The Nicest (and Nastiest) UK Towns You Have Lived In

There's Gospoda, but that's a restaurant, not a deli. Never eaten there but it gets good reviews.

There's Gospoda, but that's a restaurant, not a deli. Never eaten there but it gets good reviews.

Aww, what an awesome name!

I'm sure hjarrett and Jewlz can add more. Newcastle's great though. But windy. Very windy. Buy a birdcage umbrella; a normal umbrella wouldn't last a week (I speak from experience!).

LOL! I tried a regular umbrella I found in our copy room at work. It lasted, oh, five minutes!
It is VERY windy up here, and even moreso where we are because we are right on the coast. I haven't spent as much time in Newcastle, and for me, the advantages are a bit different. We live 25 miles north of Newcastle in Northumberland, which is beautiful, but there isn't much here in terms of shopping, restaurants, cinema (zero!), and things like that. So for me, Newcastle is a place to do all of those things, plus the architecture is lovely, the pidgeons are friendly , and I just generally enjoy people watching and looking at what madness the young girls are wearing in freezing weather. They say Newcastle has the best nightlife in England, and from what I know of it, I believe them. There is a huge drinking culture there, probably bigger than most other areas of the UK, which is saying a lot! It has what you would want any city to have, but it is relatively small and compact with a great transit system, so it's easy to get around. The location is great because you are so close to Scotland, Northumberland, and lots of gorgeous places that make for nice getaways from the city.

BTW, Anne, we are going to Silverlink to see a film this weekend, any good restaurants around there that you would recommend? All DH could remember was an Italian restaurant, but he isn't too keen on Italian food, so I would like to figure out where else would be an option.

You're going to Silverlink!? Lady, I live 10 minutes from Silverlink! I'm PMing you my mobile number.

You're going to Silverlink!? Lady, I live 10 minutes from Silverlink! I'm PMing you my mobile number.

  Got it and you will hear from me this evening!

Wow! That is all really great and helpful info, so thank you! 

I'm coming for a visit in three weeks. Do you know if I can open up a bank account then, or will I have to wait until I'm a resident or have my visa? I read about some banking nightmares, and want to avoid problems accessing cash if possible.

I just have so many questions, and am glad I have somewhere to direct them now! Thanks, again!

You will need to wait.  You need photo id and proof of address, such as a utility bill.

I live in a mainly Military area near Winchester.  Winchester is good for history..the catheadral is beautiful and I have often seen some really good amatur dramatic outdoor Shakespeare productions........but I would like to live within Exeter, nearer some family of mine...plus I enjoy the fact that so many pretty towns and beaches are such a short distance away.

I have lived in places within my local town that I thought were terrible..but I love where I am now.  I agree with Mrs Robinson that you will find nasty parts and good..wherever you live..

I live in a mainly Military area near Winchester.  Winchester is good for history..the catheadral is beautiful and I have often seen some really good amatur dramatic outdoor Shakespeare productions.

I was thinking about Winchester -- if we were to move to the sunny South    We did spend a few days there a couple summers ago and I thought it was great but DH is worried about the calibre of the local hospital.  Probably only people in our age group think about that kind of thing.

I live in Winchester with my wife, and we love it.  It's rich with history, some excellent pubs and restaurants, and surrounded by charming countryside.  It's eight minutes to Southampton Airport by train (and a relatively quick flight to anywhere in Europe) and one hour to London Waterloo.  Within a 30-minute drive you have the New Forest, the coast, and the ferry to the Isle of Wight. It's a very walkable town as well, as mostly everything is within a mile or so of each other.

I've already experienced the A&E (the UK's version of our ER) at Winchester Hospital, and I would say the care was comparable to most hospitals in the States.  I live near my local surgery (i.e., doctors' office), and the care there is very good...


Peter

I think I need to check out Winchester

I stayed in Exeter for 6 months and really liked it. Rich in history, lots of shops so I could find most things I needed, very walkable, and I loved the fact that I could walk to the bus station and go pretty much anywhere else I wanted ( I'm an avid beach goer) I met one American there and the Brits I did meet were all pretty friendly. I have a feeling if this were to be the place I would eventually live in, I could fit in quite nicely

I really, really, really like Exeter. It's got great infrastructure (buses, trains, and airport to lots of places), has a good arts scene for a city its size and is close to so much lovely scenery in every direction.

Betws-y-Coed in North Wales is beautiful too, but it's probably a bit too small for anyone used to larger towns/cities.

I can tell you two places that I don't like at all. Great Yarmouth and Penzance. I usually like coastal towns and Penzance has a few interesting museums and is close to lots of other great places. But my gosh, both towns really exceed their grott thresholds at times!

 I'm off to Hastings soon...I haven't spent any real time there aside from a few weeks but it does seem a bit dirty.
Lot's of street drinking.
 It does have some beautiful bits though, like the castle ruins up on the huge hill overlooking the sea....Maybe I'll just hang out up there until it's time to move?

 I really liked Guildford a lot, I spent a couple of months there total. Good shopping, close to London, and so many beautiful places nearby.

 My favorite cities in England are Brighton and Winchester, and I hope to be living in the former ASAP.

Wish I could convince DH about Winchester.  We are investigating somewhere in Northumberland -- it would have to be fairly close to Newcastle as they have a very good renal unit there.  DH and DS both want to get a place on Holy Island but seems too isolated to me.  Which is a lot of its charm, I have to say, but too risky for health reasons.  Maybe a rental cottage?