To move to London (grim down south?!)

[Boleh]

Long story but I have been offered a job in central London - I really didn't expect to get it and I'm thrilled (I had been on a direct track towards redundancy in a few months) but the thought of living in London fills me with dread.
I am originally from the south of England and lived in Scotland for 5 years before moving abroad. We are having to move back to the UK due to work and I had assumed it would be Scotland again, DH and I loved it there, wide open spaces, hiking, climbing, skiing and we've saved enough abroad for the deposit on a nice house.
Instead, I have a job in London, DH has nothing yet although is pretty hopeful that he'll find something there. It looks like our money will get us something small and/or a bit run down in a just about do-able cycling distance from the office or we are looking at huge amounts of time and money on a train each day. It's not easy to get out of the city to do the sports and hobbies that we love either.
The (not so) 'grim up north' thread has just depressed me further with confirmation that 'up North' is indeed cheaper, friendlier and easier to get out and about!
I can't turn down this job (if I do I'll be deemed to have made myself unemployed so no redundancy payout) besides its a fascinating job - if something of a change from my current role.
No children yet but were planning them in the next few years (oh dear god the nursery costs...).
So, please cheer me up - tell me something good about living in London! And that I'm not utterly mad to move there.

London is the best place on Earth to live, IMO. I love it!

Boleh - when facing redundancy you are only obliged to accept the other job if it is "suitable alternative employment". I know as was recently in the same position. Needing to relocate hundreds of miles away could easily be deemed "unsuitable".

And FWIW I come from the south and lived in London for 10 years, been away for many more than that and you couldn't drag me back there now for anything more than a short break. The thought of having raised my DC there makes me shudder.

Good luck with whatever decision you take

Thanks folks, lots to think about there! It seems like a choice between big house, lots of space and a significant commute or smaller house, bike/tube commute and easy access for the things to do in central London.
It's a fair point the children may not happen and in that sense living somewhere smaller and enjoying having all the attractions of central London on the doorstep including City Airport and the parks might make sense. It's just looking at all the stuff we've accumulated over 3 years in a bigger house and wondering where the heck we put it all! I'm surprised at people having so much more space for their money only 20 mins out though, I assumed anywhere on a trainlne would be nearly as bad.
Sorry, this was more a 'make me feel better' than an AIBU - I think I probably am being a little unreasonable in wanting to take the job regardless of London location!

Just do lots of research and you'll be fine, lots of options in and around London.

Move to East London or even east of London. Not only is it cheaper, but also friendlier, vibrant and has amazing transport links. Havering and Redbridge have lots of new builds going on at present 30-40 minutes into Central London.

As you can tell I love London.

Boleh - when facing redundancy you are only obliged to accept the other job if it is "suitable alternative employment". I know as was recently in the same position. Needing to relocate hundreds of miles away could easily be deemed "unsuitable".

Would you also be able to argue that the inevitable massive increase in housing costs and/or commuting time would cause the London job to be unsuitable, ie. if your housing costs increase by £20k per year for a similar house in a similar area with a similar commuting time then unless they are paying you this amount extra (after tax) then the alternative job is not comparable to your existing job.

I love London.

I live in zone 5, it's 30 mins to central on a mainline train (that unless I am unlucky I get a seat on) and I can also be at the coast in 45 mins and there is so much green space here and a short drive or train ride away. It's not the cheapest but you can get a 3 bed semi for under £500k and travel costs are not too bad.

I walk from Waterloo to the City and never tire of seeing the amazing buildings, the rivers, the bridges etc on my way to work. Clearly the cultural scene is unrivalled with hundreds of theatres, loads of art galleries and museums. The diversity of the population and the food that gives rise to is great and there is ALWAYS something to do.

I feel fortunate to live here and raise my children here.

Here are a couple of pics from my walk to work!

It's not the cheapest but you can get a 3 bed semi for under £500k and travel costs are not too bad.

And therein lies the problem. You quote this example as if it is a reasonable amount to pay for a house that is in reach to the OP.

However, the comparable house she might be looking at in Scotland could be half of this amount or less - I don't know about Scotland but in nice areas of northern England within commuting distance of Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield or Newcastle for example your 3 bed semi may be £150-200k.

Agree with WorkToLive. There are loads of places of main train lines into London where 3-4 bedroom properties cost less than half the 500k stated. On the East Coast Main line (into Kings Cross) there are lots within an hour on the train (I live in Cambridgeshire).

London is a fantastic place to live, especially if you don't have any children yet!

Of course comparing it with Scotland and Northern England it is expensive! Equally, my job in Scotland would pay me approx a third of my current salary and my DP probably wouldn't be able to get a job at all. OP isn't choosing between job offer A in Scotland and job offer B in London. She is offered London and needs to make it work.

And yes, you can get cheaper houses if you look further out. Travel costs and time on the train typically increase too, OP has lots of options, I was merely highlighting one of them.

If you're thinking about a living somewhere that you could commute, remember cross rail is coming soon and that will open up a few more areas into having an easier ride straight into the city.

I love London though, and would move back in an instant of the opportunity arose. You say you like the big open spaces, remember the parks in London are huge, there are plenty of lovely green areas and you're not going to be very far from plenty of places that you could travel to if you wanted to explore different places to go hiking. And you'll be close to all the airports when you travel.

We live 30mins from London Bridge, 20 mins from gatwick, on edge of north downs, our 4 bed semi is worth about 480,000. Best of both worlds.

I'm a Londoner, there are great things about it if you can afford it e.g. Theatre , but I would rather move for reasons I won't bore you with (can't at present though).

That said, the real puzzle for me is how come this job is considered a suitable alternative when it's so far away, if you would rather take redundancy, legally I'm sure they have to offer it. What's in your contract, does it say you have to agree to work in any location?

I live in zone 5 and you can still get a 3 bed for around the £350k mark around here. It's not the most desirable, mind - but it's probably the last affordable part of greater London.

I lived in South west London and loved it!

Oh yes do it for a few years whilst you are child-free, and then see how you feel longer term. Make the most of all the culture, restaurants etc. I really recommend living on a train line rather than the tube, way less stressful. I am a big fan of SE London - generally a bit quieter and airier, lots of nice parks etc. Where I live I can cycle to the North Downs within half an hour, making an summer evening countryside cycle ride a realistic prospect.

I often have dreams of moving north to a much bigger house and more countryside, but the employment opportunities aren't there for my live of work, and I would miss the diversity of London.

London is great, but I am sure you have read the papers lately about the rent.

I live in central London (zone 2), so I am biased to living centrally, but realize that many cannot afford it. High rents are killing this city.

Even though we are from america, we have adjusted to the smaller living spaces of London. All depends on what you can afford.

I live in London and it's not as "eek" as my non-London friends view it - yes, it is bigger, more populated and more expensive (your current company will hopefully give you a salary with London weighting as well as your relocation package) - we moved here years ago, well before children and enjoy it just as much now as before we had children. A whole new world of what London has to offer has opened up to us now.

Personally I think London (my bit of it at least) is great for children - there are so many free parks and playgrounds, free museums, Kew gardens, the public transport is pretty good when compared to other cities (yes, yes even with the tube strikes) and you can travel pretty much anywhere on the tubes and buses.

Why not take the plunge to London now and plan to move back to Scotland (or wherever) at a later stage when both your employment prospects are better?

or ask yourself how you may feel if you don't take the relocation to London and cannot find another job up north within a reasonable period of time?

Personally I would prefer to take the job offer - if you decide London isnt for you at least you can look for new jobs while still being employed and with money coming in

I wouldn't want to live anywhere other than London or a commutable distance from London. I think it's great!