Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want to go north?

130 replies

CountArthursgroupie · 30/05/2018 18:50

I'm due to retire in a few years, and there's no way I can afford my present rent. Northern rents are much fairer, but where to go? I've hardly gone north of Watford in my life! Can you MNers recommend anywhere? Have any of you made a similar change of location?

OP posts:
Original poster
CountArthursgroupie · 30/05/2018 21:34

I don't drive, so good public transport is a must. I've thought about Scotland but I'm worried I won't understand what people are saying! As for family, l don't have any, and find it hard to make friends. So I'll just please myself.

OP posts:
ShakeShakeTheMuffin · 30/05/2018 21:33

Newcastle is great. Excellent shopping and facilities. The coast is beautiful. Northumberland is full of wonderful places. Tynemouth beach is outstanding. People are friendly. I'm homesick! It's cold though!
Cullercoats and Whitley Bay are lovely too and probably cheaper than the surprisingly expensive Tynemouth.

Booie09 · 30/05/2018 21:28

I grew up in whitby and it is beautiful! But things to consider
are transport links the only train anywhere is to Middlesbrough, buses are not always reliable, No major shops the only supermarket are lidle,Sainsbury and the coop the nearest hospitals are scarborough and Middlesbrough! It's full of tourists so traffic is a nightmare! Also in whitby when it's winter you can virtually be cut off...locals Think they own the place, but apart from that it's fine.

LegallyBrunet · 30/05/2018 21:25

The Yorkshire coast is fab, my PIL live there. County Durham and the North East Coast is even better, I grew up there, just outside of Sunderland

RedHelenB · 30/05/2018 21:25

It'll be colder! I love where I live in Yorkshire. Really is God's own country and judging by the influx of southern accents more are realising this!

Miranda15110 · 30/05/2018 21:21

Scottish Borders is fabulous. Trains run to Edinburgh every half hour. Housing is cheap. No such thing as waiting a day for a GP appointment. Free prescriptions. We've got beaches, castles and community. Train to Newcastle 1 hour. I'm English BTW. Lived here 30 years and wouldn't go back x

Andijustknew · 30/05/2018 21:19

I'd say North East or North Yorkshire coastal. Affordable, beautiful, yet accessible.

thirstyformore · 30/05/2018 21:17

Oooh. My little town has been mentioned twice so far. Beverley is fab. Come and visit.

DepressedOtter · 30/05/2018 21:17

Come to Cardiff instead Grin

NC4Now · 30/05/2018 21:16

What do you like? We need to narrow it down. Some of the cities are still fairly pricey, but there are some gorgeous places up here.

Oysterbabe · 30/05/2018 21:13

Won't you be moving away from friends and family? I think when I retire being close to them will be important to me to stop boredom.

Veronicat · 30/05/2018 21:13

Scotland. It's dead cheap. And pretty Damon beautiful.

LoislovesStewie · 30/05/2018 21:10

The Yorkshire coast, cheap, pretty, nice beaches. Try the bus route up the coast to Whitby for lovely views.Have a look.

KlutzyDraconequus · 30/05/2018 21:09

Beverley Near Hull.

it's a wonderful place with an amazing Minster. Plus Hull is an awesome city.
not far from York, not far from the sea, not far from the Moors etc.

TheShapeOfEwe · 30/05/2018 21:06

Scotland! It's so beautiful and dead friendly and there are far fewer Tory wankers!

YouTheCat · 30/05/2018 21:04

Parts of Jesmond are okay but it's very student orientated. High Heaton is better. Or parts of Gosforth are nice.

Dancingtothebeat · 30/05/2018 21:00

What sort of thing are you looking for? What do you like? City? Country? Village feel? Seaside? Shopping? Genteel suburbia?

Manchester and Leeds are great if you like cities. Village and countryside, Sheffield with it’s access to the peaks is great. Scarborough or Whitby for the seaside. Harrogate or places like Jesmond in Newcastle are great for the genteel.

Caribou58 · 30/05/2018 20:55

Manchester is a fantastic city.

sayanythingelse · 30/05/2018 20:54

I've just moved south of Middlesbrough (not recommended) but I'm a Leeds lass originally, I'd highly recommend it. Newcastle and Manchester are great cities. York is lovely. Whitby is nice if you fancy retiring by the sea.

I might be biased but the North is great!

ErrolTheDragon · 30/05/2018 20:10

YANBU. But so much choice... what sort of things are you into, and the other question which may be relevant is whether you're likely dependent on public transport.

lamerde · 30/05/2018 20:09

Glasgow.

Amazing city.

QuoadUltra · 30/05/2018 20:06

What an adventure. Do you want City, town or rural?

donquixotedelamancha · 30/05/2018 20:05

The air is cleaner. The landscape is prettier. The people are friendlier. Cost of living is much cheaper. Chips are indescribably better. Vowels are pronounced the way God intended (well, alright not in Newcastle).

If you want cities, I'd go for Liverpool, Leeds or Manchester- Newcastle can be a bit expensive and a bit cold; though all the cities mentioned are like a more cheerful version of London. York and Durham have fab old world charm. If you want countryside North Yorkshire and several bits of Lancashire are hard to beat. If you want cheap Preston recently topped a quality of life survey, just because of the amenities and culture compared to costs like rent.

YouTheCat · 30/05/2018 19:53

Newcastle is an amazing place to live. There is so much going on in the city and yet, you can be at the beach in 20 minutes, or in the countryside.

Northumberland is gorgeous too.

LotsToThinkOf · 30/05/2018 19:50

I live near York - it's lovely up here!