American again, requesting relo ideas
#31
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
#33
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 397
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
Hello all,
I have to go through all these comments and reply one by one, which I will do shortly.
But I just want to say that I think you all are wonderful.I mean it. You are so funny and helpful, informative, thoughtful and very patient with me while I try to figure this out.
The way you treat people, the honesty you show with what you share is really precious.
So thanks, really, and please keep it coming.
I have to go through all these comments and reply one by one, which I will do shortly.
But I just want to say that I think you all are wonderful.I mean it. You are so funny and helpful, informative, thoughtful and very patient with me while I try to figure this out.
The way you treat people, the honesty you show with what you share is really precious.
So thanks, really, and please keep it coming.
#34
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 745
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
Sile,
UK crime is mapped on a website http://www.police.uk/ so you can just enter the name of a town or street or postal code and see what has occurred there month by month and the nature of the crime. You can sort nature of crime by selecting of the index list once the map comes up.
For instance, I can see that within 1 mile of city center of Norwich there were 909 logged offenses in November 2012 of which 318 were anti-social (could be graffiti or drunk disorder etc), 142 Shoplifting, 132 theft not shoplifting, 123 violence against persons, and only 3 robbery.
Frankly I am surprised because I visit Norwich and had seen no indication that this was happening.
However, if I look at 1 mile outside the center the total for November drops to 288.
Try it out with just one of the cities that have some appeal to you - try a small town or it can take a while to load if you pick a major city.
You can drag the marker around the map to, say a residential area that a realtor might suggest, to 'see' different areas of 1 mile radius.
UK crime is mapped on a website http://www.police.uk/ so you can just enter the name of a town or street or postal code and see what has occurred there month by month and the nature of the crime. You can sort nature of crime by selecting of the index list once the map comes up.
For instance, I can see that within 1 mile of city center of Norwich there were 909 logged offenses in November 2012 of which 318 were anti-social (could be graffiti or drunk disorder etc), 142 Shoplifting, 132 theft not shoplifting, 123 violence against persons, and only 3 robbery.
Frankly I am surprised because I visit Norwich and had seen no indication that this was happening.
However, if I look at 1 mile outside the center the total for November drops to 288.
Try it out with just one of the cities that have some appeal to you - try a small town or it can take a while to load if you pick a major city.
You can drag the marker around the map to, say a residential area that a realtor might suggest, to 'see' different areas of 1 mile radius.
Last edited by J.JsOH; Jan 17th 2013 at 6:36 pm.
#35
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
If you took the plunge, it might be an idea to do a grand tour of the areas you are interested by train (we have an extensive network) and stay in Premier Inn hotels as they are cheap but safe, clean comfortable and have on-site restaurants with edible food. This would give you an idea about where you might want to then look at available properties. If you could live in a 2-3 bed property that would bring the cost down considerably particularly if you looked at newbuild houses in say an historic area.
I have been to all the places you listed but could not advise re areas to live.
You might want to look into East Sussex Coast in general - anywhere from Rye to Worthing - only Brighton is very expensive. Easy reach of London and Gatwick airport by train.
Last edited by luvwelly; Jan 17th 2013 at 9:42 pm.
#36
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
Sile,
UK crime is mapped on a website http://www.police.uk/ so you can just enter the name of a town or street or postal code and see what has occurred there month by month and the nature of the crime. You can sort nature of crime by selecting of the index list once the map comes up.
For instance, I can see that within 1 mile of city center of Norwich there were 909 logged offenses in November 2012 of which 318 were anti-social (could be graffiti or drunk disorder etc), 142 Shoplifting, 132 theft not shoplifting, 123 violence against persons, and only 3 robbery.
Frankly I am surprised because I visit Norwich and had seen no indication that this was happening.
However, if I look at 1 mile outside the center the total for November drops to 288.
Try it out with just one of the cities that have some appeal to you - try a small town or it can take a while to load if you pick a major city.
You can drag the marker around the map to, say a residential area that a realtor might suggest, to 'see' different areas of 1 mile radius.
UK crime is mapped on a website http://www.police.uk/ so you can just enter the name of a town or street or postal code and see what has occurred there month by month and the nature of the crime. You can sort nature of crime by selecting of the index list once the map comes up.
For instance, I can see that within 1 mile of city center of Norwich there were 909 logged offenses in November 2012 of which 318 were anti-social (could be graffiti or drunk disorder etc), 142 Shoplifting, 132 theft not shoplifting, 123 violence against persons, and only 3 robbery.
Frankly I am surprised because I visit Norwich and had seen no indication that this was happening.
However, if I look at 1 mile outside the center the total for November drops to 288.
Try it out with just one of the cities that have some appeal to you - try a small town or it can take a while to load if you pick a major city.
You can drag the marker around the map to, say a residential area that a realtor might suggest, to 'see' different areas of 1 mile radius.
For some balance I just googled my Mum's postcode which is not a posh area but we consider it safe. It came out at 287 incidents which is far less than Norwich but I think these stats are a bit misleading as the larger the population the higher the figures. Any town centre will record incidents because of drunken behaviour at Pub chucking out time etc etc
Just checked where my rented out UK property(East Sussex) and it's only 110 - I lived there 15 years and always felt safe, it was a private housing estate nearby some Housing Association ones.
I have a theory that Youth crime may be lower than in the past as teenagers are glued to X Boxes/internet etc
Last edited by luvwelly; Jan 17th 2013 at 9:47 pm.
#37
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
Just bear in mind that many of the villagy places you are interested in will leave you very isolated if you don't have a car ..... and with a huge gas bill if you do!
#38
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
If that's important to you try Newmarket, NE of Cambridge. It is close to the Mildenhall USAAF airbase. It's only a short train ride to Cambridge for a culture fix, and from there an easy ride into London too. The town is barely bigger than overgrown village, and very walkable, also has vets, lots of vets.
Just bear in mind that many of the villagy places you are interested in will leave you very isolated if you don't have a car ..... and with a huge gas bill if you do!
Just bear in mind that many of the villagy places you are interested in will leave you very isolated if you don't have a car ..... and with a huge gas bill if you do!
#42
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
Really that's what people do? (that's said without sarcasm) I guess I should just shut up, because my experiences seem to be the opposite of a lot of people, but I also will say when I went to other countries, last thing I wanted was to be around more British or American people. Thought that was the point of traveling to immerse oneself totally in another culture.
#43
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
Really that's what people do? (that's said without sarcasm) I guess I should just shut up, because my experiences seem to be the opposite of a lot of people, but I also will say when I went to other countries, last thing I wanted was to be around more British or American people. Thought that was the point of traveling to immerse oneself totally in another culture.
I know in my travelling days, after I have been in the back of beyond with the natives for a while, I was desperate to meet up with English speakers.
#44
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
I really believe at this stage you need to just come over for 2 weeks and go traveling around a list of places you are interested in to get a feel for them. You have a very American attitude to places regarding safety. There's not many places in the UK you would feel in danger of living in, we have no Chicago's or Detroit's in the UK, every area as said before is mixed.
That has its pluses in that there are very few no-go zones except in the big cities (and even then not many of them) but also means that even in the nicest areas, there is petty crime and Friday nights in town can be an adventure. I don't mind this at all, but it might be a culture shock.
#45
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
I found it much harder to pick 'good areas' in NZ as virtually all property in NZ is detached regardless of income level.