Page 2 | If you were in 2 minds leaving London… and did… did you regret it?

lking679 · 2022-12-19T12:52:34+00:00

Just that. If you lived in London and weren’t sure about leaving… then made the move and did… did you end up regretting it?

mondaytosunday · 19/12/2022 15:01

I left as my husband died suddenly snd I wanted a fresh start. I moved to the Isle of Wight. It was more of a difficult move for my kids (Y2 and 4) and I do sometimes wonder how this has changed them. Anyway I made lots of friends but always missed London. I had a big house and pool.
I moved back as my daughter wanted to go to an all girls sixth form and I just ran with it. Really happy to be back but can't afford to live as centrally as I'd like (now in a three bed terrace). I don't need to be down the west end every day, I just love it. City woman through and through.

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/12/2022 15:02

Hi OP. I moved from Birmingham to Shrewsbury a couple of years ago with two teenagers to tow and love it here. I hated Birmingham anyway so that probably helped me (hated the congestion, how run down it is now in many parts) as I craved for a greener slower pace of life. We are in walking distance of the town and if we need a city fix we catch the train to Manchester or Liverpool which is only just over an hour on the train. I guess it depends on why you are thinking of leaving London? Have you visited Shrewsbury at all? If not my advice would be to visit and really check the place out, walk around the local neighbourhoods not just the town. Of course it won't compare to the buzz of a city but for many families that is a positive. Shrewsbury in my humble opinion has so much to offer and there is a buzz about it in a different way - check out the market on a day its fully open (looks shit from the outside but is thriving inside). Lots of independent shops / coffee shops / bars and restaurants, the quarry / dingle, walk along the river. In the summer there is always something on from food festivals, regattas on the river, festivals at the quarry. It isnt utopia and of course there are negatives but on the whole it is a beautiful place to raise a family and so much cheaper than London.

bluechameleon · 19/12/2022 15:04

Yes. 7 years later I still regret it. Although I don't know how our life would have been if we'd stayed so it is just my idealised version of it in my head. In reality we would probably have been in smallish flats in not very nice areas so it might have been a bit shit.

jjeoreo · 19/12/2022 15:11

Moved from London to a smaller town.

I can't say I regret it...when I go back I do, in a "holiday vibes" kind of way. But a visit with lots of disposable cash and a comfy place to stay is one thing, living and working there post-boomer generation with a fairly middle income and small children...not for me.

I think I really miss feeling like I live somewhere amazing and exciting and cool, to be frank. Which is a bit shaming to admit.

However, the minute I'm rid of dependents I'd love to move back and make the most of all it has to offer again. Maybe when I'm 50ish. I've lived all over Central London and loved it. One bedroom, could walk everywhere, happy days. Get an interesting job too!

Original poster

lking679 · 19/12/2022 15:14

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/12/2022 15:02

Hi OP. I moved from Birmingham to Shrewsbury a couple of years ago with two teenagers to tow and love it here. I hated Birmingham anyway so that probably helped me (hated the congestion, how run down it is now in many parts) as I craved for a greener slower pace of life. We are in walking distance of the town and if we need a city fix we catch the train to Manchester or Liverpool which is only just over an hour on the train. I guess it depends on why you are thinking of leaving London? Have you visited Shrewsbury at all? If not my advice would be to visit and really check the place out, walk around the local neighbourhoods not just the town. Of course it won't compare to the buzz of a city but for many families that is a positive. Shrewsbury in my humble opinion has so much to offer and there is a buzz about it in a different way - check out the market on a day its fully open (looks shit from the outside but is thriving inside). Lots of independent shops / coffee shops / bars and restaurants, the quarry / dingle, walk along the river. In the summer there is always something on from food festivals, regattas on the river, festivals at the quarry. It isnt utopia and of course there are negatives but on the whole it is a beautiful place to raise a family and so much cheaper than London.

Yes we’re going to stay there in Feb half term! It looks lovely and not too far from my family in the north west but would be a big change.

OP posts:

mafsfan · 19/12/2022 15:17

lking679 · 19/12/2022 14:34

Ha thanks Good replies!
If we moved we’d be looking at shrewsbury so still a big town and about an hour to Birmingham and Chester by train.

I can’t tell if I’m Londonified though! Been here 15 years and 8 in my house.
Sometimes when I leave London I realise the ‘buzz’ also comes with stress.
Would I go to Hyde park winter wonderland for example? No, I imagine it’s rammed and can’t be bothered with it all. Everything’s rammed unless you go early morning.

If I’m moving will need to do it soon ish, dd1 in reception and dd2 primary place to be applied for Jan 2025.

Ha! Shrewsbury is a really small town!! I absolutely love living here and could never imagine living anywhere else but you have to accept it's a small country town. There's not even a Next in the town centre any more, never mind any kind of department store.

However it is bustling with life and it's quirky independent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. It's also an amazing place to bring up children.

