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Original poster

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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8
Enigma52 · 01/04/2024 20:03

UAvoidUrProblems · 01/04/2024 14:24

Don't buy up North. Your house will decrease in value which will diminish your kids inheritance. It's anti-social in many places. Also lower life expectancy up there.

Rent out your house and use the rental to rent a place up North, so if you don't like it, you can move back home. If you're happy there after a year or so, then buy.

Edited

What TAF are you talking about, lower life expectancy " up there"??

My neighbour is nearly 90 and still going ( unfortunately!) Jee Whizz!!

ChocolateCakeOverspill · 01/04/2024 20:01

Alfreddoeblin · 01/04/2024 17:54

Fgs why would anyone want to live in a ghastly ex pit village. Decent area = any other posh town down south with less of the poors and certainly no council estates 😂

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Eh?!

Enigma52 · 01/04/2024 19:58

CatrionaCat · 01/04/2024 12:44

The whole of the north is poor, dirty, unwelcoming and just a horrible place to live full time, especially those places that seem lovely on a quick visit.

(Northerner here, fed up of southerners moving up and then complaining about sheep in the garden, the stench at muckspreading time "shouldn't be allowed!" etc.)

Yes this!!!!!

ChocolateCakeOverspill · 01/04/2024 19:58

I moved from East Anglian to Yorkshire nearly thirty years ago. Lived in all of the ridings.

Sheffield is a fab place to live, close to countryside and lots going on. The right balance for me personally.

Im so pleased I made the move, I visit family in the South East because I love and want to see them but find the place so depressing, overpriced and superficial, the landscape is bland and flat. Honestly in your position I’d be listing the house for sale first thing in the morning.

Enigma52 · 01/04/2024 19:50

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 01/04/2024 12:11

I did, I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance. The areas up north are extremely poor.

Don't say that too loudly to those who live in Knutsford, Wilmslow and Tarporley ( Cheshire ) 😂

Floofydawg · 01/04/2024 19:49

Who even calls people chavs any more. People with no class, that's who.

ElaineMBenes · 01/04/2024 19:46

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

Really??
Yeah you do, the faux naivety fools no-one.

'Ooooh comprehensive schools in the north are full of chavs.... what do you mean that is offensive' 🙄

MiddleParking · 01/04/2024 19:40

unsync · 01/04/2024 19:34

I wouldn't. One of the many benefits of divorcing my ex is that I never have to go up North ever again.

I’m not sure how widely applicable that particular reasoning is likely to be.

unsync · 01/04/2024 19:34

I wouldn't. One of the many benefits of divorcing my ex is that I never have to go up North ever again.

Ellie525 · 01/04/2024 19:19

StonwEd · 01/04/2024 19:02

I suppose r we wouldn’t want to spend that much. Maybe 300k and I’d want 3 bedrooms, a small garden. There’s plenty out there but I wish we had more money to play with. I mean we can get another mortgage but I don’t really want to

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Not sure why all the negativity on the thread (but am biased as a Northerner lol).. there are loads of lovely places you would get what you're looking for with 300k and nice balance of city and countryside if you want it - if I were you I would jump at the chance :)

Amba1998 · 01/04/2024 19:17

Look into Lancaster. It gives me ‘mini’ York feels has nice parks etc and is a short ride up the m61 to the lakes or a short ride down to Manchester. North yorkshire easily accessible too

SecondHandFurniture · 01/04/2024 19:14

I'm from the Colne Valley near Huddersfield, Manchester side. Absolutely gorgeous views, trains and M62 to Leeds and Manchester (worst motorway ever unfortunately) but another area where your £375k will only get you a small 3 bed somewhere like Slaithwaite or Marsden, so not a move to make for accommodation reasons.

I moved south in the late 00s and have to say while I miss family I do not miss the rain. And snow.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/04/2024 19:10

Getoutforawalk · 01/04/2024 18:52

My auntie lives in a lovely wee Village called ‘Riccall,’ about 10 miles from York. I love it. Nice pub, great Italian, a few takeaways, coffee shop.

