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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to move 'up north'?

454 replies

onemiddlefinger · 19/02/2015 14:38

That is if South Yorkshire is actually considered 'up north'?
We have always lived in London and now DH might have a job offer near Sheffield and i'm actually surprised that really want to move.
If someone told me 3 years ago that we might be moving nearly 3h away from London i would have been laughing, but now it might be a reality and i'm really hoping it works out.

We would have less money each month, but i would be able to stay home with DC for a few years and we would have much more space, a lovely house, a garden and DH would have more free time to spend with us.
I'm just so sick and tired of squeezing into our tiny flat and worrying about the downstairs neighbours coming to complain again about the noise and the commute on packed tube trains and just generally people everywhere.

AIBU?
Maybe it's just a phase of being fed up and once we actually move i'll be missing London? This is really all i can think about the last few days and in my head i'm already decorating the house and imagining us there - kids happy playing, our family able to come and visit (they live in another country) and actually be able to stay with us comfortably.

OP posts:
Orangeanddemons · 19/02/2015 16:06

I live in Sheffield.. It great. Safe, some fantastic schools, right next to the peaks, and loads loads to do. Lovely parks too

Lots of hills though! Also, I think the maternity hospital is one of the best in the country...if that's relevant of course.

0x530x610x750x630x79 · 19/02/2015 16:07

just beware, when we first looked for houses we booked to see a house somewhere that was a lovely house, we drove to the house, and wouldn't stop the car. Apparently the north wast "that" cheap after all :)

whippetwoman · 19/02/2015 16:16

I have a whippet but live in Warwickshire. Is that allowed?
[eyes whippet worriedly]
Then again, my parents, both Londoners living in Essex think Warwickshire IS the North.

My DP is from the North East and it's lovely there.

BikeRunSki · 19/02/2015 16:20

YANBU
Sheffield is North
There are done fabulous bits of the city and some really grim bits.
The fabulous bits are not cheap.
I grew up in London; couldn't wait to leave. First job was in Sheffield, have now been settled on S/W Yorks border for 15 years and have no plans or desire to go anywhere else.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 19/02/2015 16:22

I haven't read the full thread yet, just wanted to say OP, I grew up in the south, as an adult have lived in various different parts of the country but now live in South Yorkshire, and it's great, I honestly can not imagine ever living anywhere else.

IAmAPaleontologist · 19/02/2015 16:24

NE here. We cope. I did only move from Hull though so I lack the full on London to desolate North experience.

We do have to stoke the fire for heat although I gather this may not be necessary in Sheffield. We have telephones and fibre-optic broadband, TV and stuff though Grin.

Oh and great schools you can actually get your children into without renting a shoebox nearby and selling a kidney to bribe the school secretary to overlook your deceit. We have museums with pretty decent collections you don't have to queue outside for several hours at half term and we have toddler groups you can just drop in to without a waiting list. Not to mention the national parks, coastlines and so on.

We have friends in Sheffield, it seems lovely.

worksallhours · 19/02/2015 16:27

Random If you move up north, your brother will kill your kestrel.

Nice one.

Grin
PolyesterBride · 19/02/2015 16:35

I am a southerner who lives up North and although I do like it here, I think the reason none of us go back is that we can't. We wouldn't even get a small flat for the price of our 4 bed house. So we're kind of stuck here.

Having said that, love lots of things about being here, not least the commuting. I live in the suburbs of a big city and drive 15 minutes into town to go to work and park at work. Could never do that if I was working in central London!

lostinsouth · 19/02/2015 16:38

We've recently to the area from London and haven't looked back. It's changed a lot whilst retaining what makes it great.

We're close to Sheffield, it's so quick to get everywhere and we're an hour's travel from Leeds, Manchester, Harrogate and Nottingham.

Lots of culture, Ofsted outstanding primary and junior schools and reasonable house prices (even in the expensive areas by London standards).

The only upsetting thing is that Penistone cinema isn't showing 50 Shades of Grey...

iseenodust · 19/02/2015 16:44

Go for it. Sheffield even has a John Lewis (knows these things are important to southerners).

arlagirl · 19/02/2015 16:50

And one being built in Leeds too.