I would recommend moving to Shrewsbury in a heartbeat - but I absolutely loathe London and can only tolerate it for a weekend!! But, do your research and see it for what it is - a beautiful but small, rural market town lacking in some major resources.

OceanbreezeSun · 19/12/2022 15:18

We moved away from London, after 10 years living there.
We were getting married & wanted to buy a house, we also wanted to be closer to our families. I had a stressful job and felt like all I did was work work. We would still be saving for a deposit now if we’d stayed in London. We never planned to stay longer term.

I did miss the buzz initially & missed all the places we used to hang out, but that feeling of ‘missing’ London faded after about 6 months. We moved to another city up north, originally, so still had that city buzz and the distraction of new jobs.

I still love London & enjoy visiting for a long weekend once a year - it’s a great city but I’m always glad to get back home by the sea & I enjoy the calmness and slower pace of life (we moved somewhere near the coast eventually) especially once our dd was born and another one on the way😊

melonraspberry · 19/12/2022 15:20

I left 3 years ago and honestly I love it. We’re an hour out of London by train and I visit central London more than when I lived within London as the journey is so much nicer on a fast train. It’s calmer and friendlier and driving is bliss!

Onesipmore · 19/12/2022 15:24

Left London 20 years ago and never looked back. Took a while to find my sort of people. But loads of others had moved out to, so in the end it was fine.I generally feel much safer here than in London. We are 45 mins away and also not too far from Midlands. Take a look at for inspo
muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/

WimpoleHat · 19/12/2022 15:27

I did initially - but now I don’t. I really like the space, the privacy and the chance to do a lot of “non city” activities. But - we live close enough that I go to London most weeks and still go to a lot of cultural activities and I would miss that enormously if I couldn’t do that.

Upsidedownagain · 19/12/2022 15:30

Wouldn't consider leaving London, so no help to you! We live in a good sized house (having moved up the property ladder over 3 decades), in a nice area with easy access to both green spaces and central London.

I originally moved out of London as a 10 year old and though we had a nice house in a really nice place, I never truly got over it, especially in my teens when I felt London would have offered so much more.

jjeoreo · 19/12/2022 15:34

Interestingly Shrewsbury is where we would go if we wanted to go to a small town. I really really like it there and can totally see the appeal! Haven't ruled it put at all for a future move.

lynthesearesexpeople · 19/12/2022 15:36

God yes, everyday.

We were finally forced out through, we just couldn’t afford the rent anymore, despite us both working and claiming top up housing benefit. Then I got pluerisy with lots of shitty complications and was facing a long time off work only getting SSP, so our hands were tied. We moved 150 miles.

We didn’t have much choice in where to move to, (long story), but it’s a dump. But it’s what we could afford on one wage.

If we won the lottery tomorrow, I’d immediately drive to London with just the clothes on our backs and never leave again.

@chipsarnie depends where you lived in London and where you have moved to - I left a lovely part of London and it’s here that I can’t walk my toddler though the park on a Saturday morning without a constant offering of drugs.

Fedupofdiets · 19/12/2022 15:38

mafsfan · 19/12/2022 15:17

Ha! Shrewsbury is a really small town!! I absolutely love living here and could never imagine living anywhere else but you have to accept it's a small country town. There's not even a Next in the town centre any more, never mind any kind of department store.

However it is bustling with life and it's quirky independent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. It's also an amazing place to bring up children.

I would recommend moving to Shrewsbury in a heartbeat - but I absolutely loathe London and can only tolerate it for a weekend!! But, do your research and see it for what it is - a beautiful but small, rural market town lacking in some major resources.

Show quote history

But there are dreaded retail parks if you are looking for Next and anyway isnt that what internet shopping is for? 😝We went to Manchester recently and honestly when I was on the train home I felt nothing but relief to be going back to my small market town. Now DD is at Uni she thinks Shrewsbury is very boring and would never consider living here but I think she make change her mind when she is older (that is my hope anyway!).

onmywayamarillo · 19/12/2022 15:42

Londoner born and bred.. moved out to Home Counties and feel like I've been on holiday ever since 😬
I do miss London but I love the country more

mafsfan · 19/12/2022 15:48

@Fedupofdiets Absolutely! 🤣 Internet shopping is an absolute essential in Shropshire!!

