To want to move up North in my situation?

[Barefootsummers]

We have 2 children and would love a bigger family. We currently live in the south east in our own home which is a small 2/3 bed flat with no garden. Up North we could afford a detached house with small amount of land (550k). Thinking West Yorkshire. I love the countryside and this lifestyle rather than fancy restaurants / boutiques etc. We could work in similar jobs up North. It's a no brainer for me but my DH is not convinced. His reasons against are that the housing market is always secure in the south east, schooling is better and it affords more opportunity. I guess I'm not looking for anyone to tell me what I should or shouldn't do but just need some perspective on this. Anyone? Thanks in advance!

I wouldn't live there if you paid me a million pounds to do so

Well thank fuck for that. Pretty impressive you've visited all of the north to gain that opinion. How long did that take you?

@katkincake I am in similar be-hatted area 😄

I would just like to add, it does rain a lot where I'am, honesty I've never known anything like it.
One of my kids settled into school straight away, they don't have Grammar schools here. Independent schools are a plus there's a few really good ones near me.
One big downside I have found is as I'm a southerner I'm therefore soft.... not that I want to fight people it's just seen as Southern softie rubbish.... other than that I really have nothing to complain about

Oh wow! I've just had a quick squiz at Yorkshire on Rightmove and I'm now sat here opening and closing my mouth at how cheap it is, surely there's some catch? 4 bed houses for 100k and under?? That wouldn't buy a studio flat in a grotty block around here

There is no catch. Your perception of what a house should cost is massively skewed by living in the south of England, that's all.

To be fair, 4 beds for £100k is below average, even for the north, so won't be in the best area. A period 4 bed detatched in a prime area could easily be half a million, but you could get a modern 4 bed in a nice enough area for around £200k.

Research local weather. Doesn't matter in London but if you are moving for space and countryside, you want a rain shadow not somewhere with a lot of rain and a high flood risk.

Look at hills and mountains, which way things face, all the stuff mn thinks is geeky.

Agreed. There's a reason the North is cheap: because it's crap. Supply and demand. It might be pretty in places (not many) but god, I wouldn't live there if you paid me a million pounds to do so.

Of course you are right. JK Rowling lives not far from me- she probably wishes she could afford to live near you.

As I always say .. Come to the Isle of Wight!! ..I'm from 'down south' originally but .. Ive lived in N. Wales , the NW andthe NE . wWeather just isnt as good..and Im sorry to say that Ididnt really find a welcome home up there.. Maybe it was me..(and I accept it may well have been) butalthough I really tried to join in and went to all sorts of things, I never really made friends (and people would often comment on my accent an assume that i was 'posh' and not friendly because of it.. .

Sorry Northerners ! I'm sure there are lots of you who are lovely and welcoming, but sadly it just wasnt my experience with a small baby and child.. I have never regretted moving back..

Loads of lovely properties here for around £500k .. and you'll also get something pretty good around Portsmouth /Southampton if you dont want to move across the water

Laughing at the northern hate 😀
Unbelievable.

All I know is my 4 bed house in a great area cost £380,000 and I have enough disposable income to retire at 57.

I'm from West Yorkshire, lived in London for several years and moved back north. Best decision for me. Quality of life, money goes further and our very ordinary 3 bed house was under £100k :) (you could get much nicer on a bigger budget, we're in leeds).

I would stick to cities. I wouldn't do hebden for reasons described. Much as I love leeds, I find myself suggesting Manchester. I think the city is positioning itself wisely. I agree that public transport in many cities/towns leaves something to be desired, Manchester is a touch better. I remember when I was moving back I was wondering if I'd just become massively suburban 🙄, my mum pointed out I'd still have my experiences and preferences with me.

Contrary to popular belief, 'the north' is not one place. I'd start research by having some trips up here so you can get a feel for it, and husband can explore whether he's really against it. Sounds to me like he's not really got to the nub about why he doesn't want to move. If he feels connected with where sou live, I think that would be more difficult.

