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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to move to London next year

226 replies

GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 14:50

Hate living in Gloucestershire. It's bollocks.

I work in Swindon - loads of Londoners commute down here.

DP can work anywhere.

DD has got GCSEs and would need a college place, but she would certainly be up for it (has the wanderlust like me and DP).

OP posts:
ChestnutSoup · 26/04/2011 14:53

Do it then!

Ormirian · 26/04/2011 14:53

What's stopping you?

Not my idea of fun but if it suits you all why not go?

Punkatheart · 26/04/2011 14:54

Lived in London on and off over the years and loved the buzz of the place. But without children. Lots of considerations if you have children - safeness of the area, schools etc. Generally though it is an exciting, culturally rich city. Downsides are poor air quality and just the push-shove busy busy vibe which can be tiring.....

PiaThreeTimes · 26/04/2011 14:56

LOVE London! I too now live in Gloucestershire, after 12 years in London. I'd LOVE to go back.

Do it!!!

MsToni · 26/04/2011 14:56

London is nice :)

If that's what you AND your family want to do, go for it. As long as you can afford it and stand the crazy pace.

I love the pace here, but I live in a very quiet, peaceful and safe area so I have a safe haven from the madness in the city.

Good luck with the move :)

shubiedoo · 26/04/2011 14:57

Do it, if only for Olympics next summer... (only half joking)

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 14:57

DD will be 16 in 6 months (scream at that) so will just need a college place in Sept 2012.

We are builing a house in our garden, the intent was to sell it and then we would be mortgage free. But mortgage free in Gloucestershire.

I would rather just get a bigger mortgage (one that is still very comfortable mind you) and buy a flat in London.

Was walking round Harlesden yesterday with DP (he used to live there donkeys years ago) and it seems to have so much more life than where we live now.

OP posts:
Ealingkate · 26/04/2011 14:58

OMG, I'm considering the opposite move, near Kemble though rather than Swindon. What is so bad?? We currently live in Ealing.

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:00

DP refuses to live in Harlesden mind you, he says it is too dodgy (well was when he lived there in the late 80s, however it is on the up now).

Other than that I don't care where in London we move to. East would be nice however that doesn't work with Swindon commute, however by next year I would be able to work in Whitehall instead.

Got very itchy feet and would love to live in London, DP would also love to move back.

OP posts:
MarianneM · 26/04/2011 15:03

Do it if you can and want to.

We moved from London to Finland (where I'm from) last year mainly because we thought it would be better for our DDs (toddler and baby). It is nice, but so quiet, and the winter here was a killer. My DH and I really missed the vibe, the culture and the social life London offered us - so we're moving back in a couple of months! We're so happy and can't wait to be back. Yes, there are drawbacks, but London is a great city. I'm sure your daughter will love it and thank you!

FlamingJamie · 26/04/2011 15:06

I love it here. I can't see us moving now the DCs are growing up. Loads for them to do here in this "deprived" borough

moragbellingham · 26/04/2011 15:07

What about Queen's Park/Kensal Rise or Brondesbury instead?

TethersEnd · 26/04/2011 15:08

I live in London, and I love it.

HOWEVER...

  1. I live in a HA flat- this enables me to live in an area I would never be able to afford (I couldn't afford anywhere in London, actually)- make sure you have enough to live in a nice area. One with Bugaboos and coffee shops and odd looking people not getting beaten up.
  1. London is different for teenagers- make sure DD is prepared for the gang and territorial issues which are EVERYWHERE. We tend not to notice them because we are old, but she will.
  1. Your DP is right about Harlesden Grin
  1. Living mortgage free is a fantastic opportunity. Are there other cities you could move to which would enable you to do this?
Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:09

There is nothing bad at all - Kemble is lovely, and I like Cirencester.

I just have lived in Gloucester for a couple of years, Cheltenham for a couple previous to that, and I have had it now. It is the worst of both worlds - small towns with quite parochial ways, so not really the big city life, and despite the Cotswolds being pretty, it is not the most stunning place in the world (I used to live on the Exmoor coast, now that is stunning.

I think also Glos is very nice to raise children in - good schools and links etc. But if you don't have that consideration it is not the best place to live really.

OP posts:
Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:14

DP thinks I am all rose tinted. We went through Hackney and Whitechapel on Sunday, I was all 'ooh this looks nice' and he said that everywhere looks nice on a sunny day, it's not all brilliant (he lived there for about 10 years on and off, Harlesden, Hampstead, Westbourne Park, Cricklewood)

Yes that is a consideration re DD - she is very much a west country teenager. She has been hankering to move there on and off for ages though.

I did think about Bristol, but I think if I am going to move to a city I may as well move to London (Bristol not cheap anyway).

OP posts:
MarianneM · 26/04/2011 15:15

Muswell Hill and Crouch End are nice.

PiaThreeTimes · 26/04/2011 15:19

I agree. I live in Cheltenham and it's the worst of both worlds. Boring town and unimpressive countryside. Moving here was a mistake for me.

We've also looked at Bristol, but for the money I'd rather go back to London I think (BTW, I'm from rural Wales originally).

kittya · 26/04/2011 15:22

I love Bristol though. For me, it would be big enough.

LDNmummy · 26/04/2011 15:24

Where in East London? East London can be very grim and I wouldn't live there TBH.

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:25

Pia - it's strange isn't it, I think people who don't live in Cheltenham think it must be a lovely place to live, all pretty and genteel.

It's nothing special. Crap restaurants (only a couple of good ones, the rest are just overpriced pretentious and provincial), the countryside is meh in comparison to what I personally consider to be beautiful countryside (I imagine you feel about rural Wales like I do about rural Devon) and it is so small town minded. I thought I was moving away from Devon and away from the casual racism and stupidity. I moved straight to smug central.

And you are right the town is plain - a couple of pretty Regency buildings do NOT a nice town make. Gloucester is worse.

OP posts:
Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:27

I liked the look of Bethnal Green and Hackney. DP says no, so East would probably be Wanstead area.

I adore Bristol, it is one of my favourite cities, but it is very expensive, I could afford to buy in London for the same money (smaller property admittedly)

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 26/04/2011 15:27

I live close to London and think you are bonkers to be honest!!

Your daughter is going to find it very hard and a real culture shock I think, so give it a lot of consideration.

TethersEnd · 26/04/2011 15:27

I live in east London Grin

Actually, I agree. I live in a (very small) nice bit of east London though.

halfbakedcookie · 26/04/2011 15:27

Ealingkate - my boyfriend lives in Ealing, I'm a desperate to move back there and get away from the hell that is norfolk!

TethersEnd · 26/04/2011 15:28

Have PMed you, GetOrf