I was a bit like your DD - I'm not from Shrewsbury but DH is. I was living in a big city and then me and DH lived in another city. I absolutely refused to consider moving to Shrewsbury because it was so 'boring' - but then one day I must have reached that stage in life where Shrewsbury offered everything I want and now I absolutely love it and can't imagine living anywhere else. It's not my home town but it's far more my home than anywhere else I've ever lived. One of the many reasons I love Shrews! ❤️

RishisProudMum · 19/12/2022 15:49

TallulahBetty · 19/12/2022 14:41

What do you mean by buzz, anyone who has said that? Genuine question

There’s always stuff happening. Music, theatre, art, food, fashion. The many many different and diverse versions of all those things. Things to do, places to go, interesting people to meet or just look at. You don’t necessarily need to do, go to or meet any of them, but they’re there and you could if you wanted to.

walkinthewoodstoday · 19/12/2022 15:51

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/12/2022 15:02

Hi OP. I moved from Birmingham to Shrewsbury a couple of years ago with two teenagers to tow and love it here. I hated Birmingham anyway so that probably helped me (hated the congestion, how run down it is now in many parts) as I craved for a greener slower pace of life. We are in walking distance of the town and if we need a city fix we catch the train to Manchester or Liverpool which is only just over an hour on the train. I guess it depends on why you are thinking of leaving London? Have you visited Shrewsbury at all? If not my advice would be to visit and really check the place out, walk around the local neighbourhoods not just the town. Of course it won't compare to the buzz of a city but for many families that is a positive. Shrewsbury in my humble opinion has so much to offer and there is a buzz about it in a different way - check out the market on a day its fully open (looks shit from the outside but is thriving inside). Lots of independent shops / coffee shops / bars and restaurants, the quarry / dingle, walk along the river. In the summer there is always something on from food festivals, regattas on the river, festivals at the quarry. It isnt utopia and of course there are negatives but on the whole it is a beautiful place to raise a family and so much cheaper than London.

Can you tell me about state schools of you have children at them and which areas?

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 19/12/2022 15:54

@walkinthewoodstoday I can't I'm afraid as my teens were sixth form age when we moved and started at the local college but both have thrived there and made so many friends.

Fedupofdiets · 19/12/2022 15:58

mafsfan · 19/12/2022 15:48

@Fedupofdiets Absolutely! 🤣 Internet shopping is an absolute essential in Shropshire!!

I was a bit like your DD - I'm not from Shrewsbury but DH is. I was living in a big city and then me and DH lived in another city. I absolutely refused to consider moving to Shrewsbury because it was so 'boring' - but then one day I must have reached that stage in life where Shrewsbury offered everything I want and now I absolutely love it and can't imagine living anywhere else. It's not my home town but it's far more my home than anywhere else I've ever lived. One of the many reasons I love Shrews! ❤️

Snap!! My fairly new (back then) DP had always wanted to move here and I dismissed it as boring even though I had never visited! Came for a visit and said what the hell are you waiting for move, so he did and then I followed and never looked back. I still walk down by the river and pinch myself that I live somewhere so beautiful I absolutely love the place.

Fairyliz · 19/12/2022 15:59

People who live in London always say they love it because there is so much to do.
My question is how on earth do ordinary people afford it? Housing is so expensive it seems that both parents have to work full time with a long commute so how do you have the time?

Then to do anything as a family seems to cost so much.
Don’t get me started on the crowds/noise/dirt.

Original poster

lking679 · 19/12/2022 16:04

I can’t remember the last time I went into central London for fun. It’s too hard at the moment with three young children 5 and under!
Our local town and high street is where we go mostly or may make a journey into Greenwich.
I expect to go into London more when the kids are older but I have to say I’d be really worried about them going in as teens on their own/with friends. Anything can and does happen.

OP posts:

SwiftSnail · 19/12/2022 16:05

We moved in covid and moved back. Luckily just rented and it was mainly online learning for DC so limited school upset.

We just missed the buzz, the opportunity, how easy commuting was and the community in our area of London.

Moved out to where my parents live- home county. We were driving everywhere and to us the only benefit was countryside near by for walks. But we aren't country bumpkin types and I found the sleepiness too much. I was happy with walks around our local common and Richmond park. I missed my DC's school friends living in neighbouring streets.

We are weird though and not reflective of everyone!

mafsfan · 19/12/2022 16:08

@walkinthewoodstoday Schools in and around Shrewsbury are generally pretty good. As a rule of thumb, I'd avoid living in and the schools in SY1 but SY2 and SY3 have some great schools. SY4 and SY5 go from just outside town into more rural areas, but again the two big comps (Mary Webb and Thomas Adams) are both good schools.

RishisProudMum · 19/12/2022 16:11

Fairyliz · 19/12/2022 15:59

People who live in London always say they love it because there is so much to do.
My question is how on earth do ordinary people afford it? Housing is so expensive it seems that both parents have to work full time with a long commute so how do you have the time?

Then to do anything as a family seems to cost so much.
Don’t get me started on the crowds/noise/dirt.

Honestly? I’ve lived in London for my entire adult/working life, and I went to uni here, so I’ve never thought of it as expensive. It’s the standard/normal for me and I think of other places as inexpensive. I think that’s the case with most people that live here.

I’m also fortunate that affordability isn’t really an issue. And the majority of London isn’t particularly crowded or noisy (people don’t live on Oxford St and most Londoners wouldn’t go near the central tourist bits if you paid them). I live in zone 2 and my area is pretty, quiet and leafy.

The above obviously doesn’t apply to every Londoner, but just answering from my personal perspective.