What's up with the East Midlands?
1 hour 30 direct train to London.
Cities
Loads of greenery
I could buy a whacking great house here for what you can sell your flat for

I second York! It's a nice living here! Excellent schools, beautiful city centre with an active social scene and cultural options. I'm black, I definitely stand out up here in York (so much that some children openly stare at me) but it doesn't really bother me because of how close we are to Leeds. I work in Manchester, and wouldn't recommend the commute between York and Manchester, it'd eat up any income/standard of living gains you'd make by moving here. My husband and I have a 4 bed townhouse with garden with views of York Minster for 250k. It's in an excellent neighbourhood and near four parks and walking areas. My husbands family is London-area based, and mine are in the US. He's very reluctant to move south as we know we wouldn't be able to afford the lifestyle we have up here. Our joint income is probably considerably less than yours, at £80k a year, but its more than enough for York living. :)

Another recommendation for York here. The only downside, is that public transport is a bit hit and miss. I live in a village outside of York and there is one bus per hour, and the last bus is at 7pm!

Laughing at the northern hate
there's a lot of "southern hate" as well. Both driven by unfounded preconceptions.

I agree, Ifailed. I'm OK because my accent and vocabulary slide around chameleon-fashion. OH only has one fairly posh accent, and there was a lot of nastiness aimed his way in Lancashire, and a lot of negative assumptions made about him, by relative and complete strangers.

I agree as well. There is so much ignorance on this thread. I grew up in Croydon and worked in London before moving to Yorkshire. I love to go back to visit, but would never live there again.

There are so many lovely places in the UK, and we holiday in the UK every year and love visiting new places. And I mean the UK - including Scotland and Wales.

We moved back to Sheffield from London and love it here. We live in a 4 bed house in a nice area which cost less than our 2 bed flat in London, kids are in great schools, we're close to amazing countryside, the people are friendly. Jobs can be an issue mainly because public transport links between the major cities up here are so shit due to lack of investment over the years.

Are some people really claiming that the whole of the north of England is crappy?! Mind-boggling. Have they actually been to everywhere in the north then?

Many parts of the north are rough.

Load of bo**ocks. No more so than anywhere else.

I'm in Sheffield and would hugely recommend it. It's often cited as England's safest large city; I'd agree totally—I always feel very safe here

We have just sold our house in London to move to Sheffield. We had our house valued in January and put it on the market a few weeks ago. We had to drop the price considerably as the market is not as strong as it was 6 months ago - my advice would be to make the move quick if you can!

Welcome to Sheffield. You will so love it

I moved from London to near Sheffield 30 years ago because, as a single parent teacher, there was no way I could afford to buy any where to live down South. I have never regretted it.

Look. Why on earth is anyone trying to convince southerners to move up here?

They won't like it. It will be cold. And wet. And nothing to do.

LOL

It is some time ago now, but Sheffield has reportedly some of the wealthiest areas outside London. It also tops this survey of the five best UK cities for new graduates (Sheffield, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle and Birmingham).

www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/sheffield-glasgow-graduate-employment-best-worst-student-cities-uk-a7097551.html

It also has a tram system and is on the edge of the outstandingly beautiful Peak District.

It is some time ago now, but Sheffield has reportedly some of the wealthiest areas outside London. It also tops this survey of the five best UK cities for new graduates (Sheffield, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle and Birmingham).

Sheffield rocks. F**king love it. But sssshh don't tell everyone

I'm trying to discourage all these clueless southerners away from Leeds stevie .

I'm sure there's lots of other great things - I'm only an occasional visitor and it does seem pretty nice. The university has a good reputation doesn't it? And don't forget the wonder that is the hot roast pork sandwich.

Does hubby not realise that there is a housing market outside of where he lives?

Prices are much better, we live in Birmingham and have the best of both worlds. Housing and living is much more affordable, hubby commutes to London once a week and one days train fare is much better than paying silly money for a house ( well our 4 bed house here would be a one bed flat in London)
Make the move, life will be great.