I go to Riccall for work a about mince a month, and also hade a friend there. Lovely countryside, great motorway connections, easy into York.

Cheshire71 · 01/04/2024 19:05

We moved from Wiltshire to Cheshire nearly 6 years ago as a family and it's the best thing we did. Husband and I both found jobs timed with the move. Daughter found a job shortly after. We live in a lovely market town which is about 45 minutes from Manchester, 2 hours from the Lakes and lots of other lovely places within easy drive. We are currently moving house but only upgrading in the same town as we love where we are so much. Wherever we go everyone is so friendly and we love our Northern life.

Flaskfan · 01/04/2024 19:04

Wolfpa · 01/04/2024 17:45

I did the opposite and moved from the North to East Anglia.

if you want countryside what about North Wales? The perfect mixture between mountains, rivers and the coast.

there are several reasonable villages price wise and you are not far away from Chester and Bangor.

I was going to suggest n Wales. If you're NE Wales, you get the lot:

Beaches from 25 minutes away.
Countryside close by.
20 minutes from retail parks.
40 mins liverpool/25ish Chester/ 1hr Manchester
Cheaper than the wirral.

Original poster
StonwEd · 01/04/2024 19:02

Vod · 01/04/2024 18:48

Roughly what's the budget and what space do you need OP? Apologies if I've missed it, I see that your current house is 375k but don't know if you want to spend more or less than that.

I suppose r we wouldn’t want to spend that much. Maybe 300k and I’d want 3 bedrooms, a small garden. There’s plenty out there but I wish we had more money to play with. I mean we can get another mortgage but I don’t really want to

OP posts:
Favouritefruits · 01/04/2024 19:02

I live in the north and you couldn’t pay me to move down south! I have a big house in a nice area I reckon down south I’d be in a 1bed flat! The people are friendlier and stil have that community spirit! I’d go for it, if you don’t enjoy it after a few years you can always move back, it doesn’t have to mean forever.

Getoutforawalk · 01/04/2024 18:52

My auntie lives in a lovely wee Village called ‘Riccall,’ about 10 miles from York. I love it. Nice pub, great Italian, a few takeaways, coffee shop.

Vod · 01/04/2024 18:48

Yanbu obviously!

Vod · 01/04/2024 18:48

Roughly what's the budget and what space do you need OP? Apologies if I've missed it, I see that your current house is 375k but don't know if you want to spend more or less than that.

midgetastic · 01/04/2024 18:47

There is less wealth up north but I think most of the image problem is rich people looking to get the most for their money and moving therefore to very deprived areas without thinking it totally through

See it often enough on mn - someone from London lusting over a five bedroom mansion in some old pit village for half the price of their bedsit

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 .

Namethattunes · 01/04/2024 18:27

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks area s up north poor? Have you not heard of the golden triangle?! In Yorkshire There is a lot of old money in Yorkshire.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 01/04/2024 18:14

We moved 30 years ago from up north to further up north. Sadly, like many attractive north eastern towns, young people are struggling to buy or rent as even the little ordinary terraces are becoming Airbnb’s. But compared to Manchester for example, where my son lives, properties aren’t crazy money.
Downside? Transport. There’s two buses every hour to our nearest train station town. One every two hours to the other biggish town. And nothing after 8pm. So ok atm as we can drive, but looking at the future when we’re too old, we’ll be stuck.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/04/2024 18:11

Sallysappho · 01/04/2024 14:45

It always seems idyllic when you visit for short holidays, the scenery, the charming towns and villages but the reality can be far from that.
I live in the North but have family in the south who I visit regularly. The standard of living is much higher in the south. Its cleaner with much better public amenities. The over riding impression is one of prosperity. The North in comparison is pretty neglected, dirty and with poor facilities.

See I feel its the exact opposite.

It's so clean up here, including the air and certainly the standard of living is far better in the north. My area consistently tops the best place to live guides so that's proof enough for me.

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