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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:
DingDongMerrilyOutOfSeason · 26/04/2011 15:29

Ooooh, move! But with your new posher name, you might fit in somewhere more upmarket than Hackney Grin

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:30

Tethers - where in East London are you?

My aunt has lived in East London for years, Barking, Gants Hill, Wanstead and Chigwell.

OP posts:
cantspel · 26/04/2011 15:31

I would rather chew off my right arm than live in east london (or most of london for that matter) but if thats what you like then go for it.

expatinscotland · 26/04/2011 15:31

Sounds like a plan to me!

LDNmummy · 26/04/2011 15:36

Oh tell your DP to give Hackney a chance. I live a walk away from Hackney on the Islington side and it is the only place I would live in if I moved to East London. It is VERY on the up (for young people and families) and great for commuting with the new East London Line which I walk to Dalston and use regularly. Plus it has a great buzz and your teenage DD would make a lot of friends there as it is very trendy for the young folk.

If DP and I weren't staying in Islington then we would have lived in Hackney most likely (it was our second choice to begin with), especially to buy a home as it is an up and coming area.

LDNmummy · 26/04/2011 15:38

But saying that, it is the only place in East I would live. It feels like an honorary part of Islington to me though Grin

ClarenceChudbukitThe3rd · 26/04/2011 15:38

testing one two three
New member just testing a reply

DingDongMerrilyOutOfSeason · 26/04/2011 15:38

GOML I keep reading your name out loud and laughing, it is unnerving the DCs!

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:41

I think DP is just being a miserable git sensible in view that me and DD have never lived in London, so is suggesting more suburban areas.

But I did love the look of hackney and Bethnal Green. It really does depend on dd - I said in a PM to tethers that she is joining the forces when she is 18, and my original plan was to stay in Gloucestershire until after a level. But I am horrified at the thought of spending 3 more years here. It's as dull as bricks.

OP posts:
Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:42

Thanks SO much everyone for your helful answers.

Is the general concensus a no for Harlesden?

OP posts:
Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:42

My name change is stupid - am channelling my inner Nancy Mitford Grin

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PiaThreeTimes · 26/04/2011 15:43

"Casual racism" - yep, you hit the nail on the head there GitAwf. There's really nothing of interest in Cheltenham for me. Maybe I was spoilt having lived in London. I'm full of Envy. I'd love to be in your position!

If it was me, I'd return to South West though. Battersea/Clapham areas. LOVED it there.

bibbitybobbityhat · 26/04/2011 15:45

Of course you should come to London, its fucking ace!

bibbitybobbityhat · 26/04/2011 15:45

... but no to Harlesden Grin.

redandgreen · 26/04/2011 15:46

The commute would be beyond hideous.

Otherwise makes perfect sense!

boosmummie · 26/04/2011 15:46

Harlseden used to be a no go area but I think parts of it are now really lovely (I have a couple of friends that live there). I'm moving back at the end of the year after 7 years in Spain and can't wait to be back in London. I love it. My siblings think I am mad to go back to London but I can't see myself being anywhere else. We'll be going back to Clapham/Balham which imo is a wonderful area. Fantastic schools, lovely open spaces, easy peasy into and out of town. Happy moving OP if you decide to go ahead.

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:47

The only thing pia is that (if you live in the right bit of Cheltenham) the school situation is pretty good - plus some of the best grammars in the country if you take the 11+. One of the reasons we didn't move to Bristol years ago was the fact that near enough all the schools were terrible.

But it can also be like an episode of Love Thy Neighbour sometimes.

OP posts:
DingDongMerrilyOutOfSeason · 26/04/2011 15:48

I'm with Pia, go to south west. Gogogogogogogogogogogogogogogo etc.

boosmummie · 26/04/2011 15:48

X post with Pia great minds and all that!!! IS that where you were? I was there part time as a child (my father lived there) and then moved there when my oldest was 4 months old (so 1994). Northcote for me all the way Grin

PiaThreeTimes · 26/04/2011 15:48

Yep, agree with that one too GitAwf. The schools situation put us off moving to Bristol too.

Grin at Love Thy Neighbour - it sure is!

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:49

Grin at the Harlesden comments. We were walking through and I said 'oh isn't this lovely' and DP just looked Hmm at me and said 'are you actually looking using your eyes?'

Mind you he showed me his old flat, which was robbed constantly. But again that was years ago.

Commute would be OK I think - loads of people come into London on the train, Swindon has great links (one poor so and so comes in from Ilford every day). But my job will be up for a London transfer anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:50

I always just assumed that Balham/Clapham would be FAR too expensive.

OP posts:
TethersEnd · 26/04/2011 15:51

It will. Grin

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 26/04/2011 15:52

I'm not looking then - I will cry Grin

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Petsville · 26/04/2011 15:53

NO to Harlesden (brother lived there for a bit, it's grim).

Westbourne Park is a great place to live but I think the schools are a bit dodgy (not sure about 6th forms, though: your DD might be OK). To go against the consensus here, I think if you can afford it you should move to West London, especially if you're heading off to Swindon to work. Chiswick has a really nice park and is near the A4/M4, for instance.