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.

Have you considered Norfolk? Great value property, never far from a sandy beach. Norwich is a lovely city.

How about Southport? Nice high street, 30 mins from Liverpool and cheap house prices. It you want more of a country feel you could try Hesketh Bank?

I'd try Worcester or Leamington

Having lived in both Shropshire and Norfolk… Seconded.

Tarporley in Cheshire is in a lovely area. I’ve always wanted to live there.

Hebden Bridge? Close to Manchester and Leeds, lovely small town, gorgeous area.

Ludlow
Oakham
Hereford
Bridgenorth
Outskirts of Stratford

Worcester
Hereford
Lichfield
Cirencester
Clevedon

Worcestershire, Worcester itself or kinver, bewdley etc

I grew up in Oswestry, and think it's a marvellous place to live.

Maybe Montgomery? Or Malpas? Or Overton (rural village near Wrexham with a few shops and lovely community feel).

I can add nothing to the conversation as I don't know the UK all that well apart from the SE but just to say I'm hoping you are looking after yourself. Breakups when not instigated by you can be heartbreaking.
Take care of yourself x

I'd say to avoid Hereford (traffic awful, town going downhill) but Ledbury has a Shropshire feel. Powys is lovely, but not brilliantly connected. Outskirts of Worcester 100% feel Shropshire-like but better connected, and lastly, Malvern might fit the bill!

Some of these places are lovely but places in which the OP is minimum £100k short for a 4 bed, like Cirencester.

I think Midlands is your best bet for budget. I'm from a nice leafy Yorkshire valley near Manchester and you're looking at £550k there for similar to the linked house.

When you need to commute occasionally, is driving an option (or driving to a station?)
East or south Derbyshire could be an option and you'd get a decent amount for your money. North East Derbyshire for commuting to Manchester or south if going to Birmingham. Places like Ashbourne, Buxton, Chapel would have a similar feel (albeit colder!)

Peak District

Ive lived in shrewsbury and Lichfield and they have a very similar feel although i think house prices are a little higher in lichfield

Between shrewsbury and wolverhampton there are some very pretty towns and villages

Also agree with the person who reccomended mold, its a bustling market town with a theatre, hawarden and overton are also nice

Also the wirrel (hear me out) there is a bit by the sea/estuary which is very nice and seems to be permanently sunny

I also love gloucestershire

Solihull is nice, daventry is a bit souless but that part of the midlands is nice

Cheshire or North Wales borders (Wrexham/Denbighshire/Mid Wales). All lovely, leafy areas and not too pricey for a good property with big garden. Lots of small towns or villages with lovely sense of community but not too far from everything.
As you’re not in any rush, maybe start visiting different areas for short breaks to get a feel for things.

Monmouthshire. Similar neck of the woods. GORGEOUS! You've got Monmouth, Abergavenny, Usk and Chepstow to choose from, among others.

@Candleabra Tarporley is lovely but you would at best get a three bed terrace for £400,000. You’d be looking closer to £800,000 if you wanted something that fits OPs requirements! Even if you go out surrounding places like Kelsall and Willington you’d be looking at £600,000.

If you wanted something in the West Cheshire area you’d need to look closer the Welsh Border or towards Warrington.

Monmouth is lovely, and has much more going for it than Ross.

Shrewsbury is such a small place, I feel like if I moved back there (or even lived in one of the surrounding villages but just went there for shopping etc ) chances of seeing Ex would be high. That said, all his teenage exs (from when he was a teenager, just to make it clear, they're not teenagers now!) all still live locally and he never saw any of them, it was kind of a running joke that he would eventually bump into them at some point.

Re the break up, it was my decision but he kind of left me no choice. I'd already forgiven him for 2-3 massive things, this was the final straw. I'm still sad about it though, it's changed the whole course of my future.

I don't have family other than my children, friends are all over the place, mostly South East although one in Merseyside and one in Cheshire, so I would be closer to them in Shropshire or the surrounds.

I had a good friend who lived near Crewkerne many years ago. I love that part of the world but I just can't afford the right house there, and the commute to Croydon would be a ball ache even though only once a month. Ideally something that means I don't have to travel via London would be perfect.

Lincolnshire? Similar rural county with cheap housing and cathedral city?

cupsasoup

Shrewsbury is such a small place, I feel like if I moved back there (or even lived in one of the surrounding villages but just went there for shopping etc ) chances of seeing Ex would be high. That said, all his teenage exs (from when he was a teenager, just to make it clear, they're not teenagers now!) all still live locally and he never saw any of them, it was kind of a running joke that he would eventually bump into them at some point

If you currently live in London then yes, Shrewsbury probably does seem tiny but it's really not, the chances of bumping into him are still really small. DH and his sister are none contact, they haven't bumped into eachother in the 10 years since they last spoke and they live 5 minutes from eachother.

Monmouth, Hereford or Abergavenny.

I'd look for somewhere where it was reasonably easy to get to/from likely areas your kids might be settling?

I totally agree you can't go to Shrewsbury - supposing you wanted to date again, you might be matched with your ex - aaargh!! On the subject of dating, might you want to be somewhere with a bit more of a 'pool' than rural Shropshire in the light of your changed circs? And do you really need 4 bedrooms?

Someone mentioned the peak District. Buxton is really pretty,a spa town and quite a bit of 'culture' goong on tho not sure about rail links. Or some of the pennine 'fringe' above Manchester - ready access to Manchester and Liverpool. Or Lancaster ? A 'proper' town, has a University, and more bucolic/agricultural countryside if that's more your thing than the rocky drama of the pennines.