New to the Area, In Need of Some Advice/Truth

[Hazard]

Hi! I'm new here...

Before I ask anything, I'll just mention that in order to avoid any possible issue (you know, with today's age of Google and what not... all will become apparent), I'll be sticking to the name Hazard. I also apologise for the length of what is to come. There's a few things I want to know, but I'll come to them as I go.

I've just moved down to Liverpool from the North East to live with my dad. We currently live in the Goodison Park area, which he likes, but we're looking at other places. Now, since I've only just came here, I know absolutely nothing about the place... so I don't know where's good, where's bad, etc etc. The only things I know of Liverpool are the horror stories and what my dad tells me. So, being from the North East and only hearing the odd story, my knowledge of Liverpool is to avoid areas such as Toxteth. But I'm aware that Bootle (from word of mouth) and another place I can't remember right now (from personal experience), are quite bad. DIY SOS also made me second guess Norris Green. Now, this is what I said earlier becomes apparent.

My dad tells me certain places are good, and certain places are not. And in the politest way possible, I think he's talking ****. He's adamant that places such as L4 (where we are now), Old Swan, Huyton are brilliant, and that places like Toxteth (which I've read has improved a lot), and Edge Hill are bad. He also tells me Kirkdale, Norris Green and Anfield are awful... so I don't know what to believe. I've read that Toxteth has improved. That Aigburth, Dingle, Mossley Hill and Sefton Park are great, and that places like Woolton and West Derby are pretty decent. As you can tell, I have no idea what to think.

So having said that, here's the first couple of questions...

1) Where is in fact good?
2) Where is bad? Where should I avoid?
3) Where is a good place where we can rent a 2 bedroom for, admittedly, quite a low price... like £400pm at most.

Now comes the second thing. Obviously, being new to the area, I have no idea what the hell to do. A few important details...

1) I'm 19, coming on 20.
2) I don't drink, and don't enjoy nightclubs. I don't mind a good gig, but I hate clubs. Not a big fan of drinking environments, really.
3) I certainly don't like loitering.

I came from Newcastle, where I was bored out of my mind, because the only thing anyone seemingly did up there was go out clubbing. So one of the reasons I came here was to have more fun, because I'm always being told there's so much going on. I mean, I love my music, so there's always that. I also love my football (Manchester City, family ties) and would probably even go see an Everton/Liverpool/Tranmere/Southport etc etc game, but what else can a non-drinking 19 year old do in this city?

Again, I apologise for the sheer length of this! Hopefully a few of you here can really help me out, which I'm certain you will! Ever since I've came down here, even when I came to visit in September/October, I've noticed that the people here are some of the nicest people I've ever met. Walking into places where 30/40 people make an effort to say hello to you and welcome you is awesome, and certainly something you don't get in Newcastle. I do like it down here already, but hopefully, you can help me like it even more :)

[joe scouse]

HI WELCOME MARRA ,Although i am out in oz i think you will find Lark Lane Aigburth not to bad ,there are a few drinking spots though ,but plenty of other interests the prom sefton park ect ,welcome to the group ,joe in oz,ps lark lane my old stamping ground,cheers

[lesley1]

Welcome to Yo.

[fortinian]

Hello, welcome to Liverpool and welcome to the boards. You've made a good choice coming here. You've asked quite a lot of questions and it's quite hard to answer them without resorting to generalisations.

My best advice is to get out there and see for yourself, I've lived here for a long time and am still amazed about the amount of things that go on that I don't know about.

All cities have their good bits and bad bits and likewise those places have their good bits and bad bits as well. Generally there is no area of Liverpool I wouldn't go to in the daylight. At night, however I would avoid going into certain areas.

Generally, the north-end of the city (sort of where you are) generally tends to be less salubrious than the south end. The area you live near Goodison Park isn't called Goodison, it's called Walton and I really can't say there is much difference between there and Anfield, which is the next area over.

Toxteth (in the south) got a very bad reputation in the 1980s but i've recently started to spend more time there and can honestly say that it's no worse than places like Everton and Anfield. Toxteth also covers quite a large area and some of the properties that are technically in Toxteth are the most sought after in the city.

Edge-Hill and Kensington are quite poor areas, but again are a lot quieter than they were ten years ago, they also have the advantage of being very close to the city-centre.

Wavertree in the south end is quite a good area, near to Old Swan. It's cheap, close to the city centre but also close to much nicer areas such as Childwall and Woolton. There are a lot of students in Wavertree (heading towards Smithdown Road) which I think gives the area quite a cosmopolitan feel sometimes.

Areas I really would avoid would be Croxteth, Norris Green and Huyton. I think this is more to do with the fact that I don't know those areas well and they have had a recent history of gang-violence.

As for going out: Drinking is a big part of Liverpool culture. It is now and always has been. But it is by no-means the be all and end all.

Liverpool has some amazing music venues: The Zanzibar, The Kazimer, Shipping Forecast are the main ones for young up-and-coming bands, but there are loads.

