Anyone moved out of London and loved it?

[SuzyLucy]

Dh hates his job and we both feel ready to leave London. We have seen a house in suffolk we could buy outright. Its much bigger than we have now. The plan is to rent the outbuildings as holiday cottages and run a campsite. Both are fairly seasonable but we think we will have enough money. More research needed. Are we bonkers?

Are we bonkers?

It wouldn't be my first choice!

Do you have children?

Running things like campsites you'll be mad busy 7 days a week nearly 24h a day in summer. Dealing with annoying public. Doing glamorous things like cleaning toilets, a lot. Will need to do lots of social media and advertising type stuff. Invite cool camping journo's etc over. Probably not making loooooads of money. Always have your 'I'm loving this' face one.

Will you get PP for the campsite? Will you get PP for toilets and showers? That is not a given.

TBH if you are both leaving skilled professional jobs in London (which I assume you are to be able to afford to buy a massive pile outright) would you think of getting a part time job but lower stress/lower 'status' using similar skills that you currently have?

Not bonkers imo.

It would be a massive lifestyle change - Suffolk is v slow (depending on where your be) - but once you'd adjusted I don't think you'd look back.

Plus you're still close to London to be able to dip in and out of the city whenever you want - Norwich is also quite accessible and had lots to offer.

I Would do it in a heartbeat!

I moved from London to Suffolk about 10 years ago. So glad we did.

Could you rent out the house for a year and rent in Suffolk for a year? Should still make a profit based on the difference (or at least it wouldn't cost much) and then you can try it out, with the comfort of knowing your old London house is always available in the future.

BTW I don't think moving to suffolk is bonkers. Its a lovely place.

I'm not convinced how fun it is to run a campsite tho!

I've not regretted it.

ok I think the campsite idea might need to be shelved. Cottages sound more us. Dh is about to turn 50 and desperate to leave the rat race.

You have given me hope. Renting sounds good. We own two properties in London so could sell one and rent the other. I think we would need to sell one as we dont have much money in savings. We would need an emergency fund until we found jobs. A year in suffolk as a trial sounds great. Thanks all.

Are the outbuildings already converted? (Can be very costly if not) How many are there?
Ours makes a reasonable amount but we still have jobs too. But planning to retire early as have other rentals.
It is hardly empty as we accept dogs and the area it's in attracts a lot of walkers, cyclists and tourists. Would definitely get another if circumstances allow. Changeover doesn't take long people hardly ever contact you, just get on with their holiday.
We don't do any advertising ourselves but are with a well known holiday cottage letting agency which take a %.
Go for it> especially with your backup flat

Thank you

Yes. I would consider somewhere else though rather then Suffolk. Devon Cornwall or Wales