Leaving London

[addyt]

Hi all,

So I am a mum to a three year old (will start reception in September 2021) and I am currently trying to figure out whether we stay in London (we live in a slightly run down part of NW London) oh we move out somewhere.

I'm sure there are plenty of people on here who have also had this thought or even taken the plunge and made the move. I just would love to hear peoples thoughts and ideas on whether moving out is a good idea or not.

Current situation

• we own a 3 bed house (small garden)
• there is 1 school we can send our daughter to
• I have flexibility with work

-my husband will only need to commute to London 1-2 times a week (and that will hopefully become less in time)

• we have no family here
• the area we live is ok for now but not as my child gets older

Thinking about:

• Wiltshire (Chippenham/Corsham/outskirts of Bath)
• want more space (garden)
• nice community
• travel links
• good schools
• closer to family

(Basically what everyone wants!)

I'm struggling with whether we just do it and move this year so that we can apply for schools, or whether we start her at school here in London and then move when she finishes year 1 or 2

There are lots of nice but affordable villages with good primary schools in the part of Wiltshire between Corsham and Bath, and the railway line between Bath Spa and Paddington recently underwent electrification so the journey is a lot quicker.

I would suggest you look at the villages nearest to the stations between Bath Spa and Paddington as a starting point. Bradford-on-Avon is lovely - it's known as mini-Bath - and has a real community feel to it. Good primaries too.

Hoping this bumps the thread for you and you get more replies, although you might want to ask MN to move it to Chat, which is a much busier board. Good luck.

Thanks for your input SingingLily

We actually stayed in BoA at the weekend, which we live but it's just that bit too far and with the change in Bath and my husband lugging heavy photography equipment around, we though maybe that will be a place to live when we are much older!!

We loved Corsham and Box though and the NE outskirts of Bath (Bathhampton/Easton/Bathford) so have lots to think about now!

Thanks

I grew up on Isle of Wight I moved to London in 1986 to be a children’s nanny

Moved back Island in 1989

Moved back to London 1994 as my then husbands work

Moved to Hastings in 1999 as property probes were cheaper

Moved back to island in 2003 when I left my ex husband

Been here ever since

My now husband comes from NW London he found it odd where we live at first too peaceful slow paced now he’d never go back to London

You’ve one life make it special go for it. Go with your gut instincts

We didn't regret leaving London - although I do miss it sometimes! What I would say re schooling, you may find it easier to be moved before school starts.
A) there's less upheaval for her, and
B) you may find that you struggle with mid year entry to get into a preferred school - you might just have to take where there's a space. Not a problem if all the new local schools are good, but more problematic if the good schools have filled up or are oversubscribed.
Bear in mind that being there before school starts also means being there in time to submit the application from your new address. Good luck!