Crazy to move out of London if we can afford to stay?

[goteam]

Just that. We need to move in the next few years currently in zone 2 flat with 2 kids (7 and 5). Kids comment a lot how noisy and busy London is and love visiting family in the country side. Thinking about moving to a small town in Derbyshire near family but worried we will regret it. Budget 900k so can move further out in London but it's still London. I love the buzz and would stay and worried the novelty of a quiet life would wear off for the kids especially in 5 or so years time.

Anyone done it? Any peaceful bits of north London that might suit my outdoorsy kids?

I don't know North London so can't comment on specific areas but I imagine you could find somewhere that suits.
We're on the sourthern edge of London and it's fancy as you get the peace and quiet and the countryside within walking distance but also a gazillion amenities and things for things to do. I find it a lot better than the zone 2 place I lived in before.

I think I’d you went north you’d need to rent first. That’s a big move and it wouldn’t be for me.

Surely there is a compromise. What about a smaller town/city. Even in St Albans 900k would get you more space, but it also has life and lots of services.

Think long term- if moving rurally then what about when your kids are teens? The countryside won't be as appealing then.

I wouldn't do it in your shoes.

Sorry, I should say, the move north would be because we have friends and family there - it is near a large city where DH grew up so not random.

I have said that to the kids, @OliviaBenson but I think they are too young to grasp what I mean. If we live it would be bear a large city with transport links to future proof them. A market town rather than village but still a leap from London.

We have a good community where we are in zone 2 so would start from scratch if we moved within London but already have some links in the possible market town move up north...

Near a large city that should say

I moved out of London because we couldn't afford to live there. If housing wasn't an issue theres no way I'd have moved.
Totally agree with pp that your kids will be bored to tears in a small town as teens.

Barnet. Or Finchley. I would never ever move out that far, a friend went to Chesterfield in our twenties and she still hankers to come back.

Thanks @Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah we have been to St Albans and other Herts commuter towns but they're not for us. If not London we want to live within a short bus ride of another large city with museums, galleries gigs, theatres etc. We dont want to start from scratch somewhere so its either elsewhere in London or 'big move north' where we have friends.

Thanks @unlimiteddilutingjuice and @Evilmorty Barnet is a good idea, Finchley still feels quite busy and not sure will fulfil the kids' requests for somewhere more rural.

Friends who have moved out agree, if you can afford to stay, stay.

Well no you shouldn't because YOU don't want to.

You don't move to satisfy a 5 year olds desire for countryside when it might only last 5-8 years because then you would be stuck there unable to move back in as easily.

You should only move if the two adults really want to move there.

I live in south east London and love it and I went to Derbyshire on holiday this summer and thought it was amazing. Great for holidays but not enough of what I want for me.

Barnet proper doesn’t have a tube station though, Cockfosters area may be better for you as it has the lovely Trent park and you can just sit on the Piccadilly line. Easy for m25 too.

We recently moved to crouch end. There's woods nearby and easy access to places they some others are mentioning, like Trent park etc, but still feels "london".

Thanks @Evilmorty will check out Cockfosters.

I agree @LaurieFairyCake we wouldn't move just because the kids want to but it has thrown into question how we do need more space and the best thing to do for us all

We moved out from Stoke Newington to Enfield Chase. Much more affordable, tube and overland and fantastic schools. Wide open spaces and lovely parks. Incidentally I’m from Derbyshire and grew up there. Much as I love visiting parents I wouldn’t want to bring my teenagers up there.

I’m in Enfield @mrsgirond ! I actually didn’t recommend it because I dislike it now but I really love that you can see and recognise the good bits. Nobody says anything good about it lately. I could never leave it though ❤️

Any possibility of renting up north for a while whilst renting out your London pad? That way if you feel it’s not for you, you can easily move back without struggling to get back on the London property ladder again?

We moved out of London because of the clean air and countryside. The air quality was a massive factor for me.

But that doesn’t mean living in the middle of nowhere. We are in a town with other towns easily accessible. Plus it’s easy to get to London on the train.

Plenty of towns outside London!

@screamer1 we can't afford a house in crouch end or would love to. Still lots of traffic too.

Have thought about winchmore hill @mrsgirond which is Enfield I think

@makingmiracles I wouldn't want to rent our flat out. Too much hassle!

The place we are thinking is more of a leafy suburb to a large city though a market town too. Don't really want to be too specific but I know it and we have friends so not a complete leap into the unknown!

Yes it is but it’s more N21 which is the posh part. Grange park etc border Southgate which tip over in to Barnet. There are some very nice houses esp in palmers green.

Will your jobs move easily ?
What will be the drop in salary?
Nice places near Enfield lea valley park epping forest trent park etc what will you be doing weekends in countryside? Eg country walks...You can drive 30 to 50 mins from zone 2 and do them...

From the other point of view, my parents moved from London when I was 10, we still visited family during the school holidays and did the museums etc. But we are all really glad that they did in our case we live 5 mins from the beach and house prices were low enough that I could buy relatively easily. You would get a large country mhouse for your budget here. I regularly take Dd down to London do activities and cultural bits every 6 months or so.

The Downside of the move was that jobs are harder to come by and there isn't the range of sporting and cultural activities. Perhaps you won't have such problems moving to Derbyshire though as there are several cities close together.

We’re in SE London Zone 4 and love it here with kids - loads of green space, massive parks and woodland within walking distance. 900k would get you a good sized house with a big garden. We go into central London loads with the kids - we can be in the science museum in about 35 mins.

I would find it very hard to either leave London or live anywhere more central.

I got forced out of London ten years ago (couldn't afford to stay on my own). I still miss it desperately, and I'd give anything to go back. If you love the buzz of London, don't leave, OP. Everywhere else just feels like a dead zone.

@Embracelife DH has a very transportable job and I freelance so not an issue. We do get out to the countryside loads which is why DD comments so much about moving rurally. She also loves the theatre, museums etc and I gave tried to explain that it's hard to have it all in terms of amenities plus countryside. She does find where we live a bit overwhelming. She has mentioned the near constant sirens and it's TRUE.

@HPand where we are thinking in east mids is basically in the middle of all those major cities -Nottingham, Leicester, Sheffield etc so access to lots of culture and jobs.