Hi my fellow Brits. American Natura here looking to move out of the US. LOL!
Where is it pretty and seasonal. Spring, fall, winter, summer kind of deal!
Thank you
Move to English countryside: Hi my fellow Brits... - LUPUS UK
Move to English countryside
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Natura
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Wow! Really? X
The election has pushed me over the edge..lol....I am just looking. Probably wont happen. Need a back up plan.
Yes, I've just woken up, I feel your pain, it's not been called yet but it looks like Trump has it. Frightening times.
Well at the moment England,well my part ,looks very wet struggling to stay as rain as -2 so trying to sleet although the frost on hay bales and hedgerows did look pretty with the low winter sun first thing this morning .Saw cows appearing through the cold mist their breath like puffs from a steam train .All this after all the autumnal reds,golds and lingering green leaves falling from the trees last week plus the bright red berries on dark green holly trees looks quite special on the school run.
If there is one thing Britain has its weather! Not necessarily in the season's it's meant to but we do get it all.Warmer towards the south and colder to the north but if we're not having enough weather we're talking about it 😂
There are still a lot of places that are incredibly pretty to look at but what I might find lovely may not be another's like.
Look up The Cotswolds in England for pictures of pretty.Not where I live but better than looking up Wolverhampton,which has some very good things about it but not considered pretty by its locals.
Hope you find what or where youre looking for
Lol. You might want to pick up writing a novel. I love the description you gave. I will make note of it all. My sister lives in the Netherlands.
I live in Wolverhampton and less than a mile away is the South Staffordshire countryside a few more miles away is Shropshire all very beautiful.
Yes surrounding within easy drive of Wolvo and B'ham there are beautiful places I was referring to the town which used to be quite grand but presumably lack of £ has left it in need of tlc . Can't fault Newcross hospital though as the oncology dept is the reason I am still alive now as I said it has some good things in it fellow cancer survivors who live in the town say how the peeling paint etc is disheartening.
I used to go horseriding and teach over Shropshire and that was lovely.
Well on the eve of the elections I wonder why you might want a different place to live. This yank prefers the Welsh countryside with green grass and dramatic coastline and for those with problems with the sun, we welcome the cloudy mornings more and more...saw a delightful rainbow hitting the sea on my drive to work and thought my luck was in, even with lupus, as it was an amazing sight. My Welsh is not the best, my daughter better. So you could come West.....Nos da ML
I moved from the West pennies moors north England to Somerset the difference is amazing,people smile more here it has to be the climate
X
I am a former US citizen in the UK (and now considering claiming asylum, not even kidding....got my citizenship paperwork printed up and filling it now). Here's what you'll find about England:
England has a xenophobia problem. Yes I know what people are going to say here but I'm a woman of colour and it's been getting worse. Racism is getting a foothold, and people aren't shy about sharing it. It may come as a bit of a shock, and people may deny it up and down, but I've had as much said to my face or the Dutchman has heard it when I didn't...yeah, it's an issue. The one thing I can be grateful for is I can't get shot for my skintone here....but it does mean I'm trying to hurry my citizenship along before the current government tries to ship us all back (or at the very least get a passport so I can go with the Dutchman if they force him to leave too).
England is expensive. Thanks to ridiculousness here, the pound has plummeted, and getting a job here is difficult. The changes to benefit here also makes life difficult for anyone as they are trying to follow the US model (because that of course works so very well). If you can't prove that you can take care of yourself without access to public funds for at least six months, they won't let you in, and they don't give your residence. Living in the southwest as I do, houses and cottages here are easily half a million pounds...no locals can afford to live in them. You might be able to find a small room rental in the South West somewhere, but going North would be cheaper (and colder)
The countryside is for rich people. There is a LOT of countryside - I live in it now myself after being here for years, and I'm living in a council house. England is charming in that even when you're in London, you can drive a few miles out and there will be countryside. But because of that, the houses are ridiculously priced. You might be able to find a farmer who has built housing and rents out, but it will be a struggle; it's not for the 'common herd' to enjoy! If you're lucky and live for a decade here (and if there is any council housing left by then...which looks iffy) you might be able to do as I've done...but see the next point.
