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Original poster

Dh wants to move back to London. Is he bonkers?

140 replies

iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:02

I would like to keep my anonymity for this thread hence the name change.

We live currently about 40 miles away from London (Dh's job is pretty near) Our house is nice and we have been incredibly lucky to buy in an area where to our amazement our houses value almost quadrupled (nothing we did, just very jammy) The area is rather quite, perhaps dull but we have settled into family life with a nice set of friends and a good local pub.

Anyway DH has decided he really really wants to move back to London, he really misses the buzz of the place and never really settled here. I think if it had just been him and I then I would have seriously considered it (however the last time I lived in London was 8 years ago whilst at uni)We have a 2 year old toddler to consider and we are trying for another baby now.

Would we be crazy to move back?
Would we get a decent sized house in a nice area for the money ours is worth? (670k)
Are the good schools packed out?
Am I bananas to be even thinking about this?

OP posts:
Original poster
iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:28

Any London mums around tonight?

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 22/01/2006 19:30

Surrey Mum here, and I think you would be mad, but then I do not know what part of the country you are in.

How rural are you ??

Original poster
iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:34

We are in Kent - not really rural.

I didn't realise you were in Surrey LGJ.

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meggmoo · 22/01/2006 19:35

What part of kent? I'm in Kent too.

ScummyMummy · 22/01/2006 19:35

Crazy to move back? No.
Decent sized house for 670k? Definitely, by my standards anyway.
Are the good schools packed out? London's too big to say on this one and it depends on your definition of good.
Bananas to be thinking of it? No.

NotQuiteCockney · 22/01/2006 19:37

I'm in Mile End, around here, you can get something reasonably nice for that. 4-5 bedrooms, bit of garden. Not sure the state schools are great here, though.

If your DH works outside London, would he want to start working in London? Or what? Commuting against the tide is better than the other way, sorta, but it's still a big hassle.

Original poster
iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:37

I'm in Canterbury.
Well we'd need a 4/5 bed house with all of my dh's junk and an office for me. I just thought it would be way out of our budget too.

OP posts:
bossykate · 22/01/2006 19:37

Would we be crazy to move back?

i'm not sure what your concerns are (other than the specific ones mentioned below). i think in many ways london is a marvellous place to raise children - the cultural resources are fabulous, plenty of open spaces for them to run around, lots of m&t, nct type activities going on...

Would we get a decent sized house in a nice area for the money ours is worth? (670k)

er, yes i would say so! but then it depends what your definitions of decent sized and nice area are are! have a look at rightmove.co.uk - plug in how many bedrooms you want and your budget and see what comes up!

Are the good schools packed out?

the state schools are very oversubscribed, you are more likely to find good state primary schools than secondaries in my opinion. plenty of choice in the private sector if that's what you want. if you don't want to go private at secondary level and you have good state secondaries where you are, then i would think long and hard about the move. just my 2c. and of course it is still some time before secondaries become an issue for you.

Am I bananas to be even thinking about this?

no, i think london is great - for adults and children.

what are your specific concerns other than housing and schools?

Earlybird · 22/01/2006 19:38

Would your dh want to return to the part of London you left behind? If so, you could do some online research to determine what your budget would buy, and if it appeals....

meggmoo · 22/01/2006 19:38

Well personally I wouldn't do it, but then Canterbury is my fave town ever.
You lucky thing

LadySherlockofLGJ · 22/01/2006 19:39

South West Surrey, so probably no real use to you but if you would like or need a meet up.........anyway movig on, to my mind your DH is hankering after a previous life.

When you marry it is for better or for worse etc., part of that is accepting the constraints that married life entails.

Sorry I am probably not helping.

Pollyanna · 22/01/2006 19:39

Which area would you be thinking of? Would you want state or private schools? I am in north west London and you wouldn't get a big house near me in Hampstead or Hightgate for £670k, but you might get one in West Hampstead or Kentish Town. I think as your dd is 2, you would be ok getting into schools although I think that people put names down for the private ones as soon as the baby is born.

batters · 22/01/2006 19:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:43

LG neither of us are British/white and I think he rather misses how mixed London was/is. He could earn more money as well and misses a larger salary. It's easier for me as I can work from home.

Didn't want to fork out for private education.

Sorry to take so long responding, I'm doing about five things at once!

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Original poster
iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:44

We both used to live in Kennington/Oval. Wouldn't go there I don't think.

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Mercy · 22/01/2006 19:45

Just skimmed this thread. Price wise you'd be fine - depends on what you class as a nice area though. What sort of things (apart from schools) would be important? Which part of London did you live in previously?

LadySherlockofLGJ · 22/01/2006 19:46

Are you happy to move back ?

peachygirl · 22/01/2006 19:47

We moved here for my Dh's job and I'm really happy now. I'm a midlands girl originally.
I love London ( well I live in croydon.) You would definatly get something for the price you are looking at especially on the fringes of south london where you are also relatively close to the country in the south east. think of all the geat things you could do with your kids and they travel free now on london transport.

nooka · 22/01/2006 19:49

I think that London is a great place to be, but most people who move out don't come back again. Unless you want to be in a really posh part of London then £670k should buy you something nice in a good area. You should be able to find a good primary school, although again it depends on what you are after. London is definately the most multi-cultural place to be, and there of lots of stuff going on all the time. If you work mostly from home then the commuting thing wouldn't be a problem for you, and if the job were good enough I expect your dh would be cope just fine too. I have the reverse situation - dh desperate to move, and I love London! I think that you need to do serious research to get a proper idea, and Rightmove is a good place to start.

Original poster
iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:50

Well a little part of me was fired up when he suggested it. I love the idea of having so much on my doorstep TBH and most of my old friends are still there.

I worry about crime. I worry about raising a child in a big city but then I worry about ds all the time anyway!

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batters · 22/01/2006 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadySherlockofLGJ · 22/01/2006 19:52

Can you give us some indication of the area you call London ?

No offence Peachy,, but Croydon is not London, or even in my mind close.

Original poster
iwasjustwondering · 22/01/2006 19:52

ok would anyone suggest an area for me I'[m really not that up on things ATM. Friends all still single party types living at a pretty fast pace.

Is Fulham/Clapham nice still I used to remember some lovely parts there?

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bossykate · 22/01/2006 19:54

i think clapham is great, but it's lambeth, so as batters says avoid if you don't want to be thinking about private schools post 11.

Beetroot · 22/01/2006 19:54

How excting I woulds give my right arm to move back

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