Town or countryside living, which do you prefer?

I used to think I’d love to live in the country, but many visits to fringes in rural N Devon cured me of that. They needed the car for everything - even for taking the dogs for a walk anywhere they could safely let them off the lead. Nearest shop was a 15 minute drive away. Eventually one of them was no longer able to drive - they’d have been well and truly stuck if anything had happened to the other - and she was very accident-prone.

I’ll only voluntarily move from where we are now in a box. Quiet, leafy area, but everything for day to day needs, inc. GP and hospital, a walk or a short bus ride away - and brilliant free public transport thrown in.
When dds were teens I’d have loved a bit bigger house, but it’s fine for us now.

Lived in London 1968-1972 and loved its vibrancy the fact that it was multicultural and open all hours. Moved to the outer edge of a quite Cheshire town 50 years ago and absolutely adore it. perfect place for bringing up our two boys and wonderful for retirement.

Sara1954

All our married life we’ve lived in villages, but I’m fed up now, I’m fed up with the very villagyness of villages, I’m fed up with the nimbyism, I’m fed up with people telling me how I should think on village matters , I’m fed up with loads of new money pouring in, which is fine in itself, but some people seem to be under the impression that they have actually bought the village, basically I’m just fed up.

I think now I want to live in a small town, lots of things I’ll miss, but I want a change.

Similar to my feelings, although I'm not leaving. I thought our village wasn't 'charming' enough, or in 'the right area' to get taken over, but it's beginning!

We retired last year to a village just outside the New Forest, the facilities locally are good and Southampton with theatres, cinemas etc is just a short drive away although I find I am going there less and less as we enjoy walking in the forest and along the beaches, I think I have the best of both worlds

I too think I have the best of both worlds. I live on the south eastern edge of a large city, surrounded by woodland and farmland with miles of lovely walks and two country parks. We are a forty minute tram or bus ride into the city centre, and the service is good, but have lots of amenities locally. We are within walking distance of the doctor and dentist. Half an hour in the car and you’re in the beautiful Peak District.

I have lived in an expanding village for the past thirty-five years and I enjoy it; there are good amenities apart from buses. I spent the first half of my life in the suburbs of a large industrial town, and I was happy there as well, but I do prefer the countryside.

My sister-in-law, having lived the whole of her life in North London, always said how she would love to live in the quiet and seclusion of the country. So, seven years ago she and hubbie sold their house and bought (a much cheaper one - although still extremely nice). in the country in Suffolk.

It had nearly everything they always said they wanted. THe nights were totally blackout - no town lights,nearest bus stop a mile away (couple of times a day), they both drove good cars, nearest shopping area eleven miles away. Lovely birds always no their feeders and we could admire them from their very large kitchen area.

Within a twelve month, they began to dislike it and for my SiL, in particular, )the one who had been most keen on countryside), this became real hatred. It was (she told me) too quiet , too dark, too cut-off). She never stopped calling London 'home', and they are now nearly at the end of the process of moving back.

I have always known that I would not like country living, I like being able to see people around me, like having theatres, cinemas, doctor, hospitals, library, shops, as well as buses and trains, etc. etc all within easy reach.

In fact my move from a London suburb to the centre of a small seaside town has given me all these facilities even better than when I was in London. All the above are within a ten to fifteen minutes trundle for me on my motor scooter and, to top it all, I have the beach about five minutes away.

When I am out for a drive, I do admire some of the lovely properties in small villages or totally isolated -but would detest even the thought of living in them.

I was thinking the same Blondiescot !
We are lucky aren't we. I just grumble about the weather.

Grammaretto

I think I have the best of both worlds. I live right in the centre of a small town. There are shops, drs, dentists, cafés , pubs, leisure centre, library, swimming pool within a short walk but countryside is a few minute's walk away too and we are on a National cycle route.
It takes under an hour to be in the centre of Edinburgh by bus which are every 15 minutes and free!
I've lived here for over 40;years . In that time the town has grown with new housing estates and there are far fewer shops but society has changed everywhere so it's no surprise.
I'm in a walking group and we explore our region and beyond. I imagine what it would be like to live deep in the countryside or by the sea.
I would love to but it would soon pall after all you can't live on scenery, you need people.

You sound as if you're not that far from me, Gramaretto!

We moved out of London fifty years ago to a small market town in Kent. Over the years the town has got bigger, but thousands of new homes on new developments recently has had a drastic affect on doctors surgeries especially. The Garden of England is rapidly disappearing, so be careful what you wish for.

