What were your childhood neighbourhoods like?

Even though I'm very much known for being a south Londoner these days, I grew up in an area of north east London that had a reputation for being well dodgy. It still does to be honest. It's not a place you'd want to be out and about in after dark. There's bad enough things that go on during the day! But as long as you're streetwise and savvy enough, you'll be fine. A lot of you here who have grown up in similar areas have talked about the sense of community you experienced, and that 's exactly what I found there. Perhaps in areas where there's a lot of hardship and danger, people pull together more. It's a real contrast to where my dad lives. My parents got divorced when I was quite young, so I used to spend weekends and holidays with my dad who lived about seventy miles from London. It was along the coast so there was more space, woodlands, parks, and beaches. It may have been a 'safer' and 'better' area and I always enjoy my visits there, as do my children, but that feeling of community is very much lacking.

I live in the same house now [in south-western Sydney] I lived in from 1969 to 1983 (from the age of 8 to 22) which is my parent’s old house. I moved back here in 2007, after my mother moved elsewhere, so, in a strange way, I relive my childhood every day. At least from eight years onwards. I sit typing this in my old bedroom which is now a spare bedroom with the computer and television in it. I look down at the same floorboards I walked on as an 8-year-old as I do now as a 61-year-old. It's quite eerie in a way, to say the least.

As far as the neighbourhood goes, there’s almost no-one left from years ago, with the exception of one notable person; the old man across the road, George, who moved here in the late-60s about the time we moved here. One of my earliest memories was an early Christmas morning, either 1969 or 1970, it had to be, where George over the road was playing Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly very loud, so loud that the whole street could hear. I've never forgotten the song.

Seeing him now, it’s hard to believe it’s the same person, he must be pushing 80 now. But a fairly sprightly and robust 80. Back then, he was late-20s (I guess) with a wife about the same age (since deceased) and two kids my sister and I used to play with.

LOL! I grew up in the same part of London as Rosie and Donna. And Angel as well. As the ladies have already said, it wasn't the safest neighbourhood in the world, and the area did have a bit of a reputation. But that said, there was also this community spirit. Everyone knew each other and looked out for each other. The three big groups of people we had there were the African-Caribbean group which I belonged to, the Irish and Philippinos, and it was like that for a very long time. A lot of the shops and services in the area catered for each of these groups so it was a good place to go to get your products and food and stuff. However over the years it's become a lot more multicultural with many different groups setting up home there which is a good thing. There is now a very big Brazilian community there.

I grew up in the same place as Rosie B so she's pretty much answered this question for me. LOL! And like her, I'm glad that my days of living there are over. While I did like the big community that we were a part of and liked knowing lots of people, I have to say I always wanted to get out and saw going to university as a way out. The further the better I used to say, and that 's exactly where I went - all the way to Australia! LOL!

Of course I miss seeing my family and old friends all the time but I'm glad that my sons are growing up in a place that's very different to what I knew. There's lots of fresh air, open spaces, sunshine, and they live a very active and outdoorsy life.

I grew up in a small town in Wales, and as some of you have said, it was one of those places where most people knew each. It also meant most people knew each other's business too! Haha! As is often the case when you live in a small town or a village.

But for the most part it was a great place to live. Everyone said good morning to you. It didn't matter that you were a stranger. And while I won't say that it was one of those places where you could leave your doors and windows unlocked - it was the eighties after all - there really wasn't very much crime. A lot of the time anything that went wrong was usually down to bored teenagers but it was never anything serious. And we had a lot of nature on our doorstep so we were always having picnics (depending on the weather!) camping, going for walks and so on. And I think that growing up surrounded by nature definitely influenced my career choices.

I'm glad that I grew up enjoying a slower pace of life which wouldn't have happened if I'd been raised in a city. Although I live in England now, I live in another small town area which is very peaceful and quiet, with enough space for my kids to run around and be kids. I lived in London before I got married and no way would I want my kids raised there, and I'm glad that they're having a similar kind of upbringing to me.

