to ask for places I can live that aren't Shropshire?

[cupsasoup]

I split up with my long term partner recently. He is from Shropshire, and our plan for the entire time we were together was to move back to Shrewsbury/ the surrounding area (within about a 10-15 miles radius ideally although possibly further afield) once my DC were older/ living independently. I've spent years travelling back and forth to Shrewsbury, I'm a complete townie, I've never lived outside the M25 except for university, always in very urban areas. But I came to absolutely love Shropshire as a county, and felt far more at home there than I ever have in the town I live in now, despite being here for 20 years. Property prices, though rising, are also significantly cheaper than the area of London I currently live in, meaning I could sell my current house, give my DC some money and still have enough to buy a lovely home that's as nice as my current one but with the bonus of a big garden and lovely countryside views.

But as exDP and I are now over, there's no way I could move up there. So now I'm a bit lost. I don't particular like where I live, it's a standard commuter area of London. It's main advantage is proximity to London but as I don't work in London (mainly remote, I do need to travel to the office infrequently but can go to one of 3 different offices in Croydon, Liverpool or Birmingham so as long as I can get to those once a month I can live anywhere) that doesn't really benefit me.

So where do I go now? I don't need to move immediately, there's not a desperate rush but with exDP the plan was in 2-3 years, and tbh that was what was keeping me going whilst still living where I do.

Herefordshire

Another vote for Herefordshire. I'm a proud Salopian having been born just outside Shrewsbury, but there are lovely places around Leominster and Hereford and the prices are comparable to Shropshire.

Liverpool or Manchester?

Herefordshire, parts of Somerset and Wiltshire would have a similar feel.

oh sorry, you don't want a city as such......well there's plenty of green space around Liverpool and Manchester that would still give you easy access to the cities.

How old are your kids?

Why not Shropshire? County population 500k, odds of running into DP slim - especially as it sounds like he doesn’t live there yet either? Get in first!

North and South Shropshire are practically different counties due to the size, in the North or closer to N Wales you have access Chester, Liverpool etc so best of both??

Herefordshire or Gloucestershire

Definitely Herefordshire. Ledbury might suit, as it's on the train line for Birmingham but also easier than most parts of the country to connect to the M4 for London.

For houses prices and space I’d say Herefordshire or Gloucestershire as well.

Herefordshire - maybe Ross-on-Wye?

Herefordshire or Gloucestershire. There are many areas where you've got the convenience of local facilities, but within a short drive (or even walk if you're lucky) you have lovely countryside around you. Gloucestershire has easy access to London if you're likely to travel back to see friends and family.

Ex is already in Shrewsbury, as are his family. Honestly it would feel too weird moving there. I'd feel like I was going there to be near him (he will never leave Shropshire now).

I think for me the attraction was - apart from it being his home town, where he grew up, went to school etc - is that the town is small yet has good shops, facilities, loads of nice pubs and restaurants etc. And it just feels like home. Or it did!

I will look at Herefordshire but I think it might be a bit too rural (I don't know that part of the country at all).

My budget is about £400k for a 4 bed house with a nice garden, and ideally some countryside views. One of the attractions of Shropshire was that it's so under populated that even though there is loads of development going on, there's still so much green space everywhere.

My DC are 21 and 24, both still at home but that will change in the next couple of years I'm sure.

What about Ludlow? It’s quite a long way from Shrewsbury but still hear Birmingham.

I think you need to grieve for and get over the end of your relationship before making any long term decisions about where to live. There are lots of lovely towns around the UK which have all the benefits of Shrewsbury (maybe even nicer!) but I get the feeling that you need to let go of that particular dream/plan first. Wishing you all the best OP.

Also, Worcester - the Malverns are beautiful.

Herefordshire. You can get the train from Hereford to Birmingham.

Warwickshire, Leamington Spa or Kenilworth, surrounded by countryside and 4 bedroom house doable for £400k

Good road links to Shrewsbury and train to b/ham and then Shrewsbury would be easy enough when the dc are older - or meet ex in b/ham to swap over etc

Stroud in Gloucestershire?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122599184#/media?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUYThis would give you what you want with lovely views to the common. Plus Stroud is a lively market town so you get a bit going on too!

Leamington to Birmingham on the train is 25/30 minutes and frequent trains every 30 minutes

My PIL used to live in Ludlow. It's the dullest place. Shropshire is very lovely if you like rural but I found it rather boring and the public services pretty poor.
If you still need to commute occasionally, looking for somewhere with decent transport connections is essential.
Are there any places in the UK that you have friends or family living?

Thinking about living somewhere else is kind of a distraction from the grief I feel over the end of of the relationship, but also a way of reinforcing to myself that it is over (because sadly it is, no way back unfortunately).

This is the kind of house I'd love, quite modern, but nice driveway, lovely garden and views, in a village but still only 10 mins from Shrewsbury. It came up on my Rightmove alerts (need to turn those off! ) and was what prompted me to start this thread. I had that momentary thought of sending it to my Ex (I was always sending him house things when we were together) before remembering we're not longer together and no contact.

If I'd still been with Ex the plan was for something the next 'step up' from this - as he'd have been contributing - so slightly more detached, a bigger garden, etc, but this would definitely do for me:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85535991#/?channel=RES_BUY

Worcestershire has a similar feel. Also places like Wiltshire maybe.