Where to live?

[Fleabagforlife]

I know this is a nice problem to have, on the face of it - but really struggling to decide for the past few years. I've visited lots of areas but no where feels like home. Help!!

Budget 500k, ideally a detatched house with a decent garden. 2 adults. Ideally 3 or 4 bed.
My perfect area:
-semi rural
-walking distance to basic shop/Post office /pub
-lovely countryside walks from the door
-no more than 10/15 mins drive from decent town with job opportunities and activities

Does it exist? DH likes Shropshire, but neither of us know the area well enough to hone in anywhere. Currently in the Midlands and can't afford detatched around here so happy to move, fresh start.

No DC or family/friends to consider or jobs to commute to but would be looking for new jobs once moved. Hoping someone can point me somewhere that may suit!

can you rent somewhere for a year to see if you like the area? otherwise it is a big commitment to move to a new part of the country with no connections.

You can get a great house on the Isle of Wight for that budget. Diverse landscape, the sea, and good weather.

I always jump on threads like this and say come to where I live!!

Here's an example for your budget.

West Malvern Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property/105089297

We are a friendly town with lots going on.

Malvern is lovely! Beautiful scenery, great little cafes/pubs, lovely vibe in the town too.

Durham
Newcastle

That house and view looks wonderful @greengrey!

So what are you in to @Fleabagforlife? What kind of terrain do you love? Are you cyclists, wine enthusiasts, Morris dancers?

A friend of mine lives in Frome and it’s a really nice area with lots going on. I don’t know that area at all but I was really taken with the town and surrounding areas.

@RoSEbuds6 the view from that house is to die for - and OP, tell your OH if it's Shropshire he wants, he can see it from that house!!

Ponteland Northumberland or surrounding villages.....we've just moved here and it's lovely

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/72828333#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91120837#/

This is where I would go in the blink of an eye. Easy to get to Cirencester, Stroud, Cheltenham, Gloucester.. I near Cheltenham and it’s too built up for you

@parietal we wouldn't be able to rent, additionally we want the next move to be the final one!

@greengrey I'm not far from Malvern (40 mins) often walk the hills, viewed a few houses in the area but it didn't feel like 'home'. That house is amazing, lovely views!

@RoSEbuds6 DH and I both very outdoorsy, I run lot. Would be great to have woodland walks from the doorstep, but also a local Parkrun, gym, cinema, couple of nice pubs, I'm quite a home bod. DH is into motorbikes so nice biking roads for him would be a huge bonus.

I'm overwhelmed with where to focus/look really, as this is 'forever' home.

Thanks very much for all the replies and advice.

@Saltyslug

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/72828333#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91120837#/

This is where I would go in the blink of an eye. Easy to get to Cirencester, Stroud, Cheltenham, Gloucester.. I near Cheltenham and it’s too built up for you

You've inspired me to get to know Stroud a bit better! Those houses are lovely and I do have family in Cheltenham - though not a priority to be close, it would be nice.

I think it's better to be somewhere where you have some kind of connection, just to give you some insider knowledge if you need a recommendation for anything. Its hard to start completely from scratch.

@RoSEbuds6

I think it's better to be somewhere where you have some kind of connection, just to give you some insider knowledge if you need a recommendation for anything. Its hard to start completely from scratch.

That's the wall I keep coming up against. In theory moving 'anywhere' is great but reality is it's almost impossible to research, get to know and decide!

Shropshire is absolutely beautiful.
The people are really friendly and it's easy to make home.

We are in midlands and were in the same predicament last year. We have settled in relocating to Northumberland to be closer to countryside and coast. Our budget is lower than yours so lower housing cost was also a factor.
North east is lovely. North yorks is amazing. It’s a bit out of our budget to get what we want but you’d easily find something there for yours.

Ross on Wye is a gem

@Chipsahoy

We are in midlands and were in the same predicament last year. We have settled in relocating to Northumberland to be closer to countryside and coast. Our budget is lower than yours so lower housing cost was also a factor. North east is lovely. North yorks is amazing. It’s a bit out of our budget to get what we want but you’d easily find something there for yours.

Thanks for the reply! I do have friends in the North East and I'd love to be closer to the coast too.

Can I ask why you picked where you picked, did you have any links to the area and how much research you needed to do?

@itsalltrue22

Ross on Wye is a gem

I know Ross a little! It seemed a little deprived when I've visited but maybe i didn't get the right impression?

I think it's better to be somewhere where you have some kind of connection, just to give you some insider knowledge if you need a recommendation for anything. Its hard to start completely from scratch.

This. When we decided to relocate, DP and I sold our house and rented in a village we liked the look and feel of. Having lived in the area for 6 months we bought in another village we hadn't even considered previously.

We researched for a year. House has been on market for 6 months. Fallen through a bunch of times grr. One day we will make it to Northumberland.
No family ties. It’s pretty. It has what we need and it’s far away from my home town. Perfect for me.

If you like Shropshire:

Somewhere like Much Wenlock, Villages near Church Stretton off the A49. Possibly Quatt, Quatford near Bridgnorth - there's a big biker cafe on that road.

Negative of Shropshire is lack of accessible coastline - you'd need to head to North Wales for coast which is a couple of hours (so was hopeless for day trips with kids but doable with adults).

We’ve decided to rent for a year first though! Just to be sure.

Came on to say North Yorkshire as soon as you put up your list of requirements! North/East of York around ryedale/the moors is heaving with motorcyclists all summer, towns like malton have a wee cinema, pubs galore, park run around the grounds of castle Howard or Dalby Forest, and good cafes and restaurants. Job opportunities would realistically be York, which depending on how remote you go could be anywhere from a 25 min train journey to an hours drive.

Won’t give away where I am but lots of villages have the village shop, pub, school set up and a mix of period and new build properties.

In and around Thirsk also ticks a lot of your boxes (and also has a train link to York). Easingwold an option too, but less convenient for York if jobs are a consideration.

This thread is so exciting OP - I'm very jealous of your freedom - but it's overwhelming having so much choice.
I went through a stage of wanting to move out of London and I (over-) researched so many areas, Bristol, Bath, Hastings, Rye, Folkestone, and in the end we stayed put!
Keep us updated won't you (so I can live vicariously through you!)

Parts of Wiltshire and Somerset.