Moving dilemma WWUD

[jjW29]

Hi everyone,first time posting and will keep it short.I’m a single parent with 2 almost adult children and no extended family in UK.Moved from London to Norwich around 15 yrs ago with my now ex who has married and isn’t really in children’s lives much now apart from phone calls and meet up maybe 2-3 times a year.My issue is that I will soon be an empty nester in a large house and I’m thinking of leaving Norwich as although it’s beautiful,I miss that excitement of London and can’t see myself living here for the rest of my life.I don’t think that I could afford anything more than a 2 bed flat in London and would have to start all over again(I’m 58)
Im wondering what living somewhere like St Neots,Cambridge,Ely etc would be like or would it be just the same as Norwich and should I compromise my space for being in London?

Compromise your space. London is worth it.

100% this.

Use the downsizing as an opportunity to massively declutter, you’ll literally feel lighter.

This is the response I wanted to hear! My DD has got one more year of school and I guess I’m just worried about doing this when I’ll be almost 60.I would love to get a 3 bed so that DC will still have a room each but won’t get anything apart from high rise or really far away ie Croydon,Romford etc
Can anyone recommend South London areas please as I’ve only lived North or East?
Woolwich seems to be on the up 🤔

previously lived in nearby in Plumsted and liked the hills, access to the river, the common and easy commute into London Bridge. Houses look a bit rough from outside but good value and always felt safe Woolwich has had docks area redeveloped and has quite a bit going on.

What's your actual budget? If you can afford something suitable in London, it's London all the way!

Realistically prob somewhere between £400-450k if I wanted a very small mortgage/loan.I would have around £380k cash but am on a low income although I’m hoping that would improve in London.I worked for years in London in a well paid but low skills job so I was mortgage free by 40 but then became a single parent so just did part time work and progressed to full time admin gradually as DC got older but it’s term time so lower pay and much lower than London 🥺

Thanks,think I need to just go there for a couple of days and explore.It’s just the reactions from some people,you’d think I announced that I was thinking of going to live on the moon!

I have just done precisely this (downsized to a London flat from a big house in another city by myself after DC left home) and I am loving being back in London. I am still working on the decluttering - I didn't get rid of quite enough stuff before leaving my old place - but I am already feeling lighter and freer without a lot of it.

You could definitely find somewhere in your budget in SE London - probably a two bed ex-council flat or period conversion in more upmarket areas like Greenwich or Blackheath, and more space/bedrooms/garden access in other nice but less pricey areas like Hither Green or Nunhead. If you go further east to Woolwich or Plumstead you could find a 2/3 bed terraced house in your budget. I spent several years browsing Rightmove while in the planning stage!

I would downsize and move to London. The other places you mentioned are not much different from Norwich.

Thank you! I’m already feeling better as can’t bear the thought of too many more winters here(London so much warmer) and I won’t miss literally everything closing at 4pm on Sundays apart from pubs and cinema.😩
Don’t get me wrong Norwich/Norfolk is beautiful but I think I’ve had enough now! I miss all the wonderful restaurants/cafes/bars in London,the people and how anything goes!
I just feel a bit guilty about selling the family home as we don’t really have extended family so I think it’s important for my kids to still have that”home”.They are at uni and Year 13 so could still move back home

London all the way ! What about those schemes for the over 55s? I’m in London and they’ve popped up on my social media but I haven’t looked into them. I’m 54 and love London so much - there’s so much to do I love it more now than i did when i was younger I couldn’t live anywhere else it feels like a completely different world to the rest of England

Yes have thought about those but not sure how they work if you’re already a home owner and have heard some stories that when you buy one of the houses it’s not actually fully yours.Im not sure if they’re similar to shared ownership where you also have to pay rent.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163970165#/?channel=RES_BUY

Streatham has changed a lot since you moved out of London! Good schools and gentrification in Brixton and Balham sent aspirational families further down the A23. There is a Waterstones bookshop and lots of nice coffee shops on the high rd now - and many buses (including Night buses) fir the quick trip to the tube.

This property is not a block so should be free of predatory leaseholders and their ridiculous maintenance charges.

That maisonette looks good value. I am a Londoner but dont live there anymore. Miss it but am in a beautiful part of the UK so its OK for now.

I also think you dont always need a car in London. Where we are you definitely do and as we get older its not always going to possible to drive. In London you have a choice. We dont even have Uber here. A few local taxi companies but they want the airport runs and not a 3 mile return trip to a local restaurant. They also seem to be one man businesses!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161404553#/?channel=RES_BUY

Compromise and go for London.

The tube is cheap as chips vs the train fare from ely... also over 66 and you get a freedom pass

Don’t trade Norwich for any of the places you listed! St Neots and Ely are both a lot less buzzy than Norwich (not even on the same scale, never mind anywhere near equivalent!), and Cambridge won’t be much different.

London is the answer to a longing for London. I hope you can find a way to make it work!

Wow looks lovely and I like that it can be a 2 or 3 bed depending on needs.Thank you so much,I don’t know Streatham at all as previously lived Hackney,Clapton,Islington and Walthamstow..all well out of my budget now! I’ve found that sometimes areas that don’t have tube station are nicer.Thank you again 😊

Forgot about the Freedom pass! Will deffo make that move 🤣

Yes you’re right,I need to just do it

You don't have to wait until you are 66 to get free travel - the free Oyster card starts at age 60 (I am counting down until I am eligible...). Though given the state of TfL and local council finances, I would not bet on this lasting for ever. https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/60-plus-oyster-photocard

Lots of nice flats in leafy streets in Beckenham (SE London) which is pretty well connected.

What’s your budget OP?

Even better! Definitely don’t need a car

Better than that, if you move fast before they abolish it, there’s the O-60s Oyster: free travel from 60!