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Original poster

Moving out of south east, advice please

34 replies

Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 14:28

Hello:)

We are desperate for some advice here.

Me, my partner and our baby currently live in the SE. However, we're facing a lot of barriers when thinking of building and raising a family here. We face silly and unaffordable house prices, higher crime rates, a declining town and not a lot going on especially for children. We are aware of the nice parts but unfortunately personally for us the bad outweighs the good. We are looking to move out of the SE and go North, a big contender is Edinburgh it seems to tick a lot of our boxes but although we've done so much research it would benefit us to hear from people that have made a move like this and where you have gone or if you live in a place that can provide us with what we're missing we'd love to hear where you are!! We'd be so grateful if you could give us some info or advice it would help us massively! We both work in education so work shouldn't be a problem we just would like somewhere safe to raise a family with good schools that has a bit more going for it and is affordable to live.

TIA

OP posts:
midgemadgemodge · 27/02/2023 14:50

Silly unaffordable house prices ... that's Edinburgh for you

Swisspolkadot · 27/02/2023 14:52

Also consider Newcastle!

Original poster
Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 14:55

midgemadgemodge · 27/02/2023 14:50

Silly unaffordable house prices ... that's Edinburgh for you

Really?? We have looked a fair few times they definitely aren't the cheapest but they do still seem to be cheaper than where we are?! We are so close to London and covid just put everything up so so much:(

OP posts:
Original poster
Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 14:57

Swisspolkadot · 27/02/2023 14:52

Also consider Newcastle!

My OH has always been quite keen on the Newcastle area... I just can't seem to find what the crime and the schools are like! Do you live/have you lived there??

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/02/2023 15:03

I don't recognise your view of the SE. There will be crime and run down areas wherever you go.

Original poster
Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 15:15

LIZS · 27/02/2023 15:03

I don't recognise your view of the SE. There will be crime and run down areas wherever you go.

To be honest we are probably boarder south east/east. However regardless it is our own personal view and experience of the area/areas we're surrounded by. Not everyone feels the same about where they live of course this is just what we feel. And I also said higher crime rates not just crime rates because I know there is crime everywhere and I'm also aware there are run down areas in most parts of the country but some are far less than others and I feel in our specific area they are worryingly bad and I do have fears they will continue to get worse. It's no surprise that the east and south east have some negatives thrown its way due to how close it is to London.
This is all my own opinion and I just asked for advice on places north that could be an option for us as a family. But thankyou for your input, I'm super glad you enjoy where you live this must be a very nice feeling!!

OP posts:
CiaoTutti · 27/02/2023 21:40

I would also suggest Newcastle - it is a great city with lots of amenities / culture for families and good schools and transport. Plus there is easy access to gorgeous Northumberland and the coast.

roseopose · 27/02/2023 21:48

We moved from the south east to south Wales last year and love it. Swapped a 3 bed semi in a grim area with tiny garden for 3 bed detached in the countryside with large garden and lovely views. Parts of the area are very deprived but there don't seem to be anywhere near the amount of stabbings/armed robberies/violent muggings that there were back 'home'. There is also a better sense of community.

Original poster
Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 22:42

CiaoTutti · 27/02/2023 21:40

I would also suggest Newcastle - it is a great city with lots of amenities / culture for families and good schools and transport. Plus there is easy access to gorgeous Northumberland and the coast.

Thankyou for this suggestion too!! I think this deffo needs to be added to our list to look more into.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 22:44

roseopose · 27/02/2023 21:48

We moved from the south east to south Wales last year and love it. Swapped a 3 bed semi in a grim area with tiny garden for 3 bed detached in the countryside with large garden and lovely views. Parts of the area are very deprived but there don't seem to be anywhere near the amount of stabbings/armed robberies/violent muggings that there were back 'home'. There is also a better sense of community.

So glad to hear your move was successful! We hadn't considered wales too much but I know a lot of people relocate there. Thankyou so much, deffo will look into this.

OP posts:
MissJam · 27/02/2023 22:48

Swisspolkadot · 27/02/2023 14:52

Also consider Newcastle!

Seconded! I moved from Brighton to Newcastle and absolutely love it. I lived in the Gateshead area, close to an Orthodox Jewish community and it was wonderful. Currently in the North West but trying to return to the North East!

ScreamingTree · 27/02/2023 22:51

There are some lovely areas around Liverpool, have a look at Crosby and Formby. If we were going to leave the SE that's undoubtedly where we'd go.

Original poster
Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 23:09

All that are suggesting Newcastle, is there any specific areas you would recommend? Thankyou all for the advice!!:)

OP posts:
Original poster
Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 23:10

ScreamingTree · 27/02/2023 22:51

There are some lovely areas around Liverpool, have a look at Crosby and Formby. If we were going to leave the SE that's undoubtedly where we'd go.

Thankyou!:)

OP posts:
CiaoTutti · 27/02/2023 23:37

Ca9622 · 27/02/2023 23:09

All that are suggesting Newcastle, is there any specific areas you would recommend? Thankyou all for the advice!!:)

I travel into Newcastle for work. Friends living around Gosforth / Jesmond are very happy with the schools. These areas are fairly central and have a nice community feel and a good choice of properties. There are some new build villages a touch further out as well.

There are also gorgeous places on the coast e.g. Whitley Bay, Monkseaton and Tynemouth - these have Metro stations so are well-connected to Newcastle with good schools.

maeveiscurious · 28/02/2023 07:34

I would look at Chester, South Manchester and the Wirral.

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 28/02/2023 07:39

South Manchester. Good schools and lots to do.

