Moving away from Surrey- a bad move?!

[Dumbled]

Have only ever lived in Surrey. Obviously visited other counties but not lived in them.

Anyway we are likely moving away from Surrey, to another neighbor county.
Told friend earlier who recoiled I horror asking why would we leave Surrey, and listed about 4 people she knew who moved away, deeply regretted it and now couldn't get back in due to silly house prices.
This is just dramatic right? How can it be much better, especially the neighbouring countries that can't be that different surely?!

[snowgirl1]

You're moving to a neighbouring county and your friend recoiled in horror?! I think she rather overreacted. I can't see how Surrey is any better than Sussex, Hampshire, Kent or Berkshire (and have lived most of my life in Surrey). Was her reaction more about the specific town/place you're planning to move to? Where are you moving from and to?

[chicaguapa]

I used to live in Surrey. Now live in Hampshire and it's much nicer. People are more relaxed and friendlier.

[Dumbled]

She didn't seem to have an issue with the place we are considering , she doesn't know it that well -just overall with the fact we would move from Surrey!
I have visited Kent loads, & Hampshire & Sussex a little and found all lovely.
Had other friends & family say in past they would never even consider leaving Surrey though. Not sure if it's just a don't like change thing in some cases though...

[Panicmode1]

Best move we ever made..!

[CrazyDuchess]

I moved from Surrey to Berkshire and I must admit I love it here - so much more space and the people are lovely! Don't get me wrong Surrey was great, but I don't think I'd ever move back there.

[Dumbled]

Where did you go Panic?!

[Pisssssedofff]

As long as you're not going up north you'll be fine, Harpenden to north west was a life long regret I'll literally never recover from

[Dumbled]

tell us more pisseseddd off.... I'm intrigued!
Visited York earlier this year, thought was fab?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I've done Kent-Surrey-London-Kent.

Very happy in Kent but wish we'd had the balls to have moved out of the South east when we did the big move out of London with kids.

[Dumbled]

Which part of Kent Through?
Where would you have moved too?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Tunbridge Wells/Tonbridgeish. Don't want to be too specific .

I wished we had gone maybe Oxford, Birmingham, North west. I do love my area and we have tons of friends here, brilliant neighbours, beautiful countryside, loads to do, close to London. On the other hand I find it crowded, even trying to find a remote dog walk you bump into someone every 5 minutes. And the roads! So much traffic. And house prices very high.

I'm hoping that one day we'll follow one of our now teenagers somewhere else!

[toadgirl]

If you have a good enough reason for moving, that should be reason enough to move out of Surrey?

Just make sure you thoroughly investigate where you are going first, so there's less chance of regret.

[Pisssssedofff]

It's the house prices. They are massively inflated ooop north all things considered but especially the local salaries and then if times get tough and you need to move you find your old house - that you moved from because it's too small - has now gone up £400,000 in 6 years and guess what the northern house has not.
I honestly don't know what I was thinking, fucked for the sake of a garden they never bloody went in anyway !

[Panicmode1]

Sounds as though I could be one of the people Through meets on dog walks! In an ideal world I'd go "home" to the West Country, but DH's job is tied to the SE for now.

It is crowded, but I am much happier in Kent than I ever was in SW London or Surrey...I love being close to London, having great countryside on the doorstep, and being 40 mins from the sea (great for quiet dog walks in the autumn/winter!). And the schools are brilliant (though the grammar system doesn't suit everyone).

[Dumbled]

Kent is lovely! We have strongly considered a move there but we are have just left it too late with the whole 11+ test and missed the deadline.
It's strange to move from a place o have lived most of my life, but sure will get used to it

[LondonSuperTrooper]

We are thinking of moving away from Surrey to Berks or Bucks. Surrey has lovely scenery but I found people to be unfriendly, cliquey and really stuck up! And both my husband & I have professional jobs, but not living in the £1m house

[freshstart22]

My DH doesn't understand this mainly because he thinks if you've seen one field with a sheep you've seen them all but... I think the Kent countryside definitely has the edge over the Surrey countryside. I live in Surrey and people go mad for the views at Box Hill and the hills around Dorking etc. But I can't help it..compared to the beautiful villages in Kent I just can't get excited about it. Maybe it's just what you are used to. Surrey is quite overrated.

[Dumbled]

I agree with both of you. There are some lovely people of course but a lot of cold fishes too. It doesn't have an overall friendly, relaxed vibe.
There is a coupe stunning parts but mainly the bits on border of Sussex imo