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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think leaving London for a new city is preferable to the suburbs?

210 replies

jumpyfrog · 20/11/2017 16:22

I'm a born & raised Londoner (SW), husband the same (SE). We currently live in SW London & in the catchment of an outstanding school. As my mum is 10 mins walk & inlaws 10 min drive we also have a great support network & have 1 day of childcare plus babysitting provided by them.

However looking to the next few yrs we really would like a bigger property & perhaps try for DC3. 90% of our friends have moved out to either zone 5 (Sutton, Bromley, S.Croydon) or to surrounding counties (Kent, Surrey, Sussex & Essex) & this seems to be the natural step.

AIBU to hate the idea of moving to the suburbs/countryside & thinking moving to another city would be better for me?
I've always lived within 10 mins walk of the high street & the tube & cant stand the idea of driving everywhere. Obviously jobs are an issue but I run a small online business & my husband would still get a decent salary in areas such as Bristol.

Has anyone moved from London to a new city? was it a good decision? where did you go?

OP posts:
Lndnmummy · 21/11/2017 19:14

For 850 you can get a house in part of se London for sure. Areas of Nunhead, Brockley, croft in Park, Sydenham would def come in on your budget.

grasspigeons · 21/11/2017 19:15

I know a bit about Thanet ....

If you draw a circle around it you find sea in a lot of directions which rather limits the jobs available locally which means, like a lot of seaside places there is a lot of deprivation. UKIP were very popular as a result

Which bit were you thinking of? I only really know margate, broadstairs and some of the villages. I don't know Ramsgate.

Welshmaenad · 21/11/2017 20:13

I'm from Cardiff and I love it. There are some excellent schools.

My OH lives in Bath and I love that too, he's on the outskirts of the city yet it's still an easy commute in to the action. Somewhere like Bear Flat would be good for you, I think, and £850k even at Bath prices would get you somewhere nice.

Original poster
jumpyfrog · 21/11/2017 21:10

Westcountrygemini Thank you for the info, can I ask how long if takes you to commute & how you find it?

lampert I'm not knocking those areas, I'm just not sure they are right for me. I was being facetious when I said drive everywhere but I currently walk to the high street, supermarket, nursery & school, etc which my friends do not have the luxury of.

Hotdamnstate I think I have visited Brighton so many times that it doesn't appeal to me but I guess living there would be different.

OP posts:
Original poster
jumpyfrog · 21/11/2017 21:19

Even though he's from SE London husband doesn't like it. He says its cause he always had to travel loads as a teen in order to go out, do things & also because he feels many parts have gentrified in prices but they haven't changed that much from his youth, in his head they are a rip off. I don't know as apart from the Crystal Palace dinosaurs I never ventured that way. Grin

He does like Dulwich (who doesn't) but obvs ££££ & transport can be a bit dodge & he's not adverse to Bromley (that's me).

grasspigeons The UKIP issue is disturbing I admit. The article focused on Broadstairs & Margate which looked nice. I've not visited either in many, many years. What do you think of them?

OP posts:
PutUpWithRain · 21/11/2017 21:22

mishfish It's an absolute cliche, but the Golden Triangle area/NR2 postcode is the nicest place to be IMO (yes, I'm biased, I live here). Tons of independent shops, cafes, pubs without being too busy, and lots of families. Houses vary from huge mansions (I used to live in one) to council maisonettes (I live in one now), but most of it's terraced streets. There's a nice buzz to it because quite a lot of UEA students choose to live in the area too. Good transport links, but I can walk to the centre of the city in less than ten minutes. For schools, Colman is excellent for infants/juniors, although it's just outside the Triangle. CNS is a really good secondary that most of the schools in NR2 feed into. People take the piss a bit when you say you live in NR2 because it has a vair naice middle class reputation - it can be a bit wanky at times, but I really like it. Lots of trees too. I don't why I thought trees are relevant, but I did, so there you go.

guineapigs I'm on a council estate, and the worst thing that's happened since I moved here is the previous tenant's choice of decor Wink

Original poster
jumpyfrog · 21/11/2017 21:27

welshmaenad Ooh I love that 2nd property, it's so frustrating when you can see what you can get for your money in other places. Terrace in my neck of the woods www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47373855.html

OP posts:
Ethylred · 21/11/2017 21:32

I'll never leave London, I'd miss the beaches too much.