I grew up in a small town in rural Montana. It was one of those places where everyone knew one another. I know for a lot of people that might sound boring. I've spent most of my adult life living close to Seattle so I know that the kind of place I grew up in isn't everyone's idea of fun. But it was a great place with a very kind and caring community, so I always felt safe. In our house it was just me, my mom and my sister so it was good to know so many people as it stopped us from feeling isolated, and I think it's one of the reasons why I come across as very sociable. And there were always things to do. There were dances and events on at our school. My mom got me and my sister involved in local theatre and gymnastics and things like that. We may not have lived in a huge city but there were always things to do, and I loved growing up surrounded by so much nature which is why I love so many outdoors type stuff. I took my boyfriend home to visit and see the place I grew up in and he thought it was great!

I grew up on a terraced street in north-west London, and I lived there until I left to go to university. We had a big Irish community in our area so a lot of the shops and services there catered for the Irish. And a lot of the people I grew up knowing actually knew my parents long before they moved to London. It really was very much a home away from home. And as you can imagine St. Patrick's Day every year was a riot! Haha! Many of the Irish people I used to know out there have since got back to Ireland. Even a lot of my friends who were of Irish descent but born in London have also moved to Ireland, with many leaving to study at an Irish university and then deciding to stay.

I have many good memories of growing up in this part of London. But it was no angel's playground! That I have to say. Crime was rife in our area. As was drugs. Even though I left a long time ago, things have got worse rather than better. So I'm glad that me and my family got out a long time ago as I really don't feel safe there. I now live just outside of London but I still have friends in the area and sometimes I have to pass through on my way somewhere. But I am glad that my days of living there are over. Though I do miss the grand old days!

I grew up in East London and lived very close to the park that used to be the garden belonging to philanthropist Elizabeth Fry, with the library having been her house. I loved the park because they had a kind of mini zoo with the peacocks being my favourite.

I did like growing up on that street. I knew a lot of the kids and we used to play together outside but we were only really friendly with two households, both of them living across the road from us. They used to come over to ours for dinner and for parties and likewise. My sister and I were also flower girls at the wedding of one of those neighbours. Unfortunately we lost touch over the years, although I do think that one set of neighbours still lives there. And if they do then they're probably the only ones on that street from back in the day. We're lucky in that we've always had good neighbours wherever we've lived but this street was special.

That's not to say it was the perfect neighbourhood. There was a youth club down the road that used to cause a bit of a ruckus every now and again; we were broken into twice 😫and as a child I once saw a man behaving very suspiciously on our street. Lord knows what he was doing but I know he wasn't up to any good!

I grew up on what were essentially a housing estate in the north of England. Today housing estates get a very bad rep but back then it were no better or no worse than anywhere else. I think the biggest problem were for elderly people who lived several floors up to take the stairs when the lifts weren't working which happened quite a bit I can tell you. But in the seventies, at least where I lived there was still some community spirit. people looked out for each other and helped each other out whenever anyone need anything. We all knew each other and the kids all used to play together. Many of us even attended the same schools so no one was really a stranger. The building and surrounding areas were kept quite clean and orderly, which I have to say isn't how it is now! And everyone felt quite safe walking around there. I reckon it were probably in the eighties when people had to be more on their guard. There were lots more people afraid to go out especially after dark and they wouldn't open the door unless they were sure of who it was. There were a growing isolation that has just got worse over the years. It's sad really but I do remember a lot of good times growing up there. Whether it were that good or just me and my rose spectacles, I don't know but I do feel happy thinking about it so that's good enough for me!

I came from a small village in Delhi where everyone very much knew each other. Such is village life. A lot of the children studied at the same schools and formed friendships outside of the school as well. Whenever there was an event such as a wedding, almost everyone would be invited. I wouldn't say we often went around to each other's houses for dinner but if someone happened to be there while dinner was served then of course we would invite them to join. There was a mix of religions in our village, so whenever there was a religious festivals, the women in the family would create huge platters of food to take to each of the houses. It didn't matter what religion the neighbours are - everyone is included. As I'm sure everyone knows, Indians take their movies very seriously. But not everyone was fortunate enough to own a TV set (during my childhood years I mean. Things have changed since.) so those who didn't have a television would cram into the house of the person who was holding this unofficial movie night. And everyone was welcome.

I do agree though that in more recent years that sense of neighborliness seems to have reduced greatly. Not just in India or US but everywhere it seems.