Am I utterly stupid and deluded to think I might ever live in London as an older person?

[figwine]

Just back from a trip there and as always I'm filled with a yearning to just stay there. I love travelling and love pretty much everywhere I go, but nowhere affects me like London does. I did live there for a couple of years in my 20s but then lived abroad for a while where I met exh, who persuaded me to move to the Midlands!

I would never uproot the dc (12 & 14), and certainly wouldn't be able to afford a family-sized home anywhere near anyway, but I have been wondering whether a small flat might be within reach in a few years. Obviously no one can give me an answer with regards affordability as we are talking about 10 years' time and if I can't afford it that will be the end of it. However, in theory, does it sound like a stupid idea?

As things stand I have no partner. I do have a career but it's one I could do anywhere and I would be coming to the end of it then anyway. I just feel the area we are in is so limited and dull, but obviously being alone and not massively well off in a big city might just be shit. I just wish I'd stayed when I had the chance, but that that ship has sailed. I have friends on FB who live there but I haven't seen them for years and couldn't assume I think that I'd be able to pick up where we left off.

Does anyone have any thoughts or relevant experiences? Perhaps I just need a shake!

Why on earth would you want to..?
Hugely expensive property, stab central, full of moped gangs, drugs, I find the people really rude, the rich poor divide is extreme, there are gangs everywhere.
It’s a bloody horrible place.

I couldn’t agree more with the poster that said it is turning into a shithole.

I couldn’t agree more with the poster that said it is turning into a shithole.

And one of that poster's key indexes of "shithole" was that London had the temerity to be a place that lots of people move to. Even people who weren't - gasp! - born British.

I've lived here for 20 years and I love it. You'll carry me out of the M25 in a long box.

stab central, full of moped gangs, drugs, I find the people really rude, the rich poor divide is extreme, there are gangs everywhere.

😂

Interesting version of London, which has nothing to do with the London I see in real life, but hey ho.

Not denying the real events, but you do realise London is a big city...

We currently live in London. If we could afford a nice flat somewhere central when the kids leave I think we might.

I'd love to have all the museums and things close by. I imagine our kids will stay in London too so they'd be close.

I'd like one of those new build flats that have a pool and gym on-site would be awesome when retired. A decent sized balcony and space for a small electric car. Everything within walking distance and good public transport. What's not to love?

We moved to London once the kids went to uni 4 years ago

BEST DECISION EVER - having an amazing time. We still look at each other and say "I can't believe we LIVE HERE"

Apart from housing, everything is cheaper and there's much more free stuff to do. We get the bus everywhere (it's £1.50 to go as far as you like)

@Powertothepetal

Why on earth would you want to..? Hugely expensive property, stab central, full of moped gangs, drugs, I find the people really rude, the rich poor divide is extreme, there are gangs everywhere. It’s a bloody horrible place. I couldn’t agree more with the poster that said it is turning into a shithole.

London is actually really friendly. People are busy but they will stop and help and disappear without a fuss once the job is done.

There will be pockets of unsavoury activity. You get there everywhere. Read the news. It is not all just London.

DH's dad and wife moved there (from the sticks) about 5 years ago, it has invigorated them. They barely use the car, having everything either a short walk or train ride away and have integrated well, much better quality of life for them now

How about renting a London flat for 6 months to see how you like it. Perhaps the first 6 months of the year as that's possibly the worst time if year - straight after Xmas.

Good gravy, friendliest place I've ever lived (and I've lived in 30 towns/cities in the UK)

The other reason we moved was for healthcare - we have 2 major hospitals within a mile of us

I went for a blood test to the main massive hospital a mile away thinking it would be a nightmare - you take a ticket and sit down. There were 12 phlebotomy bays.

I waited 4 minutes.

And one of that poster's key indexes of "shithole" was that London had the temerity to be a place that lots of people move to. Even people who weren't - gasp! - born British
I agree with them that it is overpopulated but not on the ‘real londoner’ or whatever terminology they used , that bit I don’t agree with at all, but the rest I absolutely do.

London is overpopulated (that isn’t a dig at minorities, I have no problem with diversity whatsoever), the rich poor divide is extreme, it does have a huge problem with crime, especially violent crime; gangs, drugs, knives etc and yes I know it is a big city but even considering that, it’s out of control imo.

And for context, I do have relatives that live there, I also have relatives that no longer live there but were London born and lived there for much of their lives.
15 odd years ago I knew a family that moved from London due to it being a shithole and due to violent crime back then.
That was 15 years ago and it is even worse now.

But, some people love it 🤷‍♀️
Each to their own I suppose

Yes, some people love it and the OP is one of them. And as somebody who actually does live here, I don't remotely recognise your description of it. If you don't want people showing up on threads about living rurally or in the suburbs or up North or wherever it is you do enjoy living to call them shitholes, maybe don't get all "UGH why would you want to live there" about other places.

A neighbour out here (London zone 5) was was about 80 moved to a 2 bed flat right in the centre (which would be possible for anyone with the large family houses out here when they sell them). people do do it. When my second daughter rented in the Barbican she got to know the old lady next door who had moved form Hampstead house to a small flat which is easier to manage and was very happy there.

