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.

It sounds like a good idea in your circumstances. I would recommend the North East - somewhere close to Morpeth maybe, which has good train links to the south and Scotland, and good access to Newcastle by road, bus and train. Surrounded by stunning countryside and close to the coast, with loads of amenities both in Morpeth and the surrounding towns, especially Cramlington.

Sweeping generalisation much. I live oop North. In a very rich suburb of my city.

Glossop
New mills
Marple
Marple Bridge
Etc

All on the train line to Manchester

My relative moved to the Lake district, there are a lot of properties there that can only be bought by local people (not sure exactly what the criteria is), so just be aware of that.

Also, although your children have all moved out, think about whether you want to be near them in the future if they start families. We often thought about moving further north but now that we have grandchildren, we would not want to move away from them.

Oh and the Lake District (west side of the UK generally) is very wet, they get farm more rainfall than the rest of the UK

Thanks for all the suggestions and things to think about!
still got another 3 and a bit hours in the car so will be googling and I love looking on Rightmove so will look at those links!

I just think if not now, when. I don’t want to die having never moved out of my home town.
just had lunch at Clumber Park National trust cafe, lovely place. Can’t even think how far I have to travel from home to get to somewhere like this!

I live in Yorkshire. There are some very pretty parts ( and it's certainly not all poor like another poster suggested) but if you like decent weather don't even consider moving north. I would move further south in a heartbeat just to escape the constant crap, wet and windy weather. My friend moved to Warwickshire and she says it's like living in a different country climate-wise.

Lol at Nottingham being considered north

Some of those areas aren't really the north OP but yanbu to want to head in that direction. It's a no brainer really.

I agree but for many Southeners Birmingham is North 🤣 For me The North starts at Leeds!

As long as it’s not Manchester, have more than are fair share of southerners moving here. Go Leeds or somewhere else

I second this. Northumberland is fabulous. Drier than the west with the most stunning countryside and beaches.

What like Harrogate, York, Didsbury, Formby etc etc?
Get a grip.

What? ALL of them?

as you can afford the time to explore, do that - and ideally 'out of season' so you see what the towns are really like.
A friend of mine relocated, and spent around six months of short breaks, partially looking at property, but mostly what individual towns and villages had to offer.
She really likes where she is, moved house after a couple of years, but still in the town she chose initially.

Where did you relocate?

North East on the coast. Metro has great links to Sunderland and Newcastle if needed for work.
Something like this location perhaps
https://www.onthemarket.com/details/14175506/

Or south shields, tynemouth, seaburn

We stayed in an apartment in York a few weeks ago. It sold for £1.1m in 2021. Zoopla showing an estimate of over £1.4m now.

The north has many million-pound-plus apartments. The epitome of poor, obviously.

Honestly I hate this sweeping attitude to the north suggesting it's all poverty, flat caps and whippets. It's so ignorant.

Well for 'the North' I was thinking Wick!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136687745?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY Near Kirkby Lonsdale

£375,000 No chain

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143492156?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Windermere £375,000

Don't be so daft @MeMyCatsAndMyBooks
Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Harrogate, York all have wealthy areas, with property values that surprise relocators. The "golden triangle" of Harrogate, York and N Leeds (Alwoodley, Bramhope) is very much not "extremely poor". Hallamshire ward in SW Sheffield, bordering on the Peak District (Nick Clegg's old constituency) is one of the least deprived wards in Europe, and was once the least deprived (ie: highest disposable income). I don't use social deprecation stats for work anymore more so in no longer up to date. Wilmslow and Alderley Edge are serious premier league footballer land. But for you, I suggest a holiday to Goole and Mexborough, so you can maintain your fantasy.

(And yes, I live in Yorkshire, but was born and grew up in central London, SW1, so I do know what I'm missing nighttime public transport)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133834700?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Grange over Sands £364,000

Plus areas of Cheshire....all areas with million pound plus houses and very high earners with huge amounts of disposable income.