Life outside of London

[Neitherherenortheir]

Crime, pollution, living costs and expenses all being reasons to wonder what life outside of London is really like. Nearly all our friends and family are here so we have huge ties. But as DC grow older I wonder about leaving. Looking for recommendations for places that aren’t too dissimilar, do not require a driving licence (DH plans to learn but I’ve no want to drive), good secondary schools without moving a million miles away. AIBU?

What a ridiculous post.

Life exists outside London. Life in Edinburgh is different from Exeter. Liverpool different from Lincoln. Dundee different from Derby.

Have you ever actually ventured outside the M25?

What about a Herts commuter town? Good secondary schools, clean air, little crime (just occasional burglaries, no violent crime). But also good public transport links to London.

Harpenden, Hitchin, St Albans, Radlett etc

As kids get older I’d have thought that was more reason to stay.

I'm moving back after 8 years away. Won't recommended here as not commuter distance, poor state schools and you need a car. But I miss the hustle and bustle and can't wait to move back to London!

I live in the north west, love it. Very close to bustling cities such as Manchester and Liverpool yet surrounded by beautiful countryside. Great schools, opportunity for home ownership (bought at 21yrs) and good career opportunities due to location to cities. I wouldn’t dream of living in London.

As a Londoner through and through, I don't understand your question.

Yes I can confirm that there is indeed life outside London.

Dissimilar to London in which ways?
State or private education?
Unless you are going to live in a hamlet in the countryside then every where has public transport.

Most places you need a car, as public transport is really really crap compared to London. The only exception might be the middle of Manchester, but you’d still have some issues with crime and pollution. There’s no middle grounds otherwise we’d all want to live there!! Honestly, stay put unless you’re willing to look at lifestyle changes (mostly learning to drive)

London is one tiny corner of the world.

There are a whole range of 'not London' experiences on offer.

What is it you are actually looking for?

We don't want small minded people here 'outside London' so best stay where you are please.

I moved to Bath from London. And learned to drive pretty bloody swiftly. But I loved the move and living there (just outside these days).
Unless you are planning on swapping London for another big city, in which case I don't see the point of moving, then you will find not being able to drive a challenge compared to the on tap public transport in London.

The problem with moving 'not too far away' is that you'll get all of the London downsides, such as property prices, without the London perks, such as having a tube station on your doorstep. I've always said that a move back to London would require a less than 10 minute walk to a decent tube line, with a less than 30 minute trip into the centre (because that's how I grew up). We can't afford that, so quite simply, moving back isn't an option as I'm not prepared to have a half in half out lifestyle.

Where I am now is an hours direct train straight into Paddington. I can get home to almost the other side of the country in less time than my friend who lives on the outskirts as she has to take the slow Overground line. And we pay half what they do in property for our large three bed house compared to their two bed flat.

Crikey OP London isn't that big (or that great) much better to visit than to live and I've done both. I barely have any friends still living there, most did the bog standard stint we all did in our twenties, then left when they had a child (or wanted to buy a house).

You can surely just move to the locality and commute in if London is your preference? It's an hour on the train from most of the SE for a start, just don't live rurally if that doesn't you and the lifestyle change won't be that huge.

Watford, Bushey, Oxhey Village... these are the type of places I think you're talking about

Looking for recommendations for places that aren’t too dissimilar,

If you want London, then stay in London. If you want something different because of the crime / pollution / living costs you quoted in your op then you want something different!

I think you need to decide actually what you’re looking for, because a cheaper, safer and greener London without losing any of the infrastructure etc etc doesn’t exist.

I suppose that if you have most of your family and friends in the London area, it will be a challenge to move elsewhere. But I do seriously wonder why many of those who could move don’t try it more. It can be as different as you want it to be really. Move to another city, or go the full change and embrace a totally different lifestyle. You can get a lot more for your money outside of London area, there’s less pollution, and less crime if you avoid certain places. London to me is the centre, the interesting bit with the Museums, the Theatres, the attractions. But some of it is positively awful, even the so called nice areas are not my taste. Too many people, not enough space. You need serious money to be able to enjoy it properly, live somewhere nice. To many folks who don’t live in London, it sucks up too much of the wealth, is unfairly subsidised, and gives the impression that many have little conception of life away from the capital. Nieces who have made the move have never regretted it. They still have good careers, but now the daily commute is a lot shorter, the house and garden are a whole lot larger, the schools nicer.

I will answer you when I get back from the well, none of this running water up here.

Unless you move to another big city, life outside London = driving licence.

But yes, there is life outside London. There are museums, wildlife parks, forests, country walks, neighbours you actually talk to, community events, theatre.

I do far more of these than I ever did when I lived in London possibly because now I have a better worklife balance. Also now there aren't 1000 museums on my doorstep and I have to make an effort, I actually do, while in London, I never bothered.

Did you know that approx 57 million of the UK’s population don’t live in London? They manage.
Apologies for the sarcasm.

I'd stay in London OP. I moved out for the reasons you stated and for a number of reasons it was a huge mistake. I'm in a commuter area and will be moving back into London as soon as we sell our house.

You'll need a car in most place unless it has good public transport.

There is nowhere outside london.

It's a myth to spread discontent.

Literally, if you're on the m25 and you try and turn off (going away from rather than into london) you fall off the globe and into the fiery pits of hell.
Anyone who tells you life outside london exists is lying to you.

Tip: if you move outside of London, try to hide your attitude.

Just move to the centre of a different city then.

We moved out. Hated it. Planning our move back in. Don’t do it.