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

Sorry to say this but I haven’t experienced much of this in Norfolk at all,obviously not everyone but a lot just stare at you and maybe answer.Not many people will actually initiate conversation,believe me I have tried.

OP - if any airport will do there are plenty of places in SW16 and (horror film music)* Croydon borough that have extremely quick transport to Gatwick

*I am JOKING. I live a full , happy and altogether civilised life in (horror music) the north of the borough, so not even the sunny sylvan uplands of the more southerly parts

No advice as such. Just here to say go for it , I lived in London , left 8 years ago (35 now), had kids moved to Liverpool for family. I miss it so much,I go back once a week with work, which makes me miss it more!

I think it's a brilliant idea. You could loan at some shared ownership flats, they may be in your price range and fairly central.
I met a lovely couple a few years back who retired to London. They were very active, involved in loads of local stuff. Round where I live there are community gardens, local theatres and lots of stuff where you can meet people.

You’ll love it back here at 60! I live in London - 55 with teens growing up I’m finding there’s lots out there for me to do now I have more time on my hands. I find middle age women like me are friendly to each other - always say good morning to the dog walkers. I literally spoke to someone whilst waiting for a tram the other day and she’s now added me to her WhatsApp tennis group so I’ll go along at some point - courts nearby are free. I also want to take up French again and have found a reasonably priced course in central London. Even walking around London on my own is enjoyable there’s so much going on! Winter is great too as there’s indoors entertainment.

I’m glad of this post as I often think of moving out when I retire but this reminds me why I’m a Londoner through and through! I’m so excited for you!

🤣🤣 Thank you but I wouldn’t call myself an executive assistant,I work full time as a receptionist in an education setting and because it is term time only I earn less than £20k(yes it’s true) it would be around £24-25k if it wasn’t term time so I’m hoping to earn a bit more in London whether that be in a school/college/uni or other.What I’d really like is to work all year round but maybe 4 days a week as I don’t really need school holidays now and am restricted to paying more for holidays as can only have school holidays off.
This will be something else to navigate as haven’t really been job hunting seriously for around 12-13 years🤔

I am not dissimilar o/p.

lived in London for many years and moved out when my kids hit secondary.

i have thought about moving back. There are several reasons why I decided not to.

firstly while I could downsize from my house to a smaller flat in London, it would still tie up all my money. I’d like to release some equity and live a little.

next prices are so ridiculous I’d have to live out from central London, and it can be a trek into the centre. We were “only” zone 4 and never really went into central London.

although when I left London I missed the social life, lots to do etc I forgot when I first moved there it took me a lot of time and effort to build my social life. Lots of finding activities and meeting people, and again a lot of trekking around on public transport to get to things. Gatwick/heathrow and the London airports can be a pita from central London.

so I will be looking at a smaller, cheaper city. Somewhere I afford somewhere “nice”, central to the city so I can walk and driving/public transport is minimal, or easy to use. Plus still have some money for a good few holidays. Close to an airport and the city centre, gyms, dr’s, theatres etc. but also more rural areas. It’s a bit easier to make friends when things are closer, you bump into peopl. Some of my workmates in London lives 40 odd minutes away so meeting up for a drink or going to the gym weren’t really an option.

Please don’t move away unless it’s actually impacting your health which it doesn’t sound like! London keeps you young,I feel more alive when I’m there regardless of the crowds,noise etc the only thing I can remember being a negative was the stifling heat in the summer especially when I lived in a flat and also on tube but I think I will appreciate it more after the bitter easterly winds…I wear a hat,Uggs and down coat for literally 6 months of the year even in the house sometimes 😱 Knitwear has to contain wool and I’ll probably have heating on until May and an electric blanket.

Yes I have friends in Hounslow so have considered there but it is a long trek on Picadilly line but better now with Elizabeth.
I think a lot of west is out of my price range and not very familiar with Middlesex

Totally get it,my DD loves Manchester and Leeds and property good value too.She has flown from Leeds Bradford which she said was really easy but Manchester airport not too far.It takes me at least 2-2.5hrs to get to Stansted and train fare is £45-60 ridiculous for 2 hr journey and often costs more than the flight.Cambridge and Exeter are lovely also 😊

Living somewhere where you feel engaged with life and connected to others is the important thing.

I fly to see my elderly Mum every 6-8 weeks so being around an hour or less from an airport is important.It currently takes me a minimum of around 2.5hrs to get to Stansted and costs £45-60 on train.
Im happy to dip into my savings as will have pension lump sum coming up at 67 and likely inheritance.
Have just been looking on websites and job searches but need to create LinkedIn and maybe register with agencies..do people do that anymore?

Just sales assistant! I have a settlement from when we sold the family home, not enough to buy so live on earnings and savings. I don’t have holidays.

I live in SW London and while there aren’t many, you can find 2 bed flats for £350k. There’s a dooer upper near us for £275 which when done up will be worth c.£500k.
You don’t have to go to the outer edges of London either.
I’m a similar age and I love London. Just popping in to a gallery for a wander or to visit an area I’ve never been before. I’ve been here 40 years and still love discovering places.
DH uses the workspace at Festival Hall - a world class view for pennies and right in the heart of things.
Go for it. It’s possible but don’t leave it too late!

One of the reasons I moved out of London was I struggled to find work.

i’d been made redundant from my “big job” and wanted a less full on, more flexible role. I applied for admin, schools, related to my old career, part time, full time, nothing. Pay was irrelevant as I just wanted something to cover bills and keep me occupied heading into retirement.

i suspect as a middle aged woman with a degree and a career history I was overlooked in favour of younger candidates and those starting out in life. I remember I was asked at one (rare) interview why I was applying and how long I planned to stay in role- I’m sure many thought I’d move on as soon as I got something “better”.

in my new city I got something straight away. Got interviews for nearly every application. Again I suspect London has a much younger workforce, many candidates for min wage and temporary roles. Lots of students and travellers. New area I found many women of my age employed as the youngsters tended to move away for uni, fewer people moving there for the city experience.

There are plenty of decent places in London that you could get a 2 bedroom flat for that price - Surbiton for one. And once you hit 60, all travel will be free after 9am and all day weekends.

100%! I’ve lived in 4 European capital cities (including London) and loved every one. I loved the type of social interactions I had. I now live in a village where everyone knows everyone and I absolutely hate it. Can’t wait to get back to a city.

I think moving to London at your age is a fantastic idea. I can’t wait to move back!

Go for it OP ! Some of us are big city girls at heart and that never changes !!

Sounds great thank you!

Yes,the more I think about it the more I want to move ❤️

Yes! When people tell me they want a small piece of land in the middle of nowhere I shudder,I can’t think of anything worse

That is so true... I'm also a big city girl!

I'm in London but could, if I had to, live in another major city 😊

You can definitely get a mortgage assuming you have a job.

OP would you be able to earn more if you work in London?

My mum did what you are thinking of doing OP, after my dad passed. She definitely doesn’t have any regrets, her life is a revolving door of theatre, restaurants, galleries and concerts. Look at outer zones to get best value for money, most London transport networks are solid and frequent.