If you could move anywhere in England…?

[Greyscreendream]

Where would you choose and why?

I’m coming out of a long term relationship and am after a fresh start in a new area, currently in the Home Counties.

I love the countryside and would want to be close to green space. Would also like to be closer to the sea if possible.

I’m looking to be in a town or nearby, with good schools and affordable housing. My budget is £350k for a three bed, but could push this slightly for the right house.

This isn’t really an AIBU but I was hoping you guys could suggest some areas I may not have thought of. It’s so daunting when you can literally choose anywhere…!!

I wouldn't. I'd move to Wales.

We live in Bournemouth which has 5 miles of sandy beaches and fab weather. Or the new forest which is a short drive from Bournemouth. Places like Ringwood are nice as its near the forest and the sea.

I know you said you didn't want to.move back to East Anglia because the countryside is so boring, but we've just moved from near Cambridge to the Suffolk Coast and can't believe how beautiful the countryside is here compared with Cambridgeshire. Loads of gorgeous walks, incredibly quiet roads once you're off the A12, and great beaches.

We live in Woodbridge, which is lovely. Lots of independent shops, fantastic secondary school, trains to Ipswich. Loads going on. We haven't regretted it at all.

I would go for a small town near nice countryside, where your daughter can walk to school / town centre and there is something for you to do too (arts / sports / crafts). Your budget isn’t huge so you could make a list of towns which fit the criteria in various bits of the country and see what your budget gets you. That’s a bit of a pain as you might need up travelling around more but I think it’s a better idea than fixing on one place that you’ve never lived in or visited.

Shropshire is another place On the list, particularly Shrewsbury. It looks very quaint and seems to have good schools. My daughter is primary-aged for whoever asked. Still a couple more years to go so the focus is on secondary schools now

I was going to suggest Shrewsbury but you mentioned the coast. I made the move to Shrewsbury with 2 teenagers two years ago and have not regretted it for a second. Beautiful place, loads of interesting places to visit on the doorstep (welsh border and surrounding villages), independent shops / cafes / restaurants, it has a happy vibe about the place - regattas, festivals in the quarry, flower show, food show etc. Good thing is you would be able to afford a decent house for 350k here and enjoy all it has to offer. I would never live anywhere else now I still pinch myself when I go out for a run!

I am assuming you can work anywhere so if so you need somewhere with decent wifi so nowhere in the sticks (and not all towns are equally well provided for).

Alton and Petersfield in Hampshire are both nice, and do have houses in your budget. They also have railway stations. Schools are good (and non-selective) and the surrounding countryside is lovely and they are both relatively accessible for the coast.

You didn't say where you currently live, but Kent has a lot of nice places as well and has the grammar school system.

Exeter is a great city but getting more expensive. There are lots of new houses going up in the area. An alternative might be Taunton.

Shropshire strikes me as being rather far from friends in the south-east. Whereas, for example, you can get from York to London in two hours by train. So places up north are worth considering if you check out the transport links. I did have a look at Hereford though, and that has plenty of choice in your price range. Worcester might be worth a look too. But neither are near the coast.

Northumberland is lovely but I wouldn't say it fits the bill for a rising teen unless you live within easy reach of Newcastle.

Northumberland 100% because that's exactly what we did. Our lives have never been better. I'd never go back to the home counties, Northumberland suits our family so much better. Today I'm off to the beach with a woman from one of my social groups to go rock pooling and dolphin spotting. This weekend I'm going foraging in the woods. Last week me and my son went to a new cafe and ended up sat with a lovely pair of older ladies who totally indulged my son in conversation much to his delight.

I'm in one of the towns that has an apparently awful reputation for being rough. I mean it's quite working class, but I've never felt more welcome and comfortable anywhere else I've lived. Plus you have Newcastle, the MetroCentre and a whole bunch of amazing historic sights so close by. It's definitely worth considering.

