Another ‘where to move’ thread ...

[Pleasedontdothat]

We’re desperate to move out of London but are not sure where to go. We’ve been looking vaguely at all sorts of areas but haven’t settled on anywhere yet so I’m hoping the MN hive mind could help

Dh works mainly from home with a week or so every couple of months abroad. He needs to be able to get into London for meetings once a month or so and easy-ish access to an airport. I may be able to do my current job from home but if not would pick up something else.

Our wish list is:

Detached
Views (we’ve just been on holiday staying in a house with the most beautiful view and it was so lovely to wake up to)
Good dog walking/cycling/horse-riding
Depending on when we move, good sixth form education may be a priority
Good broadband
Relatively easy access to culture (theatre, choirs etc)
Peaceful but not completely remote
Ideally no more than £650k

We will need to sell our house in London first so depending on what happens around Brexit this may be all a pipe dream 😕

Wargrave. But ones with the best views don't often come up.

Hambleden Valley and surrounding areas (Buckinghamshire).
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hambleden-valley-buckinghamshire-best-places-to-live-hr7mzw5l7

Here you go.

10 minutes from west coast main line
Hour from Manchester
Close to Lancaster and Kendal with lots going on in Kirkby Lonsdale
Great 6th form in Kirkby or Sedbegh private school.
1gb or 10gb broadbands - fastest in the country.

And not a bad property

Low Folly Barn, Casterton, LA6 2SA
www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-52202781.html

Leeds fits your bill and you'd easily get a lovely house for up to £650k. I don't know the areas so can't say where is nice to live but if you consider it I'm sure some better placed folk than I will be able to give recommendations.

Moved to Folkestone a year ago from London and it has been the best thing we’ve ever done. Would tick all of your boxes. We have a young family and have just got back from a huge country walk and idyllic pub lunch and still can’t believe it’s all just a few minutes from our house - we still feel like we’re on holiday most weekends! Property prices here are rising as there is massive investment in the area (particularly the arts) plus HS1 means lots of ex Londoners here commuting (50 mins to St Pancras). Lots of gorgeous period properties and 650 would go a pretty long way down here. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

A PP said Leeds, and I totally agree. Leeds Bradford Airport is great because it is pretty small so quick to get through, and you can choose whether you'd prefer to be in Leeds suburbs, like Roundhay or Moortown, or further out, like Ilkley or Harrogate. 2h20 on Leeds to London train.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55748472.html

Eagley, Egerton and Bromley Cross have properties with views. Has a good local carmmunity. I loved living there.

Also the villages around Matlock may be worth considering. Catching the train from Derby to London.

Northern suburbs of Brighton. You get:

beautiful views of the downs,
BHASVIC 6th form college is one of the best sixth form colleges in the South,
30 mins from Gatwick airport.
Culture and arts are thriving
People are nice !

Thanks - lots of possibilities here! Just to throw somewhere else into the mix, dh has been muttering about southern Scotland, either East Lothian to be nearish Edinburgh or Dumfries and Galloway - any thoughts?

Dumfries and Galloway won't be near an airport. East coast colder West coast wetter and a LOT wetter than you are used to.
Villages to the north of Glasgow fit all your criteria. Balfron High meant to be good. Glasgow very accessible for cultural purposes. Choirs etc nearer BUT the weather is not what you are used to ( only drawback)

Solihull and surrounds. Easy access to Birmingham International airport. The fast Euston train from Birmingham International railway station takes 1h10. Solihull to Marylebone about 1h30. It’s pricier than the other options mentioned so you wouldn’t get a mansion but you could have a very nice detached house for your budget. Schools are excellent, if that’s a consideration. Stratford, Warwick and Birmingham city centre all in easy reach for superb culture, inc RSC, ballet etc.

Dumfries and Galloway has stunning scenery. It is West Coast, but also in the Gulf Stream so has a mild warm climate.
In the area around Dumfries you could get a stunning house with coastal views. The small Georgian town of Kirkcudbright is known as Scotland’s artist town.
It’s under 2 hrs to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports and v close to the M6.
Prestwick Airport in Ayr is closer and rarely closes due to weather conditions, Gulf Stream again. It was used as an operational airport during WW2 because of that fact.

Midhurst / Petworth / Chichester for the South Downs?

Winchester?

Leeds (we just moved here for similar checklist), harrogate (more conservative), Ilkley, Skipton or York

Carlisle airport opening soon for access from D&G

Glasgow and Edinburgh have a 4.5 hour train to Euston and flights to London City. Edinburgh area is more expensive but if you’re going more rurally, you’ll get a lot for your money.

Yep - We vote Leeds too and are in the process of doing exactly that.

Our London house is up for sale and we can't wait to move. Things slowed a lot before Christmas so we are hoping for some pentup demand in the New Year! Good Luck!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77412869.html

@Furzedowner19 gorgeous house hope it sells fast! Unfortunately there's little on the market in Leeds right now. We've settled in Headingley and completed end of October but there's nothing to buy currently! If you have children just be aware that you won't necessarily get in the school closest to where you buy - catchment areas mean nothing if schools are full. Headingley was basically decided for us by the proximity of the school that had a place for my daughter.