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Original poster

If you left London, where did you go and why?

107 replies

TheBeesKnee · 06/08/2023 20:18

Currently living in a 2.5 bed starter terrace watching interest rates rise with horror. We've been here 4 years and when we bought the house I thought we'd stay for c.5 years and then move somewhere bigger.

The location is decent (south London), I love how accessible everything is from where we live, but I'd like another child eventually and I don't want one to end up sleeping in a glorified closet. I've looked into going into the loft but realistically we'd either end up with one okay sized bedroom up there or a small bedroom with a tiny shower/toilet - and I'm not sure if it's worth the cost and hassle.

DP and I always discuss leaving London and moving somewhere nice, but the problem is that anywhere nice seems to be just as expensive but less well-connected with less going on.

So I'd like to hear from others who took the plunge: where did you move to, how did you adapt, do you have any regrets or advice?

Tia!

OP posts:
TheFormidableMrsC · 07/08/2023 12:11

I moved to North Herts. 20 mins direct to Kings X. You get a lot more house for your money here compared to London prices.

Mollyisacat · 07/08/2023 13:00

Fell in love with a bloke from Lincolnshire and moved up to be with him, I’d still like to live in London one day but with young kids now I wouldn’t. Schools are good here, kids love exploring the outdoor and we have a big house with big garden for the price of less than a one bed flat in London. Job opportunities here are rubbish though

passthesugar · 07/08/2023 13:06

West Hertfordshire. We can still get to London v easily when the mood strikes, but now have space, fresh air, and more of a community.

hattie43 · 07/08/2023 13:13

London to Hastings here .

Fretfulmum · 07/08/2023 13:28

It seems like you’re looking for another London but cheaper. I’m sorry to say but this doesn’t exist. There are so many great places to live and bring up children outside of London but there are few places which are just as jostling and have everything in your doorstep with good public transport. They are also very expensive, London prices really.
if you don’t have a big budget, your budget will dictate where you can afford to move to. What’s the budget then we can recommend realistic places ?

londonmummy1966 · 07/08/2023 14:02

Still here but often think about moving to South Wales near to Cardiff. People speak well of Penarth.

Jacquel666 · 07/08/2023 14:03

Moved from London to leafy Surrey 22 years ago when I was pregnant with baby 1. Commuted for a while from Godalming as it’s only 45 mins to Waterloo. Love the peace and countryside and trees but still being able to visit theatre, museums, work etc in London for days out has been a huge bonus.
joined local nct when we relocated so I’d have a network of new mums and I’m still friends with some of them today. Schools also quite community led so not too isolating. Missed my club nights for a while though 😂 and getting takeaways delivered was unheard of back then.
Houses are just as expensive as parts of London though.

dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:15

I know lots of people who have left. The ones who stayed relatively close went to places like Ewell, Reigate, Weybridge, Caterham, St Albans and hybrid work.

The ones I know who moved further eg Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, Thanet are either very hybrid or changed jobs.

dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:20

I would love to move to the coast but DH & I are both Londoners and don't want to lose all the family support.

EmmaDial · 07/08/2023 14:35

We were living in midlands, a big village.Moved to East End of London for 12 years, We loved it.
Crime was so bad in our part. Then we moved to Poole Dorset to be near elderly family. It is hell on earth. No one wants to meet you. Have to use car so much to go to anything.

Original poster
TheBeesKnee · 07/08/2023 14:48

Fretfulmum · 07/08/2023 13:28

It seems like you’re looking for another London but cheaper. I’m sorry to say but this doesn’t exist. There are so many great places to live and bring up children outside of London but there are few places which are just as jostling and have everything in your doorstep with good public transport. They are also very expensive, London prices really.
if you don’t have a big budget, your budget will dictate where you can afford to move to. What’s the budget then we can recommend realistic places ?

I know, it's a bit depressing. I've lived in Canterbury for uni, which I enjoyed, but feel like there's not much going on outside of university.

Realistically £400k

OP posts:
dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:50

You could stay in London for 400k but it depends on what you want. It won't be the "cool" areas.

