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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask where young families are moving to when leaving London?

161 replies

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 10:57

DH and I live in SW London and absolutely love it. So much access to green spaces, wonderful bars & restaurants on our doorstep and so many friends in the area. Sadly, we own a 2 bed flat without lift access. We need more space, and heart is set on 3 house w/ garden, which is out of our budget if we remain in SW London.

We have Hybrid jobs (in office 1-2 days per week), so need good commuting links in to London (any London station is fine as can work from multiple offices). Most importantly, we want to move to a vibrant area which has plenty of things to do for young couples in their 30s, both with children and without. E.g. we love being near to green spaces and going to wine bars and restaurants. Some of the areas we’ve visited are lovely but so quiet and a much older crowd. We’d love to move somewhere that’s full of other young couples/families where we can make friends in the area.

Any recommendations welcome! Our budget isn’t the highest - don’t want to spend over 750k if we can help it.

OP posts:
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Saschka · 28/08/2024 11:41

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 11:32

St Albans looks lovely but not within our budget for a house within 1 mile of the station really 😑

Most people don’t live within 1 mile of the station! They drive in. That’s why station car parks are so big outside of London, and so full.

If you are in Brighton you can get the bus to the station, but in smaller towns and villages with less frequent bus services, you will just drive everywhere.

EmmaStone · 28/08/2024 11:38

We left London altogether (including relocating our jobs), and now live in Bristol/Bath area, which is perfect. Only 1hr15 Bath to Paddington as well. But our firends who stayed are in SE London or Kent and Surrey (Tonbridge/Sevenoaks/Reigate type areas).

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 11:32

St Albans looks lovely but not within our budget for a house within 1 mile of the station really 😑

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Rory17384949 · 28/08/2024 11:26

I have friends in St Albans , they seem happy there and it's a gorgeous place.

H0PE1 · 28/08/2024 11:22

Brighton would certainly for the bill. Beautiful South Downs on your doorstep, tons to do, art, festivals, theatre, gigs, great restaurants. The crowd is definitely not old. Hove, Patcham, Withdean more families.
And you have the sea!

Comedycook · 28/08/2024 11:18

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 11:13

I really wish it wasn’t the case, but having looked at property prices in so many popular commuter towns we can get very little for our money!

A lot of these commuter towns just outside of London are actually not much cheaper than London.

RhaenysRocks · 28/08/2024 11:17

I mean basically anywhere just outside the M25. I know the north side better and St Albans might fit the bill..trains into London Bridge.

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 11:13

Peonies12 · 28/08/2024 10:59

Hilarious you think £750k isn't a high budget. But everyone I know has moved to Brighton/Lewes/Worthing areas.

I really wish it wasn’t the case, but having looked at property prices in so many popular commuter towns we can get very little for our money!

OP posts:
Comedycook · 28/08/2024 11:06

You could still live in London on that budget.... you'd just have to move to a less fashionable part. You can easily get a nice house in SE London for 750k

TeeBee · 28/08/2024 11:03

Peonies12 · 28/08/2024 10:59

Hilarious you think £750k isn't a high budget. But everyone I know has moved to Brighton/Lewes/Worthing areas.

I live in one of the areas you mention and £750K isn't a massive budget to accommodate what the OP is looking for. However, you should be able to get something half decent for that OP.

Peonies12 · 28/08/2024 10:59

Hilarious you think £750k isn't a high budget. But everyone I know has moved to Brighton/Lewes/Worthing areas.

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