Anyone moved to London in their 50s and loved it?

[malificent7]

I sm bored of the country but I am not on a high wage ( nhs bandv6). Dh a similar wage. . Would it be mad to move to London?
Visiting recently mafe me long for the big smoke.

I personally don't know of anyone but if you want to do it, 50 is not "old" anymore (just listened to a radio program that even said 70 is the new 50!).
Not having a car is wonderful, the art and theatre are wonderful, parks galore. But I do find the crowds get me down. So. Many. People. Anyway good luck, I don't think its a bonkers decision by any means.

No but I’m that age range and lots of London friends having that conversation about whether to stay or move out to retire. Most want to stay and make the most of everything London has to offer (inc the free travel!).

Depends what you can afford really. A house with a garden in Richmond - great! If it’s a studio flat in a sketchy area not so much.

Not if you can’t live in a really nice part of the city.

There’s a lot of aggro, pollution, crowds, crap public services, crime. I wouldn’t embrace that in middle age for anything.

Move to a nice bit of the home counties near a good train line - then you can do theatre and restaurants all the time, but without the downsides.

I lived in London for a decade in the 90s and early 00s.I visited last week for a few days ( I now live in Oz), and while we had a ball, I wouldn't want to live there now unless I was very rich (and had a lot more energy!) And it is so busy, well I guess it always was it but seems busier now! So I agree with the poster above, if you can afford a lovely garden flat somewhere nice, why not give it a go? If your budget is more New Cross than Hampstead, I wouldn't bother.

I live in zone 6. I fully intend to stay in London at retirement.

where I am now has loads of parks and green spaces but I’m 20 minutes on bus from end of the tube and 15 minutes by car from trains that run through the night on the Gatwick line. Train from my local station is about 25-30 minutes to central London. 5 minutes drive from my house I can go for a walk through fields with horses, goats and chickens and buy fresh eggs.

i think it’s a great spot - near enough London to easily get there for stuff and get home
in the evening but still nice and green and open.

How much can you spend on a property, and what kind of area would you like to live in?

That probably makes the biggest impact on what the experience will be like, particularly thinking about lifestyle as you move
towards retirement.

Well i’m doing the opposite - moved to South London in my mid 20’s, heading back to native north west next year when youngest DC goes to uni. It’s so expensive here, but a great place to live. Where I am now (Surrey / South London border) I have countryside on my doorstep, but in central London in 30 mins. I’ve always said i’d love to live in central London for 1yr. I absolutely love London, it makes me feel alive, even after 25yrs. It’s one of the greatest cities in the world. Go for it (if you can afford it!).

I know of a couple who moved to London. He was 55 amd she was 53. They love it.

Their two children had moved to London to study and then remained so this may have been a pull for them.
They enjoy the city and what it has to offer.
Ease of transport and entertainment.
Also they wanted to be near facilities as they got older and not need a car etc.

I’m in central london (zone 2). Dh and I had thought about finishing careers/retirement elsewhere but we currently think we will be staying put!

Amenities are all walkable and public transport is great. We have so much on our doorstep - museums, restaurants, parks - and so much is free. We live a v active life as a result. Our experience is public services work better here vs our family elsewhere (E, SE, SW, NW).

You’d have to assess if london weighting made your salary sufficient to live. Housing is naturally expensive but as a quality of lifestyle, if you can move - do!

My friend moved to London in her sixties. Her children were grown up and gone. No husband.

She loves it. She's out all the time at events! She is very into The Arts.

ETA - she inherited a big townhouse in Hackney, though. One of the old Victorian ones with the big windows and three storeys that is still a single home. It has its own (established) garden. She is not living in a pokey little flat in Ilford. This probably makes a difference.

I live here and see lots of older people downsizing from a big family home to a two bed flat and having a fabulous time volunteering, going to classes and doing a lot of cultural activities.

I am retired, live on a modest income in a v gritty part of London and I love it.

It is not a designated ‘naice’ area in MN terms but neither is it crime-ridden, and the public services are declining towards the lamentable provision that has been the norm in my wider family’s coastal rural idyllic for years! Difference being I can get to a choice of 3 top hospitals v easily on the free (O 60) excellent public transport rather than being nearly an hour away by road (no public transport)

Likewise I can get to a huge array of wonderful free activities, and because I live here I can take advantage of last minute theatre deals etc without having to plan.