Original poster
TheBeesKnee · 07/08/2023 14:53

dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:50

You could stay in London for 400k but it depends on what you want. It won't be the "cool" areas.

We're in Sutton, I'm not sure how much less cool I can get but I don't mind it. The shops are okay and there's great links with trains and tube not too far away. I'm always going to Wimbledon and Kingston, that's where I really want to be but DP won't entertain buying a flat.

We also drive to Brighton quite often.

OP posts:
JennyForeigner · 07/08/2023 14:59

Nottingham and specifically a nice bit called West Bridgford.

It's cheating a bit as we grew up here, but my London-based sister is always plotting her return. It's 90 minutes on the train so just about commutable for a hybrid role and is a great city where your £400,000 would do a long way.

dramoy · 07/08/2023 14:59

I think Sutton is up & coming, I know a few younger colleagues looking there as it's still relatively cheap & for those who want families great schools.

Worcester Park.New Malden are good areas in Kingston but obviously 400k won't get you anything bigger there.

Mitcham?

dramoy · 07/08/2023 15:03

Needs work but something like this in Kingston

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137965367#/?channel=RES_BUY

PatsyStonesBeehive · 07/08/2023 15:08

We sold our 2 bedroom house in NW1 for £700,000 and have bought in the Fylde coast, a 5 bed mirrored-semi for £150,000. It's beautiful here. I'd never go back now. I love the South-East but I love having a large home and being able to live and ensure my kids have a secure future more.

This is what you could get for £400,000 here...

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138008306#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123443093#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137802467#/?channel=RES_BUY

Check out this 7 bedroom semi-detached house for sale on Rightmove

7 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in All Saints Road, St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, FY8 for £400,000. Marketed by Frank Wyles and Co, Lytham Saint Annes

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138008306#/?channel=RES_BUY

dramoy · 07/08/2023 15:08

Epsom

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137752583#/?channel=RES_BUY

The problem is prices have just jumped everywhere

dramoy · 07/08/2023 15:09

@PatsyStonesBeehive it's depressing, that first house is gorgeous!

Greenwitchhorse · 07/08/2023 15:10

I moved from London last year to the seaside (Deal, Kent).

Best thing I ever did.

I had some happy years in London when I was younger but in the end I hate the noise, then anti-social behaviour, public transport and how expensive everything was.

I feel so much better, happier and healthier since moving out.

I still work for a London-based company but only commute a couple of times a month. The next step is to find a local job or a fully remote one.

PatsyStonesBeehive · 07/08/2023 15:14

dramoy · 07/08/2023 15:09

@PatsyStonesBeehive it's depressing, that first house is gorgeous!

I know. Your money really doesn't go far down south. We got sick of haemorrhaging money towards tiny properties. I don't know how young families are managing it. It's incredibly sad.

dramoy · 07/08/2023 15:16

@PatsyStonesBeehive and your links are done to a nice standard. You could spend 600k here & need another 100k plus to do it up 😭

TropicalTrama · 07/08/2023 15:22

We tried Farnham (hated it) then Chicago (loved it but not enough to stay long term). The Chicago move benefited us massively from a financial standpoint so we were able to move back to London and buy something a lot bigger. No plans to ever leave again.

VivaDixie · 07/08/2023 15:22

We lived in Sutton too. We moved to Manchester in 2005. Lived in the city first then bought in Altrincham area. We have never looked back. The vibe in Altrincham/Timperley/Sale is similar to Sutton. Although you might not get much of an upgrade with £400k. We love it here and do not intend to move. We would certainly not move back to London

Crikeyalmighty · 07/08/2023 15:29

We live in Bath - pricey here too but does have a vibe and great countryside.

If you don't need to commute( although both are commutable on a casual basis) it might be worth you looking at Frome and Stroud- both have a good 'arty ' vibe and good markets and lots of young families and nice mixed housing. They are cheaper than Bath- here are some examples for under£400k.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136843538

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137709161

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132324794

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137135678

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136522022

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