Original poster
Ca9622 · 28/02/2023 10:03

Amazing Thankyou so much for these suggestions I will be sure to look into them all!:)

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 28/02/2023 10:26

Edinburgh might be cheaper than living in the SE but it is definitely not cheap for housing. It's a great city to live in and bring up kids but there is a very large proportion who send their kids to private schools at secondary level which leaves many of the high schools with quite low performance levels. If you're in education you need to be aware that the system in Scotland is completely different to in England.
I've lived in South Manchester. It's also not cheap and I wouldn't go back, it just seems very bland and suburban to me now and the traffic is just horrendous.
I would also consider around Newcastle / Northumberland area. The coastal areas around Whitley Bay are great.

Original poster
Ca9622 · 28/02/2023 10:35

emmathedilemma · 28/02/2023 10:26

Edinburgh might be cheaper than living in the SE but it is definitely not cheap for housing. It's a great city to live in and bring up kids but there is a very large proportion who send their kids to private schools at secondary level which leaves many of the high schools with quite low performance levels. If you're in education you need to be aware that the system in Scotland is completely different to in England.
I've lived in South Manchester. It's also not cheap and I wouldn't go back, it just seems very bland and suburban to me now and the traffic is just horrendous.
I would also consider around Newcastle / Northumberland area. The coastal areas around Whitley Bay are great.

Thankyou for this info!! Great to know about the secondary schools this would of course need extra looking into. We were aware of the difference in education in Scotland as we have done lots of research around our jobs already but thankyou for the heads up! Newcastle area seems to be quite a popular suggestion!:) Thankyou again!

OP posts:
mewkins · 28/02/2023 10:41

I think for lower crime levels you would need to go more rural. I can't imagine moving out of a town to a city would lessen the crime /anti social behaviour. But then if you went rural you would have little to do for the kids. What is your main goal? Community? Cheap housing? Green space? Good schools?

Original poster
Ca9622 · 28/02/2023 11:38

mewkins · 28/02/2023 10:41

I think for lower crime levels you would need to go more rural. I can't imagine moving out of a town to a city would lessen the crime /anti social behaviour. But then if you went rural you would have little to do for the kids. What is your main goal? Community? Cheap housing? Green space? Good schools?

Of course I totally get why you'd say rural because it does have much less crime, where we live now is rural and we don't hear of anything much but unfortunately our closest town which is really the only thing to do in our county especially in the winter is diabolical in my eyes it's declining everyday there were two stabbings reported in the space of a few weeks and one in broad daylight middle of the day. I don't want this for myself or my DC growing up I want her to have safer places to go and more to do. We are in a county that's surrounded by beautiful places (rurally) but still close enough to our local train station to hop on and be in London within the hour so all our house prices are ridiculous in these areas and then for the same reason our town is so dreadful which makes the town cheaper but then the town gets worse because of this and it's just slowly starting to feed out even beyond the town centre so you honestly can't win really. My partner earns a decent wage also and I bring in an ok amount and we can't even afford a decent and that's not even a nice 2 bed house in an ok area again that's not a nice area just an ok one!
So I guess our main goal is to find somewhere that has reasonable house prices in a nice enough area with good schools and a bit more to do and a local town or shopping facility nearby that is pleasant rather than dirty and full of crime. We aren't bother by green spaces or living out in the country and we're not overly fussed about a huge community, we are very nice and friendly people but we are very private and a little introverted at times so we wouldn't be lost without that community but also wouldn't mind having that either as we would see the loveliness in it!
Sorry rambling on, not sure if I've made it very clear really! Thankyou so much for your response:)

OP posts:
mewkins · 28/02/2023 13:08

Ca9622 · 28/02/2023 11:38

Of course I totally get why you'd say rural because it does have much less crime, where we live now is rural and we don't hear of anything much but unfortunately our closest town which is really the only thing to do in our county especially in the winter is diabolical in my eyes it's declining everyday there were two stabbings reported in the space of a few weeks and one in broad daylight middle of the day. I don't want this for myself or my DC growing up I want her to have safer places to go and more to do. We are in a county that's surrounded by beautiful places (rurally) but still close enough to our local train station to hop on and be in London within the hour so all our house prices are ridiculous in these areas and then for the same reason our town is so dreadful which makes the town cheaper but then the town gets worse because of this and it's just slowly starting to feed out even beyond the town centre so you honestly can't win really. My partner earns a decent wage also and I bring in an ok amount and we can't even afford a decent and that's not even a nice 2 bed house in an ok area again that's not a nice area just an ok one!
So I guess our main goal is to find somewhere that has reasonable house prices in a nice enough area with good schools and a bit more to do and a local town or shopping facility nearby that is pleasant rather than dirty and full of crime. We aren't bother by green spaces or living out in the country and we're not overly fussed about a huge community, we are very nice and friendly people but we are very private and a little introverted at times so we wouldn't be lost without that community but also wouldn't mind having that either as we would see the loveliness in it!
Sorry rambling on, not sure if I've made it very clear really! Thankyou so much for your response:)

Show quote history

Ah I see what you mean. How about somewhere like Hebden Bridge? It has a community feel but good links to Manchester and Leeds. It is getting pricier but nowhere near SE levels of house price. I think a smaller town like that may suit you.

midgemadgemodge · 28/02/2023 13:09

Crime is everywhere
Stabbing a are everywhere

Even smaller rural towns yiu get daytime stabbings

You only get less in smaller towns as there are fewer people - the stabbing rate per 100 people may well be the same

Sunriseinwonderland · 28/02/2023 13:10

I hated the south east, I've moved to Somerset. I love it here.

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