If you left London, do you regret it?

[Hareyy]

Both DP and I are Cornish. We’ve spent almost a decade of our lives living in London. Live in a small flat in Z1 and walk everywhere. Do a lot of cultural things. But feels like we’re starting to yearn for space. We can’t afford anything more than a one bed here, and the thought of living in suburbia gives me the creeps.

So we’re thinking of leaving London for somewhere more affordable. Back to Falmouth? To Edinburgh? To Bristol?

If you left London, do you regret it?

OP, there are so many places in London that aren't the suburbs and not Zone 1 - why not look for something in one of those many places?

No

No, I was living in a tiny shared flat and paying a ridiculous amount for it, that meant I couldn’t actually do any fun London stuff. I moved out, zero regrets, and I visit London and can afford to do the fun stuff now.

@servicly - I saw your post after I wrote my original reply.

In response to your post;

• No, I don't miss the lifestyle of London and more career opportunities opened up for me when I moved to Bristol compared to when I lived in London.
• The move was definitely worth it financially, as I know I have a better standard of living in Bristol than I would have had in London.
• My quality of life definitely improved by moving out of London.
• It's unlikely that I would move back to London but it would depend on the circumstances.

When I moved out of London in 1990, I was probably one of the pioneer WFH generation. I moved out with a word processor and a fax machine. My first email address was numeric, and that was three years after I moved from London.

In retrospect, it has been a great experience all around. I earned London/international fee levels, and because I was already established as a "name" and a safe pair of hands, the work flowed in. Until I was 50, and then everyone wanted younger, hip people. IMO mostly they weren't very good, but they were younger and more photogenic, and now we have "influencers".

So one is not allowed to say Janner on MN.

That was a considered post; it was not insulting to anyone, and I'd like to think it was constructive. Can MN not work out how to redact posts a little more thoughtfully.

For the record, I said. Plymouth is a beautifully located city, between the moor and the sea, with a growing university, a decent theatre, an okay hospital, surprisingly excellent food and affordable housing.

With every breath. It feels like grief. I only ever feel like myself when I go back to London to visit.

Not at all. I moved to a market town in Surrey when I was 33, then to Cornwall at 51. Never missed London. Of course, had I been able to afford a lovely house in Wimbledon Village or Dulwich Village or Covent Garden maybe I'd have stayed!

Bristol is lovely, but so expensive. Plymouth is just waiting to be found. Much much more beautifully located, and in a digital world, no less accessible.

Plymouth is brilliant actually! 100%
I adore the culture, boat trips and the museums are really good.

It has that exciting buzzy optimistic feel!

All my friends and family live in London. I wouldn't want to move.

Born and lived first 30 years. I can't bear the place when I go back. I love the country fresh air, space and greenery and peace and quiet five minutes away.

@TheNameWasOnceChosen , I don't think anyone was suggesting you should. But the OP wanted alternative ideas.

No. I moved to south wales (although I’m originally from Bristol) and you couldn’t pay me to leave all this green space. I can breathe here. I still visit London but I’m so glad to get back on the m4 and leave London behind.

Not to mention the cost of living in London is mental and not worth it.

Same. Did over a decade in London.

Moved to Glasgow to be with now DH. 40 minutes to beaches, lochs and mountains. Live next to one large park and can be in another on foot in under 20 minutes. Glasgow is brilliant for live music, theatre, and other cultural stuff. Great places to eat too.

Miss pals, but that means we get to visit to see them and the kids get the fun of London without having to live there.

The light nights in June/July make all the rain worthwhile.

@DominoLover51 Sutton isn’t zone 6?

I agree, after years of decline (mainly from the cuts in defence spending), Plymouth in the last 5 years is really up and coming with a great vibe.
It's also got one of my favourite high end restaurants - Cap'n Jaspers on the Barbican.

We left two years ago and moved to Scotland and have no regrets! We’re richer up here in ways other than just financial. The quality and pace of life is lovely.

We have been back to visit which was nice, but I’d rather go to Edinburgh or Glasgow now.

I have friends who moved out to deepest Sussex for their kids, kids now moved out and they’ve sold up and bought a flat in East Dulwich after owning a 4 bed detached. They’re thrilled to be back.

I never understand why people are so scathing about suburbia. I mean it’s equal distance to London and the countryside, you can usually get the space you crave and still find a place that’s an easy commute to London for a reasonable price. Surely it’s the best of both worlds?
im sure that a lot more people would shudder at living in zone 1?

21 years a Londoner before I recently moved abroad, and I absolutely love the city. I t was a culture shock at the start, but it is now in my bones. I love the energy, the buzz and the unexpected community you find in your daily routine. My extremely early morning ( VERY early) commute with my young daughter saw her receiving free breakfasts from our local coffee shops , TFL staff crafting elaborate hide and seek games for her amusement daily, and the cheery « morning » from the other early humans who I passed at the same time every day hundreds of times, who were part of our daily life. Both they and I knew we would never know one another’s names, or stop to chat. I never felt lonely, never isolated . As other friends moved to the suburbs or out of town for space, we stayed in our apartment. A bi-racial family , we loved the diversity of the central borough we lived in. To wake up on a Sunday morning and decide , on a whim, to go to the natural history museum, or even a gallery with our kids. We moved abroad for a work opportunity - not seeking space, tax breaks , swimming pools or suburban life- but to another huge, energetic , edgy, slightly grimy city. Still living in an apartment , still with young kids. In this new city I find the London I remember 20 years ago, high streets thriving and alive , everyone « on the make » and a sense of a city on the up. I love it, but mainly because , on a good day, it reminds me of London . Thank you for this thread OP. It’s been great to read all the different perspectives.

It wasn't until we moved away from London that I realised how much better the quality of life can be elsewhere. I have no desire to be back in the capital.

London Zone 1 to a smaller city or town is a big jump. Not all ‘suburbs’ are creepy . Personally, I’d explore areas a bit further out but easily commutable into more central areas. I’m North London zone 4 - busy high street and tube station, but lots of green space and a garden. 20 mins on tube to Kings Cross.

You couldn’t pay me to leave this glorious city!