AussieGran59

We always wanted to retire to a coastal regional town but have stayed put in the city for several reasons. In Australia the medical facilities in regional areas are dreadful; over an hours drive to the nearest big hospital, doctors closing their books to new patients and, since covid, prices have soared. Over a million dollars for a basic doer upper now.
I envy those of you living in rural UK. We have visited the UK many times and the scenery and villages are so beautiful! Not so much here.

It's not all perfect in the UK, AussieGran! More and more local hospitals in small towns are shutting their Minor Injuries Units and it's a trek to the nearest city or large town to the hospital where there can be a wait of hours or, as I saw last week, a couple of days sitting in the waiting room to get treatment or a bed.

My Australian family may grumble a bit but are shocked by what they have seen is happening here. The small local hospital near them still has a good Minor Injuries Unit and waiting times are minimal in comparison.

Londoner born and bred but currently live on the border of London and Essex. I like it here and have no wish to move.

We live in what was a village, lots of building happening so it’s expanding, but I don’t mind. With one eye on the future we have good buses, taxis, three miles to the railway, small shops are walkable and our Dr surgery. Many restaurants, theatre and cinema available in a city 7 miles, with woodlands and fields just behind us.
We know a good many local people, lots of tradesmen, so can always get jobs done if needed and have no plans to move.

I went on a pottering morning yesterday to a small historic town not far away. Drove through lovely countryside and several large villages but all without even a small local shop and too far to walk to the town

On a cycle ride the other day, a bit deeper into countryside. A couple of old farms but tumble down with rickety large old sheds for tractors and cattle,, now crammed full of everything, obviously no longer used. The bungalows by the sheds and then I saw the old people without even a bus, no longer able to do the work needed and hanging onto their property for dear life.

It takes a lot of courage, heart searching and forward thinking to let go of what was once an idyll, before it is too late to make a new life

I love right on the edge of a small Cheshire town with countryside between us and the next village. I expect it will get built on soon ours is a new estate so we shouldn't complain. I wish we had more services though. The little high street doesn't have much no bank, no nice shops just a small Tesco. The butcher has survived and a chain bakers but the rest is the usual mix of hairdressers, estate agents etc. I would love to live in London again.

We live in a suburb in Australia but it is actually quite rural and we have a lot of trees and cannot see any neighbours. We can just about walk to the shops if we are feeling fit, it is about 2 km. downhill but uphill coming back .So mostly we hop in the car. I agree with AussieGran about health services anywhere but city and suburbs. I once broke my arm out in the country, went to a country hospital and they mis- diagnosed it as a ‘sprain’.My local Doc showed me the 2 places it was broken on the X-ray and even I could spot it! Scary.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I always wanted to live in the countryside and now that I do I love it. It's the peace and quiet I think. But I am glad there is a town only 5 miles away. I'd hate to be too isolated.

I am on thé edge of a medium sized town, a few minutes from woods, with very good transport links to Versailles and Paris. There is a market nearly everyday somewhere in walking distance and there are no problems with amenities.
I like to visit the countryside, but that’s all and I don’t like built-up areas either. Two of my three DDs are either within an hour’s walk or an hour’s drive away.
I feel very fortunate as to where I live but I do miss friendly British people.

I think I have the best of both worlds. I live right in the centre of a small town. There are shops, drs, dentists, cafés , pubs, leisure centre, library, swimming pool within a short walk but countryside is a few minute's walk away too and we are on a National cycle route.
It takes under an hour to be in the centre of Edinburgh by bus which are every 15 minutes and free!
I've lived here for over 40;years . In that time the town has grown with new housing estates and there are far fewer shops but society has changed everywhere so it's no surprise.
I'm in a walking group and we explore our region and beyond. I imagine what it would be like to live deep in the countryside or by the sea.
I would love to but it would soon pall after all you can't live on scenery, you need people.

I've always lived on the very edge, of towns, cities and very small towns but with the countryside right next to us.
However, the problem now is that there is so much building going on around towns and villages, that you could suddenly find yourself surrounded by housing estates.

Marmight I'm sorry your move hasn't worked out as you'd hoped, it sounded ideal. However, I hope the next move will work out well.
I'm [envious] but I doubt that we'll move back to Devon now.

Since we moved to Boston 45 years ago we`ve tried both. I`m on the edge of town now, but wish I was back out in the countryside.

That sounds perfect to me karmalady.

I’d like to have time, whilst still fit and well, to have a social life, make friends, enjoy what the new place has to offer, and so on*

Yes that's a big driving factor now.
DC are not long left home, only early 20s so I don't know whereabouts they will end up. I have only one friend in the village so the only tie is sentimental attachment to our family home.

my heart is in the countryside but needs must so now I am living in a small market town. I am content with that because the countryside is all around and I can still hear the cows and see the horses and geese just minutes away, if I cycle. My market town sells everything I could possibly need