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Original poster

Anyone move back to London (or Greater London) after moving away?

52 replies

mumtheforgetfulone · 08/01/2014 08:06

We've lived in Kent for 10 years now and are only an hour away from London on the train - but I still miss it! I wondered if there's anyone out there who moved away from London (particularly when they had a family) then moved back. Was it a good choice?

Thanks

OP posts:

lalalonglegs · 08/01/2014 10:25

Friends of mine are in the process of doing this (three children all of school age) - having a larger house and all that didn't compensate for the fact that they are quite bored. I suspect a lot of people would like to move back but find it difficult/impossible because of the differences in property prices once you get away from the capital .

ThoraNogson · 08/01/2014 10:57

Yes, we are much happier in London and having a much shorter commute. It is very expensive though...

Bumblequeen · 08/01/2014 11:57

It is very difficult to move back into London. There are bonuses to living outside London but it is not for everyone.

I know at least two couples who cannot move back in and regret it.

Commuting can be tiring.

LibraryBook · 08/01/2014 16:13

What precisely do you miss about London? Where did you live in London before you went to Kent? Where in Kent are you? Kent is very varied. There's posh commuter town Kent, horrible commuter town Kent, peri-SE London Kent, retirement-coastal Kent, down-at-heel coastal Kent, etc.

Are you commuting into London, OP?

I have friends who are heading back into London, their children are off to uni and they work in London and they want to enjoy it for a while.

Original poster

mumtheforgetfulone · 08/01/2014 18:36

Thanks for all the replies.

LibraryBook - I'm probably looking back at my London life with a lot of nostalgia (I lived out in zone 5 not centrally)! I liked London for its vibrancy, diversity and especially enjoyed the art galleries and museums.

We now live in a nice village (lovely community but too quiet for me). Have also lived in Tunbridge Wells which I liked a lot for the time I was there - but I think I might have wanted to move on from there too if I'd stayed.

Our house here is small - so what we would be able to afford in London would be tiny!

I don't commute anymore as I'm self employed. DH does commute so he doesn't want to be in London much at the weekend. I think this is part of the problem!

OP posts:

tethersend · 08/01/2014 18:38

I did- I moved to Hertfordshire, where I'd grown up, as soon as I had DD1. We lasted six months and came back

Original poster

mumtheforgetfulone · 08/01/2014 19:00

Where did you move back to tethersend?

OP posts:

tethersend · 08/01/2014 19:06

Was living in Kentish Town before DD1, then moved back to Bethnal Green. Still here five years later. No regrets AT ALL.

Liara · 08/01/2014 19:28

No, I couldn't. We talk about it from time to time, then spend a week in London and realize we could never, ever go back.

Love to visit, but too much of a pain to live in. We are abroad though, not in the UK. Feel a bit the same way about returning to England altogether...

Bowlersarm · 08/01/2014 19:35

Oh God, the thought of moving back to London brings me out in a cold sweat. Although I loved our time there when we lived there, it would feel like a step backwards to move back in. Shudder. Couldn't bear it.

Now to answer your OP I do know one person who moved funnily enough from Tunbridge Wells back in.

I also have many friends who stayed put and decided not to do the moving out thing at all.

I guess the difficulty in going back is the rise of house prices.

Mintyy · 08/01/2014 19:37

Yes. Moved to Devon for two years and moved back again. Was definitely the right thing to do!

soundevenfruity · 08/01/2014 19:41

We moved to the South West for DH's job. But we rented, didn't buy so that might've affected my experience because renters are quite low in the village pecking order. I knew it would be hard as it's too quiet for me, I felt quite isolated with a baby. I didn't work as both parents commuting with children under 3 is not doable with no family or friends nearby. There was also nothing that would allow me to fit in: I don't like gardening, I don't ride or play tennis etc. I fully expect DC to love countryside and want to live there but for the time being I need to be where I feel good about and that's London.

unlucky83 · 08/01/2014 20:11

With DCs I wouldn't go back if you paid me!
We are in Scotland in a nice small town/village with a community feel - easy reach of Dundee, Edinburgh and St. Andrews -even Glasgow at a pinch...
I think it is perfect for children ...I tell them often how lucky they are live here - usually when we have walked down to the bay and are sitting on a bench or skimming stones looking at the fantastic views...

