Anyone thinking of leaving London to live somewhere else when this is all over?

[minniebo]

And if so, where would you go?

I've lived in London all my life and have been itching for a different lifestyle for a while now but the lockdown has confirmed it for me. I'm loving the cleaner air and quieter streets and want that permanently. Yes I would miss the buzz of London and its amazing culture but I can always visit, I'd just like a greener, quieter, slower pace right now. Anyone else?

Live where you want, nothing unreasonable about it.

Yeah, sorry should have said - posting here for traffic 🤭

We had already debated it, we love it here & apart from university have never lived elsewhere plus family is close which is good.

However so many friends have left, either priced out or just want more for their money/less pollution etc so it's tempting when seeing their homes/lifestyle.

DHs office have said to expect to wfh until at least next year & realistically he really needs to only be in 1-2 days a wk. I already wfh & go into the office 1 day a wk.

I like Hampshire

I was desperate to leave London, I live in a rough area

This lockdown has made me rethink

People are mostly sensible that we can’t do 2m unless we make pavements one way. The shops are too small for much of it. Most people I’ve stopped and chatted to are upset about lockdown and realistic about illness and death.

So perhaps my area is better than I thought.

There are lots of things I hate about London but it’s time for me to review. Also, if there’s a mass exodus into outer areas, they might stop building on everything and the population might reduce back to the days of a more manageable level.

We left London seven years ago, and haven't regretted it for a second. In Yorkshire now, and I love it - clean air, slower pace of life, and the friendliest people I've ever known.
Not to mention the size of house we've been able to buy. I can't imagine now what it would have been like, locked down in our London house.

We love London so much and love our area and our house

But we're now acutely aware that without the culture being there we could be anywhere

If the theatres and pubs/restaurants don't open it will be rubbish

I've been so pissed off at not being able to read in the park

Used to live in London and loved it. Have now moved away - standard of life is much better and I can visit London for a weekend to get my fix.

I've read that interest in country homes has jumped massively.

I moved out of London at the start of the year, and despite not having lived in London my entire life, I have spent a good part of the last decade there, and so moving to where I currently am now is a bit of a change to the system. Despite the (many) cons of South London, the two things I miss the most are the convenience of public transport (DH doesn't have his license, I have mine but don't have a car atm) and having everything at your fingertips. I grew up being driven around everywhere by my dad (when living in Kent) so I guess I took travel for granted.
That said, I haven't really had a chance to explore my current area due to corona virus, so once this is all over I'm looking forward to finding the perks of living here :)

No, I've been all round the world and worked abroad but I remain a Londoner and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. However, I am dreading the return of normal traffic and air traffic - the peace and quiet and clean air is wonderful.

There is 'culture' outside of london

I’m the total opposite. We are in Yorkshire, having moved from London, so although we now have loads more space both inside and outside, I’d far rather have spent lockdown in my small terraced house in London with people around me, neighbours to chat to etc. Lockdown here has felt extremely lonely, we don’t see anyone else day-to-day, and I’m really craving the human contact that comes from living in a city. We have agreed to move back to a city (not necessarily London) as soon as jobs / finances allow!

I loved living in London, it felt like being in the centre of the world. But in reality, I just went home - work - local pub - local park. Only went into central London every couple of months.

We sold up & moved to the south west. Swapped a flat for a four bedroom house with garden & veg patch. Live a couple of miles from the beach. Live 15 mins drive from the city centre. We don’t have a lot of museums or concerts but my quality of life is so good here. I spend so much more time outdoors, I’m part of a lovely community which has been amazing during lockdown. I’m sat in my study now listening to birds singing & sheep baaing on the hill. God I’m so happy

When we left I said I’d go back to London regularly for weekends. I’ve been back twice in six years . Just haven’t missed it like I thought I would.

It’s a really personal choice, but for me it was the best thing ever.

I lived in London in my 20s and I LOVED it and for a long time I could never imagine living anywhere else, but when we had kids that changed and DH persuaded me to move to a small city within easy commuting distance. Initially, I didn't like it much, but 10 years on and with our now two DC happily settled at school I can't imagine living in London now.

You don't say whether you have DC or want them or what things you enjoy, so I'd have a think about what gives your life meaning and what you think will still give it meaning 10 or 20 or 30 years from now. I'm an urban creature - always have been - but I don't need to live in London. What I do need though is a place with stuff going on - bars, restaurants, shops, fitness classes, a selection of places to buy food, a cosmopolitan vibe with a mix of different people. I grew up in a small, rural town where everyone was white and British - I'd hate to live somewhere like that now. So do your research and be honest about what you want and need and I'm sure you'll find it doesn't have to be in London. There are lots of great places to live.

I will not leave London or live further than the outskirts because once my dc have finished their education I want them to be able to have access to the jobs market without having to necessarily leave home and pay proper rent...yes, I know there are job opportunities in other places before anyone shouts at me.

Although I could weep when I see the houses we could afford if we lived in another area

Don't under estimate the benefits of having family and friends near by and the older you get the harder it is to make friends. It also will be harder to move back once you've left.

I live on the London/Kent border and for me it's the perfect combination of being within easy distance of everything London has to offer but also being surrounded by countryside.

If we could afford the price of the commuter train fare for my husband to get to his job in London then I would be packing up and leaving right this second. For me it has always been more about wanting to be closer to family but with lockdown I realise that I would love to be somewhere with more nature. The two towns I want to go to (my home town or husband's home town) are both reasonable size (population of around 50 000 or so) so you have decent amenities and stuff 'going on' but the towns are surrounded by beautiful countryside. London has loads going on (in normal times) and has excellent public transport but people don't realise how long it can take to get from A - B sometimes. It takes me over an hour to get to a brilliant car boot sale I love - but it's actually only about 5 miles away. Getting to things is so tedious and time consuming.

I think it may well spike an interest from those in a position to move and have portable jobs, but the effects of the deep recession to come may actually be felt more in those pretty and desirable - but often incredibly poor areas (thinking parts of Cornwall, West Country, Wales etc).
We've just returned to London after an absence of nearly 15 years, and are relieved we did. Although coronavirus has affected us very directly economically, being here also gives us greater opportunities to find a work-round - fingers crossed...

Rent first is my hard won advice!

We moved to a village in Oxfordshire last summer from London.

I am so thankful to be here.

Kids at the wonderful village primary.

A real sense of community.

I can get to a train station in 14 mins drive that takes me to London in 42 minutes.

Best of both worlds imo.

I'm from London and always thought I'd stay there but when I hit 25 we started looking for houses and I ended up in Hertfordshire in a tiny village I haven't looked back since. I moved to rural Kent in the end and brought my family up here. They all love being country bumpkins as they've been able to grow up with gorgeous countryside around them. I used to miss theatre and cultural events on my doorstep but now I revel in the peace and quiet. It's not for everyone but it suits us well.