Returning to London at 60 🤔

[jjW29]

I’ve already posted about this a few months ago under London topic and tried posting this today in Retirement section but not much response.I would love some points of view from people that may understand my dilemma a bit more or may have been in same situation as me…sorry but I just need more opinions.
Im 59 and relocated to Norwich around 17 years ago with then partner(from London and has since married)and our 2 young children.
Fast forward to now I’m an almost empty nester in a large mortgage free house and have been single apart from bit of online dating etc for 12 years.I just can’t see me living out the rest of my life here,I miss London so much.I have a handful of friends in both Norwich and London but no family so friends and family wouldn’t really be a factor.
My house is worth around £350k and I’m on a low income £25k or so and have savings of around £50k.I feel I need at least 2 beds so that my 20 DD at uni and DD 18 can still have a home.
I know I should just make the move but people keep saying why would you want to move there,the crowds,the crime,the cost,you’ll be lonely there on your own in your old age!! I’m finding the logistics hard to imagine also,having moved house many times I know what it’s like but seems a mammoth task now…I suppose I’ll have to prepare to be out of work for at least a few weeks as need to hand notice in a month before move and then no guarantee of finding job within a month.
Would welcome any advice or thoughts please on relocating to London alone age 60ish xxx

How will you feel living on the outskirts of London? I don’t see how you could afford a 2 bed in a “happening” area with £350k and wiping out your savings. Maybe if you were willing to live somewhere like Watford and commute in? Have you checked rightmove?

Where are your DDs likely to settle, have they mentioned anything? You do have family - they are your family no?

You could easily get a 2 bedroom
flat in outskirts with a train 20-25 mins from central london

orange evens house in Croydon - with its excellent transport links - don’t listen to anyone it’s the greenest borough in London’s

Would you buy or rent? Would you work? I think it would be difficult to get a mortgage at 60, but I could be quite wrong about that.

You’ll still need a 3-bed with 2 DDs at uni as they tend to come back and there’s no way you’d be mortgage free if you bought even on the outskirts of London. You’ll prob get a 3-bed house for around £700k somewhere though.

£350k might get you somewhere on the outskirts like Swanley if you need a house. If you’re happy with a two bed flat then you could get something for that budget in zone 4. SE is cheapest or somewhere like Croydon or Thamesmead.

Have you looked at house prices in London?

Absolutely misleading

as above poster says - zone 4 you’ll get a spacious 2 bed and maybe even small house

Don't listen to the naysayers, there is so much to do in London, no matter what you enjoy there will be a group of people doing it. Plus excellent public transport, loads of free museums, art galleries, places to visit, too many things to do and see, it's never boring. And there are always older women out and about doing stuff, going to the theatre, concerts. Don't assume it's massively unsafe, yes you need to be on your guard but there is plenty of crime, drugs etc outside of London. Central London can feel really safe, as even at night there are families out and about, going to events and restaurants, and shops and cafes are open until much later. Outside of London people seem to stay in and watch t.v. in the evenings and have to drive to socialise so no drinking. Also there are loads of places to learn, very affordable to study if you want to meet like minded folk, and even free public lectures. I wouldn't leave now tbh

What do you miss about London? Did you miss it when you first moved to Norwich? I would say on your income and with house values your quality of life is going to be so much better in Norwich. You have a large mortgage free house that you could exchange for what? A tiny place somewhere not very nice. I am wondering if it is just nostalgia because the Norwich move didn't work out as planned. Your savings will disappear in moving costs more or less too.

You could get a flat in a nice enough area

much better to live in london when ageing

we should start in the country and move closer to cities once we get more health mobility issues - plus you have time to visit all the museums!

you will get your free travel too - take a flask of coffee and go to free exhibition or walk
in london -no bother with £

That's a huge risk to take. Croydon is terrible so don't move there. If you find yourself out of work then how will pay the mortgage, if you can get one. I don't know why anyone would return to London after so long. It has changed massively. I don't miss it and wouldn't return. Be better to stay there for month or two at first maybe if you can. I think you'll soon change your mind. Most people are trying to get out of London.

What sort of house search have you done? I left London years ago but am a high speed train journey in so get my fix fairly often, mainly for the south bank art stuff or theatre … probably for a similar journey time as many commuters to the west end. If London is where you want to be then obviously yes you should find your way back.

Oy! Don’t slate Croydon

like with anywhere are some great parts - as said most green space of any london borough - great transport links

most people
who slag it off have never visited and or have issues with cultural diversity

Yes of course they’re my family? I meant parents,siblings,aunts,uncles,cousins etc none of which I have in UK.
One DD in uni and the other 18 finishing school this summer and prob going to have gap year or go to uni.I don’t think they’ve thought much about settling,maybe Manchester or Leeds but moving there doesn’t appeal to me but I have considered it

How about a flat around Finchley? I.love north london lots to do and easy to get into town.

What do you think??

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/169191164?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Why do you think people outside of London have to drive, and only have the option of watching TV in the evenings? Public transport and taxis exist outside of London, so do the other things you list. I live in London too but am not arrogant enough to assume that it’s a cultural wasteland outside of the capital.

I retired to London, having never lived here before, and I love it. I deliberately chose to live in a flat-share in central London, so I can’t comment on your housing issues, but as a place to live out one’s days, it’s perfect.

Every facility, service, entertainment and activity I could ever want or need is within easy walking distance. Over 60s get free travel and heavily discounted services and activities. My gym membership is around £30 a month. I have no need to run a car, but can easily hire one if needed. Trains to practically anywhere are within easy reach. The huge number of little shops and markets means that I can buy food in single-person quantities, and there are plenty of free and minimal-cost things to occupy my time. There are loads of ways to meet people, though you have to go out and find them. There’s no shortage of GP surgeries, dentists and hospitals. I can’t imagine anywhere that would work so well for an older single woman.

Where do I start? Mainly the cultural diversity and cosmopolitan feel,there is more of everything available and open for longer ie transport,shops,museums and galleries,cafes and restaurants also more work opportunities.Contrary to belief I find people there more chatty,content and less judgmental.Yes maybe it is a feeling of nostalgia,I missed my life when I moved to Norwich as I had become an older mum to 2 babies so life was easier in Norwich rather than London,more space,more parks,nice schools but as my children became teenagers and relied less on me I became bored and restless.Ive worked in the same place for over 10 years and nobody really socialises apart from the odd coffee

Wow! Where did you move from if you don’t mind me asking and why did you choose London if you’d never lived there before?
Sounds amazing,are you still working at all?

Thank you,looks lovely although I’m not familiar with Catford.Im thinking maybe more Edmonton/Enfield as would like to be reasonably close to airport (Stansted) links.
Lots of people have mentioned Plumstead also ☺️

Have done the usual house searches on Rightmove for around a year now and spoken with estate agents.I visit London around once a month so am very familiar with it,I also lived there for around 20 years

I previously lived in London for 20 years and visit around once a month so I’m more than familiar with it.Yes a 3 bed house is 700k in some areas but £7 million in others,London is a huge city with lots of properties for £400-450 price and as I’ve previously stated I’m not looking for financial advice as everyone seems to think I am.Im interested to find out how people in a similar age group and situation to me have managed when relocated to London.