The countryside isn't accessible. Actually, this is true for most of England which wasn't built in a grid system at all - getting a wheelchair down any sidewalk, let alone into a shop, is virtually impossible. Public transport is a nightmare. And if you're in a rural area and struggle with mobility, you will be stranded - there's no buses, no taxis, and no help. Think very carefully about it! I didn't have a car for the first two years when I moved and I was literally stuck here. I've got a car now but I'm struggling to drive, and I'm stuck again. All my shopping is delivered, and I rarely leave my house unless the Dutchman takes me out.
I live in the Southwest, which is about as idyllic as you can get. However, all of the points above apply - smiling faces and thatched houses who then say something about foreigners being 'sent back now we've taken the country back' while giving me fierce looks to my Dutchman - because he's a white male and they think he is 'one of them'...until he opens his mouth! Devon is beautiful but expensive, Dartmoor is filled with artists and if I could afford it I'd consider going there. I'd make a suggestion to not discount Wales (very rugged, mostly treeless, a struggle accessible-wise, but it's beautiful; Dutchman and I may buy there when the children are grown and flown) and Scotland (cheaper but VERY cold - but for the last I'd move there myself). I'd also strongly consider hopping cross the border to Canada (I was born there, I could have tried for dual citizenship...might do it again) - plenty of space in Canada, new PM there is the most progressive they've had in decades, especially after the last one, and it's beautiful!
All the hugs and love across the pond. It's frightening...but tomorrow is another day.
@Silvergilt:
I lived in Scotland for a long time and one daughter is still there. If you choose the right place it isn't very cold - around Edinburgh for example is far warmer than the north of England, Inverness too surprisingly. Not south of England standard but good and probably where I would go back to if I have to leave here.
But all the rest of what you say is oh so right - and for a European Brit very scary. I've suffered racism even as a native born Brit who speaks English with a native accent when I returned from Germany 25 years ago. From a Pole as it happened! But the England I look at now is not a place I would like to live.
The Dutchman's way of dealing with it is keeping his head firmly in the sand, which is a bit frustrating for me, but one of the reasons I need to get citizenship and then get my passport sorted - if we need to bail then we can bail out. Right now my only recourse would be having to go to the US, which would be a death sentence for me, not even being dramatic.
Within a few days of having been resident here for 5 years we went in to the Rathaus to ask about our options. Citizenship is less appealing (even if we didn't have to wait another 5 years) because we'd have to attain a reasonable standard of Italian - living in an autonomous German-speaking region where Italian is tolerated rather than used day to day it would have its more difficult side. But for the princely sum of 64 euros we picked up our permanent residency papers just a week later. That'll do for now.
It's my children's and grandchildren's generation I feel sorry for, they will lose so much freedom. And as scientists - it's a disaster. Our colleagues are so depressed about losing funding, opportunities and, potentially, staff. Though I imagine there may be fewer heading to the USA in the next few years...
Thank you for your bold honesty. My husband is always telling me the grass may not be greener on the other side. Wow! I heard Canada is doing that 6 month thing too. A lot of people are flying. I am hoping America will be great again. Without racism, sexism and the destruction of the environment. Trump has a lot to do. We can only pray and hope that he does right by all Americans.
Honestly? People need to do a lot more than hope and pray! But yes, this is true of everywhere. I wish you strength and courage!
You can have all four seasons in one day if you aren't careful! And the likelihood of needing a tree to enjoy the sun will be limited. The further north you go the less likely you are to have what you might describe as summer, permanent spring is a more suitable description. Very further north in Scotland is like being on the top of mountains on a permanent basis with very stark and dramatic scenery even at sea level, further south is gentler and beautiful but not necessarily "pretty". I find Perthshire throat achingly stunning. Much of England is pretty, parts of Wales are pretty - others more dramatic.
But this Brit prefers northern Italy, halfway up a mountain. Not least because of Brexit. Don't forget that.
I live in a really beautiful part of England, North Yorkshire, the people are very very friendly, have conversations with you even whilst waiting in Drs, eye appointments, hospital, dentist, anywhere there is a waiting room people converse with you, I have very little trouble with my chair, occasionally you get the one rude person but that's anywhere, I love living here, it's snowing here at the moment big surprise from yesterday which was cold but very sunny.
