I was thinking of and should have meant was the exchange rate. When I was over there, we were paying almost double for things there than what we would back home. As for our cost of living, to offset this, we are paid higher wages. I saw a billboard advertising police careers in the tube, and they were offering something like 23000 pound or around abouts. An Australian cop wouldn't even get out of bed for that.

As for the music scene, that is one of the things that England do much much better. Easily at least 90% of my favourite bands are English, and sorry Blandy, but I am with @bickster on Crowded House. They are the South Sea Cold Play.

[blandy]

8 minutes ago, AJ said:

As for the music scene, that is one of the things that England do much much better. Easily at least 90% of my favourite bands are English, and sorry Blandy, but I am with @bickster on Crowded House. They are the South Sea Cold Play.

10 years ago, I'd have agreed with you. But right now, and for the past few years, Australian acts have been a joy. It's a bit of (IMO) a boon period for Aussie music, or at least the type of music I like. Crowded House are NZ, anyway, but there's tons of bands or acts from Aus that get exposure in Europe now, and deservedly get the acclaim they deserve, whereas before, it'd just be like "uncultured garage rock". Some proper talent is prospering and rightly so.

Anyway, Newquay. Loved it there.

[VillaChris]

8 hours ago, AJ said:

So Watford is not an exciting place? That's cool with me, I wouldn't be looking for excitement there. What I like about Watford is a couple of things. Firstly, the location. It is only about an hour away by train to Birmingham, so going to Villa Park every second weekend won't be much of a hassle. For non Villa related fun, London is only a half hour away. Secondly, it seems to be quite a safe and comfortable place. Apparently, it has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, so I don't have to worry about 15 year old kids kicking in my windows to nick all my stuff while I am doing nudie runs through Hyde Park.

What I consider is this. I like the fun and shiny things that the big cities have to offer, but I don't want to have to deal with the problems that are usually associated with in living in big cities. Location is big factor me. Watford wins!

Disclaimer; Despite having a wonderful time there when i visited, I couldn't live in England. I would find it difficult adapting to the cost of living, the weather, the traffic, and the higher rate of crime, to name a few things. England has many great things going for it too, but what wins out, what do you take for granted first, the good or the bad? Also, if I was going to live somewhere in England, I would probably exercise more due diligence and research than a quick google and a rail map.

I always lump Watford in with likes of Slough, concrete jungle. Have been in the town centre a few times and it's o.k but nothing more. Actually about 15 minutes up the West coast mainline you have Leighton Buzzard which is a decent town centre and loads of greenery on its doorstep so that's a pretty good commutable place for either Brum or London imo.

[KentVillan]

Crowded House are class and I would move to anywhere in England they chose to live, and work as a butler

[jim]

On 26/11/2022 at 10:29, Amsterdam_Neil_D said:

 A lighthouse might be nice.  Like Fraggle Rock, that sort of vibe.

Yeah but then you’d have to grab a Fraggle by his c***

[Xann]

This is a country in flux.

Not considering a return to Worcestershire anymore.

Worcester itself is in serious decline, it's really sad.

We were nailed on to leave London at some point, now we're not so sure?

[TreeVillan]

1 hour ago, KentVillan said:

Crowded House are class and I would move to anywhere in England they chose to live, and work as a butler

Wouldn't be enough room. 

[knoppy1987]

My favourite place to visit is Sawley in Lancashire. I’d like to live there eventually. There is also a small town in Scotland called Portmahomack which has the most beautiful sea and beaches which looks relatively untouched. 
 

I currently live in The Lakes. I love the ability to find new and exciting walks. The weather, however, is the most inclement I have experienced. It can be tiring, but when you get a good day, it is close to perfect. 
 

Originally from Crosby in Liverpool. Enjoy the beach but cannot believe how busy it has become. I’ll never live in Liverpool again as it appears to become an even bigger shit box than I recall when I was younger. I like some of the towns between Crosby and Southport/Ormskirk though such as Halsall, Hightown, and even Hillside/Birkdale. 
 

Lived in the East Midlands for a number of years. Loved the Derbyshire countryside, not so much the major cities/towns. I have a soft spot for Derby because of work. 
 

Also lived in Surrey, Middlesex, West London across a period of 8 years. I initially enjoyed the convenience but it wore off. I enjoy visiting London for weekends and work still. My favourite town in London at the time was Ealing. 

[GarethRDR]

York.

[bickster]

5 minutes ago, GarethRDR said:

York.

Shambles of a place

[GarethRDR]

[Delphinho123]

1 hour ago, Xann said:

This is a country in flux.

Not considering a return to Worcestershire anymore.

Worcester itself is in serious decline, it's really sad.

We were nailed on to leave London at some point, now we're not so sure?

What makes you say that about Worcester and why would you stay in London?

[TheAuthority]

23 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

What makes you say that about Worcester and why would you stay in London?

From talking to my friends back home (and of course folks on here will have more insight) the old market towns of the West Midlands have essentially died.

Growing up in the 80's, places like Worcester & Stourbridge had good unique shops, both independent and chains and were bustling with life. Now there's charity shops, Witherspoons and emptiness. Merry Hill killed all of the towns nearby in the West Mids.

Hopeful that someone can suggest things are actually different!

 

 

[Delphinho123]

12 minutes ago, TheAuthority said:

From talking to my friends back home (and of course folks on here will have more insight) the old market towns of the West Midlands have essentially died.

Growing up in the 80's, places like Worcester & Stourbridge had good unique shops, both independent and chains and were bustling with life. Now there's charity shops, Witherspoons and emptiness. Merry Hill killed all of the towns nearby in the West Mids.

Hopeful that someone can suggest things are actually different!

 

 

I can’t speak for Stourbridge or other West Midlands towns but I feel Worcester still has a fair bit going for it. I’d rather live in Worcester than London!