Living in a 15 Minute City

 There's been a lot of recent mumbling about the concept of the 15minute city.  The theory is that people who can walk for 15 minutes to access local services are likely to have a better quality of life.

A lifelong non-driver (a few years as a motorcyclist which finished some 37 years ago) this concept is not alien to me.

We bought this flat principally because I wanted easy and safe access to the train station at all times of day and night because I was travelling a lot by train (Bristol-Hitchin-Eastbourne on a very regular basis) as we consolidated our lives...

The proximity of the Barley Mow was definitely a consideration as we had enjoyed many a pre-train evening there and that need would continue.

However, at the time that was more-or-less the extent of nearby facilities (at least of which we were aware) save, perhaps, the shops and stuff in place mainly for the lunchtime-worker-audience...oh, and the 'spoons.

Ours was a the first residential new building and was still a little separated from the nearest newish (c1990) development and further still than the older Victorian and early C20 houses.

Now - there are numerous block of flats, so-called "co-living" spaces all around us and the area has definitely livened up.

If I drew a 5 minute walk circle around the flat that area would now include:

1 Starbucks (was previously here)

3 independent/small chain cafes

1 deli

1 brewery with regularly open taproom

1 Sainsbury's

1 Greggs

1 sourdough bakery (in one of the small chain cafes)

1 pasty/sandwich/other savouries shop

1 long standing sandwich shop

2 street food markets each week.

2 pubs (the aforementioned Barley Mow plus the 'spoons)

1 mainline train station (with attendant shops of last resort)

1 Deliveroo counter (no I don't really understand it either)

1 chain pizza restaurant/wine bar

A homeware/garden centre/DIY shop is a huge loss to the area (for me at least) but there have been very few reductions in facilities as a result of the development.

I don't have the time to list all the facilities within 15 minutes of our home but would include things like

2 more breweries and their taprooms

Something in excess of 20 pubs and bars

A variety of ethnic food shops and convenience shops.

half a dozen places to eat in the evenings and 5 or 6 takeout places

This circle would also border on the main shopping centre (take that as you will).

Within a one-mile radius (20 mins walk) the range is extraordinary.

Who on earth would willingly do anything other than walk - or, use the bus - in this city where roads were mainly designed for carts and the post-war road additions have only served to sever old connections and encourage people to live out of, and drive into the city.  Madness.

If we stay here for a about 2 weeks and want to drink excellent beer every day and only face a walk of 1 mile in either direction, we still wouldn't have to make a repeated visit to anywhere if we didn't want to.  How awesome is that?