To want to leave London

[DeweyDecibelle]

It's just so expensive! But me and DH both have jobs that are hard to come by outside of London, so we would either have to be very lucky to get new jobs in our sectors, or get unrelated jobs which seems like a waste of many years training and experience and would probably leave us unhappy as we both are happy in our jobs.

Also, both of us grew up in extremely rural places, with no opportunities, and so we want to give our DC the best start in life - to us this includes living within commuting distance of good universities and a wide range of jobs, so the children have the choice to get an education and work in whatever field they choose, while still living at home, should they wish to, so they can save money to set themselves up for the future, an opportunity neither DH or I had due to distance. (Realise this doesn't have to be London, any big city would do, but we are here now).

But I look at houses outside of London, and sometimes I just wish we could up sticks and move.

[yamsareyammy]

LittleFrieda. What wages and which house prices are you basing your posts on please?

[Goodwordguide]

"What you don't get though is affordable housing or acceptable state schools"

This ^^ is why we moved from SW15 marriedinwhite. We loved it there but couldn't escape the fact that we couldn't afford a big enough house or guarantee that our children would get into a local school. Plus the traffic/planes/general hecticness etc did get to me after a while. I do not miss our old school run along the South Circular! Or the endless conversations with other parents about school places... And I'm not sure I'd ever describe Putney as "niche" or "trendy" but we did love it and still do.

[chateauferret]

YANBU. I start to hyperventilate before I even get onto the concourse when alighting at King's Cross and next week I've got to fly to London City at sparrow's fart. Aaargh.

[MadBusLady]

Nick Clegg lives in Putney, I think. That's how niche and trendy it is.

I remember seeing a Location Location in Highgate where they interviewed someone on the street there who reckoned it was funky and alternative. Maybe in 1982...

[marriedinwhiteagain]

But compared to 1982 it is trendy goodword guide but you're probably right . But I still luffs it and I will not be moved except to SW19 and it's scary

What's not niche about all the rowing clubs and cathy burke and amanda burton, and Jilly Cooper and mick Jagger sent his kids to school here - as you were - humph!

[umpti67]

A couple of stops along the tube line? Seriously?

Not even on the tube line i'd say. We were a two graduate income no kids family when we lived in London and we were about 14 stops out at the last stop. She's having a larf.

[Goodwordguide]

Well, Simon le Bon did live at the bottom of our road and I believe he was trendy in 1982

Not be pedantic but I think the Jagger children went to a Roehampton school and the great JC lived in Wimbledon...

I'll give you the rowing clubs and the Putney Debates - see, it was very radical in the 17th century!

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Where are you talking about married?

I used to live in Clapham jct and loved it. But unfortunatey I don't have 2million to buy a house so we moved about two miles down the road and got a lovely three bed. Ok it's not Clapham but it's a very family orientated area. Can be a bit dodgy at night but so can everywhere.

[Southeastdweller]

I think I'm ready to go. I'm leaving my current crap hole area (problems with scuzzy neighbours and live-in-landlord) and am faced with paying at least £600 in rent alone for a small flatshare in a decent area, which is a significant part of my wage .Nothing else I can do except suck it up.

The huge expense of property here is what's making the gap between living standards between the north and south a bit smaller - certainly I'm envious of friends up there who have a big disposable income and live in nice areas, etc. If I had a nice job lined up in a buzzy city like Manchester or Bristol then I'd be out of here like a shot. But it's not a good time out there for job hunting and certain parts of the country have been hit by the recession more than London has so I'm at quite a crossroads...all a bit confusing, really.

[Mrsrobertduvall]

I am from the north, but have lived in SW London for 30 years.
I love it...we are in a nice safe suburb, great transport links, dcs are in good state secondaries .

I would never move further out...small villages in Surrey don't appeal. I am a city girl and don't like the country much.

I love being able to nip in to London in 25 minutes...theatres, exhibitions, general mooching.