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?

You're having a laugh 😆

Oswaldtwistle?

What about Whitstable?

"Surely it’s about time Lincoln Road got gentrified…"

You may joke, but with the OP mentioning Brixton:

"currently thinking somewhere with a Brixton/ Herne Hill vibe."

then New England is definitely on the cards.

Seconding Hitchin or Hertford. Both small, arty hipster vibes with easy commutes into the city. Hitchin probably more so.

Where in London you need to commute to and your budget are going to play a big part here.

Also you thought of somewhere still within Greater London like Beckenham? It’s lovely there. Still pricy but nothing like “proper” London.

I think you will find that London has warmer and considerably drier weather than Cheshire.

If considering Hastings its really only the Old Town that is artsy farty, the rest of the sea front is beyond dire.

Hi OP, yeah there isn't anywhere I spent years researching this. The problem is the commute, I simply can't face more than the 50 minutes I do across London.
If you can do a commute I guess all those slightly out of London places like Hitchin and Lewes and I guess Hastings are possible, but they aren't London. Even Brighton isn't London. Personally I really like Birmingham. But for me Glasgow and Edinburgh are the only real alternatives to London. And they are cheaper. I did grow up in Cambridge and I would move back there but I have a natives tolerance for students.

Why has this post annoyed me so much??!

Especially around November 5th.

@Cheezywotsitforbrekkie I'm in East London. Friends who have moved out have gone to Frome/Bruton, Brighton/Hove/Worthing, Margate/Broadstairs/Whitstable, Bristol/Bath and Stroud. Also villages near Lewes.

Derby is nice. But you will not find somewhere 'like' London anywhere but London. Maybe think more about other advantages. I live in a midland city that is multicultural (so lots of restaurants). It's about an hour from Central London - i.e. it's Leicester. Not the greatest of cities but you can buy a fair-size house for the price of a garage in London, and it also has one of the best cardiac care centres in the county and a king in a carpark. It's also convenient for the Peak District, Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham (a bit 'ish') etc.

Another vote for Bristol

I think you need to say what your budget is.

I am London born and moved to Brighton when I was school age. Live just outside (15 minutes by car) now as could not afford a property in Brighton. 15-20 minutes outside of Brighton gets you very good (for the south) prices on property. Inner Brighton isn’t wildly different to London prices.

It’s pretty much impossible to have it both ways. Either you are loaded and can afford to live centrally and hence have the desirable “vibe”, or you settle for much better prices and no vibe but a short commute to the vibey place.

Anywhere cool and commutable to London will have house prices to match and you will spend the equivalent of an extra mortgage on rail fares.

You are correct that Brighton is absolutely nothing like London (thank goodness). I’ve lived here most of my life. I’m not sure how you can judge an entirely of a city based on one visit 15 years ago. February is well off season anyway, Brighton is best to visit as a tourist in spring and especially summer. It’s a summer city.

Bristol fits your criteria

Interested in this thread because I think the answer will also be a good investment hot spot. The areas that become gentrified and the next best thing seem to be what you’re describing/ wherever the artsy trendy people move to that are priced out.

Brighton. If you don't mind stepping on a used needle every now and then.

Other than that it's grand.

Derby is nice?! You really need to stop day drinking. There's nothing in the centre of Derby, it has zero redeeming features other than being easy to leave.

You must be talking about me.

Oxford

😂 Day drinking is what those of us who have been stupid enough to leave London have to do to cope. Don't take away our only coping mechanism for surviving suburban life please.

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