One of the common misnomers Americans make when you tell them you’re moving to England is that they assume you’ll be living in London. But just like the USA is so much more than just New York and LA, there is life beyond London here.
In fact, the population of England is 53 million people. And just over 8 million people reside in London. Many of us find ourselves living in small villages. These can vary in population from 15,000 (the largest) to 40 or so (smallest). My village, Collyweston, has 400 people.
So what defines village life? Naturally, they’re each a bit different, but there are some typical commonalities.
- A village shop. Sometimes called a corner shop. Again, they vary in size (often corresponding to the size of the village, naturally). They carry typical grocery items, like milk, bread and snacks. Some offer freshly prepared foods like sandwiches or ready-made meals. Sometimes there is a post office window (very handy for shipping letters and packages back to the US!) My kids love that our shop has a nice variety of sweets to choose from, and taking a walk to the shop for a treat is something we do at least once a week.
- A pub. This, along with the shop, are often the hub of socialization in a village. Many serve food, and often they have rooms you can rent for the evening. (In other words, a combination of bar, restaurant, and bed & breakfast.)
- A village hall. Sometimes it’s the village’s church or some other type of public meeting space. Some village halls are more active than others. At the hall, you might find exercise classes, craft clubs or other group meetings.
Other things you’ll find in my village? A small cemetery. A playground and playing fields. A church. We even have our own monthly newsletter so you’re always up to speed on what’s going on.
Villages often spring up as you’re driving through the countryside. One moment you’re cruising along at 60 mph and then suddenly you see signs cautioning you to slow to 30 or 40 mph. The landscape abruptly changes from wheat fields or sheep pastures to homes stacked neatly against each other for a kilometer or two. And just as soon as you came upon it, you’re through it and back to cruising speed again.
I feared village life would seem isolating and lonely. Despite being a Midwestern girl, I’ve never lived out in the country before, always in towns of at least 20,000 people or so. Instead, I find it to be very social. Neighbors are interested in meeting their neighbors. The people who work in the shop are always quick with a greeting and the sharing of local news. The bartender in our pub knew us after just a couple of visits.
And within just a few weeks, our little English village sure felt like home. If you’re planning a trip to the UK, be sure to incorporate some time in your itinerary to explore a few villages. It’ll give you a sense of what life is like for Brits living outside the city limits.
You can find more pictures of Collyweston, the village I call home, here.
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
My dream!
I hope your experience is as great an adventure as mine was living in several villages over the years. I lived primarily in Suffolk, just 70 miles north of London, near Bury St Edmunds. There were pros and cons, but I felt the years were well spent and I still maintain the close friendships formed during my residence. I’ll follow your journals and comment at times. Enjoy your village.
I also lived in a village 100 miles north of London in Suffolk… Rendham. I agree there are pros and cons, but well worth the experience. I am now married to a man that I met while living there 30 years ago. He was born in the little village and still lived there when we met. He has been here in the United States for over 6 years now. The short time there made a major impact on the rest of my life.
The best spots on Earth, in my opinion, are the villages of the UK. They were my getaway places while living in England!
I’ve found this to be true of small towns in North Dakota, too. Small shops, a coffee shop that’s the corner of the community in the morning and a bar that’s the corner of the community in the evening, and the various community and church halls that pull others into the various activities on offer. I have found that larger, 10K+ communities, splinter.
Yet, even so, the spots in London I’ve lived in have also provided a community pub, a community newsletter, and locals with insights we could not have gotten elsewhere. A critical difference, however, would be that locals in London don’t speak to each other unless engaged at the pub or another community event. Saying hello across the street would be considered something abnormal, for example. But, getting to know someone in the pub is normal.
Thanks for your views “from the country”.
I live in a village much as you describe…but it’s in Southern California. Our town, population 1200, has it’s pub, a corner market with gas station, a small grocery store (the produce isn’t very fresh, however), two churches, two restaurants (one attached to the pub), two schools, a dentist, a veterinarian, fire department (all volunteer except one), Sheriff’s substation, two realty offices, the water company, post office (too small for home mail delivery), county library branch, and county park. We’re 50 miles east of San Diego (pop 1.5 million) in the mountains at 4000 ft elevation. We get snow here even. We’ve lived here for 12 years next month, and it’s the most wonderful place to raise children. And we love it here. 🙂
My dream has been to live in an English village for a full calendar year so that I can experience all four seasons and get involved in village life. It also helps that I’m already an Anglican. 😉
Loved this article…and am simply green with envy. 🙂
When stationed at RAF Bentwaters, I made it a point to live in a village about 30 miles away from the base Hadleigh Suffolk..approx population was 5-6000 at the time, really enjoyed Pub life (at the now closed “The Monkey” and the local fairs ..just had a wonderful time the 3 years I was there… I felt very accepted by the local folks who told me about the many wonderful sights nearby…which I later ended up visiting..
I too was stationed at RAF Bentwaters and lived with my wife in nearby IPSWICH It has to be some of the best times of my life.
Would anyone have any suggestions on a village that would have a self catering holiday flat to rent that would be accessable for someone in a wheelchair?
would need to have easy transport from London.
Also not too expensive.
I’m a cancer patient living in Texas and this is on my bucket list.
Have made several visits to London over the years, but this is what I want for my final trip there.
Thanks for any help!
Try the website helpfulholidays.com for lots of properties in Devon and Cornwall (bottom left hand corner) We have used them and they are great! Be aware that lots of the places will need a car for accessibility!
My ancestors are from Cranbrook Kent and I’ve been lucky enough to visit. The train ride from London was beautiful and the village truly amazing
Having lived in London,Vancouver,San Francisco,Atlanta,and Baltimore, one year ago I decided to retire in the village of Chobham,Surrey .What a pleasant surprise I had. Life is delightful here and I can be in London in forty five minutes by train.
Lived in Barrow and West Row while in the UK and I gotta say, it was so quiet, family oriented and inclusive…I really miss it.
All of the places mentioned here we have been to, having explored all of England over 30+ years together. But we finally settled, much like some of the others, in the East of England, on the Suffolk border, in a village exactly as you describe called Colne Engaine, near Sudbury. 900 people, 14th Century pub, similar age church, small churchyard and village shop, hall and playing field. Additionally bordered by a sign of modern life, a golf course!
My dream too!