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.

Chester - great small city vibe similar to Shrewsbury but much better connected. Liverpool, Manchester, North Wales, The Wirral all less than an hour. Trains to London and Birmingham, great schools.

Another vote for Herefordshire, but also consider the areas of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire that are close to the border (basically bordered by a line from Cheltenham - Ross-On-Wye-Hereford-Worcester).

That whole area has lovely countryside, pretty villages, nice market towns and a decent-sized towns/cities that are ok for shopping etc.

Have a look at Nantwich, Cheshire. Lovely little town.

I love Shrewsbury, I know it well. Salisbury? The other end of the country, a bit smaller but has a similar vibe, although I think it might be a bit more expensive?

Also came to say Herefordshire or Somerset. Maybe Exeter side of Devon too?

Shropshire is a big place OP but if you really definitely don't want to be there how about the outskirts of Chester or into North Wales - somewhere like Mold where you can get to Chester, the Wirral etc easily. Alternatively parts of Macclesfield / surround are beautiful (albeit perhaps too pricey)

I've heard Chester is nice. Will put that on the list.

Exeter etc whilst lovely is too far to travel, and I don't think I can afford what I want anywhere in the West Country which probably rules out Salisbury too.

Keep harking back to that house in Ford. Doesn't help my views currently are the neighbouring house (behind me) and at the front the Thames Water drain lorry (as the drains are blocked somewhere along the road!). Not very picturesque 🤣

Derby is surprisingly nice but a bit bigger than Shrewsbury. You can live on the edge of the Peak District. Lichfield is really nice and a similar vibe to Shrewsbury. Further afield and less hilly, but how about Peterborough? Again, a market town which is just far enough from other cities to still have a life of its own.

You said Shrewsbury feels like home so I think it's worth reconsidering whether you could live there. I've lived in lots of different places (including Shrewsbury) but nowhere felt like home until I moved to the place I live now. I don't think you can recreate that just anywhere. Ford is lovely.

Preston Montford is where I went on a geography field trip when I was 11! Loved it.

(Just down the road from your house).

If you really like it does it really matter about ex?

Its quite a way out of Shrewsbury.

Chester is very footballer slash Essex.

As another poster said, I would wait until the dust has fully settled before making any big life decisions.

And then I would think about where I had family and friends living, and where your DC are likely to be based when they move out, before moving to a beautiful place where I knew nobody. I would also prefer to rent in a new place before buying, just in case I didn't settle in well.

Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Powys, Rutland

Cheshire - look at grape hall
/ Hatton / cuddington / frodshqm

I say still move to Shropshire if that's where your heart is. We love Shrewsbury and agree you get a lot of house for your money there.

Or one of the nearby towns with a train link to Shrewsbury - Ludlow or Church Stretton, Whitchurch or Wem?

We spent a decade being in one and Shrewsbury being our big town ten mins on the train

I'd still go. Lots of pretty towns that aren't Shrewsbury and Shropshire is a bit county.

Move to Shrewsbury OP. You will eventually stop caring/worrying that your ex is there and be in the place you feel at home in in your forever home. Any new county or place is also a big change/can feel lonely after a break up. (I have done it).

Another vote for Herefordshire from me, not sure it's any more rural than Shropshire really. Lovely market towns and Hereford itself is well connected.

I like Shropshire but love Herefordshire.

Abergavenny maybe. Its not as nice as Shrewsbury though, nor is Hereford.

I think if I were single and looking for a pleasant, bustling town to give me a sense of community Shrewsbury would be my first choice. Does it really matter that ex is there?

I also think you should still move to shrews, in a few years the break up won't be as raw.

Chester is fantastic. And very like Shrewsbury but house prices are steep

South Somerset is pretty affordable for the South West and towns like Crewkerne have a direct train line to London. No cities nearby though, Bristol & Bath are both an hour away but there are towns like Yeovil & Dorchester.