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.

Whitby is not quiet! It’s heaving. Always.
Also Edinburgh is right near the coast but expensive.

We moved at your age, from near Edinburgh back down south. Well worth it.

Fancying so where more north for next move. It's good for the brain to have a change of scene.

Swansea would fit your criteria

Loads of great suggestions, thank you - I'm off today so have plenty of time to scroll through Rightmove. This flat is absolutely lovely and is exactly the kind of place I have in mind www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113821775#/media?id=media0&ref=photoCollage&channel=RES_BUY

With regards to work, I'm a nurse, so am confident I'd be able to easily find a job wherever I decided to move to. Being mortgage free would mean I could cut down my hours slightly too, giving me more time to embrace my new exciting life!

Great idea and good luck.
Just be wary of the service charges and ground rent.

Aigburth Drive, Aigburth, Liverpool, L17
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111715406

Two bed flat right on Sefton Park!

Have you ever lived in a flat? Perhaps you should start by renting, to get a feel of the city, work, and living in a flat. If you do like it a year or two into it, buy. It will also give you the time to get an idea of where in the city you would like to live.

I’m with @MummyLovesWine : go to Newcastle, not York. It’s cheap, so friendly, just the right size, just enough culture, great restaurants/ pubs, beautiful coast, easy to get into nature, great public transport. For £170K you can get a 2 bed flat in a good part of town with a 10 min bus connection to the centre. It’s own airport (connected to the Metro!!) with flights to Europe and holiday destinations, and you’d be sitting on the East Coast train line so London / Edinburgh is quick and easy.

Do not move to York; overpriced, touristy, studenty, no cultural life to speak of, conservative and unfriendly. At Christmas it’s so rammed with tourists you can’t get phone signal. You can always visit York from Newcastle and get to leave at the end of the weekend!

As PP has pointed out, moving will not solve fundamental problems like depression etc. But you seem to be in a stage of life where living in a flat in a city would work better than living in a house in the country, so if you can sort out the job it seems that it would increase your life quality massively. I’d say go for it! Let us know how it went!

And as you’re a nurse, several excellent hospitals in Newcastle!

And check this out: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73461944#/?channel=RES_BUY
On the quayside (ie river Tyne - recently revived part, a large museum, great restaurants and pubs, weekend market, 15 min walk from the high street), modern flat, £170K.

Another vote for Liverpool! I'm a southerner and pretty tied to it in terms of work and family but in different circumstances I'd move there like a shot.

Hull or Newcastle! Friendly people. Good arts/culture scenes. Cheap. Very near coasts.

@EatYourVegetables York is definitely not conservative, it’s been labour for ever. Unless you mean conservative with a small ‘c’ and don’t think it’s that either. Not a cultural void at all, lots of theatre and the art gallery is (now) fab plus a great independent art house cinema but can’t disagree with tourist bit, although they are mainly really pissed up Geordies from Newcastle coming in for hen/stag weekends and vomiting everywhere. 😂

Yanbu. Do it!! Do you have a city in mind?

I'd go to Newcastle too. Great city, loads going on and reasonable cost of living. Stunning Northumberland coast and easy access to York, Edinburgh

How about Cardiff, OP? It’s a lovely city. And totally agree with your idea about moving to a new city - it sounds fabulous!

Go for it! You sound very unhappy and isolated where you are now. Cities are great places to live if you pick the right bit

Fabulous idea! Go for it.

Can you WFH? I wouldn’t jack in your job without another one to go to.

I’d pick somewhere within an hour of your daughter and/or other family on an easy train route or within an easy drive. (Think future proofing).

Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, York, Chester, Liverpool, Bristol, Bath, Edinburgh are all great. Don’t rule out south east or south west as too expensive - lots of cheaper towns within those regions if you’re willing to do your research. Good luck!

I totally agree with Liverpool, close to Manchester also, £5 on the train,.excellent city,.Close to Lake District, not far from North Wales, I would definitely choose that or Edinburgh (but that is because is particularly love Edinburgh)

It's a great idea! I would.

I think it's a great idea and Liverpool or Cardiff come to mind. Good luck.

I would go for York, I've even found a little place for you in Mad Alice Lane, Petergate www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112249766#/media?channel=RES_BUY&id=media1. Please do it!!

Belfast
Really good property for your money. Lots going on and people very friendly

And near the sea

www.propertypal.com/13-deramore-street-ormeau-road-belfast/709221

www.propertypal.com/flat-3-97-south-parade-belfast/691299

I don’t get the hate for York above! It’s busy but really vibrant and interesting. I’d definitely consider it for starting over as feels quite cosmopolitan and near thr beautiful Yorkshire Coast. Also the south West of Sheffield which is interesting and artsy and has so much going on