Not quite the same as we moved to rural nowhere and completely left lovely London. In part it was to benefit our children, bigger house, better quality of life, fresh air and more outdoor activities. SO, 12 years on: yes, it was hugely beneficial to our children...until now. Heading into their teens
they would be better off in a city (more facilites for older kids), there is very little for them when they're older here. Big house: tick! Why oh why did I think I needed a bigger house - I spend my time cleaning it!! I would build it 1/3 the size it is if I could do it again -because my children will have to leave home at 18 for uni I only have another 5 or 6 years until this house is ridiculously too big for the two of us! Outdoorsy stuff: yes - all the time. We cycle, sail, hike, kayak, camp, go to the beach after school often so yes that's a definite positive. Quality of life: hard to say really, dh works longer hours because he is self employed here and there's the other side - I am struggling to get work at the moment because we are so rural. The commute to nearest bigger town is over an hour and while that may be do-able on a train/bus, it is a different story when you are driving country roads for an hour plus on dark winter evenings/mornings. We do not socialise at all so that side of life has suffered though it is a friendly town and I do like it and the people here - that took a while. I'd do it again though because I'd rather have tried and failed then been too afraid to take a risk. We are now considering a move back to a city though not London so it's onwards, not backwards!