I'm from Manchester, moved to West Sussex about 18 years ago. Loved it initially, but now I'm bored and want to move on. My missus has a similar story, though she's from Cornwall. We've both decided that we want to live in the [roughly] southwest, though she wants to avoid Cornwall for family reasons.

Currently looking towards the Bristol/Bath/Somerset area, though not sure. Even considering Oxfordshire. It's a big decision, so thought I'd listen to members' opinions.

When I went to Manhattan in the summer, I loved it. For me, New York rocks. I love London too. Even when I go back to Manchester, I light up. I guess I'm a city boy at heart. I abhor heavy traffic though, especially on a regular basis. I also love good views and nature (especially mountains and sea), and history. Though London gives you the history, living there leaves you isolated from the best scenery in the UK, imo.

It's so frustrating. I kinda want to move London or Manhattan to The Highlands of Scotland and then move The Highlands of Scotland back towards the more agreeable climate of southern England or [say] southern France.

My initial thoughts are along the lines of living in/close to Bristol or Bath will give me/us the best potential to find a little bit of whatever I/we need within the locality.

Member's opinions welcomed, even negative, since I don't want to make the wrong decision. We're looking to move next summer, due to timing issues with our girls' education.

Nothing may come from this thread, so nothing lost other than the 15 minutes of my life it took to create it. On the other hand, there might be a gem out there amongst you, so I'll give it a shot.

I drove for about 6 hours on Sunday looking at various properties in Midsomer Norton, Bradford-upon-Avon, Chppenham and Devizes.
It was a useful exercise as we've already ruled-out everywhere on that list except Misomer Norton. Not for its own beauty or attractions, but because of its proximity and access to the stuff we seek as a whole.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Feel free to contribute. Moving home is a big decision, so any contribution is better than none.

You can grow olives.

I'm of no use whatsoever, having never set foot in SW England, but from all I've seen/heard/read, I suspect Bristol is my sort of town, and the sort of place I'd thrive in if forced to live in the UK.

I came across this while Googling... https://www.whathouse.com/todays-new-ho ... r-bristol/

My rural Australian attitude to distances (anything under 2 hours' drive is "local" to me) would put a lot of places I'd love to spend time acceptably close by.

One of your selection criteria would have to be the availability of badgers. You wouldn't want to go through the bother of having to actually search for, let alone import them from elsewhere.

We're here to help.

Ah, now the reason for the move to the SW becomes more clear.

Devizes is nice but isolated. Bath is lovely, clifton down in Bristol is great. Don't move to Plymouth

I'd go with Bath. It's a lovely city with almost no rough areas, within easy reach of several AONBs, and if you get a hankering to visit London again it's only 90 minutes or so on the train.

Bored with a city and leaves it. Sounds familiar for some reason.

Never bored in the city. Dont need a car which suits me down to the ground. How can you live in west Sussex?
Bath or Bristol but remember there are locals.

I like to have a largish city within maybe a 4 or 5 hours drive. Sometimes you need something you can't get at Bubba's General Mercantile and Post Office.

I like to have a largish city within maybe a 4 or 5 hours drive. Sometimes you need something you can't get at Bubba's General Mercantile and Post Office.

Cigarettes and Whiskey and wild, wild women.

Swazi gold, marula wine, and Mrs. Lak is all I got.

Bath is generally nicer than Bristol, although the environs have an abundance of nice small towns all in easy reach. Oxfordshire and Hampshire are both pleasant, although Hampshire has some shit areas kept secret to the uninitiated. Forget Eastleigh, for example. All pretty pricey though.

Well the Romans seemed to like the region. Was quite impressed seeing the Roman facility the town is named for and indeed a pretty area.

90 minutes by train to London is a big appeal if you are a city type.

Been in Bath years ago but I liked it. Slightly provincial.

That’s my take on Bath from the time I spent there. Didn’t feel like a city though. Bristol is a really short rail trip away and London is in commuting distance.

Yep Bath is quaint. Bristol feels like a large town.

We won't be moving to Hampshire as it's too close. We regularly go to Portsmouth for instance and various other places there. Looking for a new environment.

We did see a house in Bradford upon Avon on Sunday too. That's a lovely little town close to Bath but the traffic there put us off. Dunno.

Hampshire's too close but Oxfordshire isn't? OK. Well, I spent a number of years living in all the areas you're considering. If traffic puts you off, forget anywhere near Oxford.

Well we live close to the Hampshire border and can be in Portsmouth in half an hour. Oxford is closer to two hours. Stayed there for a week a couple of years ago and really liked it, though as you say the traffic is bobbins.