To start a new life somewhere different?

[AutumnLeavesEverywhere]

On paper, this should be the best time of my life. I'm single, mid-40s, one adult DD who has just bought a house 100 miles away, reasonably financially comfortable, no ties.

But I'm so, so fed up. I hate where I live - 8 miles from the nearest town, 25 from a city, with absolutely nothing going on locally. My 3 bed house feels too big for just me, I seem to be spending my life doing a job I dislike, purely to pay for a house I dislike, then staying in bed all day on my days off because getting up just seems pointless.

I'm genuinely considering selling up and buying a lovely modern flat, somewhere in a city, and starting a new life.

Assuming this isn't a ridiculous idea, any suggestions of where I could move to? My wishlist is a city, good transport links, decent shops, museums etc, and bonus points for being reasonably close to the coast. My budget is around £170k for ideally a 2 bed flat, which rules a lot of places 'down south' out.

Can you really get a 2 bed flat in Edinburgh on the OPs budget though? I thought Edinburgh was pricey.

I posted a link to one in my first post ☝️👆

Choice was limited, to be fair.

I was going to say Norwich too. Only thing is though I don't think transport is great and then you are reliant on a limited number of routes out of the area. Do you drive/want to drive OP?

Waterloo, Liverpool. You can get a lovely house for your budget

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112481162#/?channel=RES_BUY

Liverpool

Newcastle. Small city centre, friendly people, lots of areas still affordable on that budget (for now), excellent transport system - it always makes me laugh when friends and family up there complain about the transport, having been exiled in the non London South for over 20 years now I still miss the Metro, I've lived and worked in several cities and the public transport has been appalling and unreliable compared. Really interesting history from the Romans to the modern day, small number of good museums and galleries and lots of nightlife if that appeals. Lots of places in easy reach too including 20 minutes by Metro from city centre to beautiful coastline (bit longer by bus), 2 universities, 1 FE college, very good range of shopping options and nice regional airport. Dead easy to get to Edinburgh, York, Leeds, Durham...Plus if you're moving from the south the relatively clean air (obviously cleaner at the coast and in the country) and relative emptiness of most of the roads most of the time will astonish you. Excluding the A1 and the A69 at rush hour, that is! And you will need good base layers in winter, that east coast breeze is bracing....

What about Shipley West Yorkshire just near Leeds? Some nice flats/apartments there and good rail links direct to Leeds

YABU if your plan involves quitting you job before finding another one. Even if you can buy the flat outright, you'll still need to eat.

Sounds like a brilliant idea to me.
Can I throw Leeds into the hat? Less rain than the cities west of the Pennines. Lovely countryside easily accessible but great restaurants bars and cultural activities too.

City centre with allocated parking:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112805768#/?channel=RES_BUY

A bit left field but what about Hull?

Up and coming but still cheap as chips, next to stunning coastal areas and countryside, M62 link, ferries to Europe, lots of regenerated docklands areas, lots of history.

I’m excited for you!

Sounds like a great idea! No advice on where to go, but I’d love to do what you’re doing, but can’t as youngest has a couple of years of school left and would also need to see his dad who lives locally but I’m divorced from.

I would totally do it if I could, go for it!

York. You could get a 2 bed apartment for your budget.

Go for it!

@BrilliantBetty

Bristol looks like an interesting place though I've no idea on property prices?

I was going to suggest Bristol but OP’s budget wouldn’t get her a 2-bed anywhere near the city itself.

But if you can find a place you’d like to try, then definitely go for it!

Definitely liverpool. You can get a lovely two bed flat in Aigburth near Sefton Park. Museums, lots of art and culture, the sea and countryside super near. Do it!!!

@Reallyimeanreally2022

Sorry if I missed but what will you do about work?

If fundamentally your life is not happy, moving to a different city is unlikely to help

WhT about focussing on building the life where you are? Hobbies, friends?

What do you envisage being different if you move?

Of course living in a different place is likely to help! Some towns/areas are much more friendly, have a lot more going on and are much more conducive to pursue hobbies in and have friends than others. Location is important.

Leicester - I know, but hear me out:

Links to rest of the country are excellent - you can be in London in 90 minutes. It’s the middle of everywhere - hop skip snd a jump to beautiful countryside (Derbyshire) not far from Nottingham. The city centre is being regenerated. It’s not my favourite city, Chester was my first thought - but it’s central to everywhere, I’ve found

Stoneygate is a lovely area

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/83087066#/?channel=RES_BUY

Great idea! Liverpool or Sheffield.

Cardiff or Liverpool, definitely. Tick all your boxes AND near the coast.

£170k would get you something in Cardiff, likely the Bay area.

Margate aka London on sea... only an hour to get to London but lots of interesting things happening in Margate too

How exciting! I would go for Cardiff. Its a great city. It has excellent transport, close to loads beaches and just has a nice friendly vibe going on. There are loads of things going on.

Cardiff Bay overlooking the sea:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/109571558?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

In the middle of the city centre:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107645969?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

My dream is to move to Whitby. Coastal and loads of history, maybe a bit quiet if you want a city vibe though.

Definitely a good idea though, life is too short to live somewhere you don’t like. We are waiting until both dses are through university and will then consider moving.