To have had enough of London?

[Londonista1975]

Last Saturday the buses were up the spout in central London because of a union demo which caused me a bit of grief. It acted as a kind of catalyst about how I've been feeling about living here...

The dawdling hordes of tourists

Having no friends in my neighbourhood and having to travel miles to see them

Insane rents that are ever increasing

Not having a big amount of disposable income to do as much as I'd want, though I appreciate the fantastic free things here. But I don't always want to do the free stuff

A horrible commute that feels like a twice-daily workout and costs a fortune

I thought 'I can't do this anymore'. It is all too exhausting and I'm thinking I'm not suited to living here anymore. Maybe I never was. I look at friends up north with a seemingly better quality of life and wonder why I've been here for so long. Sometimes I feel utterly broken.

Has anyone else felt the same?

We don't have kids yet, by the way, so a move would be quite practical in some ways. Maybe Bristol or Leeds, but then maybe it's a case of 'green grass'...

Do you want to swap?

I lived and worked in London all my life. When I retired about eight years ago I moved to Buckinghamshire - was really looking forward to having a garden and do love mine but I still miss London terribly.

Completely agree with TheFarSide. I live in a part of London like she describes and am very happy here. It's like a small, hip town near the centre. Ther are endless things for our children to do too, and that is true for small children right up to teens. Whenever I think about moving out, that is what stops me.

The London that tourists see is rather stressful, although I do think it's one of the great cities and I think we are so lucky to be so close to so many amazing buildings and events.

OP - if I had to commute as you do, I'd hate it too.

I moved further and further out of north London, so far I'm now in Hertfordshire! Love it! Still work in London and im pretty tied to London workwise but definitely couldn't afford to buy this house in a London postcode.

I can see why people stay and I can see why people leave. On the fence, me? Never!

OP you are either a London person or not, and clearly you are not as you are beginning to have these views. Therefore YANBU, start planning your escape!

I have lived in London most of my adult life and have never got fed up of it, everything you mention doesn't really bother me that much so clearly London suits me but it is not for everyone.

Can I just clarify once and for all to all the posters bleating about it being an Awful place to bring up kids.. no it isn't!! I wouldn't honestly bring DD up anywhere else.

Bristol and Leeds are massive too and never ending traffic wise? Great cities though and lots of lovely countryside around. Also nice commutable smaller towns and villages close by. What sort of life style do you aspire to? What is your vision?

Agree Cardiff is great!

YABU

Loving all the 'Diff fans!

We had our first child in. London and moved to the south coast for a better quality of life. It's truly fantastic and so much better environment for us to bring up kids. We still enjoy visiting London but very glad to leave. It's amazing how many people I meet at. Toddler groups etc who have done the same thing!

I also live in one of those naice bits of London but if I didn't have that massive advantage I'd be out of London like a tube rat with a sparkler up its arse.

For me, London is getting worse. Insane levels of overcrowding on tube, buses, shops and worst of all the pavement - relentless loud noise, whether heavy building work, police sirens or traffics jams, bus woman hooting on mobile - comedy expensiveness of essentials - filth of ages on every street - annoying crowds outside the flat in the morning. I live right at the bum edge of zone 2, as well.

I don't see how its possible to be keen either on the unmistakable sight of the nice bits in the middle becoming a place where the natives are there only to serve, as the core of the city becomes a playground for the international wealthy.

We are struggling with this dilemma too OP. Before having DD earlier this year we were tootling along nicely in our slightly shabby rented flat. But now we want more space, more fresh air and more spare cash, which we'd have if weren't paying such extortionate rent.

Moving back up to Yorkshire, where we are from, would make sense. Problem is we bloody love it here despite all the negatives. Like a previous poster said, I still get a buzz wandering around these crowded streets after nearly ten years. I still pinch myself that I actually live here.

But if you already hate it, I would say you have answered your own question. Life's too short and all that.

I really don't think you can reject the whole of London because there are so many sides to it. Central London (and commuting to Central London on a daily basis) can be exhausting, but there are many places to live and work outside the frenetic central area.

I live and work in zone 3 and it certainly doesn't "lack the diversity/opportunities of the centre of town" as one poster claims. I have easy access to vibrant local pubs, restaurants, theatre, museums, art galleries, nature (canal paths, forest). When I sit in my back garden in the summer, it is strikingly quiet and peaceful, yet within 40 minutes I can be standing in front of Big Ben or any of the other wonderful sights if I so choose.

There is potentially a place in London to suit everyone - it's just a matter of finding it.

We moved out of London twelve years ago and at the time it was absolutely the right thing.

We got space and dogs and horses and fields and air. We got a fabulous school with space and firelds and air ...

But recently we beagn to miss London. Especially the cultural side of things.

The DS got a place at a school in London. He could board, but didn't want to (and we really didn't want him to) so we now split our week between London and country.

We all love being in town and really make the best of everything that it offers. And Oh My Word it offers so much.

Thanks very much for all the comments.

Welshagenda and wheresmespecs, I've never been to Cardiff but friends have told me I'd love it.

Ephiny, I've been here since 2001.

Kent is a possibility for all the reasons people have suggested, especially if I could get a seat (currently have to stand in a packed carriage so no chance of reading). But we haven't looked at property prices there.

Crucru, I travel often and enjoy spending time in Birmingham (isn't Harbourne lovely?), Yorkshire, Manchester, and especially Bristol, all good places for both friends and family. I like Brighton, too, but we don't know anyone there or nearby (unless you count London). I was at uni in the north east and still have friends there. I think Newcastle is vastly underrated. We are very much city people but the drawbacks of living in this city, both short and long term, are weighing on my mind. I do love the smart areas but think I'd be happy in a neighbourhood I'd call decent, St Paul's in Bristol, for example.

Our jobs don't really require us to be here (but the equivalent ones out of London do pay less) but one complication is that I need a career change and thinking of doing a post grad course so we need to think about that too. The work I want to do is found more in cities.

In a few years we should be able to buy somewhere but it won't be in London. I've lived in great, decent, and grotty areas here and I know all we'll be able to afford is somewhere in a horrible area. I don't want that anymore and I certainly don't want that for any children we (hopefully) have.

Familiessharegerms, yes the prospect of things not working out terrifies me, so much so that I haven't voiced these fears to a soul before. We know people who've left and wanted to come back but they haven't been able to. But then I suppose if you never take risks you never get anywhere.

Newcastle is definitely an option if you want city living, vibrant atmosphere but affordable. You could live close too town and walk everywhere as the centre is so compact.

Argh...'to town' not ' too town'. Bloody autocorrect.

I loved London for the 13 years I lived there, but once I started a family I fell out of love and moved to Ireland. The best bit was losing the daily commute, I got two hours a day back! I haven't missed it all, much prefer the slower lifestyle and the glorious beaches here. But I'm now sick of the terrible weather and economy so we are moving on again to Australia this time!