To move out of London to Northern Ireland?

[InternetArgument]

I realised the other day that I have been trying not to think about all the reasons I’m anxious about staying in london. I have one 2 year old and another on the way.

I’ve had enough of the stress of living here. I have a large house, very small mortgage and it is lovely in one of the nicest areas in the locality.

Im sick of the crime, stress and pollution. DH and I both have ties to Ireland and we have been to the north before and loved it - city, town and country.

AIBU to want to cash out and run to the hills?

Thinking of near Derry or Belfast.

[Hersheys]

No advice, I hate both London & N.Ireland

[whojamaflip]

Stop it guys - I want to come back home and this thread is not doing anything to help my homesickness! Moved 25 yrs ago to England---- but unfortunately I haven't worked out how to pick the farm up and move it and dh won't sell up so I'm stuck.

Good luck op if you do decide to go for it very very jealous you have the choice

[ichbineinstasumer]

don't go to a small town, you will be an outsider and you will always be an outsider. Personally, although practising my tray bakes and a regular visitor, I will never go back, permanently although I have considered it because some things would be better - house prices, countryside, possibly schools. I feel it is a very judgemental place. Gay people still not easily accepted in many areas, English accents teased, low aspirations. Probably less of an issue in Belfast or a more metropolitan area.

[Minesapineappledelight]

Next time I'm in Castle Ward I'll be eyeballing all the harassed mums to see if the ham in their baps is naice or not if you have pom bears instead of tayto in your sandwich, you are definitely a MNer

[NotAnotherJaffaCake]

Belfast born and bred and I wouldn’t move back. Family live in the naice parts of Belfast (BT9) and neighbours were raided for assault rifles. Houses broken into overnight for car keys and cars stolen. Sectarianism is always there; no one will say anything in the nice areas but just look at how segregated the schools still are. Our commuter village is more safe than Belfast, but probably not if you’re comparing London to Belfast.

Schools might look good on paper but were hauled up in front of Parliament for being exam factories, and your options if you fail the transfer test are not good.

That said, the amenities are generally fabulous - lots of things are new as they were only really built in the last 20 odd years, and that’s before you get to the coast and the Mournes etc. And I would give a lot to be able to pop to Creighton’s

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

Don’t do it! NI is a horrible place, we all smell and you’ll never make out what we’re saying. Food is minging and the place is full of tractors.

Just stay in London

[Iggity]

Ex NI in London. I’d go back in a flash but DH is a southerner (Irish kind) won’t. Life is better, people are nicer, schools better, exam results better, Russell Group uni plus Uni of Ulster is great too. The only concern I would have is my DS with English accent being bullied and having to attend Girl’s school. Some day....

[isabellerossignol]

low aspirations

I don't see this at all. What I do see though is a huge amount of frustration at the lack of opportunities available for people and utter fury at being paid half of what we would be for doing the same job in a comparable city in the UK.

[Minesapineappledelight]

Too obvious ILove. They'll get suspicious. They're going to come, but we can steer them like a herd of cattle.

I HEAR NEWTOWNARDS IS LOVELY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

whistles

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

The only concern I would have is my DS with English accent being bullied and having to attend Girl’s school

😂😂😂

[Bigglyboggly]

Oi don’t send them to ards now, they’d take over knotts which would cause riots.

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

I HEAR NEWTOWNARDS IS LOVELY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

😂

[AstonishedFemalePersonator]

The traybake thread was AMAZING and reminded me why we’d returned.

I loved the traybake thread and made one of the recipes for the office last week. It was a huge hit. Thank you to the thread creator and everyone who contributed recipes.

[Minesapineappledelight]

Can you imagine the Knotts blue rinse brigade versus Londoners looking for hipster coffee?

I know who my money is on.

[LaurieMarlow]

Well they are very different places for starters.

I’m probably not the best person to ask. I grew up in NI and got out of there the first chance I got. I’d never go back.

I loved living in London. We’ve left now (we’re in Dublin) and I miss it every single day.

I guess it depends what you’re looking for. If you want a bigger house and more green space I can see how NI would deliver on that. On the other hand, think carefully about the culture you’d be moving to. It’s not necessarily an easy place to assimilate into.

[PennyMordauntsLadyBrain]

We’re a mixed marriage- me NI Protestant and DH a Dublin Catholic.

We moved back from Dublin when I was expecting DC1- we live in a naice (and very unionist) village outside Belfast. We love it here, and DH has made friends with all the neighbours, even the ones that put a King Billy flag up for the duration of the summer.

It’s a fantastic place to raise a family and things have changed hugely in terms of attitudes towards people from “the other side”.

[isabellerossignol]

I've lived in N Ireland my whole life and in all honesty I don't really love it here. Circumstances have kept me here, but if I had had full control over my life I would have left when I was young. But that is entirely based on matters relating to work opportunities. Which are improving in N Ireland, albeit slowly.

On the plus side, obviously housing costs will be much lower than what you are used to. The education system is good. If you like the countryside and the coast, it's as beautiful as you would find anywhere.

On the downside, salaries are poor, training opportunities are often poor once you are in a job, and recruitment processes are very rigid which I think comes as a shock to people who aren't used to it. And infrastructure and public transport is very very poor outside of Belfast.

It has pros and cons, like everywhere.

[Bigglyboggly]

I love knotts with a passion, I’m hanging with the rinse brigade for sure .

[Bigglyboggly]

Yes the recruitment process here is soooo rigid, I understand why it has come about like that to try and ameliorate discrimination, but it is very hard to navigate.

[MrsFudge]

Born in NI, now living in London. I think it depends on your reasons for moving and general outlook on life.

Pros of NI - very cheap property, lots of green open spaces, friendly people, good state schools, generally relaxed way of life, limited crime.

Cons of NI - less multicultural, less open minded, less to do, could be hard to integrate if you don't already have connections, fewer job options (most jobs are public sector, so depends what area you work in).

NI and London are very different places, opposite ends of the spectrum I would say. Overall I would say life is generally easier for the average person in NI (society is more equal, less of a gap between rich and poor). However we will stay in London as there are more opportunities here for our kids in my opinion.

[CheekyChappy710]

NI vs London. Ah yes I see why youd leave London for the quiet, crime free, calm and peaceful oasis that is northern Ireland oh and I'm Irish.

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

I’m interested in the comments about rigid recruitment process. I’ve never worked outside NI so have nothing to compare it too. How does it differ in the rest of the U.K.?

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

Ah yes I see why youd leave London for the quiet, crime free, calm and peaceful oasis that is northern Ireland hmm

OP is in London. It’s hardly a crime free peaceful oasis!

[Minesapineappledelight]

I have also been frustrated with NI specific work issues. It can be rigid.

Though on the upside, I think it's much easier to maintain a good work/life balance, and there doesn't seem to be the same judgement towards sahms/women who go part time that you see on MN.

[WeeLamb]

I live in London with small children (and lived here for a decade pre-kids) and have never seen violence or crime and don't recognise the picture painted by the OP at all (except the pollution!) Live in an outer London borough, loads of green spaces, fantastic community, great schools, everything walkable plus London has masses of culture for kids. We are so happy here - although recognise it's pretty affluent which is probably why.
Don't be fooled into thinking there isn't crime and violence in any town or city. NI is beautiful and lots of positives but not perfect by any stretch.