Not content in London but not content in the Country

[Polliena]

I grew up in the countryside. Couldn’t wait to escape. Went to university in a small city then stayed a few years. Now moved to London two years ago for work. I am happy in London on the whole and miss it when I’m not here. But I also miss the countryside and sea. I live in a fab part of London but feel like something is missing.

Does anyone have this? What’s the solution other than having a country house and a city flat? (I can dream)

Maybe somewhere like Brighton (& Hove)? It has a city vibe but is smaller than London, and with easy access to the Downs and smaller towns / villages to the north, and it's on the coast. Houses are cheaper than London, too (though expensive relative to other parts of the country).

Failing that, a market town with good rail connections to London? There was a lot of enthusiasm for St Albans on a recent thread.

I live in Surrey, in london in 30 mins but lots of countryside on the doorstep

feel like something is missing

Sounds like the human condition. You've done country, small city, London and still get the yearnings. I'd hazard you always will wherever you are, unless there's something else in life that fully occupies you. Wherever you are, you're still you, so even with the country and city pads if you were so fortunate, you'd probably still be thinking... if only I had that other xyz, then I might be happy.

I live in zone 6 and enjoy it. 30 mins on the train to London Bridge, but we have a nice-sized plot (much bigger than we'd get more centrally) and are surrounded by green space.

It’s not the country or the city…it’s you!

If you like both the country and the city at some point you have to compromise and pick one and then miss out on what the other has to offer. They are diametrically opposed I don’t think you can find somewhere that has it all.

Try living in a city surrounded by country? Salisbury, Norwich, Cambridge are all good cities to live in.

@Whatsthepoint1234 strangely we went to salisbury today- now that's an underrated place not often mentioned on here- excellent!

We live in Bath and that's good for the same reasons

I lived in Salisbury for a couple of years after Uni as it was cheap! I’d never heard of it before but it’s lovely and I wish I could move back!!

I am like you. I sorted myself out by making the decision to leap into country life while my kids are growing and get involved and then I hope to move back to London when they leave the nest. We only moved to Home Counties. It took me years to get to a happy place but I do love having nature around me now and London is always there. That said, I may also disappear round the world when they have grown because I think the thing I find hard is staying in one place!

I was going to say this. Edge of the green belt.

I went for a 4 mile walk in open fields and woods this morning, just ten mins walk away from my house. Sheep, cows, an orchard etc. But last night I was out in the West End for dinner, theatre etc - and was home in under 50 mins door to door. Best of both worlds!

A coastal city? E.g. Edinburgh?

@Whatsthepoint1234 fabulous market too today with really good food stalls and a really good vibe. It's still quite cheap I think for housing (relative to other places in the south) what I did like was it has lots of upmarket stuff , good cafes and a nice M&S but also Poundland, Greggs, TK Maxx etc.