Non-clone towns south of Birmingham

Murphybear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81992056#Comment_81992056

Bath is lovely but very touristy, it is usually very busy.

Exeter is nice but I’m biased as I used to live there😺

Neil49

Another vote for Cirencester. I was also tempted to say Hereford but on a recent visit I just found it lacking in vibrancy. It has the chain library and Mappa Mundi at Hereford Cathedral which may be of interest to you. Car parking and traffic congestion is a local issue but the train station is very central.

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82001836#Comment_82001836

We go to Hereford fairly regularly but the centre feels a bit lacking with a lot of vape, barber and foreign convenience stores.

The Cathedral is nice, and the butter market was okay but not been there for awhile now.

I've only driven through Leominster but that looked a lot more inviting but small.

ThorOdinson

Thanks everyone.

Winchester is okay, not great. The tool shop is decent, but the rest is meh.

Went to Croydon, what a dump.

Was going to go past Cirencester, so maybe I'll try to stop.

Hereford might be worth a look. I heard Cardiff and Bristol are worth a visit.

Troytempest

Tavistock has a lot going for it.

Marmaduke123

I'm surprised no-one has suggested Oxford!

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82005377#Comment_82005377

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82005377#Comment_82005377

I live near Bristol, the shopping area Cabot Circus is fairly standard, Broadmead would probably align with your views of Croydon IMHO.

However Clifton Village is nice, The White Lion terrace has a great view of the Suspension bridge. Lots of great places to eat, The Downs is nice for a walk - especially the Sea walls end.

The Harbourside is also nice more so in the good weather. But if there is an event on it can be heaving

daveyjp

A few more thoughts. Oxford and Cambridge have to be considered.

Many years since I visited, but for untouched try Suffolk. Bury St Edmunds in particular

middlewife

We spent the last 5 years traveling intermittently trying to decide on a retirement destination - Reading where we live is everything you hate! As you've specified south of Birmingham ( think many northern towns would hit the mark)

In no particular order

Great Malvern Worcestershire, spa town, fantastic walking and views from up the hill, lots of independents

Sudbury Suffolk - loads of historic buildings and independents

Ledbury Herefordshire - similar to Sudbury

Another vote for Stroud

Tewkesbury Glos, by the river Severn, lots of history, some independents

Also like Wells Somerset, pretty town (city?) old, cathedral

Marlborough, old, market town

Abergavenny, market town, lots of independents, pretty countryside, also much smaller Crickhowell, Brecon & Hay on Wye

Bradford on Avon - as Abergavenny really

Much further away, Launceston in Cornwall is good for a mooch, son lives in Penryn tacked onto Falmouth but will be heaving in school holibobs; Helston also characterful

Agree with others - grew up in Bristol and lived there 24 years - it's a city, there are "enclaves" within it which you might like, Bath is its overcrowded cousin, very touristy but prettty, Salisbury is IMHO very similar, Winchester less so…………..

ThorOdinson

Thanks everyone.

Went to Oxford. It's okay, not great. Was expecting more from Oxfam, as they started there. They have some okay shops, but their "superstore" isn't all that super. Good coffee though.

Now getting into a dispute over the congestion charge because their stupid website was broken and I couldn't pay until today. Would have used the Park and Ride, but was meeting someone at the station with a heavy suitcase.

Overall, avoid until they get rid of the congestion charge.