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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want to go north?

130 replies

CountArthursgroupie · 30/05/2018 18:50

I'm due to retire in a few years, and there's no way I can afford my present rent. Northern rents are much fairer, but where to go? I've hardly gone north of Watford in my life! Can you MNers recommend anywhere? Have any of you made a similar change of location?

OP posts:
Original poster
CountArthursgroupie · 30/05/2018 22:57

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I've been looking the places up on Rightmove, and in most of them I could rent a house for less than I'm paying here for a small unheated flat. I also like the idea of somewhere friendlier, if you smile at someone here they ask for money! As for Islington Queen, I couldn't afford to rent a cupboard there! I'm quite taken with Jesmond, the park looks amazing.

OP posts:
NC4Now · 30/05/2018 23:32

There are some lovely places in the north west. For coast, try Lytham St Anne’s, or else the Lake District is beautiful if you like country life.
There are nice towns and villages in Lancashire and Cheshire within easy reach of Manchester and Liverpool.
I’m from Preston, though I don’t live there now. It’s 2 hours on the train to Euston or 2 hours to Edinburgh, so I always think it’s really well connected. You’re only 50 mins from Manchester on the train or from the Lake District if you drive.
It amazes me the commutes people do in London.

I’ve lived in Liverpool which is a fabulous, vibrant city with loads going on. Sheffield’s got a good vibe too.

YANBU to want to move north.

JacintaJones · 30/05/2018 23:36

Chester, Liverpool, South Manchester/Cheshire or the Wirral.

Maelstrop · 30/05/2018 23:45

How far north? Islington still has some decent restaurants. All gets a bit iffy once you get to Barnet

Pmsl @QueenDoris! Hey, there’s an amazing new patisserie as you go round the bend up from the Tube. I thought Barnet was the height of sophistication when we moved there, but I am from Newcastle, so what do I know?!

Avoid Jesmond, it’s ridiculously expensive and full of students. If you want good transport links, try somewhere like Fenham in Newcastle. Easy access to town. The airport is an international one, trains are plentiful, metro is practical and cheap. Kenton is very cheap and some bits are actually lovely, bit further from town.

BoneyBackJefferson · 31/05/2018 00:00
KnobJockey · 31/05/2018 07:09

Another vote for Beverley here too. Recently made the move from Hull to here, and it's a fantastic place to live. Small enough to have a more village feel, excellent community spirit, and it's got a much more buzzy night life here than Hull- not massive nights out, but nice places to eat and local pubs. Best move we ever made. It seems to be perfect for the older generation too.

Rents are more expensive than Hull, but still not expensive compared to the south.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 31/05/2018 07:13

What about Kendal? In the Lake District almost, but a town with the services you'll need, very close to the M6 so quick to get around the country, a train station. Lovely scenery.

NapQueen · 31/05/2018 07:27

Jesmond itself is very studenty. Gosforth is near to it and very naice. Bugaboo-ville I call it.

Anasnake · 31/05/2018 07:34

What about Sheffield? A modern city but right on the edge of the stunning Peak District ?

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 31/05/2018 07:36

I'm in a small town in the greater Manchester area but not actually in Manchester if that makes sense. I also don't drive and can easily get to Southport, Blackpool, Manchester, Liverpool etc by public transport.

Here you'd easily get a 3 bedroom house for the same rent as a small flat down south.

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 31/05/2018 07:37

Also very easy to get to the lake district

MsSquiz · 31/05/2018 07:43

Jesmond and Gosforth are both lovely, great for transport links (bus and metro) as well as walking distance to the city centre.
There is also the coast - Tynemouth, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay. All about 20 mins on a metro from the city centre.
Going west of the city you have Ponteland which just stops short of being on the metro route but we do have buses, and it's a beautiful large village with restaurants and shops and Ponteland Park is a lovely spot to spend a summers day in.

Jimdandy · 31/05/2018 07:52

Have you considered the Midlands? Rural LeicesterShire is lovely and it won’t be as cheap as far north as your suggesting, but still cheaper than London.

Original poster
CountArthursgroupie · 31/05/2018 09:05

Oh when I said "north" I just meant compared to here (Thanet)! West is also an option. It's a big decision, isn't it? I have 3 years to decide, although it doesn't have to be immediately after retirement. I've also been looking at Sheffield as a PP suggested and Blackpool, any thoughts/experiences?

OP posts:
NapQueen · 31/05/2018 09:08

Blackpool is bleak.

Anasnake · 31/05/2018 09:41

Not Blackpool !

Petitprince · 31/05/2018 09:53

I'd spend a bit of time up north and see where you like. Personally, places like Hebden Bridge, Chester, Knutsford, Crosby, near to a big city but also a community of their own. I'd never live in London again.

Petitprince · 31/05/2018 09:55

Also Buxton, Wirral, Ribble Valley and Altrincham.

AnnUnderTheFryingPan · 31/05/2018 09:57

I’d move somewhere on the coast, but would want access to a city. Northern cities are great.

How exciting for you! I moved to Manchester from London a few years ago. I love living in the North.

senioritabonita · 31/05/2018 09:58

What are you looking for? City? Coast? Rural? Quiet? Active? Woodland? Mountains?

You can live in outstandingly beautiful places for very little but they are often cut off and lack services - many towns have suffered severe cuts and lack even quite basic facilities. DO you ahem transport - public transport can be very poor outside cities.

You need to do extensive research on lifestyle - not just cost of rent.

senioritabonita · 31/05/2018 09:59

NOT BLACKPOOL!!!!!

FASH84 · 31/05/2018 10:03

Blackpool is grim dint do it. I lived in Durham for four years the city is beautiful and i loved it but student demand pushes rent up and other parts of the county are quite cut off if you don't drive and even if you do when it snows (every winter). Newcastle is great, but Jesmond is where all my NCL Uni friends lived. York is amazing and I think would be a top choice for me. I work in Manchester a lot and it's a fab city so much to do but not as vast as London. Friend of mine lives in Middleton on the outskirts. If you want real community vibe rural Wales is wonderful and very very cheap.

PaulDacreRimsGeese · 31/05/2018 10:07

North of London is a large and diverse area, especially as it sounds like you wouldn't rule out Wales or Scotland either? There's no point us telling you about amazing coastal villages if you want to be in an upland town, for example.

That you like Jesmond and Gosforth type places suggests you're interested in buzzy, fashionable areas of cities. The closest Manchester equivalent there would perhaps be Chorlton.

YouTheCat · 31/05/2018 10:10

Count, if you're taken with Jesmond, I'd seriously suggest looking at High Heaton (other side of the Dene) as it is much cheaper.

VogueVVague · 31/05/2018 10:20

Ilkley or Skipton for a cute small market town vibe.

Lancaster for a city that feels like a village.

Sheffield for a proper city with the charm that Leeds doesnt have.

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