A good move? Young people’s comparisons of rural and urban living in Britain

Abstract

This article analyses young people’s (aged 12–18 years) comparisons of urban and rural living within the context of counterurbanisation in Britain. By exploring the experiences of young people who migrate from urban to rural environments, drawing out gender- and age-based differences when appropriate, we demonstrate that these young people occupy a unique in-between space from which to reflect on their past and current identities, experiences and locales. This article contributes to the growing literature seeking to understand the diversity and complexity of young people’s experiences and understandings of the rural.