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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:
Morloth · 27/04/2011 06:03

I am pretty sure that Fulham Palace Road is actually one of the outer circles of Hell though.

Punkatheart · 27/04/2011 08:02

Had a couple of cool years where we rented a flat in The King's Road, Chelsea.....

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/04/2011 08:09

Punkatheart Envy

We lived off the Kings Road. Before M&S arrived. Good times.

foxinsocks · 27/04/2011 08:42

fulham palace road and the north circular and that road that joins Hammersmith to Chiswick (Chiswick High Road but not sure if it's called that at that exact point) where the council, in their wisdom, put that bus lane and Kew Bridge

the W/NW outer circles of traffic hell Grin

and of course, I meant Goldhawk Rd not lane below grrr

if I had a choice as to where to live, I would go back to near the BT tower (that square of roads bordered by Warren St/Gt Portland St and Goodge St tubes). I lived there for about 6 months and it was marvellous. So close to everything but still easy to get out of town (using the Westway). Too expensive though :(.

Lots of people who work in Whitehall/Westmin move to the Oval area.

Laquitar · 27/04/2011 08:57

LadyWellian that yard is so depressing.

I was wondering what the EA calls it (sometimes they call it 'garden' or 'nice patio'. They call it ... 'some outside space' Grin. Well, they are honest.

KatieMiddleton · 27/04/2011 10:13

We used to live in a flat on the Kings Road in Chelsea. You could probably buy a 2 bed flat on one of the mansion blocks on the roads that run between Kings Rd & Fulham Rd for same price as a Dulwich house or Richmond cottage. Would be Fulham end of Kings Road mind but you can refer to "the jewellers at the end of the road" meaning Tiffany's and there is Peter Jones, Korres, Liz Earle, biggish Space NK and a host of other shops selling expensive toiletries and cosmetics. There's a whole Terry counter in Space NK near Duke of York Square Wink

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/04/2011 10:15

My mum had a friend who lived out in Surrey, and when she retired she bought a flat and moved into the Barbican. This is yonks ago. This woman despaired of her contemporaries retiring to the seaside, because she wanted concerts and easy transport and convenience!

BsshBossh · 27/04/2011 10:44

Oh, I would love to retire to the Barbican. Actually, that's part of DH's and my plan for when DD leaves home in 15 years time - to retire to a small central London flat either Barbican or Bloomsbury or Marylebone. Currently we live in zone 2/3 border and spend every weekend with DD 2.9 enjoying central London galleries, museums, parks, cafes, shops, Southbank etc so it makes sense to move there when we no longer need a bigger house and garden. Can't wait!

womma · 27/04/2011 11:30

I have to agree with LadyWellian, south east London is great.

I lived in North London for a long time, Kentish Town and Islington and I honestly wouldn't move back for a million gillion pounds.

animula · 27/04/2011 11:33

Barbican features high on my "empty nest fantasy" list, too.

Apparently it's 4 degrees warmer in the gardens and piazzas of the Barbican than surrounding London.

Adair · 27/04/2011 11:37

My mother-in-law has just bought a Kensington pad for retirement..! She is making most of her free bus pass. my best friend wants to do the same, retiring to Camden...

We are not in the village in Walthamstow but I like where we are. The village isn't just estate-agent speak - there is a real village with cobbled streets etc. But it's only about three streets and the rest is 'village borders' Hmm. Too pricey for us (as was Stokey and the murder mile to Clapton !).

i have lived in London my whole life - or outskirts -so can't imagine anywhere else. Considered Cardiff though...

womma · 27/04/2011 11:38

My friend lives in the Barbican - terribly thin walls, just to warn you.

LadyWellian · 27/04/2011 12:43

I've always rather fancied the Barbican too. I'm sure the terribly thin walls wouldn't matter as people would only play classical music and they would never have arguments. Grin

Morloth · 27/04/2011 12:48

I had to pay to go to a Museum the other day and I had to drive there.

Outrageous.

I miss Rexy and Dippy at the NHM.

valiumredhead · 27/04/2011 13:29

You couldn't pay me enough to move back to SE London Grin

muddleddaizy · 27/04/2011 14:28

Op go for it! I moved back to Glos 4yrs ago from SE London & would go back in a heartbeat. Dh on the other hand loves it here Hmm.

I miss the diversity of London & being able to hop on cheap public transport. On the other hand I don't miss the traffic!!
At least if you went you wouldn't lose out if you decided to sell up & move back to the country!!

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 27/04/2011 14:34

Zone 2 with two kids (3 & 7) but may move out to Zone 3 (Ealing) to get a garden.

Agree with everyone who says think twice about Harlesden also in the same area don't get Maida Hill mixed up with Maida Vale they may be next to each other but they are a world apart - I've lived in both. MV v expensive full of families etc, MH more of a problem with drugs and gangs.

If you are looking further out in West London consider the impact of Heathrow, places like Hounslow may have largish reasonably priced houses but the noise of the planes can be deafening.

There are some real pluses to living in London. Kids were a bit bored a couple of weekends ago and wanted to do something different so we got a commuter boat down the Thames to Greenwich (past Tower of London under Tower Bridge etc) then to the Maritime museum, Greenwich park and the Observatory. The museum is free and the boat fare was discounted because I have a travelcard so was about £5 for me and DS1 (DS2 was free). Its great being able to do things like that on a whim.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 27/04/2011 14:53

Now, these empty nest fantasies have got me thinking...
DH will push for cottage by the sea I know, but I might hold out for a pied a terre, maybe somewhere in zone 1 or perhaps Battersea Park since that area's familiar to us.
And the DCs would love to visit us there rather than dull old Gloucs.
Hmm..

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 27/04/2011 15:00

Oh, I'd go for a pied a terre over the bloody seaside any time. Seaside towns out of season? Murder on the old bones Smile. Much better to be close to bars for being a disreputable old rogue in cinemas, theatres, cafes, decent public transport etc.

BsshBossh · 27/04/2011 15:41

My parents have also moved "back to London" after nearly four decades in Kent and Norfolk. Okay, so the outer perimeter of Barnet, but they are having a whale of a time making the most of the free transport and travelling all over. Plus there are so many social activities going on for them that I have to book them in advance for them to see their grand-DD (the reason for them moving back to London in the first place!).

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 27/04/2011 21:25

Thank you so much for mentioning Ladywell - DP said 'YES' when I mentioned it (he lived in Lewisham for a short time) and he said that part of London is great.

Think will definitely do it once I have got a transfer to Whitehall, which may be the in next year or so. Will have to be careful with DD's a levels so may well have to wait a bit longer.

I am spending HOURS on rightmove in London house fantasy mode. I had no idea we could afford such nice places.

Thank you so much for your help - was expecting 'move from Gloucestershire to London are you MAD' but is lovely to see so much positivity.

Just thought the other day I live 100 miles or so from one of the most vibrant cities in the world, why am I living in fucking Gloucester Grin

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityhat · 27/04/2011 21:45

Ladywellian, if you are still about, why do you think

this house has not sold, apart from it being a bit ugly?

I have been looking and looking at it. Its an awful lot less than our three bedder in SE22. Would it be in catchment for the lovely girls school?

Original poster
GitAwfMayLend · 27/04/2011 21:52

That is a lovely house bibbity - loads of space inside.

OP posts:
northernrock · 27/04/2011 22:13

Am so enjoying this Lady Porn house hunt Grin

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 28/04/2011 10:19

Me too! Mmmmm, house fantasies ...

OP, best of luck when if you do decide to move. London kicks arse. Hackney particularly Smile