Leaving London - is there a promised land?

[ilkleymoorbartat]

With the mass exodus from London at the moment, aibu to ask whether there is some promised land that people go when they have kids (whatever the location).

Ie, are those of us in London missing out on a life that is lovely and idyllic which if you're in the London bubble it's impossible to imagine?

Do we have Stockholm syndrome basically?!

@ RickiTarr
@ Macncheeseballs

Regarding the AIBU “To be irritated by the Londoner exodus to my town?”

Wow that what a fast moving pile of ill thought out misunderstood ignorance (nearly exclusively from the original poster). Gosh this other current Manchester London thread must be the most illogical “hidden” agenda divisive toxic mother of all “battlegrounds!?” Are there many more open hard line communist to avoid on MumsNet? And I thought this is a civilised first world advance capitalist nation to politely discuss, debate, support and share a diversity of viewpoints?! Respectfully and agreeing to disagree if necessary than open offensive abuse of misunderstood concepts. Therapy for such anger management issues would help. Sadden by these troubling issues as it must be stressful in addition to the dangers from localised Indian Covid Delta infiltration. And I am not a landed gentry lord of the manor by any stretch of the imagination just a fellow mum who recognises the evolving market dynamics and potential challenges ahead for future generations with regards to trending housing and lifestyle matters.

Scotland. Hands down the best choice I ever made was to move here (not from London though). My mortgage is £520 and out of my window I can see fields, trees, open sky, deer, birds etc

Zone 6 and we have all that

And our mortgage is less

We were in London and still love to visit (still commutable) but we benefit from tiny village schools and space to grow our own vegetables, chickens and several of our neighbours have a few sheep etc. I couldn't bring my small children up in London even though there are definitely more clubs/opportunities. We visit regularly and I am a little sad when I do that I suddenly don't need to change their river/mud/tree soaked/stained clothes every day! - Oh but there is definitely more washing! I would check your areas though. We are in a village but there is a real community with lots going on, especially in the winter which I can imagine could otherwise be quite lonely! There has been a small exodus this way as house prices have risen 20% in the last 3 months!

I've heard Altrincham is nice

@denverRegina

I've heard Altrincham is nice

Yes quite as apparently “naice” even. Don’t go especially if you are a monied London property owner sporting Hunter boots driving a Chelsea tractor with children requiring normal decent grammar level education etc as pitchforks and extinctions rebellion cult religion communists riots may camp on your upgraded McMansion. Not sure what the urban street English variant dictionary would describe McMansion as I am assuming it is a Desperate Housewifes footballers gated townhouse with express ultra processed junk food delivery on tap?

McMansion 🤣 the OP is clearly 2 nuggets short of a happy meal

I had no idea until yesterday that Altrincham was the promised land!

What's so great about Altrincham,? I'm the other side of Greater Manchester ,I don't think Altrincham is all that tbh!

Everything. Haven't you heard it's "London 2.0?"

You can buy a scratty damp terrace for £300k or get a McMansion for a little bit more.

It'll suit you if you drive a Chelsea tractor and have some hunter wellies. If you could loudly tell others in the playground you're doing them a favour then you'll have nailed it. Apparently.

@Bythemillpond Cool, but the OP asked about places outside of London.

Apparently Manchester speaks the most languages of any city in Western Europe and still can’t manage “ welcome”.

ChunkyKitKat123

Zone 6 can be outside of London. I don’t have a London postcode.

@Bythemillpond

ChunkyKitKat123

Zone 6 can be outside of London. I don’t have a London postcode.

Bits of zone 4 don’t have London postcodes, they are still very firmly in London boroughs, and not even the outer London boroughs.

If we are going to measure London by postcode, then this is 1960 all over again and the conversation is totally different.

I know someone from Mitcham who vehemently believes she lives in Surrey. 😆

@awaketoosoon

I know someone from Mitcham who vehemently believes she lives in Surrey. 😆

I think it is an obsession that gets handed down from Margot & Hyacinth style mothers.

@awaketoosoon - I am quite sure that if I lived in Mitcham, I'd want to think I lived in Surrey. We do live in zone 6 Surrey. TBF, if I drive the non A3 route that takes me through bits of Mitcham I lock the car doors. Used to do that if I passed through Brixton in the early to mid 80s.

Sounds like a typical Surrey response!

@awaketoosoon

I know someone from Mitcham who vehemently believes she lives in Surrey. 😆

Gosh yes. Don’t confuse Mitcham with St. Georges Hill, Weybridge. Surrey is not quite all the same.

Australia perhaps may now more likely be “a promised land?” As just released - UK agrees historic trade deal with Australia www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-agrees-historic-trade-deal-with-australia

Under the agreement, Brits under the age of 35 will be able to travel and work in Australia more freely, opening exciting opportunities for young people. Something for the next generations and younger professionals to consider relocating post pandemic? High net worths regardless of age will always be welcome everywhere as money talks and walks nomadcapitalist.com/?s=Australia

I agree. Australia, New Zealand, East Asia is where it's at. Economies doing well, opportunities, far better quality of life.
Definitely abroad is more the promised land than anywhere in the UK.

I'm surprised though if Australia (or any of the Asia Pacific countries) will allow unlimited migration from the UK?

Temporary visas, maybe, but they were actually getting stricter on immigration from here. They know more UK will want to move there than the other way.

I mean the average person of course. Yes money definitely talks.

Even if not permanent visas, wonderful opportunities for the young (less so for the over 35s).

@Tealightsandd

I agree. Australia, New Zealand, East Asia is where it's at. Economies doing well, opportunities, far better quality of life. Definitely abroad is more the promised land than anywhere in the UK.

I'm surprised though if Australia (or any of the Asia Pacific countries) will allow unlimited migration from the UK?

Temporary visas, maybe, but they were actually getting stricter on immigration from here. They know more UK will want to move there than the other way.

I mean the average person of course. Yes money definitely talks.

Even if not permanent visas, wonderful opportunities for the young (less so for the over 35s).

I'm shocked at this. I wouldn't consider any of those places!

If you want closer to home, I'd say Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland.

Switzerland Is always the pinnacle but so too is the cost. If you think rip off UK eg house prices (London and south east England plus desirable spots), energy and transportation costs and well as food and entertainment - you have not experienced expensive until you go Swiss! Sure Swiss is usually best quality for most things including quality of life. As I said way way earlier up thread Lugano (Geneva, Bern etc) and Sydney are exceedingly attractive propositions and that final global monopoly board move. Swiss real estate ownership and investment laws as well as residency is highly restrictive as they only want global talents as well as investment. They are happy to look after your liquid assets but not sure about having the average Brits coming to town permanently especially as they tend to be by default and necessity multilingual being a confederation of many parts.

New Zealand is wonderful for retirement but for young active wealth creators and highly skilled is too small a critical mass unless of course you are a true global capitalists digital normal that loves outdoor adventure and can work from a luxury Airstream etc. New Zealand agriculture food quality and wine is world beating naturally. We need a decent Brexit trade deal with New Zealand too!

Switzerland no thanks. Creepy stepford wife type snooty place the assumption is kids go home for lunch because mum will be at home ready to spring into action to make them lunch🙄. It’s also creepily perfect not a blade of grass out of place and a total rip off to boot. Austria is WAY better vibe and normal prices.