to ask if you've ever regretted moving out of London?

[thisusernameismine]

We are thinking of moving out of London (I've been there 17 years now). In very early 40s with one child (likely our only). Would go within a few miles of my mum. We would like a bigger place/garden for half the price as well.

Anyone ever made this kind of move and regretted it?

Yes culture and opportunities for the young people. ...
Yes it's easier to move if you are white. Still I have found the racism voiced by certain other white Londoners in my area alarming.

I may yet move back.

No regrets at all, moved out almost six years ago.

We missed it so much we returned. We had a great network of friends in London and easy commutes. We moved out and the commute was a nightmare and we struggled to make good friends. We loved being in the countryside but there were too many long nights and weekends without plans. We weren’t ready for that. Also the kids missed their schools and I felt the secondary schools where we moved to lacked ambition for their kids. We are back now in our old London neighbourhood and we love it.

Moved out to the Kent commuter belt just over a year ago. Still desperately miss the part of East London we really felt was home (but couldn’t afford to stay in once our little boy came along). I would move back in a heartbeat if we could afford to do so. People who’ve done the same in this area tell us it takes a good two/three years to stop missing London but now they love it.

Yes. Lived in London my whole life apart from uni years, moved out to the suburbs 8 yrs ago and I regret it for myself. Life is probably better out here for young DC but I suspect that when they hit teenage years that they would prefer to be in London for the ease of getting around, meeting friends, things to do. Personally, I really miss the anonymity of London, round here, everyone wants to know everyone else's business which I hate.

I really miss the anonymity of London, round here, everyone wants to know everyone else's business which I hate. is that only London- or city living generally?

I have lived for decades in a city centre- not London, but found the same anonimity- I think that is part of most city culture.

I moved out for a fresh start after my husband died. After 8 years I'm heading back - I love it there and really looking forward to being able to walk everywhere or hop in a tube or bus, hustle and bustle. My kids are mid teens happy to make the move too - they are bored of the town we live in. Will have to move to a flat a third of the size of my house though.

Yes, every day. But it was still the right thing to do for my child. It's been 5 years and I still miss it every day though.

Yes and no. Yes, because I love London best of all places in the world and badly miss my favourite areas. But we moved for DC and I am glad we did. Our house is twice the size, our garden five times the size. We're surrounded by woodland but still only 40 mins from central London, so the commute is not that different from what it used to be. There's no way I'd have let DC grow up in London, without all this access to fresh air and good schools. (Our nearest primary in London was rubbish.) But I miss London's variety. And I am a bit sick of Daily Mail values where we live now.

No. Since moving we’ve bought our own home, got married and now have two DCs. We couldn’t have done that in London.

I am not is love with hustle and bustle. I love quiet and peace.
Deer and foxes in my garden, a 10 minute drive to watch seals in the sea, 20 minutes to a busy international airport. 15 minutes into my capital city- which hosts the worlds biggest annual international performing arts festival.

Yes.

We moved to Devon from London and have regretted it ever since.

The

Nope. First year was hard to adjust to village life but now I wouldn't move back! London is so busy and stressful and I would just worry about kids being out. Moved when DD was little now a teen; she goes out with friends and I've no worries as I know she's safe.
If you are t too far you can. Is it whenever. We always go back regularly and have family still there

I was born and bred is east London and lived all over the city until I moved out at 25. I thought I'd live and die in London when I was young but leaving to have my family in the country is the best thing I ever did.
I'm not sure the sacrifices you make would feel so easy if I'd just moved into suburbia somewhere though. It's been 20 years now and I don't miss it in the slightest.

Not at all. Moved from London to Cornwall 14 months ago and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

Oh i was a Dedicated Londoner
Absolutely loved living there

Moved out 8 years ago. First year I had pangs but now - I adore where I live.

The key is to move somewhere lovely , I mean push your budget and go for it because otherwise - you will pang for London for a long time.

What helps is that I live in a place quite similar to Hampstead. So lovely!

Yes, I missed it so much I moved back after 5 years away - I realised pretty much straight away that I had made the wrong move. made lovely friends where I went, and had a nice time, but it wasn't the same. I was still commuting in, which I hated and which wasn't practical with young children, so maybe I'd have been ok if I hadn't had to do that.

no regrets about being back - my children as teens have loved being in London

I was born in London, away to university and back to London for another terrific ten years. It is a great place to be young. However, I moved away for a better lifestyle (affordable house) and to have a child. Love where I live now, a Northern city with good night life, good schools and fantastic countryside. The only thing I miss is the South London accent - I still have mine and I always feel at home when I hear it.

No. I loved living in London but we moved to the West Country for my DH’s job. We swapped a flat for a four-bed house with garden & veg patch in a lovely village, close to city, beach & moors. We had two kids soon after moving & the lifestyle we have with them is outstanding (hikes, beach days, SUP & kayak etc). The things I enjoyed about London weren’t compatible with small kids. I sometimes miss those days, but that’s because we were young, mad & had no commitments, not because of London specifically.

Anyway, in short, never regretted it.

I moved out of London 14 years ago now. I still miss aspects of it and I love visiting the city which I try to do often. You couldn’t pay me to move back there though. Absolutely no regrets here.

We moved out to the rural countryside in 2011 with 2 young kids, because we thought we should ( more space, better schools etc etc) found it very tricky with lack of like minded people, culture, interesting food. Stuck it out for 5 years and then moved back! Haven’t looked back since! Love it here, London is my home. Sorry not sure that helps you? Dig deep on your reasons for moving, rent your property out rather than sell if you can so that you have a ‘safety net’ if you change your mind. We didn’t ( sold up) and it’s taken ages to get the cash together to buy back into the London market.

We moved to East Anglia 14 years ago. Our 4 DSs were aged between 14 & 8yo. We wanted them to have space to do all the outside activities they liked and to live in a safer environment (DS1 had experienced a man brandishing a knife whilst he was waiting for a bus to take him to school). Overall, I haven't regretted it. We've had fantastic service from Social Services for our disabled son. DS1 & DS3 moved back to London when they left home. That didn't surprise me, I expected it as there is more for 20somethings to do there and they remembered that from having lived there. DS4 stayed living at home and commuted to London. If he could have found a job locally, he would have preferred it. That is the main downside. I gave up my career, because there were so few vacancies locally, particularly part-time. We could afford for me to be a SAHM, however, because it was so much cheaper to live here. Now the boys are adults, I've been able to start a new career. It's been great having a large house & garden, plus dozens of different walks on our doorstep, during lockdown. I never get bored of the countryside and beautiful views. When I need a city fix I can go & visit my sons, when they need a weekend away, they can come back home. Definitely no regrets.