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To relocate up north

284 replies

StonwEd · 01/04/2024 12:08

From East Anglia? Has anyone done it? Am I mad?
I’ve just spent yet another lovely week in the Lake District, greater Manchester and Derbyshire. We do this often although not as often as I would like due to very low holiday allowance.
Daydreaming a bit but also not really.
Kids all moved out, own my house outright, prob will sell for around £375k.
Enjoy my job but it’s crap money and hasn’t really got prospects but it is a field I’m sure I can get another job in and I’ve seen plenty of remote working jobs that are related (and better paid 🙄)
Husband is on board with this fantasy, he has a small business so can work anywhere.
I had kids very young so have lived in my home town all my life. Never left but always wanted to.
I’m 45 and I’m finally thinking it might be time. Financially as long as I get a job, we’ll be fine, and I’m so poorly paid as it is, shop or bar work will be fine to start with.
I’ve got a fair bit of savings and I’m thinking of travelling round the north for a couple of months, stay in local b&bs and to know some areas better before we take the plunge. I’d have to quit my job obvs but it’s a risk I’m starting to think is worth it…

And most importantly, where should we be looking? Want nature on our doorstep, but easy access to a town.

OP posts:
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Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:35

Haltwhistle is considered the geographical centre of Britain so somewhere 150 miles or so south of that isn't north in my book.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:23

Mademetoxic · 01/04/2024 21:16

Just over 100 miles from my location to carlisle. Not several hundred :)

I said Manchester - it's over 200 miles south of me.

ElaineMBenes · 01/04/2024 21:17

Its perspective isn't it. It's definitely not north imo.

But it is in the north west of England. That's not really up for debate. That is it's geographical location.
You might live further north than Manchester but it doesn't move its location 😂

Mademetoxic · 01/04/2024 21:16

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:13

No, England.

But north of the Wall lol.

Just over 100 miles from my location to carlisle. Not several hundred :)

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:14

ElaineMBenes · 01/04/2024 21:13

Same goes for Manchester imo.

Except Manchester is considered to be in north west of England.....definitely not midlands.

It's perspective isn't it. It's definitely not north imo.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:13

Mademetoxic · 01/04/2024 21:09

Well you're obviously in Scotland. :)

No, England.

But north of the Wall lol.

ElaineMBenes · 01/04/2024 21:13

Same goes for Manchester imo.

Except Manchester is considered to be in north west of England.....definitely not midlands.

Ladyj84 · 01/04/2024 21:12

Northumberland north east beautiful area

Mademetoxic · 01/04/2024 21:09

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:02

It might be but you're several hundred miles south of me so definitely not the north lol.

Well you're obviously in Scotland. :)

NeedToChangeName · 01/04/2024 21:09

twistyizzy · 01/04/2024 13:42

I agree but for many Southeners Birmingham is North 🤣 For me The North starts at Leeds!

@twistyizzy I would class North as beyond Inverness!

Hellocatshome · 01/04/2024 21:04

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:01

It starts at Yorkshire. South Yorkshire is pushing it tbf.

I'm from South Yorkshire and used to think of it as the North. Now I live in the North East (further north then Durham) and think South Yorkshire is definitely more Midlands than North but I wouldn't dare tell anyone from South Yorkshire that!

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:02

Mademetoxic · 01/04/2024 21:01

As someone from Greater Manchester our news is North West tonight.

It might be but you're several hundred miles south of me so definitely not the north lol.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:01

SecondHandFurniture · 01/04/2024 20:46

No! The North is roughly above the river Trent. As in, Stoke-on.

It starts at Yorkshire. South Yorkshire is pushing it tbf.

Mademetoxic · 01/04/2024 21:01

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:00

Me.

Same goes for Manchester imo.

As someone from Greater Manchester our news is North West tonight.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 21:00

lastdayatschool · 01/04/2024 20:04

Anyone else think Cheshire is more the Midlands than the North ?

Me.

Same goes for Manchester imo.

x2boys · 01/04/2024 20:52

El13 · 01/04/2024 20:47

I live up north, if your like small village, nature and walking you’ll probably love it.

The North is huge ,yes there are small villages ,nature and nice areas to walk ,but there are also big cities ,towns and everywhere in between.

ALunchbox · 01/04/2024 20:52

' nature on doorstep, easy access to a town ' is a bit vague. What sort of nature? How big a town?

I find North Wales and Chester really pretty. It's not too far from Liverpool either. Further up you'd have the lake District too.

Georgethecat1 · 01/04/2024 20:49

The Wirral is lovely, chester / liverpool on the doorstep easy access to the peak and Lake District with lots of beaches and walks.

El13 · 01/04/2024 20:47

I live up north, if your like small village, nature and walking you’ll probably love it.

SecondHandFurniture · 01/04/2024 20:46

lastdayatschool · 01/04/2024 20:04

Anyone else think Cheshire is more the Midlands than the North ?

No! The North is roughly above the river Trent. As in, Stoke-on.

Tulipblank · 01/04/2024 20:41

Namethattunes · 01/04/2024 18:45

Id listen to your gut .
we moved to our dream village in East Yorkshire from Lancashire. We felt if it didn't work - we always go back .

Shusssshhhh....I hadn't spotted East Yorkshire on this thread yet. It's truly awful here. You shouldn't be encouraging anyone to live here. Absolutely not. Terrible place.

ChocolateCakeOverspill · 01/04/2024 20:18

Missamyp · 01/04/2024 16:21

I am planning to relocate from my million-pound home in the South. Thank you.
Land and garden space are noticeably smaller in West Yorkshire where he lives.
No, he doesn't live in a dump he lives in a desirable village where plenty of wealthy hop over the border to buy a barn and escape Manchester.

However, based on governmental policy research and personal experience, it's evident that transportation links are worse in some areas of the North. The M1, M62, M6, and M56 can be gridlocked once you hit certain areas. On the other hand, the A1 and A64 are relatively better-paced if you wish to reside in York. But, Harrogate is consistently slow with gridlock around the Skipton road area.
Public transport is shit. My 10-mile commute takes me 15 min where I am right now. A drive to Leeds from his can (15-miles) take up to 90 minutes in rush hr.
Depends on whether one wishes to sit in endless jams or needs to commute for work. Semi-retirement with time to bumble about then people will love the countryside.

I don't know why posters are getting so het up about the descriptions of the North.

Edited

I think you should stay down south to be honest.

Enigma52 · 01/04/2024 20:14

lastdayatschool · 01/04/2024 20:04

Anyone else think Cheshire is more the Midlands than the North ?

Nope

Glass113 · 01/04/2024 20:11

lastdayatschool · 01/04/2024 20:04

Anyone else think Cheshire is more the Midlands than the North ?

No

lastdayatschool · 01/04/2024 20:04

Anyone else think Cheshire is more the Midlands than the North ?

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