Where would you move in the UK?

[LessTraveledBy]

Right now we are in Northern Europe but will likely need to move to the UK next fall. Where would you recommend?

These are the things we appreciate:

- not a big city (or at least a chance to escape the city close by)
- beautiful place (more old-fashioned than modern)
- possibly rural areas somewhat close
- possibility to buy raw milk, organic, etc. a big +
- lots of homeschoolers (but I suppose this is somewhat true anywhere)
-friendly people

Basically, we are looking for a beautiful, friendly, small village, where we could rent a simple, little cabin. However, the reality is that we need to be close to a place with a university.

TIA!

[ankh]

I would say the South West is good. We have just spent two years in Cornwall, which is beautiful. It is expensive and can feel remote, but spectacular countryside and beaches. The homeschooling is fine as long as you drive, there are groups all over, but it's easier by car. I did sometimes feel a bit like an outsider in Cornwall,(I'm English, dh is Canadian.) but chose to ignore all that rubbish, great place.

Bristol/Bath/Avon area has always appealed to us as well, great homeschooling network, lots of lovely little villages where you could rent a cottage, very pretty. Bristol is a huge city so you could live just outside of there or Bath..

We are now in Norfolk, again a lovely area, so you could look at East Anglia as well, which is cheaper to live in.

HTH

[chick]

I live in South Bucks, not far from Windsor.

We are not far from Heathrow, 20 mins by train from West London, close to 2 major motorways so good links to rest of the country.

BUT we are also quite rural and have some LOVELY countryside within walking distance. Best of both worlds I always think - I grew up here and haven't managed to leave. When we do I suspect it will either be west towards Bristol (but not that far) or up to the North west where dh comes from - now there is some spectacular scenery.

Downside of where we live is price...

[NW6Londonmum]

My first reaction was definitely South West as well.
Bath area (but not cheap housing). Or Exeter/ Exmouth/ Totnes - county of Devon.

[LessTraveledBy]

Thanks, everyone!

Right now dh is looking at Wales (three places) and somewhere in England.

I was just reading about Aberystwyth and their farmers' market. That would be so lovely! We don't have anything like that here. Can't wait to escape our suburban life. Right now we spend about 3 days out of each week at my famiy's summer place and would stay there, if we did not have commitments here.

[flapjack]

Somerset. Commuting distance from four universities, some coastline, rural community, good local authority and you have Bath and Bristol for when you fancy the bright lights of the city, which are both excellent crunchy cities.

[calpurnia]

north west!

[mamajax]

Yes, the NOrth West is lovely - close to Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds but also the Peak District and North Wales. Very friendly people !

[dalerose]

North East of Scotland.
Friendly.
Countryside. Some of it pretty wild.
Old fashioned.
Small big city near by, with two universities.
Not crowded, prices relatively low.

[nettlesoup]

How about the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland? The city is small compared to a lot of cities, and the centre is very old with loads of historic buildings. There are a few universities, lots of lovely countryside and homeschooling groups too. Oh, and there's a really good farmer's market, various organic veg box schemes, and there's at least one farmer's market that supplies raw milk.
There are a lot of smaller towns and villages only half an hour from the city centre, and the buses are great.

[orangefoot]

Aberystwyth is nice when the sun shines but on a rainy day it is pretty grim. I'm not sure which smilie to put here so this one will have to do.

I'm not sure how Welsh folk take to Americans either. We know English folk who have moved to Wales and found that it has taken them years to be accepted as normal and trustworthy.

Between Bath and Bristol or south towards Somerset as Flapjack suggested would be good, or in Oxfordshire but it is a bit more pricey here in terms of buying or renting.

Chard has its own home ed place which is unusual.

[flapjack]

To put it in perspective, Oxfordshire and Berkshire are the next counties east from us, and we can't afford to move there. There's roughly a £100k difference on the cost of a small 4 bed house between us and them, and the further east you go, the more expensive.

[LessTraveledBy]

Thank you!

That home ed place in Chard seems just amazing. Wish there were more such! We are homeschooling an only child, so we need to be able to make some connections.

[flapjack]

If you talk to Education Otherwise, there's a number of ways that children are being educated outside of mainstream schools, and all over the country.

[orangefoot]

Finding home educators is not a problem!

You may not have a family next door but you are certain to hit at least one, if not 20, within a half hour drive of wherever you are.

The EO Site is a good place to start looking and there are links on a page there for local yahoo groups.

[Whispers]

South Wales!!

You have the Gower, Brecon Beacons and the beach all around Swansea. It's small enough to know everyone but big enough to have everything you need. We have a thriving Home Ed community. It's cheaper then the rest of the Uk and the people are incredibly friendly!!

Here is the link to the Home Ed Group
http://www.wiseuphe.netfirms.com/

[summermay]

Cumbria

Loads of happy unschoolers
Organic food
Crunchy folks
Lovely scenery

[Surfer Rosa]

If you're considering the north at all, Hebden Bridge is a really funky little town about an hour (by train) from Manchester. Winters can be fairly grim, but there are soooo many cool things going on. DH's aunts live there and it is one of my favourite places to spend time.

[ann_of_loxley]

I would say any of the small villages around Bristol.
You'll want to be in the Gloucestershire area.
You'll want to look in the south west of england anyhow I think. Make sure you don't move to a place that is easily flooded though!
Its a bit more pricey living this way I think - But a lot of it is rural and about 30 mins away from a town/city in any direction really. A lot of home educators out this way (why would anyone want to be stuck in a stuffy school in this beautiful part of the country!? lol) ...raw milk...you will struggle finding that anywhere but I know there is a shop in Glouceter that sell it. You wouldn't want to live in Gloucester (city!) - but from any small village around it, its about a 30 min drive to get there so not too bad.

[bente]

Originally Posted by Anumaria

Right now we are in Northern Europe but will likely need to move to the UK next fall. Where would you recommend?

These are the things we appreciate:

- not a big city (or at least a chance to escape the city close by)
- beautiful place (more old-fashioned than modern)
- possibly rural areas somewhat close
- possibility to buy raw milk, organic, etc. a big +
- lots of homeschoolers (but I suppose this is somewhat true anywhere)
-friendly people

Basically, we are looking for a beautiful, friendly, small village, where we could rent a simple, little cabin. However, the reality is that we need to be close to a place with a university.

TIA!

*subbing*