Squirrel

London is the best place in the UK and the best place in the World!

SadInStates

I'll second that!

steviedeluxe

It's not the worst place, that's for sure. There are some great parks, museums, shopping areas etc. But I've lived in better cities to be honest.

robin1234

We all know these types of discussions are so subjective. In my case, languages have never been my strong point. However much some foreign countries tend to speak English widely, I could really only consider living in a city where English is the native (or a predominant) language. So for instance I could consider Montreal (truly bilingual) but not Paris (while I speak French a bit and read it OK, I'll never be at all fluent.)

Then, we change through life. I may have good memories of living in Boston in my twenties or thirties. But would it be a good place to live in retirement?

Another subjective point.. even those of us who have moved about quite a bit have only lived in a tiny proportion of possible places! Perth, Western Australia, may suit me to a tee but I'll never visit so won't know!!

I'm coming up to retirement, East West, Home's Best. I'm from London and I could definitely live in London, but cannot afford a house there, so I can definitely settle for somewhere else in England..

ergyngfeld

Bagwyllydiart.

DigitalGhost

My girlfriend kind of wants to move there and slips it into conversation occasionally because there are a lot of work opportunities for her there and she has friends living there as well. I told her that if she does though then she's going on her own because I think I would end up topping myself after around 6 months in that city.

Dorothy

Is Surrey a nice place?

Xebedee

Taunton.

Lorry1

Where in Surrey?

There are alot of really nice towns in Surrey

TandM

Everything depends upon your circumstances, we lived in the suburbs of a medium sized city, 15 minutes drive to the station - fast trains to London, whilst we were working. Now we are retired we have moved to a market town (five minutes drive to the station) with parking that is 50p for 2 hours and you can always find a space, lots of independent shops, lovely restaurants and lovely countryside. A nice place is totally subjective and can change depending upon your time of life

Dorothy

Not sure. It's just where I've discovered my grandfather was born and wondered. I'm contemplating an ancestry visa once I finish uni so was just looking at possible places to settle for a few years. Somewhere close to London but not big city appeals to me - not sure why, but just does. Probably because we've been in Perth (Australia) for the last 4.5 years and I would love to be nearer a major city sometimes. Having lived the majority of my life in the Toronto area I sometimes miss being able to go into the city or a quick 1 hour flight to New York. If we're an hour or 2 from London I could get my shopping/theatre fix.

Or maybe I could just learn to be happy with what I've got and get rid of itchy foot syndrome.

workhouse

Wythenshawe should be excluded from this list on the grounds it has grass and at least one tree. Grew up in south Manchester through the times of MCFC winning things, punk and all things FAC. Brilliant. Wild horses wouldn't get me back there now. Oddly enough, I now live just east of Exeter

sallysimmons

There are plenty of grim places down south too - Luton anyone?

For me the beauty of the north is in the scenery and the people. I personally wouldn't want to live in Manchester because I'm not a city person - but there's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be than North Yorkshire or Cumbria. That said, many of my friends live in Manchester and are such lovely warm people. Worlds apart from most of London. That friendliness and community is so important to me.

I am looking forward to exploring the softer countryside of the south on holidays, but my heart is in the 'wild and windy moors' of the north.

It's irritating to be reminded of the way some southerners look down their nose at the north, but I remind myself that if they all came up to the areas I love, there'd be no room. That soon eliminates the annoyance

Squirrel

I certainly don't look down my nose at the North I was born in Lincolnshire and then moved to Yorkshire (Scarborough) then back to Grantham, then to Halifax, then Kings Lynn. Moved to London (well Kingston) age 19 and to SE London age 29. I think my favourite county would have to be Kent but the north certainly has some beautiful places, and you can't knock that my sister's detached 3 bed house with big garden in Nottingham is worth as much as my one bed flat in SE London!

Droidling

I like the cut of your jib,mate

'There are plenty of grim places down south too - Luton anyone?'

Yes it's just south of Watford Gap services so I'll give you that one.

'It's irritating to be reminded of the way some southerners look down their nose at the north'

Myself excepted but workhouse stated he was brought up in south Manc. There's some reality for you. It's not Babylon/Mecca like the other thread on here would have you believe.

Workhouse,glad you like Devon. Was living in Topsham before the boss sent me to 'Siberia' .. What a spot that is !!