To think I can find somewhere like London outside London?

[Cheezywotsitforbrekkie]

We are considering a move outside London for the bigger house. Would have to be commutable, and not TOO far. As a result, a city like Birmingham is out of the question.

But I love London. I know I won’t get the big city feel if we aren’t in a city, but I’d at least like to feel like I’m living in a vibrant suburb that’s just a bit further from London.

currently thinking somewhere with a Brixton/ Herne Hill vibe.

its also the people, so want to move somewhere that attracts a fair number of quite arty types. ( we also aren’t loaded so don’t think we’d be able to go anywhere that attracts the banker crowd)

we aren’t particularly edgy ourselves ( like to think we are 😁) but friends who moved to Tonbridge wells came back with their tail between their legs…it was too dull for them and they aren’t wild!

so looking for places that are cheaper than London, a bit arty, community feel and with the obligatory nice coffee shop. Any ideas?

And nothing will be cheaper going forward, everything in life will be more expensive.

We definitely do need industry spread around other cities, I think Manchester is attracting a lot of young people.

Head east: Leytonstone, Woodford or Wanstead?

somewhere like London outside London

How are you defining London?

I am in cultural desert Zone 6 Orpington a lot of the time and it is quicker to get to some parts of London like Tate Modern or even Charing Cross from there than it is from where I am the rest of the time which is Zone 1 West London a 10 minute walk away from 5 tube stations. The idea it is quicker to get in to London from Birmingham than the suburbs is not my experience.

Definitely thinking of London

It's a sad place to still be in your 40s

I think you might be thinking of Disneyland.

Definitely thinking of London
It's a sad place to still be in your 40s

Some of us are born & raised here & have family, why would it be sad to want to stay?

People suggesting Dublin clearly don't realise how expensive it is! Property prices are a very similar level to London and in terms of 'buzz' and infrastructure it's not in the same league.

Manchester is great for buzz but again, it's expensive.

Also Brighton - I love it there. I am in the happy position of having two homes so divide my time between Brighton and London but property in Brighton isn't cheap. If you move half an hour away to one of the smaller towns/villages it is more affordable but then you lose the advantages of living somewhere lively. And although technically it's commutable from London all you need is a signal failure or a train strike and you are screwed.

DD lived in Tonbridge for a while. She had a lovely flat overlooking the river, much nicer than anywhere she could afford in the TFL area but she moved back when her lease expired - it was just too dull.

@Cheezywotsitforbrekkie I think you will have to accept that you have to choose between somewhere hip and lively and extra space. Unless you are mega rich you won't be able to have both.

OP, realistically, you're not going to get a 'Brixton / Herne Hill vibe' in the Home Counties commuter belt 😆

Brighton is Brighton. There is that and also parts of Bristol will be quite 'urban arty' I suppose. But neither of these are really like London and neither are commutable daily.

You don't say where in London you need to commute to?

I lived in Brixton in my 20s. Then moved to Spitalfields for a while. Then a stint in a tiny flat in Chelsea. Moved out Fulham way once kids came along and have had 3 houses here, Now in a large house on the river, but when the kids all leave home, we might go abroad. What I'm saying is, you might not want the specific 'Brixton / Herne Hill vibe' forever. It can get quite intense as you get older.

Have you had a look at places like Teddington and onwards down the wind of the river? It's kind of 'suburby' but still London, if you know what I mean.

Areas around Brighton are a bit cheaper, like Portslade. Maybe look at some of them on the train line going towards Brighton.

Bristol. Glasgow. Brighton. Manchester.
Or stay in London.

Eastbourne - has 3 theatres plus an art gallery attached to the Congress Theatre. Also tennis comp just before Wimbledon. The shopping centre has been re-vamped but it's not the best but there are some independent shops. South Downs and Beachy Head are stunning

There are some really lovely houses in Bexhill although commute time is not great - probably do better to drive to St Leonards and catch the train from there 1 hour 40 mins

I've not read the whole thread so don't know if Haywards Heath and surrounding has been mentioned. Commute time 40 mins. Nice private schools if that's what you are looking for. Some lovely countryside, Wakehurst Gardens, Ardingly Antique fair. South of England Showground.

Quote; It's a sad place to still be in your 40s

@OptimismvsRealism, why? London offers so much for all ages so really puzzled by this comment.

I agree - my 70+ year old neighbours get the train into Brixton and the Southbank for a wander and are living their best life. I hope to be like them when I am their agez

Yep! I retired last year, am loving living in London and have no plans to leave.

I have contemplated a house with a lovely garden away from London but with my Freedom Pass and Senior Railcard I can find cheap day trips out of the city, and have been to the Towner in Eastbourne and De La Warre in Bexhil, for example.

Within London the possibilities are endless, free or v cheap. I am out and about all the time, festivals, last minute cheap theatre tickets, talks, etc.

Great parks, great outdoors a short train journey away.

And 3 excellent (so far…) NHS Foundation / Teaching hospitals a v short bus journey from my house.

(I live in a far cheaper area of S London than Brixton or H Hill)

@catstaff47 I agree and it was why we didn't like living in Bristol and moved 12 miles to Bath- all the facilities but less of 'the edge' - if OP says Birmingham is too far for what she's after -then Bristol certainly is and Brighton may well be too- OP hasn't said exactly how much bigger a house she needs or where she is now exactly? It may be areas like Teddington or Kingston are simply too much dosh- if she wants a moderate commute and at least a bit of life- good shopping/ coffee bars / live music etc - personally I would probably go to Guildford ( which I like) , and get the train in when you want a bit of 'urban' - can get an ok house for same price as some not very thrilling areas in zone 6 .

@FrequentlyAskedQuestion I totally agree with you- if you have tons of time on your hands and don't want to be out all day gardening - there are way worse places than London if you can live somewhere relatively ok - a lot for free too - we are all different I guess.

If OP says Birmingham is too far for what she's after -then Bristol Bristol is nearer than Birmingham (but not by much). The commute might be much easier.
Brighton isn't anywhere near as far.

@FloreatEtona little in it with Bristol and Birmingham- Birmingham is actually a quicker commute though on train.

I agree about Brighton being much closer but can easily still be 1hr20 if you don't live close to station or somewhere on the route like Preston park - I'm getting the vibe OP maybe wants a 40 minutes or less kind of train journey - may be wrong- they haven't come back and we have no idea what type of house or budget - so it's hard to say- they may well be able to get what they want within London boroughs be it Bromley, Kingston, Epping, High Barnet, carshalton etc . - in which case may well be cheaper to stay put and just travel to get their 'urban' hit!

Is moving out a bit within London not a possibility? You won't find anywhere quite like the marvel that is London. Even the south coast towns, whilst sharing some of the mindsets, do not have the diversity, edginess or spark of London.

Bristol is much nicer than Birmingham. But quite far!

@Crikeyalmighty , it probably is. I don't get the love for Bristol (I've lived there).

Croydon

@FloreatEtona me too- I moved 12 miles up road to Bath after18 months- much prefer it!!