What Would Everytown, UK Be Like?

Exactly what the title says. While Everytown, America appears well codified, what would its British counterpart likely look like?

I'm currently working on a story which is set in a small, fictional British town. As such, I want to make sure I've got my setting feeling as "authentic" as possible.

At the moment, this is the way I envisage it:

The town is centred around its sole church, with the one "reputable" pub situated just opposite it. Along that one same road are the rest of the local shops and co-operative. Meanwhile, along the river is the new commercial development - where the likes of Costa Coffee and Top Shop can be found - which the older generations view with distrust but the younger ones see as a welcome salvation from the rural-ness of the town. Beyond the town centre, it is mostly farmland where a fair proportion of the population reside (though it should be noted that most of them aren't actually farmers).

Does that sound remotely accurate?

edited 11th Aug '13 5:38:55 PM by peasant

Sounds pretty good, though my experience is admittedly pretty limited; I don't travel much UK.

I would recommend messing around in Streetview actually; I think it would probably be quite good for getting a feel of places, though I admit I've never needed to use it for anything such as this.

This is the area in which I live, which I'd always considered to be pretty standard. Might be a little too "towny" for your purposes though.

Having moved about a bit (I was born in Leicester and my parents steadily moved further West towards Wales as I was growing up), I can say that's about right, although churches don't tend to be that important (that's not to say they aren't near the hub, but I don't think I've ever seen one a town over a certain size has been built around).

Also, the part about the coffee shops doesn't quite sound right; in more rural or suburban areas, most of the commerce is based in the old Market Towns (which are usually about 30-45 minutes away and are typically built around a high street), which is where the supermarkets and other shops are found and young people go to "hang out". Unless the town in question's expanding for some reason, it's unlikely they'd be seeing development "across the river".

Young people being "stranded" doesn't really happen unless they literally live in a farm (or can't drive). Living in a small town's much more akin to living in the suburbs (as far as being connected to the wider world is concerned) would be in the USA.

edited 12th Aug '13 1:56:13 PM by Bisected8

Thanks for the feedback. It's interesting that you mentioned Wales as my setting's layout was almost directly inspired by a town there - Haverfordwest, if that rings a bell - which I then scaled back (mostly in the form of the local's mentality towards chain stores and in the divide between the "high street" and riverside commercial district) to make it feel more "rural"; as a reflection of my time there and especially in some of the even smaller towns I'd been to prior to my getting my driver's license.

I guess the very things I found most memorable and inspiring about the place were the things that made it unique.

edited 13th Aug '13 8:48:55 AM by peasant

Yeah, my experience of British villages is that you'll typically have a curvy high street with a church fairly well hidden away at the far end of the village, while there are typically somewhere between 1 and 5 public houses, depending on the size of the village, with a few small shops, inevitably including either a Co-Operative, or in some villages a Spar shop attached to a Gulf fuel forecourt. Behind the shops there will be some VERY small and twisty streets with residential buildings lining them. Expect Apple trees.

edited 14th Aug '13 2:17:39 PM by porschelemans

Most villages in Britain are based around a single road (usually the high street) with other streets branching off.

Look up somewhere like Swindon in Google Maps, go onto Street View and explore for a bit. That'll give you a good idea.

I'll just add this little summery of the area I live in (and

• My house (which you'll understand if I'm not specific about) is found near/around (it's hard to say which is the most accurate word) a small village.
  • Said village consists of a score of twisted roads with rows of detached houses and fields lining them. There's also a canal (the most notable local landmark being an aquaduct).
  • It boasts a couple of pubs/inns, a small town hall/general meeting place, bowling green, newsagents, post office and garage (car washing and repairs only; it doesn't sell petrol).
  • The village itself is adjacent to a lot of farmland.
  • There are several bus stops scattered around.
  • It's possible to jog along the roads outside town and end up on the opposite side in about 15 minutes.
  • Most of the roads are minor (and potholed), but there are a few well maintained main roads. There are small postboxes in various places (should a farmer wish to post a letter without visiting the post office in the middle of town).
• About a 15 minute drive (or short bus trip) away is the town of [name withheld].
  • This boasts a doctor's surgery, pharmacy, bank branch, Spar (corner shop that is, not a health spar), bakery, butchers, greengrocers and various assorted shops selling nicknacks. All located on the same high street.
  • Plenty of winding roads and houses surround this street.
  • There's also a co-op as you leave.
  • All the roads leading here are main roads (with properly maintained surfaces and everything).
• A 30-45 minute drive away is the market town of Oswestry.
  • This has most of the major chain stores and supermarkets (Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury's, Argos, Boots, WH Smith, Wilkos, etc), a high street, a market (indoor and outdoor) that's open three days a week (whether you visit while it's on is a matter of choice) and enough smaller shops/local businesses to cover pretty much everything.
  • It also has the local branch of the job centre, train station and various other outposts of the wider world.
  • People live here (and there are a few streets with houses on them), but I've never met anyone who does.

Obviously there are other towns (of varying sizes) and cities are only a slightly longer drive away (Chester's the nearest), but that should give you a general idea.