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Original poster

If you grew up within the m25… did you stay there as an adult?

78 replies

Led92 · 21/01/2023 19:30

Just that really? If you grew up within m25 did you stay there or at least the south east and so not too far from home/family?

I grew up in north west and all my friends have moved away, including myself.

OP posts:
nationallampoons · 21/01/2023 20:25

It's so sad that many cannot afford to live where they grew up

HowCanIPayItForward · 21/01/2023 20:26

Grew up just within M25 (zone 6). Spent a year in a different city, and most of my 20s in London zone 3. When DH and I wanted to buy we were forced further out by prices and ended up buying 6 doors down from my childhood home (but my parents had moved away before that - I no longer have any family nearby). We're still here, 13 years later, and the cat that lives in my childhood home regularly strolls into our house!

Original poster
Led92 · 21/01/2023 20:28

nationallampoons · 21/01/2023 20:25

It's so sad that many cannot afford to live where they grew up

It’s not just London but loads of places! I rented swest but no hope of buying there so moved out seast.

OP posts:
CoffeeInTheClouds · 21/01/2023 20:28

No, I moved away in my early 20s mainly because I couldn't afford to rent, let alone buy anywhere in London.

One by one, all my friends have done the same.

I now live in the NW and enjoy a standard of living I could only have dreamed of as a kid growing up in the east end. There isn't much I miss about living within the M25.

roarfeckingroarr · 21/01/2023 20:29

Yes. Moved from Surrey to London via university elsewhere and a few short stints living abroad.

RandomMess · 21/01/2023 20:31

DH moved away in his late 30s when he accepted he didn't want to live in our shithole for the rest of his life when we could oop North and have a nicer home in a nicer area with a smaller mortgage. He also discovered that you really can see the star constellations and people are friendlier.

NeedWineNow · 21/01/2023 20:33

I was born in the East End and then moved to SE London when they knocked down the houses in our street in Poplar. Mum still loved in the house we moved to. I stayed there until I met DH and moved into his flat in Selsdon. We lived in Selsdon for about 15 years until we moved to our Kent village about 12 years ago. We're just the other side of the M25. We couldn't afford to move back even if we wanted to (which we don't).

NeedWineNow · 21/01/2023 20:34

I meant to say Mum still lives in!

Shampern · 21/01/2023 20:40

I was born and raised in North London and went to UCL. I moved closer to the city and was lucky to work for a bank where I had preferential loan rates for a mortgage. I now live back in North London.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 21/01/2023 20:46

No. Moved to Brum for Uni, moved to Wales for work, move back to London for a few years and then moved out again just to get more space.

Quail15 · 21/01/2023 20:57

Im another one who grew up in Croydon. I think I planned my move away from a very young age. My uncle has a farm in the suburbs and I was so jealous of the way my cousin's grew up. I moved as soon as I could afford to. Not far away - around 30 minutes drive south/east - now live in a lovely village with a good community and views of fields.
But I agree with pp, the public transport is terrible.

tootiredtoo · 21/01/2023 20:59

RampantIvy · 21/01/2023 19:47

No. Grew up up in Croydon. Now live in rural Yorkshire. The only downside is the lack of public transport.

And the public services... couldn't get a same day docs appointment in N Yorkshire. Absolutely can in my part of the SE.

OP, I grew up in an undesirable area of London, it's still undesirable. I've moved around the UK quite a bit and have now settled in one of the Home Counties just outside the M25, though commute into London for work. Absolutely love the little town I live in but have access to London and all it has to offer too.

SausageinaBun · 21/01/2023 21:01

No - grew up in suburbia, but DH hates it, so we live in a large village. We're about 1.5 hours from central London, close to where we went to university. We wouldn't be able to get a house the same size anywhere inside the M25 either.

Titsywoo · 21/01/2023 21:08

I live about 3 miles from where I grew up which is just inside the M25. DH lived in a similar area to me (we met as teens). I like to be close to London personally - DH would happily move further away.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 21/01/2023 21:13

Yes but I moved from Zone 4 North London to Zone 3 South-east London. Quite a contrast in areas even within the m25!

Plural · 21/01/2023 21:22

Yes grew up in z2. Still live in z2.

Did move out of London for period but came back.

TrudyProud · 21/01/2023 21:30

Yes. Born and raised in zone 2. Moved up north for university and now married with DC living in zone 5

thailandorbust · 21/01/2023 21:33

Yes. Always lived in SE London except when abroad on and off for a few years. Moving away this year to Kent coast as kids are now adult and independent. My kids will buy and stay in SE London / Kent border too.

RampantIvy · 21/01/2023 21:35

Croydon centre is sad though

I'm a member of Croydon Disconnected FB group and have been kept up to date with recent developments @happysunr1se. I remember when the Whitgift centre was so popular that people cam from Brighton to go shopping.

I am saddened by the decimation of central Croydon. Taberner House knocked down, St Geroge's Walk demolished. Is The Greyhound still there?

RandomUsernameHere · 21/01/2023 21:42

No. Grew up in Zone 1. I've lived overseas and now settled in the South/South West.

PaniniHead · 21/01/2023 21:44

Yes I did. Zone 4. Now live in the north west!

SmileWithADimple · 21/01/2023 21:46

I lived within the M25 until I was 33. Now I live outside it (but not far out - commuter belt).

Spidey66 · 21/01/2023 21:50

Grew up in z3 NW London, now in z3 North London. I'm 56.We bought our property in 1995 and the mortgage is paid, and we're looking to sell, move out of London and retire early on the profit. I'll get an NHS pension at 60.

Mum97540 · 21/01/2023 22:04

No. Couldn't afford to stay there and have a child. Grew up in South London. Moved to Hampshire.

familyissues12345 · 22/01/2023 00:45

DH grew up in the Epsom/Kingston area, we now live in Hampshire. He still has all family there, but his brother would like to leave soon - too expensive to buy a bigger house