I'm sorry to Silvergilt, not everyone is xenophobic as you put it, I believe it is a minority of people here, your portrayal of our nation is I find a little negative, yet you have the benefit of a council house, possibly on benefits too, I can't even get a council house and I am disabled and a British citizen, you have done well and I'm glad for you. You know despite what you say this nation is still a good place to live and very beautiful, I also find that mostly in our rural areas there is transport to be had probably not as much as in the towns but there is transport. I lived in the USA and I lived in a rural area I found that transport there is about the same as rural areas here. Do you find you are in a better position here than you would be in USA, I noticed that you said you are going for citizenship, in my opinion it seems you are obviously better off if you are going for it.
I personally don't want to live anywhere else and I have travelled quite a bit.
The weather is always a good topic of conversation and always a good starter, we can have all seasons in a matter of hours, we have a lot to be thankful for, I love Scotland and the hills and the mountains are second to none as like wales, love our higgledy piggledy roads and the way that houses are unlike any other nation, I appreciate what we have here. I've lived in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England and have visited Wales many many times. Wherever you choose if you choose will be a good choice...
Whereabouts in North Yorkshire? My daughter is a paramedic in Whitby. We bought her a flat to be sure she could park at the door when she got home from work in the middle of the night - it would be a perfect retirement place but she has forbidden us to live there! Too far to a decent hospital...
And to be honest? No, it doesn't appeal because Whitby is all hills and bitterly cold!
I'm in Ripon. I can understand about the cold, it does tend to be colder the more north you go, but I suppose you get used to it..😊
I lived in Scotland, north of Dundee until we moved ,for him indoors' work, to Durham. I used my garden in the foothills of the Grampians far more than I ever managed to in Durham. I have never been as cold in my life as I was in Durham, 200+ miles south of my Scottish home!
You can assume it's negative, but then you immediately add 'You have benefits and a council house, and I was born here and can't even get that!' Yeah...that's the kind of thing I hear all the time actually. Regularly. To my face. Usually a lot less veiled. So don't tell me what it's like unless you've experienced what I have directly. Even the Dutchman thought I was pouring it on but he's had the dubious pleasure of hearing it as well. Getting benefits and having council housing isn't 'doing well' - when I had a career and my health I was doing well. Right now, I'm surviving, and it's been made clear to me repeatedly that as a foreigner I probably shouldn't even have that.
Hence, going for citizenship. Maybe it will stop people complaining. Not because I'm proud of being here. Not because I'm patriotic. But because I just want the hate to stop. Rationally, I know it won't...but I don't know what else to do.
It's not great here, but I can't think of anywhere else to go, or anything else to do. Although it's clear from many I'm not welcome, I've run out of places to go...so I will have to stand firm and at least maybe by getting citizenship I will have firmer ground beneath me, at least then if people trying to force me to 'go back where I came from' I'll have a piece of paper that will let me stay.
That's what it's come to. That's the conversation the Dutchman and I have been having; what to do if we're forced to leave - how to handle it, where to go, and how long my health will hold out of we have to do it.
As an aside, in my village a bus (with stairs) runs once a week. That's it. Can't take my wheelchair on it. I'm hoping to move with the Dutchman to somewhere more suburban as it might prove to be better for me as far as getting around. It's a drag having to hope he can drive me everywhere.
You are very sensitive, what I meant was that you have a council place and benefits which I'm really glad for you in the fact that you have it, I meant nothing like you have taken it, you seem to expect abuse and find hidden things in comments when nothing of the kind was being said. It means we all have to fight our way, that's what I meant in my comment. As for council house yes I was refused but glad you weren't. I am on benefits actually, my comment was meant in that you have been welcomed and have received good things, why would you think that I was being abusive? I have received abuse too in ways that probably you couldn't imagine but I'm still trying to be positive despite it. I have suffered so much in so many ways with my health and also other areas so I do understand where you are coming from.
Anyway...I've said what I need to say. Moving on now.
Cornwall and parts of Devon are lovely, but if you want it drier Kent and the South East could be better for you. Do some research and decide if you want milder damp climate or drier colder climate. The north and Scotland are rather colder, but it depends what you are looking for. There is so much beautiful countryside in the UK especially now in Autumn. I went up to Dartmoor at the weekend and found the colour of the change of leaves breath taking.