The countryside is within walking distance or further if we choose, the nearest sandy beach is a 15 min drive away (and we have a selection to choose from within 30 mins).
Schools for DC - a couple of private ones but the local ones are good anyway (One of the private schools boasts 'most of our parents are Doctors and Professors' - which made me laugh as that's also true for the non-fee paying schools here! )
Activities for DCs - within walking distance a sailing club, a tennis club, ballet, jazz, street dance. A 15-20 min drive to ice skating, (dry slope) skiing, rock climbing, indoor and outdoor skateboarding etc (slightly further drive to real skiing!), cinema, art galleries , museums, science centre ...or we can go and see museums etc in Edinburgh and Glasgow...
(and that's a easy 15-20 min drive for 7 miles - yes- we don't really ever get traffic jams ....even in Dundee)

Ok in London you can go to the 'National' museums/theatres - but nothing stopping us taking the train/flying down for a long weekend ...cost of that wouldn't be anywhere near the difference in living costs in London vs here for a month...
We have a house with enough space and a garden - and we don't have well paid jobs ...I'm a SAHM ...
And here we don't have to worry about the company are children are keeping etc
Or crime - one month my old (SW4) postcode had 1500 recorded crimes - current postcode? Zero ..
Maybe when they are adults and have their own lives - but no I fell out of love with London - too dirty, busy, grey....

unlucky83 · 08/01/2014 20:14

Oh I forgot horse riding - and the facilities to stable a horse...locally!

lalalonglegs · 08/01/2014 20:40

I'm really glad you like living in Scotland unlucky, but the OP was asking for the experiences of people who moved back to London

unlucky83 · 08/01/2014 20:46

I was trying to say maybe the OP just hasn't found the right place to live ...which is why she is even thinking of moving back...
I struggled to leave London but now I just couldn't leave where I am - I think it is perfect ...especially for DCs - so maybe I do get too carried away sometimes ...

TheGreatHunt · 08/01/2014 20:49

What's your budget? And commuting requirements?

woodrunner · 08/01/2014 20:53

Tethers where you live now is where we lived for years. Moved out because we got scared by a shooting on Roman Road when DC were small. I'd live there again as soon as DC have finished school. Best part of London imho - the parks, canals, flower market, farms, great pubs, galleries, walk to Spitalfields and Brick Lane, but not chichi. Bit envious of you. Glad you like it there.

Bowlersarm · 08/01/2014 20:54

.....great advert for Scotland unlucky. I love stories where people have been brave enough to move so far away when they have been happily living in London. And it's hugely successful. I half wish we had been braver when it come to moving out instead of staying in the south east.

lalalonglegs · 08/01/2014 20:59

Sorry, unlucky, that came across as snippier than I intended.

Original poster

mumtheforgetfulone · 08/01/2014 21:38

Hi unlucky - I love your post. I should take a leaf out of your book and list the positives rather than looking backwards.

I used to live in Glasgow (and loved it) and I think Edinburgh is stunning. I would love to live where you do or either of these cities.

I do think we haven't found the right place to live yet....but because of DH's work we are tied to the London commuter belt and I do resent that.

OP posts:

LauraBridges · 08/01/2014 21:54

I'm in zone 5 where you were originally and it's worked fine. We never did move out or in or anywhere else. There are plenty of newspaper articles about people moving to the country, hating it and moving back and plenty of couples who once the chidlren are grown buy a London flat in zone 1!

Original poster

mumtheforgetfulone · 08/01/2014 21:56

Hi unlucky - just wondered if one of the reasons you liked your location is because you had family nearby....or whether it's just the location itself. I've never felt rooted in one particular place because of this reason, despite having friends nearby.

OP posts:

LibraryBook · 08/01/2014 22:41

Is zone 5 even in London?

Does your DH like where you live?

unlucky83 · 08/01/2014 23:06

No family or friends nearby - my family are in Northern England - a small, nice town - and DPs in France...haven't lived where I grew up since I was 17 - so (OMG) almost 30 yrs...like you no fixed roots
It is purely the location...it really does have more or less everything and it is beautiful... (will stop there! )

I've been here 13 years and I now know lots of people and have a few friends here...mainly met through DCs.

I think it helps that because we are near so many University towns we have lots of other 'incomers' and, like me, lots of people who come to work at the university end up staying ...and people born here go away then come back ...
A year or so ago I seriously contemplated moving nearer my parents - my uncle (second father to me) became seriously ill, eventually dying and it was really tough to keep DCs going to school here and yet see him and say goodbye, go to the funeral etc - made me think, my parents are getting older now...and it is ok there for DCs but
I really couldn't take them away from here...I think when they are older they can go and try living in London etc...have as much fun as I did ....then who knows...but for now I think this is the best place for them ...

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