Original poster
onemiddlefinger · 19/02/2015 16:58

Thank you for all the replies!!
I wasn't expecting so many and so positive!!
I want to start packing already. Smile
(On the negative side, if DH job falls though now, i will be devastated)

We have just been there this weekend and we saw a house, a new built south of Sheffield, it was lovely, but we are still looking at different areas.
We were amazed that we could get a four bed detached house AND pay off all our debts AND reduce our mortgage if we sell our two bed flat in London.
We will need a second car, so this will be an added expense, but we will be saving £££££££££ on nursery fees as i will be home and DS is just about to qualify for the free 15hrs.
Also we were just as amazed how friendly people were Smile. It's a bit strange at first if you are used to London....

OP posts:
Original poster
onemiddlefinger · 19/02/2015 16:59

iseenodust Yes, John Lewis is important!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 19/02/2015 17:00

Be really sure, it will be impossible to move back

My sisters house went up £10k in a year, my mates flat was £10k a month.

There are fabulous places, I've lived all over the North. York, Harrogate, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, all great.

However, I still think it's very different to London - not in a bad way, it's just different.

ouryve · 19/02/2015 17:04

YANBU.

Lived "up North" most of my life. I even still have most of my own teeth.

RandomNPC · 19/02/2015 17:05

Talking of Sheffield..

When I go shopping in the North, I find
The service is always splendid.
A cheery smile you can count on, while
The correct change is being tended.
If anyone dares criticise their wares,
They never will be offended,
And if it needs repairs, they'll even lend you theirs
While yours is being mended.

Shopkeepers in the North are nice...
They ask after your kids and wife...
And once you've had a good chin-wag,
They'll pop your provisions in a bag.

But when I'm shopping in the South I find
The shop-girls are all so haughty,
Standing there with their nose in the air
As if you've done something naughty.
My "how do you do" in the chip-shop queue
Was received in total silence.
My "take care, cock" in the butcher's shop
Was met with a look of violence.

Oh, shopkeepers in the North are nice...
They ask after your kids and wife...
And once you've had a good chin-wag,
They'll pop your provisions in a bag...

Postchildrenpregranny · 19/02/2015 17:09

Sheffield is a great city , with lots of nice housing on the Western side easy access to countryside

BolshierAyraStark · 19/02/2015 17:10

Yep we do tend to be a chatty bunch.

Sheffield is great, fab pubs, loads of places to get wonderful food & stunning countryside on the doorstep , what's not to like?

MrsTedCrilly · 19/02/2015 17:12

Oops North is grand! Smile

MrsTedCrilly · 19/02/2015 17:12

Oop* obviously..

TwoLeftSocks · 19/02/2015 17:12

YANBU, we moved up here four years ago and love it!

IonaNE · 19/02/2015 17:14

I would not do it. Once you move away from London, you will never be able to move back, especially if you buy elsewhere, because of the difference in property prices and the difference in the increase rate of property prices in London compared to the north. Your children would have uncomparable opportunities in London as regards both studies, culture and travelling. A few extra bedrooms and a garden with a few flower beds is not worth giving this up. Plus chances are by the time your kids are marriageable age, from the price of your London property you'll be able to buy them each, and yourselves a property each up north, if that's what you want.

IonaNE · 19/02/2015 17:15

"giving this up for".

vinoandbrie · 19/02/2015 17:26

I'd disagree re incomparable opportunities for the children's studies Iona.

Part of the reason we moved back to the NW is that it means we can afford to put our children through a truly fantastic academic, private day school from age 4.

In London.... we couldn't afford to do that. Fees much less here.

And as for opportunities to travel - what do you mean?! You can still travel wherever you want in the world despite not having London as a start point!

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 19/02/2015 17:27

Umm ... children in the north also have access to studies, culture and travel. It's the north of England not the 15th century. And yes, I have lived in both areas so think I can accurately compare.

In fact, from an education POV, the north may have edge, we do have some excellent universities up here.

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