I live in the South West and rarely yearn to go away. I spend time on the beaches on the moors and enjoying nature and walking locally.
Good luck with your choice and moving. x
Hi Natura. Whereabouts in the US are you now? The south east and Sussex where I am is like a tiny tiny version of parts of Virginia/North Carolina. I was taken to the old town of Winston Salem once from the original settlers and it felt like a newer version of home if that helps lol
further north is less over populated in areas but I have to be careful when I visit my parents in Yorkshire as the clearer air means that there is less sun coverage and I find the uv levels up there can be challenging for me.
As for the argument above yes since Brexit there are a number of people who now think it's ok to show sides of themselves that aren't the most attractive and there's a lot of "go back home" but it is the minority and seems to be in small clusters more than generally widespread from my experience. There are negative people who aren't very welcoming but there are also people who will welcome you with open arms ... exactly the same as the rest of the world I would imagine.
It's not possible to come here and instantly qualify for housing/benefits etc but that's in line with other countries and I think has always been the case for non European migrants anyway. so yes you should make sure you can support yourself if you are coming here but I can't imagine that any country would accept you moving there without having contributed to that country in any way and expect to be supported by the state system so this is no different to anywhere else. If you work here and pay into the system however then as far as I am aware you will qualify the same as anyone else once a certain amount of time has passed. This may be particularly relevant to you from the point of view of healthcare and if you are serious about considering a move here that would be an area you might want to look at closely to ensure that you can obtain what you need here s im not sure you'd be covered by the free NHS service as you won't have paid in to the National Insurance system which qualifies you for this.
Good luck and here's hoping the world calms down again soon!
I'm replying to you Mifford because I thought this should be next to your post if anyone looked in in the future - hope you don't mind.
citizensadvice.org.uk/healt...
The entitlement to treatment is on the basis of residency - not if or how much NI you have paid. NI also covers unemployment benefit, sick pay and pension. So if you haven't paid NI you won't get any of them, just the same as a British person who has never worked and paid NI wouldn't get them but they are still entitled to medical care.
You have to have the correct immigration status to claim residency if you move to the UK from outside the EEA/Switzerland. There is an immigration health surcharge:
"If you are coming to the UK on a temporary stay of more than six months, you may be required to pay an immigration health surcharge at the time of your visa application. The standard surcharge fee is:
£150 per year per person for students and each of their dependents
£200 per year per person for everyone else
The full amount will be paid upfront for the duration of your visa."
and there are more details here.
nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSs...
Ah ok being a tax consultant I really should know the NIC stuff I guess lol I was basing it on years ago when a client of mine needed me to prove he had an NIC number as he fell ill while he was visiting here from the USA where he had moved and they would treat him for free if he could prove the NIC info so I assumed that was the requirement.
Thank you for clarifying though - useful info to know 
Wow...ok.... I was upset about the election here for a couple of days. I have a family, and do not make the decisions of where to live. I am from Long Island, NY , and we are planning on moving in a Couple of years. We cannot afford to live here. But, I didnt consider that anywhere else could possibly be more expensive than NY.
Thank you for sharing some important aspects of moving. I am not in a wheelchair and I still can drive. But that could change at any time. My sister is always telling me how well the bus system works here. I have to appreciate what I do have here, and what I need as I get older. I also have sticky blood, and could develop a clot at some point and possibly have a stroke and not be able to drive. I am considering not living too far out into the country. Although that is where my heart is.
Thank you all for your input.
Natura - I just put a post up with some links about healthcare entitlement and immigration. I put it in reply to Mifford's post because I thought it belonged with her post too, I do hope she doesn't feel offended.
It all starts with your enquiry about applying for a visa - and follows on from there!
Hi Natura
My US Penfriend has said she'll move to Canada if Trump won so understand how you must feel. Worrying times!. X
If you're used to New York more then my instinct says if you ever decide that coming over the pond is a serious proposition look at somewhere like York - Would give you all the benefits of a city but retains a village type feeling and is gorgeous - one of my favourite places. You'd also be on the edge of everything Yorkshire has to offer countryside wise and be a major railway point where you can get pretty much anywhere - it's only 2 hours down to London for example.
I have numerous friends Stateside who are now fighting over who gets to move in to my spare room or I'd have suggested that as an option too 😊
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