The thing is most of the crime happens at night and if you're old like me you're not out really late much 🤷‍♀️

We're morning and afternoon people here - brunch/museum and a theatre matinee - usually home before 10

If you have teenage children you are more likely to have to be vigilant etc

But retiring here or living here in your 50's plus is a really different ball game

In the course of twenty years here, my exposure to crime has been having my laptop nicked fifteen years ago, and having my catalytic converter nicked a year ago. I got the laptop back right away, and while the converter thing was a nuisance, I hardly feel like I'm living under a constant pall of violent crime. I lived in Brixton for six years and walked around at all hours. No issues.

It's my dream too. I love the buzz. Never did it in my 20s and always wanted to. I don't think the £200k i will get for selling our family home will get me very far though :-(

Apparently it's a growing trend. I remember seeing a glut of retirement style flats going up near work & reading that this would be more common in the future. By the mid 2030s the number of over 64s is expected to increase by 60 something % (obvs ageing population in general). The theory was Brexit will reduce the number of young people attracted to UK & London & affordability will push people out.

I think the only thing I would worry about is what the future demographics could look like. Already many key workers eg police & NHS commute in as they can't afford to live close to work, will they still do that. I read that London had a reduction in school places demand due to falling birth rates & families moving away/leaving.

It's unpopular but we actually need immigration.

Of course you could move to London OP. What’s stopping you? You can live wherever you like!

Your uni-finishing children could well end up in London anyway, so will probably love having a mum with a central-ish flat. If you get a two-bed, you’ll probably find they’re competing to move in!

If I were you, I’d go for location over size. Obviously, somewhere like Knightsbridge or Kensington / Chelsea / Notting Hill etc are expensive - for a reason. But have a look towards Fulham or Parsons Green where you can get much more for your money. Much less ‘edgy’ if that’s a concern. Stay near the river if you can as the walks are lovely. Putney is great or, have you heard of Barnes which is basically a village in a bend of the river? Hampstead or it’s environs could also suit you really well. All these places are fun (for the young, old and middle aged alike)! and everything is on your doorstep. But these are just places I’m more familiar with - there will be many more! Happy flat hunting!

My parents moved from zone 3 to zone 1 once the kids left home. They love it. Live five mins walk to a royal park, five mins away from a major train line, and five mins away from a major London hospital. They never use their car and walk everywhere. Zone 1 has actually become a lot safer than in the past, plus most of the crime is against young people. Old people are actually pretty safe and secure in London. Plus there are always people around/neighbours so I never have to worry they have a fall and no one finds them.

The only downside is that neither I nor my siblings can afford to live next to them so we are still an hour away.

I am so glad to see this thread here today as the idea of moving to London has been in my head for the past few years and friends and family often find the idea odd. We currently live in a house with a big garden by the river in one of the tourist-intensive cities in north. It's an idyllic environment where millions of tourists visit each year. As DD will probably leave home to go to university in three years time, DH and I are seriously thinking about the possibility of moving to London We used to live in London for a few years in our 20s and had since lived in major international cities in Asia for more than 10 years before relocating back to the North. We thought this pretty town in north was a better option for raising our DD. Now, we are in our late 40s, the city side of me is lurking out. My tolerance for this town is wearing thin. I long for diversity, cultural events, accessible public transports to places..and a sense of vitality.

The chance for DH to find a job in London in is high and I can work from home anyway. However there is not going to be a massive income to afford a house with a garden in London! The budget we have is only about 650K, probably a small flat in the areas that we are currently interested (i.e. Kentish Town, Hamstead, and Finchley). Still I often question myself if it's a feasible plan, am I looking at London through rose tinted glasses. Am I being silly to want to start a new life when I am 50? Who knows.

It sounds like a lovely idea. Your then young adult children will want to come and stay, taking advantage of all that London offers. However please don't expect anything affordable in central London, that will only happen if you become extremely wealthy.

I've lived in London all my life and wouldn't live anywhere else but I live on the outskirts, with easy transport links to the centre which was handy when I worked. I am a pensioner now. Even in my area you pay upwards of £500k for a basic, 2 bed flat (I have a house and have been looking for something smaller and easier to take care of which is how I know; I want to stay in the same area).

Nothing wrong with having a dream, op, as long as, in the end, you are realistic about it. I wish you luck.

@LarryTheLurker, who qualifies as "actual Londoners"?

Probably not someone like me who is a Brit of furrin origin and who has lived in London off and on for almost 40 years.

An idea for you that my husband and I are mulling over - Canada Water or Surrey Quays, not the buzziest part of London but more affordable than central, and quite serene with the river and canals, which may be better in reality than constant traffic, and a short walk/journey to city, tower bridge and the livelier areas.

Yes do it! But buy a small two bed house with a small garden if you can. No leasehold issues/ service charges and will be less of a shock to the system that having neighbours all around.

Probably not someone like me who is a Brit of furrin origin and who has lived in London off and on for almost 40 years.

I think I am, 2nd gen immigrant who was born & raised in London. Don't know what else I could be? One of my friends (also born & raised) has been in Manchester for about 18 yrs. Shes defo not seen as a Mancunian 😆