Where should I move in England?????

Hmm, Somerset.

That was the first place I lived when I moved here. Geographically stunning but racist, horribly racist.

What part of America are you from?

The part that's called Canada.

"Good,I hate American's" , followed by "I'm not racist, but this country has gone to the dogs since they let in all the" Insert "Darkies/Eastern Europeans" or insert any other deragatory term that makes your skin crawl.



-- Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:17 pm --

Hmm, Somerset.

That was the first place I lived when I moved here. Geographically stunning but racist, horribly racist.

What part of America are you from?

The part that's called Canada.

"Good,I hate American's" , followed by "I'm not racist, but this country has gone to the dogs since they let in all the" Insert "Darkies/Eastern Europeans" or insert any other deragatory term that makes your skin crawl.

York is beautiful. However, if I could choose to go anywhere, I would choose the south-west. Cornwall or Devon! Gloucestershire is gorgeous but expensive. Check out Cirencester and area.

Bristol is not my idea of a small-sized city from what I have seen, but I could be wrong!

Good luck!

-- Thu May 28, 2009 2:40 pm --

"I have lost count of the number of times that people have complained to me in general conversation about all the "immigrants" around and how terrible it all is."

Thank God! I thought it was only me who noticed the racist attitudes. I can't stand how my in-laws are outrightly racist and xenophobic. Everything is the fault of the immigrants in their eyes. Outright racism. And I was told it was just my Canadian imagination.

All European countries can be racist imx, you have to remember that unlike Canada a lot of these people have no immigrant history (that they're aware of), so they have a very different attitude towards immigration.

Northern Ireland is probably the most racist part of the UK, however I still think it's the best part of the UK to move to because it's not as crowded so it's easier to avoid people.

But I do think anyone moving to the UK for a rural experience or a "quiet" small town is living in a bit of a dreamworld. Great Britain is a third the size of Alberta and has 15+ times the population.

You can always move somewhere in Wales or Scotland that is out of the way, or even Shropshire for example but there aren't that many shops there and with the price of gas and the lower salaries out in rural areas, it's a non-starter. Just listen to all the people in rural areas complaining on Radio 4 about the lack of a decent bus service or a post office. Only 10% of the UK population live in areas defined as "rural", in Canada it's somewhere around a third, IIRC.

Also some of the supposed "quiet" areas are actually a myth, try driving through St Austell in the middle of the summer.

Buy a copy of Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson, which I always think is a brilliant book about the UK.

i'm also in the same boat - i got a teaching job starting in sept. '09, in a gosport. and i'm not sure whether i'd be better off living in gosport, as it will be close to the school, or if i should live in portsmouth, which is a bigger town.

does anyone know anything about either of these cities? any help would be appreciated!

All European countries can be racist

canada might be better in that respect, but don't forget that racist attitudes are common in virtually all north american, asian and african countries too.

ian.

i'm also in the same boat - i got a teaching job starting in sept. '09, in a gosport. and i'm not sure whether i'd be better off living in gosport, as it will be close to the school, or if i should live in portsmouth, which is a bigger town.

does anyone know anything about either of these cities? any help would be appreciated!

It's the same metropolitan area. If the school is in Gosport you're probably better off living there. I've been to Portsmouth and Gosport a few times over the years and I don't remember there being anything much to choose between them really.

Hi there!

I'm a teacher in Bristol and though some people are dead set against the city, I quite like it.

I imagine that you will find that it is a culture shock wherever you go in England. The schools aren't the same, and behaviour is going to be an issue wherever you teach.

It's taken me about 4 years to get used to teaching/living here (I'm slow to adapt apparently) but I really like the school I'm in now, and have found that it's one of the first schools that values my skills as a teacher (I've taught in schools in Wiltshire, Bath, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bristol).

I find Bristol has loads of theatres, and concerts every night of the week. I suggest you look at the Venue magazine online. It might give you an idea about some of the things to do locally. Quite a number of Canadian musicians end up playing here too, which is nice.

Bristol's not really 'beachy', but it's not wildly far from some really nice beaches. I'd recommend getting a car if you are planning on staying for any length of time as public transportation can be a bit 'pants'.

Any other questions, let me know.

Hi all,
I am getting ready to move to England in Sept 09 to teach as well. I have been given a supply contract in the Bexley/Bexleyheath area. I am wondering if I should live there or another town close by like Greenwich. Any thoughts/information on the area would be appreciated.

Thanks.

The Cotswolds would be my place to move back to. I grew up there and my mother was a teacher there. it is small enough to be friendly and welcoming but big enough to give you all the stores and facilities and rec sports that you need. I lived in a small village called Siddington and local town was Cirencester, you are close to Gloucester, bath, Cheltenham and Swindon. Best location and Schools you could ever wish for. Hope this helps you or anyone else reading this.

Any of the B's. Brighton, Bristol or Bournemouth.