Yes London has beaches. When the tide's out anyway.

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/11/2017 21:39

OP is wouldn't recommend the former hotel in Avonmouth. It's right by major heavy industries and the motorways!
Parts of Bristol are very expensive, mainly Clifton, Sneyd Park, Henleaze and Westbury on Trym.

We have awful congestion. There's no tube and the powers that be are in the process of creating something called a metro bus system which seems to involve digging up the city.
I live between Bristol and Bath. Generally I use the train to get into either city as it's only 10 minutes in either direction (and trains also run direct to Paddington ).

DappledThings · 21/11/2017 22:08

You should come and look at Crystal Palace, it's so much more than dinosaurs!

Joinourclub · 21/11/2017 22:12

If I had £850k I wouldn't leave Greater London. Especially if it meant moving away from family. I left London to move closer to family , and because I didn't have your budget. I am happy where I am but I miss London and my friends.

TatianaLarina · 21/11/2017 22:18

Battersea house is beautifully done, but Battersea itself is a bit of a shithole, so I don’t think you have anything to lose from moving a bit futher out. (Positive spin) Grin

I don’t think I could personally leave London, I’d buy a small house and save up for a big extension at the back and then save some more for a basement. And then move on.

HazelBite · 21/11/2017 22:28

I live in Hertfordshire, it is a 20 min commute into Euston, however the value of property is rocketing here and more and more people are moving out of London and settling here, good schools, shops, transport links, and the property is marginally cheaper.
You can easily go to London for shopping /culture.

killerwhale · 21/11/2017 22:34

Brighton is definitely full and no room in schools. It is a relatively Tory free zone though, be sure to consider that, especially if you’re not a Tory and you’re thinking of moving to Surrey, Kent etc. Those places are full of them! You would be okay in Bristol I think. It would be important to me anyway Smile

Original poster
jumpyfrog · 21/11/2017 22:42

Well i'm still none the wiser but will try to remember to play the lotto tmw so fingers x.

I was a lib demmer but they let me down so in last election went with labour. Seen Sadiq a few times, tube, Homebase, had to stop myself shouting out about affordable homes Grin

OP posts:
BlondeB83 · 21/11/2017 22:47

Don’t do it!

TatianaLarina · 21/11/2017 22:50

I did read your post carefulbunny

You saw one school that was Asian and African dominated and concluded that all the white MC kids had gone to private school outside the borough. But there would likely be other primary schools in the borough with white MC children. Demographics have just shifted round a bit.

TatianaLarina · 21/11/2017 22:51

If you win the lottery you can buy that house in Battersea.

CarefulBunny · 21/11/2017 22:57

You saw one school that was Asian and African dominated and concluded that all the white MC kids had gone to private school outside the borough

No no. I know they have gone to private school. I haven't just assumed it.

headintheproverbial · 21/11/2017 23:05

OP - I think you completely and utterly take the fact you have family close by for granted. You say you'd 'lose the childcare' in zone 5 but that's not really true. Babysitting would still absolutely be an option and certainly easy visits at the weekend (without the need for long journeys or overnights). Of course you may well still want to move but please think oh so carefully about what you're giving up there both in terms of support and relationships. I say that as someone whose DC's nearest grandparent is 400 miles away and 2 are dead!

SunnyCoco · 21/11/2017 23:08

Your current set-up sounds like the dream?! I’d stay where you have family support and everything you need in walking distance.

Or head to SE - Dulwich, Brockley etc. I don’t agree with your husbands view on what things are like in that partner of town these days 😉

TatianaLarina · 21/11/2017 23:19

I’m sorry I don’t believe every single white family in the area can afford private school out of the borough, it’s more likely that some have gone another local state school.

peachgreen · 22/11/2017 06:21

I agree with @Joinourclub. I had to leave London because our budget was more like £200k (which still makes us very lucky, imo) but if I’d even been able to afford half of what you can OP, I would definitely have stayed.

CarefulBunny · 22/11/2017 07:03

I’m sorry I don’t believe every single white family in the area can afford private school out of the borough

The vast majority can I'm afraid. I live in an area which has become extremely gentrified in recent years.

It is the same story at other state schools.

You don't have to believe me, I am simply saying what I have observed and know, and saying it was not always this divided.

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