Having a total ahhh moment! Where in the UK (incl London) would you move to if these were your criteria?

[Oliveoilsalt]

My house in London has gone under offer. And I don’t know where to move to.

We’re lucky as DH and I are both self-employed and work from anywhere.

We don’t love our kids’ school.

We have NO IDEA where to go.

We put out house up for sale hoping that the time would force us to make a choice... but having almost anywhere in the UK to choose from is too MUCH of a choice!

Where would you go if this was your criteria?
-An amazing school - but not a hot-house. Amazing in the outdoorsy, creative, happy-child way.
-Friendly, villagey place where it’s easy to make friends. (We have this now in our London place.)
-Independent shops nearby.
-Fresh air to breathe!

We sold our house for a great price, opening lots of areas up to us.

We currently live in (in my opinion) the nicest bit of Hackney, if that helps any...

And we’re contemplating staying in London (but leaving hackney), and also talking about doing something really different.

I don’t even know where to begin looking

schools are no longer joyful, creative places

Were they ever? I went to school mid 70s/mid 80s and both primary and secondary were pretty miserable places.

I too hate Bath, I avoid it as much as I can, I live about 8 miles from it.
I love Wales, especially around Cardiff/Swansea; if I could I would move to Gower or Pembrokeshire.

I'd say Brighton, Bath, Bristol or York, maybe St Ives

Bray, Henley, Maidenhead, Beaconsfield- have some lovely neighbourhoods, green spaces, excellent schools, lovely independant shops. Lots of greenery.

I live near Worcester and my DC's school is amazing - very good results but equally relaxed, lots of outdoor activities, creative, inclusive.
Fresh air also in abundance.
The villages here are 'proper' villages though, so literally one shop, but there are farm shops around and Worcester is a nice enough city, with Cheltenham which is actually nice only 30-40 mins away.

Sorry but you won't get an "outdoorsy, creative, child - happy school" in the state sector - sadly; they might exist if you can go private

Disagree - I know plenty of small rural state primary schools (and one or two secondaries) that I would definitely describe like that. Small schools have very different vibe to larger ones and in my experience aren't fixated on results.

Folkestone resident here 😁. Moved from London a couple of years ago with much the same criteria as you and we absolutely adore it. Children are thriving as are we!

Hebden bridge Yorkshire, brighton/Lewes in Sussex, Crosby/ Liverpool

London! I love it! Couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

I recognise this is unhelpful

Bristol

Norwich?

Devon or Cornwall

How important is weather? If you can cope with a little bit colder than Hackney, what about east Dunbartonshire (near Glasgow)? Ticks all your boxes and some! Beautiful countryside, amazing schools, Glasgow is a hipster’s paradise and property prices are certainly better than London.

How old are your kids? I grew up in one of your dream locations, and while it was super bucolic as a younger child it was boring as hell for teenagers and you will end up being a taxi service with non existent public transport. And I say that as one who was pretty into outdoor activities.

I am not sure whether this is still true but there were huge issues with teenage drinking and drug use too. Also, it rains loads in the West Country.

I would definitely future proof by moving near a large ish town. Glasgow would be my dream, or Portobello in Edinburgh.

You would undoubtly get great value for money in the North East in comparison to London and folks a super friendly and welcoming in my experience with a strong sense of place and community spirit. If I could work from home is move up there again like a shot. Some excellent schools and almost unbeatable countryside. I'd second Tynemouth, take a look at Corbridge, Hexham, Alnwick and Morpeth. Villagey creative vibe also made me think of the Heaton area of Newcastle and maybe wickham in gateshead but not sure of the schools.

Lark lane or Aigburth areas of Liverpool might be interesting to look at too.

Swansea/Mumbles... lots to like about living down here

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-wales-43416807

Personally I like to be reasonably close to family (not necessarily the same town/city but no more than a 1-2h journey) so that would be a factor in your shoes.

However, if that wasn't an issue, I think DH and I would move to Edinburgh. Wonderful city and the education system is much better there (according to my sister who is a primary school teacher and chose to train in Scotland after researching the English and Scottish systems).

If me and my DH’s jobs weren’t so London-centric, I’d love to move to Portobello just outside Edinburgh :)

After reading the list in the OP, I thought Stockbridge, near Winchester too. And agree with Alresford. Both areas, plus Winchester full of London folk who've moved out of there.

Devon!

DH works in London a lot and doesn't find the train too hard.

My DC love school, do loads of music, art, drama and have forest school, gardening and loads of sport in the timetable.

Loads of good villages and market towns.oads going on. For easy trains you may want to be in Exeter itself - there's some lovely areas such as St Leonard's.

Walthamstow all the way!! It's got a thriving community with loads of families, some outstanding schools, and Epping Forest is a walk or short bus/cycle ride away - or you can head to the Wetlands in the marshes for great outdoor walks. And as someone has said upthread: you'd be future proofing yourself because your future bored teenagers wouldn't be stuck in the middle of nowhere.

If you like open minded go Bristol. It's a mini London

Harrogate or York?

Agree with Mumbles/Langland, if you like the sea. Full of young families, good schools and amazing beaches.

Sheffield! Best of both and surrounded by beautiful places.