To relocate up north

[StonwEd]

From East Anglia? Has anyone done it? Am I mad?
I’ve just spent yet another lovely week in the Lake District, greater Manchester and Derbyshire. We do this often although not as often as I would like due to very low holiday allowance.
Daydreaming a bit but also not really.
Kids all moved out, own my house outright, prob will sell for around £375k.
Enjoy my job but it’s crap money and hasn’t really got prospects but it is a field I’m sure I can get another job in and I’ve seen plenty of remote working jobs that are related (and better paid 🙄)
Husband is on board with this fantasy, he has a small business so can work anywhere.
I had kids very young so have lived in my home town all my life. Never left but always wanted to.
I’m 45 and I’m finally thinking it might be time. Financially as long as I get a job, we’ll be fine, and I’m so poorly paid as it is, shop or bar work will be fine to start with.
I’ve got a fair bit of savings and I’m thinking of travelling round the north for a couple of months, stay in local b&bs and to know some areas better before we take the plunge. I’d have to quit my job obvs but it’s a risk I’m starting to think is worth it…

And most importantly, where should we be looking? Want nature on our doorstep, but easy access to a town.

I did, I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance. The areas up north are extremely poor.

If I could comfortably afford to relocate up to North Yorkshire I'd be up and gone within microseconds. Do it.

Sone of those areas - national parks - will be a stretch financially

The very cheap areas, parts of County Durham for example are very poor with all the problems that can bring

The weather is a huge difference from east anglia , especially on the west

Getting the rural / urban balance is tricky - close enough to a doctors / pharmacy for example as when you are ill you will feel less like an hours drive

Making new friendships might be tricky if you have always lived in the same area it can be a shock how long it takes to build new friendships - years perhaos

Similar if you are used to being very urban - supermarkets , Ubers and delivery takeaways , specific gym classes, cinemas and such on the doorstep it could be a big change - really think through what you do on a day to day basis/ week to week basis that you take for granted because it's so normal

Keeping in contact with existing friends and family might be tricky - rural roads are fine for a holiday but regular driving can be exhausting and expensive

It's possible that you want to think if this is long term- would you make a different choice as you get older - or temporary

So lots to think about - chose wisely

I live in the north and love it. We have good jobs and a nice life close to both cities and countryside.
There are plenty of places that aren’t deprived and that can offer the lifestyle you are looking for. Go for it if that’s what you want

Oh we're half way through a fortnight up north / in Scotland and I am actively fantasising about this as well. Not the right time for us as kids settled in schools but it would be glorious.

I don't think I have a need for urban activity as much I thought I did. Don't tend to do takeaways, cinema etc. I mostly want to ride my bike.

Do it op, you only live once!

Great perspectives. We live fairly rurally currently, not great for entertainment and diversity but could be worse. Generally good weather where we are although not so much this year yet!

We moved from South East to Yorkshire.
Be prepared for an almost cultural shift in the climate if this is something you're considering.

In your position my main consideration would be my children and other support networks. Moving up is one thing and you'll benefit from buying power but going the other way might be difficult/impossible although it does sound like you're financially well set so maybe not such an issue.

As there's no rush, research any areas extremely well, try to holiday in the exact town you want to go to etc and my other advice would be to sell to rent with a view to buying once you know the area better. This helps a lot with viewings etc.

yeah my bike and my books and cooking keeps me pretty entertained

"The North"

Lol, do you mean Burnley or do you mean Windermere - quite a variance.

Might shock you to know that you can't buy a house for three quid and a bag of chips as soon as you pass Watford gap

You could afford a great house in Manchester, Leeds or Sheffield and have easy access to surrounding national parks. Ignore the ridiculous negativity in the previous answers. You have enough money to live in a decent area, not a poor ex mining town!

That’s the thing. We don’t know. We can go anywhere, within budget so a lot of places will be too expensive.
I know I can’t buy a house for 3 quid.

Maybe get a home working job and enjoy some holidays in a few places?

North- east Derbyshire might for the bill OP. On the edge of the Peak District but near enough to Sheffield.
There areas of 'the north' which experience social deprivation but as is often pointed out, 'the north' is a huge area.

Definitely do it. It's great up here, despite nonsense posted by a PP.

Many places in Yorkshire or Greater Manchester in particular can be quite rural, but be only half an hour from the centre of Leeds, York or Manchester, so big city amenities and opportunities.

I won't name specific areas, because the choices really are endless and your plan to spend a bit of time just touring around and seeing what you find is a great one.

There's a lot more rain on the west side of the country, so add that into your location search.

I'd go to Northumberland if I could move, but my DC are all quite nearby and I see a lot of them, which I wouldn't if we moved away. I'm in the west and I get sick of the rain.

God yes the whole of the North is grim and living in poverty 🙄

I grew up in Sheffield and loved being in a beautiful green city with easy access to the Peak District. Best of both! I have now moved to North Yorkshire and it really is so beautiful. I can be at York park and ride in 15 minutes but also at the beach, moors and dales within 45 minutes . Again it doesn’t feel like a huge compromise. This side of the Pennines is definitely not as wet if that is something that would bother you,

We moved North from the SE a few years ago and love it. We’re less than an hour from the coast, less than an hour from York, one of our favourite places, the North York Moors are perfectly doable as a day trip, as are The Pennines. We’re older than you OP, our DC no longer at home, we bought for far less than we sold our SE home for, so mortgage free.
It’s taken us a while to make friends (not helped by lockdown) but we’re getting there and as we’re both retired (early), we have plenty of time for hobbies and getting out and about.
We’re mortgage free thanks to buying a house for far less than we sold in the SE for.
There are some beautiful towns and villages so I think your idea of spending a fair amount of time looking around various areas is a great one. Sometimes we just have to follow our hearts, if we’re in a position to do so.

Don't be ridiculous. How ignorant.

@StonwEd the North basically covers Nottingham up to Scotland. From Lancaster over to Whitby. Over half of the country.
Just saying "The North" doesn't really help..

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145092023#/?channel=RES_BUY - semi detached cottage in Leek, assuming you drive it's easy enough to get to Manchester, Staffordshire, Derbyshire (not even that far from South Yorkshire) nice town. Trains are a bit rubbish though.

Yes the whole of the North is very very poor 🙄🙄

I would, in your position. Depends which area or town of course but so many great areas in the north and you sound due an adventure.

Sheffield is a good starting point. Lots of threads on here about good areas. It's got lots going on in the city but easy to get to gorgeous countryside, and is a good base for both exploring the north and getting down south with relative ease.