I'd also recommend checking out Lark Lane, they have a nice cafe culture there. In town (the city centre) there is the Jazz Cafe "Mello Mello" which caters for the artistic bohemian sort of crowd, and also "Leaf" on Bold Street. There are plenty of arts groups about, places like Metal in Edge-Hill station are really quite down to earth.

There is a lively amateur football scene in Liverpool so i'm told, but it isn't really my bag so I can't comment.

I hope this helps mate. Like I said at the beginning, the best way to learn about the city and what you like is to get out there and explore. Don't be a slave to stereotypes and fear

When you're about in Liverpool just have common sense and you'll be fine.

Hope this helps and the best of luck to you!
One of the best websites to keep an eye on is: http://www.sevenstreets.com/

[lindylou]

Sorry my reply is so lengthy too - but Liverpool is a big area to cover :)


Every city has good and bad. I would agree with Fortinian about the districts he mentions.
I live in Anfield down the road from Goodison and I would say there are still some ok parts to Anfield.
Priory rd and surrounding streets running up towards Anfield rd area are ok. But the far end of Anfield rd after you pass the LFC ground not so good. But there are many streets that are ok.

Streets off Lower Breck rd are still nice and have lots of 2 bedroom smaller houses which you are looking for. (Lower Breck streets - the 'Red roads' which are heading towards Breck rd end, are better and quieter than the Tuebrook end further back.. ie the 'months roads') The 'Red roads' look across to a playing field for football and baseball, and community centre and gym.
The best parts of Anfield tend to be pockets of semi-detached houses to buy. (maybe one or two rented) ie; Utting ave area, Ince ave, Frankby etc, Hildebrand roads, Breckside park. All nice.
Arkles lane is ok - nice big houses.
Pinehurst council estate and Richard Kelly Drive, Cherry lane - mostly council with a few private, not bad - quite nice. Lots of green and trees around.

I've lived in Anfield all my life and know every inch of it, :) so if you have any roads in mind around there ask me and I will have a good idea if they are a yes or no ! :D


Wavertree is ok. Quite a lot of students around there.

Lark lane, Sefton Park is to be recommended for both living and socialising - lots of students and arty types :) A good little community with lots going on.

Broad Green & Old Swan is ok too Some nice roads around there and good shopping area. Not too far from town.

Woolton is a really nice district if you can afford it. :)

Toxteth. Well, don't be too put off by bad stories. There are some good parts and yes maybe some not so good.
Liverpool 8 as we prefer to call it - has what is now called the 'Georgian Quarter' which is upmarket higher end places to rent or buy. Quite expensive now and popular with professionals who can afford the high prices.
Other places in L8 not too bad, but there are a few roads I would avoid. If you look at any roads in L8 best to check back and ask some opinions.

Kensington - although I wouldn't look there for myself I think it has improved a bit and it's had some refurbishment recently. Maybe any members from 'kenny' can comment.
Kensington has a reputation for Scallies and a few bad sorts - ( as does parts of Anfield & Walton) - but I'm sure there some roads that are ok. I wouldn't move there unless I knew the place very well and who is who ! Same for my own area - I know where all the wrong sorts are ! :)

As Fortinian says, avoid Croxteth, Norris Green and Huyton.
I wouldn't even consider these districts for myself.

For younger people Liverpool is big on the club scene, a large student population and clubbers.
Football of course, and other sports. There are some good gyms and Leisure facilities.

If you want to live near to your dad, try looking around the roads off Priory rd or Lower Breck rd. There are lots of smaller houses for rent. ( you just need to be careful to choose the best roads. )
There are some property shops on Priory rd too which may give you some ideas..

[Hazard]

Hi guys!
Thanks for the quick replies. You've helped out more than I expected.

I'd actually be living with him, which is why I'm second guessing the places he's suggesting. Forgive me for thinking this way, but I'd rather not live in a bad area. He's been down here two years and says that he knows where is good and where is bad, but I honestly think he's got generalisations too.

For example, you have both said that Wavertree area is either okay or nice. He describes it as bad, probably because there's students there. Being in an area with a load of students would be ideal for me, so I can meet people my age! Everyone I'm meeting recently are at least 15 years older.

So, what from what I've gathered here, the best places to look would be the southern areas like Lark Lane, Sefton Park, Woolton and Aigburth area. My dad IS actually looking around Old Swan, and you say that's not that bad. We're currently just off City Road by Goodison Park. Earlier in the week there was a 4 hour hostage situation around the corner (which I had no idea was going on, which shows how much attention I pay).

As for the things to do, thanks for the recommendations on places to go. I know about the Empire, Academy, and now the Kazimier, Zanzibar and Shipping Forecast. I hear the Masque closed down recently, which is a shame because that looked to be pretty good. From what I've seen, the inner city is a brilliant place to go, and the two times I've been in, I've had nothing but a good time.

I imagine I'll be back all the time asking more and more haha!

Many thanks,

Jordan