I have lived in London for donkeys but there are still parks, neighbourhoods, new places to explore and visit.

Plus living at the epicentre of the rail network means it is easy to book cheap day returns for day trips, easy connections and fast trains for further destinations. Choice of airports if I go abroad. (I don’t, much, but the flexibility makes it more affordable). Easy public transport to the airport, no costly parking fees etc.

If you can find housing in your budget OP, go for it!

I do and I love it ! Always something to do, public transport is fab and it’s such a rich mix of people I couldn’t be anywhere else. .

I think it's a great idea, as others have said, loads of free stuff to do, good teaching hospitals. You could find a good two bedroom flat near public transport in a nice area if you don't mind being a bit further out. What's your budget?

A friend moved here from the NW in her late-50s after retiring from teaching, partly to help with childcare and wanting a change of scene post-divorce.

She loves it here and like me makes the most of city living - it really is a great place to be older!

A friend moved here from the NW in her late-50s after retiring from teaching, partly to help with childcare and wanting a change of scene post-divorce.

She loves it here and like me makes the most of city living - it really is a great place to be older!

I’d love to do this. I think it depends how much you have to spend on a property though. Whilst you can probably live (relatively) frugally in London with good transport, lots of free activities etc the housing costs are brutal.

I’m 50 next year and it’s something I’ve been considering. I grew up in west London and my Dad still lives in the house I grew up in. I’ve been living in rural areas away from London most of my adult life but I’m finding I’m enjoying the vibe of London more and more when I go home to visit Dad. My children are pretty much grown. My youngest has just started college so it is something I might consider once she finishes education and can move where she wants. My children can’t see the appeal of the city though lol.

Yes me! My children are in their twenties and I went through a quite awful, drawn-out divorce. I met someone and we’re renting in North London. I just went for it - massively downsized and sent about 2/3 my possessions to charity (including furniture). My children were incredible - so supportive of my new life. I love it!

I know several people who moved there on retirement, all to Zone 1/2.i think it’s an excellent plan and would consider it when older.

We did the second our last child went to uni. Best decision ever, wake up happy every day. We’re in zone 2/3 in a very nice area with loads of amenities and a hospital 4 minutes drive away.

There is SO MUCH that is free or stupidly cheap. I’m still under 60 so I’m paying for buses but it’s £1.75 for me to get a bus to the South Bank.

London is the best place to be low waged in my opinion if you’ve managed to buy a flat as everything else is cheaper. My council tax is second lowest in country - think it’s £130.

Would you buy or rent!

I wouldn't but then I'm an introvert and dislike crowds. I'd love to live in a very rural area without many people, just lots of countryside. That is the dream. But im pretty happy on the coast where I am.

Barratt Homes give key workers 5% of house cost as a deposit!

I’m 55 and live in E1 right on the boundary of zone 1 (so Spitalfields). I don’t think MN would call it a naice area as it’s a real mix of urban grit, Bangladeshis, bankers, creatives, students and hipsters. But I love it! There’s always something going on and it’s walkable to all of central London. I own my flat in a lovely gated development with gardens and fountains and I know most of my neighbours as it’s a real community. Everyone who visits is always surprised how friendly everyone is here and also what an “oasis of calm’ it is (compared to the madness outside lol).

My 60-something cousins came to visit (from the NW) recently and they were blown away by what a great place it is to live. Over the years I’ve had so many (well-meaning) digs from my family (and school friends) about me living in London so it was lovely to see some of them understand why I’m here. Not just understand even, they wished they could move here after experiencing it! They loved that we could walk to the Tower of London (as a local resident it only costs me £1 for a ticket), Sky Garden, Borough Market, St Paul’s etc and the quality of food and coffee just blew their minds. I’m lucky that I live so centrally (I can walk to work in 20 mins) and that I’ve paid my mortgage off but there are plenty of people living near me with low incomes and they seem to manage just fine. London is great for free events and things to do.