to consider moving to Birmingham

[Elfina]

from London? Is this bonkers? It would be to Moseley. Basically because for the price of our flat we could have a 4 bedroom detached. What would I miss about London??

Well, I'm from birmingham, and live in Moseley. So on that basis YANBU! We love it here! London is close enough too, so you could get your fix of London when you needed it.

Anything you want to know about the area? Just ask!

Birmingham is quite nice these days, most of the stereotypes are about 30 years out of date. Good shopping, fab museums, it is one of my favourite cities.

Birmingham is great - very lively with good shopping

you could move to Liverpool though - where you would be able to buy a palace for the price of a 4 bed in Moseley and still have a vibrant city life

*lived in Birmingham - from Liverpool - misses home!

It depends on your situation. I'm not sure where Moseley is or what type of area it is so it would really depend on lots of factors. We have lived in London as a couple but I wouldn't want to do it with kids. However, lots of people do and it really depends what you want and what your priorities are.
If you can move to a suburb close in but with good schools then you'll probably find you have everything you need plus the benefit of more living space and garden. However, if you chose somewhere just because it's cheap then you may find there are less amenities and the schools may not be great.
As I said, I don't know the area so you really need someone to come along who knows Moseley. We moved from London out to Surrey then up north to Cheshire and found prices comparable in all 3 so I expect the nicest areas of Birmingham to be the same. We now live somewhere far more reasonable but there are certainly compromises that come with that.

I've moved from Birmingham to London and back again. I was/am happy in both places. I don't really miss anything about London apart from the friends I made there.

It's not just the house prices but the travel costs as well. Getting around is much cheaper going by car and doesn't take forever.

I live in Birmingham, close to the area you describe. If you have specific questions, I can try to answer them. Not about what you'd miss about London obviously. But what life is like for families here. (I've been here about 18 years.)

btw seriously consider Solihull. Naice area.

Nope, you wouldn't be mad at all.
I live about four miles from Moseley, are you looking the Kings Heath side? Harbourne would be worth a look too- lovely area. We live on the Solihull border- a sterile little town but good schools, nice neighbours and good access to the city.
Birmingham is a fabulous city, we love it here and secretly delight in the fact that the rest of the world thinks it's a dump- it's their loss and our gain!

I'm guessing you live in an expensive part of London as the comments on here are confirming Moseley is a nice area and if our experience of living in south Manchester/Cheshire are anything to go by then the nice areas near other big cities are London/SE prices anyway. So, it does seem mad to be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a small flat in an area you don't need to live or work in. Sounds like it would be a very sensible move.

There have been articles about both Kings Heath and Moseley in the Guardian recently. People vary hugely in what they want, with people defending different areas in and around Birmingham vociferously.

Essentially in this patch of South Birmingham there are good schools, frequent buses in and out of the city. There's loads of culture in the city centre. There are parks, playgroups etc etc. As with most parts of London, you'll get a mix of people living in fairly close proximity to one another - so if someone only wants to mingle with well-heeled 4x4 owners, then Moseley might not be quite up their street.

People who have lived in Birmingham all their lives (apart from when they were students) think it is great.

I have lived in a lot of places including Birmingham, and Birmingham is definitely my least favourite. People are reasonably friendly but you always feel like an outsider if you're not from there.

No competition. London every time!

I am in Solihull and would way prefer to live in Moseley. Moseley has nice big houses, REALLY great pubs, nice restaurants and a general good vibe. Stuck in Solihull due to DS school. I originate from Kent, and spend a lot if time all over country including London, due to job. I can honestly say Moseley is fab

The things I missed about London was the buzz of living at the centre of things. Whether it's right or not London news is national news. I miss the free give away at stations, knowing about trends before they became mainstream and the melting pot approach to life. It sounds shallow I know.The pace of life was faster.

I don't miss the rudeness, the traffic, the black snot, the lack of countryside. Taking an hour plus to travel to see friends in the same city!

I love where I am (Birmingham/worcs border). I'd find Moseley too busy (we really went rural) myself but schools are good. It's a one way trip tho in some ways. The 3 bed terrace we sold has gone up by 100k where our lovely house has gone down by £10k. I strongly suggest you never right move your old neighbourhood.

I have lived in two other cities - one of which is London. I do think it's been a good place to bring up the three children in my life.

If I lived in London I'd undoubtedly have access to a wider range of cultural activities - which would be a plus for me. But travelling around would be more time-consuming and expensive. I think stuff like the length of a commute, high child-care and housing costs does impact on children. Adults get more tired and stressed.

Life in provincial cities is perhaps a bit more laidback and less exhausting. Cheaper housing out of the Home Counties can mean bigger bedrooms for children, more playspace, a garden etc.

You wouldn't be mad to move from London - but if I'm honest I can think of many places I'd rather live than Birmingham! Not my cup of tea.

Why specifically Birmingham? There are lots of places in the UK much cheaper than London.

Why on earth would it be unreasonable or "bonkers" to move there? You may well find it refreshing to find people who don't accept London is the centre of the universe.

Why Moseley in particular Elfina?

Above, I meant that Birmingham has been a good place to bring up children.

Sorry, I should be more clear - I am from Brum originally, and have lived in Moseley in the past :-)

i.e., we have friends and family there, and DH would mostly likely be working at B'ham uni.

I live in Birmingham, and used to live in Moseley. Personally, I'd rather live in Bournville or Harborne than Moseley.

Why would you bu to move to an area you've already lived in?

I've never seen any appeal in living in London at all. It's a fab place to visit, yes...but wild horses wouldn't drag me to live there, and definitely not with kids.

Ah that makes sense!