Help me move away from Cornwall

[upthem5]

I’m Cornish, but lived away in a nice city during my university years.

I then moved back to Cornwall about 10 years ago, we got married and had DC.

ever since the pandemic, I’ve been feeling this lack of “something” in my life and I’m beginning to realise that I prefer being up country, well connected with more job opportunities. I miss that “buzz” of things going on.

DC and DH have also said that they’re tired of Cornwall. DH and I grew up here in the 80s and 90s & the bleakness keeps coming back to us. I’m struggling to find employment here and I’m sick of the sexism in my industry (IT). Salaries here are still at £18k - £22k.

Anyway, DH has a great job and it’s fully remote. We need to be 2.5 hours from London via train or car.

Apart from that, we’re entirely flexible. Our house budget is about £350k.

I think living in a City Centre would be a huge culture shock so am thinking suburbs or a town near a City? A bit of both?

Can anyone recommend anywhere? ☺️
(sorry this is the first time I’ve ever collated all my thoughts so apologies if it’s bitty!)

You are going about this the right way OP!! So many just look at houses- but never factor in opportunities of decent work, which is when people end up in the shit in deepest west wales (or indeed Cornwall) ) having lost their 'remote' job etc !!

Also voting for Exeter. For areas to consider I'd agree with St Thomas, also maybe look at Pinhoe, Stoke Hill/Higher Pennsylvania, Alphington, Heavitree. I think you'll have quite a bit of choice across the city. Good luck!

@upthem5 Leamington Spa is lovely. Close to Warwick and Birmingham, 1.5hrs from London by train. Plenty of job opportunities in IT. It’s not the cheapest but you can get good value within walking distance of the centre. It’s a medium sized town with plenty going on. Pay should be decent too.

It's true about it being landlocked! But the sheer stunning variety of the countryside all around more than makes up for it.

It has the highest proportion of university students staying to live following graduation of any university city apparently. Check out meersbrook, broomhall, nether edge, eccleshall road areas. It's becoming more and more vibrant.

my University was landlocked and I loved it! Didn’t miss the sea much at all.

Im more of a countryside, hills and forests kinda girl anyway!!

The general rule for estimating if an area is nice in Sheffield is to think about whether the name sounds naice, like a home counties village, or not. If is sounds naice then it probably isn't great and vice versa. Obviously there are exceptions in all areas.

E.g. parsons cross, the manor, brightside (not great)
Crookes, crosspool, dore, eccleshall (lovely)

Ffs I’m stuck at Carland Cross on the roundabout and people can’t wait their turn so they’re cutting us up. Traffic jam is miles long 😂 (I’m the passenger btw!)
save me

Sorry haven’t RTWT but if you don’t need beach and love countryside how about Worcestershire? There are lots of science jobs there I believe, the countryside is beautiful, there’s Birmingham not too far for big city fix. I have a friend who lives in Malvern and she’s thriving. Good schools too.

Malvern is gorgeous, leafy and hilly, lots of nice places to eat as well.

Me, my partner and son have just recently moved away from Cornwall and relocated to Kent, already the best thing we've ever done. It's a different way of life up by the city, never a boring day, new opportunities for yourself and children. Unfortunately there's not future in Cornwall anymore for our children.

Oh my goodness! @boysmuma i have so many questions I don’t know where to start! Did you leave family behind?
Did you buy somewhere in Kent?
Are your salaries better?

sorry for bombarding you! Xx

Malvern sounds beautiful I’ve never heard of it! I’ll have a look :)

Thanks everyone x I really appreciate all this help and advice x

@boysmuma was it a culture shock for your son? X

@upthem5 I realise this is a super old post now but I am intrigued to know where you ended up. We are in Cornwall (not from here originally but been here 11 years) and I can relate to everything you said in your original post. In spite of the beautiful surroundings and beaches, I am missing things going on - culture, shops, arts, buzz - and opportunities for our kids. They were little when we moved here - and it has been a blissful place to raise small children, but there is not enough for them now they are in their late teens - either socially or work opportunities. I am, though, dreading putting our house on the market and the prospect of moving away from the coast. I'm pulled in both directions! We have been considering a village near Cheltenham, possibly outskirts of Bath / Bristol, but also reading this thread I am now considering Exeter. Would love to know what happened next for you - and if you are happy with the change!