Given that you don’t want to be a taxi service, Cardiff or Penarth would be good choices - or one of the other town sized places nearby if you check the train availability. Penarth has good schools and a good train service for nights out in Cardiff and a lovely country park on your doorstep. Some nice bars, but too many estate agents and charity shops (much like rest of uk). The train service out of Cardiff is no better or worse than elsewhere in the uk and there’s an airport, concert venues etc etc

Sheffield (cross pool or crookes or broom hill area). Next to the Peak District but also easy to get to city centre….and it’s got lots to do and lots of nice upcoming places for food/drink etc. crookes/cross pool in catchment areas of good schools plus 2 unis nearby x

I'd go to the coast around Newcastle - Whitley Bay, Tynemouth area. Easy access into Newcastle on the metro, reasonable house prices, beach at the end of the road, Northumberland national park a short drive away, international airport and the main east coast train line runs through newcastle. The only thing i've not researched in my fantasy move is schools ;)

I would definately recommend North Yorkshire

bridgnorth in Shropshire too, town is nice, Wolverhampton is close enough for bigger shops and access to M6 and M54 also mainline station to london

Norfolk, you could buy a lovely 3 bed for that sort of figure, outside of Norwich, coast, the broads, all close by. Sandy beaches. Friendly people. Safe city centre. International Airport. Good rail links. Low crime. Great sunshine hours. So much to do in Norfolk, we moved from the SE just over two years ago, best thing we ever did, no regrets whatsoever.

Lovely thread. I live in Cornwall and despise it.

I'd love to live somewhere a little further up the M5 such as Somerset. And be able to come back to Cornwall with ease or travel up to Wales with ease. And London via train within a few hours (currently it's 6 hours to Paddington!)

Sorry OP x post, you don’t want East Anglia, good luck with wherever you chose and I hope all works out very well for you.

I live in north shropshire, good links Chester and Stoke, and north Wales for beaches, though its still about an hours drive to the coast. But it is a beautiful place to live. Nantwich is a lovely small town too but falls in Cheshire. Oswestry is nice too.

Sheffield is right on the edge of the Peak District, good schools/uni's. The centre is being developed and slowly improving, but there's always Meadowhall... There are theatres, museums, art galleries, parks, stacks of foody places, cinemas, music venues, good transport/train links, and a whole load more that suits all ages and tastes. Fabulous countryside, especially in North Sheffield (IMO). Not near the sea, I admit (about 1.5/2 hours drive, but central to east/west coasts, Whitby/Blackpool/Scarborough etc) but a very friendly & welcoming bunch of folk, and in lots of community spirit. Houses very doable for your budget.

Interesting thread. I've loved reading about all the places folk suggest, and why 😊

Peak District is very cold in winter, very expensive and like everywhere drug problems. Transport can be very poor and even marks closed in Buxton.

Lol I was going to ask the same thing!

Romsey is lovely, I come from Lyndhurst originally but my sister lives in Romsey.

Very expensive area. Moved to South Essex to marry and found yet another bloody expensive area.

In Norfolk now, just off the broads, by about a mile. £350000 will buy you a good sized property on a decent plot outright!

Bambrugh or Seahouses or Alnwick, basically Northumberland coast

If you're looking as far as Exeter, how about Mumbles, Swansea? Or just Swansea (an area like Sketty or Brynmill or Uplands) which is one of those lovely-ugly former industrial towns with a growing reputation for its quality of life?

Beautiful sandy safe beaches on your doorstep (sometimes within view). In Mumbles, a nice little shopping street with independents, a butcher, a fishmonger etc and bars and restaurants by the sea. The Gower Peninsula within a 15-20 minute drive. Beyond Swansea, access to the Brecon Beacons (about an hour) and the beauty of west Wales. Just under three hours to London on the train. Bishopston and Olchfa schools both have good reputations. Lots of outdoorsy, sports-orientated activities as well as all the buzz associated with a university city. And much less traffic than the SE.

Obviously the south-west, and definitely anywhere south of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Dorset probably out due to price, and Cornwall due to distance.
Totnes (budget) and Paignton are on the London direct train line.

I'd rather live in Pyongyang than Sheffield.

I would move to Newcastle - great City and everyone is friendly. You are close to the sea and also Northumberland. Good luck

Have a look at Southport, if its not too far north.......

Agreed - if only she had said UK not England....