ex-Londoner, current townie-can I really move to a village?

[MissChief]

trying to test out type of area in which to live for next move- i WANT peace! But love cafes/friends/parks/shops all within walking distance-can a few trees & the occasional animal make up for all the facilities being a drive away? No idea right now. Feels like needle in haystack hunt, but don't even know which haystack to start in!

Yes, yes, yes!!!

Have recently moved from Greenwich to rural Essex (yes, Essex, I know I once said I'd rather saw my legs off but.....)

Live close to loads of facilities and the best indoor play area. Town 1 1/2 miles away, Bluewater still within easy reach. Train to London. I just love it!!

Downsides are not being able to hop on a train and being in central London in 20 minutes, going to theatre etc takes a little more planning. Also miss the multi-cultural edge.

I have no regrets but no doubt you will make the right decision for you. Good luck!

thx and glad you're happy with yr move out - I know and love Greenwich v much so you must have found a real gem!
I guess it's the change in lifestyle I can't guess at - maybe not such a big deal but hard to assess on day trips, have to take a gamble I suppose..

Where are you thinking of moving too Miss Chief. The country is a big generalisation as its all very different as is every village. I moved out of London having been there for 12 years to the sticks of Wiltshire. We're lukcy and our village has loads going on all year round, three bustling pubs, a fancy reseraunt, a coffe shop, nice park, riding stables lots of farms and a lovely community. We're also near to three towns nearby for shopping and more urban stuff. I do still go into London for somethings, its only 70 miles away, but I don't miss living there.

You need to really look around before you decide on a place. Good luck with it.

Emma x

i know it's a huge generalisation but trying to narrow down search criteria. Current area is vast- 45 mins radius of Staines, Surrey so S.Bucks/E.Berks/W Surrey/N Hamps..
I'd love to go west, as it were, love, love Wiltshire and your village has all the ingredients I think I would want from a smaller place to live! We are taking our time on this move in order to get it right (unlike the last) hence all my questions

Perhaps try some weekends away in a few of the areas you think are possibles and see for yourself whats around. Our village has its own website - quite a few do these days. Its worth checking as it can give you a really good idea about whats going on in the area, facilities, amenities and community stuff.

I know what you mean about taking it slow. Our first place from London was in a village on the outskirts of newbury - which seemed perfect and it was a lovely place, lovely house, it just had nothing going on - the whole place was populated by OAP's who were absolutely lovely and very sweet, but when DD was born the was "The --insert name of village- baby" they hadn't had a baby there since 22 years before!! We still go back to visit but it soon drove me mad with a baby and no-one for company but old ladies and a constant stream of pink frilly booties. Choose wisely!!

It is the other villagers that would put me off. Bu you will be fine if they are all ex townies like yourself.

hmm - iKWYM, my PIL took 15 yrs to become locals when they moved! I am originally from the countryside tho' just lived an urban life for the past 18 yrs, ie all my adult life (God, that makes me sound old!)

Trice OMG you'd be one of those awful women who move to a village and then try to re-invent it how you (as a townie) think village life shouldbe. Theres plenty of them here, they insisted on getting a logo made for our local playgroup - and paid the playgroups grant money to get it! Madness....

Anyway you'd be surprised how lovely and down to earth villagers can be wether they have lived in a town or not. Its the ones who try to clique together (of any background) who are the ones to watch out for and usually are the unplesant ones at that.

..but is there anywhere to get a decent coffee?
..

I think the village invented afternoon tea shops. Most places you can get a better cuppa and a homemade cake for half the price Starbucks.

All depends on the location.

Other great thing is meeting/mixing with people who aren't all the same. On our city streets we are all such stereotypical families going in the same direction....you hardly get to meet anyone who is very different.

that's true. When I go back to vist my dps I love the familiarity of it all, how incredibly down to earth it is - and it's only the farmers driving 4x4s! After a while I do feel suffocated though, whether that's because it's a village or the village where I grew up and therefore couldn't live again, I don't know..

Why don't you plum for a country town then with shops and starbucks and the like but also with some more peace and quiet on your doorstep.

trying to find one - within our budget and area we need (45mins of Staines, Surrey), can't seem to find much as also realise definitely want OLD as well as quiet, 3 bed+, nr good state schools..
I know we're going to have to compromise somewhere but I was hoping £500-£600k would give us some choice!