AIBU?
To ask you where we should move?
Buggritbuggrit · 13/04/2021 01:14
We’re looking to move out of London, like everyone else. The issue is that we have no idea where. Neither of us is English, and we’ve never lived anywhere in England that wasn’t London. Please help!
We’re an interracial couple, so would ideally like somewhere with some racial diversity where neither we nor our kids were unusual.
DP loves the great outdoors and I love the hustle and bustle of Islington. We’d ideally like somewhere with both of those things, decent schools, house prices that aren’t insane and a manageable commute into London.
Apart from those criteria (and I have no idea if any of that is reasonable), we’d be happy with anywhere in the South East. Budget is about £600K. If anyone has any recommendations, I’d love to hear them. Ideally, I want someone to go ‘you have exactly described where I live, don’t worry about this anymore, move here at once’. So, if that were to happen, I’d be much obliged. 
Liverbird77 · 13/04/2021 14:51
I think you should consider South Manchester.
My DH often has to go to London for meetings and it's fine.
Didsbury has everything you describe. Easy access to Manchester city centre and to the peak and lake districts. Lots of parks, along with nice bars and restaurants.
Ilikecakes · 13/04/2021 15:41
Yep Brighton and Hove. House prices are high here but you should be able to get something in Hangleton if you’d prefer the Hove side or Fiveways if you wanted closer to Brighton. Nowhere near as diverse as London of course, but it’s improving all the time, particularly in some schools. Lots of bustle, countryside up the road, beach life too, commutable to London. We love it here! PM if you want any more deets 
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 13/04/2021 15:49
It's good to be aware that outside London is generally far less diverse, and the most diverse communities may be predominantly south Asian origin. That may or may not suit you.
Cities are far more diverse than towns. Luton and slough are reasonably diverse and quick to get into London but are maybe not necessarily mumsnet "naice".
Buggritbuggrit · 14/04/2021 01:29
@peak2021 We both work in central London and would be looking to come in about twice a week on average. Reasonably flexible working hours, but nothing outside the norm e.g. if 10am to 6pm or 8am to 4pm were more convenient than 9-5, that would be fine.
stoopider · 14/04/2021 04:07
Google “monks farm lancing” they’re building an IKEA and 600 houses. Totally new village just on the outskirts of Worthing. You’d get a 4 bed for your budget. Walking distance of the sea. Walk into shoreham/Worthing. Short journey to brighton for all the fun and giggles.
howmanyhats · 14/04/2021 08:39
Are you really sure you want to leave London? I did, and I miss it loads.
If you need to be in London for work, I don't think there is a place that has the hustle and bustle of Islington, decent schools, house prices that aren’t insane and a manageable commute into London that's also culturally diverse, except Brighton and as you can see, at those prices you might as well stay in London unless you're really set on Brighton.
It's the only place I can think of that ticks your boxes (the South Downs is beautiful and the city has a lot going on).
Other places that are culturally diverse and have access to city life as well as countryside are too far to be a commutable distance to London. Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester as mentioned tick a lot of the boxes but are too far to commute.
Leaving London is often a one way street. We'll never go back to London, selling up there burnt our bridges. We'll never be able to afford to go back.
We sold our 1 bed London flat for £250k and bought a 3 bed house for £150. A decade later, this house is only worth £200k, but the flat we sold in London is now worth about £500k. Gutted!
DP wanted open spaces, which we got. But the DC aren't getting the opportunities they would in a city or large town. Ambitious young people here either move away or stay and settle with a crap job, there's a reason people go to London for work, it's much easier to find decent jobs there! (Admittedly that's a particular feature of where we are. No large employers locally except the council and NHS).
I feel trapped. I don't want to be here but the DC are settled, to uproot them would be huge. I didn't realise how much I'd miss city life though, particularly the wide range of cultural events on your doorstep. DP is happy here, I'm not.
Hopefully I'm wrong and there is somewhere that ticks your boxes that's ticks your boxes and us commutable to London and I just don't know it! Maybe give Brighton another look?
howmanyhats · 14/04/2021 08:41
@WaterBottle123
Look at Hampshire. Winchester could suit you very well.
Totally agree about Worthing. What's the commute like from Hampshire? Sounds like a long way to me!
Buggritbuggrit roughly whereabouts in London to you work / which mainline station would you need to come in to?
GeorgesGreenDinosaur · 14/04/2021 08:46
I know you said that Manchester is further than you were thinking but South Manchester really does tick all the boxes, especially West Didsbury.
You have access to motorways, excellent public transport and you're close to the countryside.
I am biased though!
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