Can’t afford a nice are of London, where shall we move?

82 replies

fantillie · 26/12/2023 23:20

As precious as this sounds, we’d rather move out of London than live somewhere not naice.

It is what it is, I like nice surroundings, and being in a run down area makes me unhappy. Dh and I both agree that location is far more important than the property.

We actually prefer flat living to house living (I grew up in a city where no one has a house).

We would like a 2-3 bedroom property. Our budget is around £700k and we only want to live somewhere which most mumsnetters would describe as “posh”. In London we like Primrose Hill and Notting Hill, Canonbury, Clapham Old Town.

We were thinking about moving to Bath? Jericho/Summertown in Oxford or Clifton in Bristol. We only need to be in London once a month or so. We had considered somewhere like Harrogate but didn’t click with it when we visited.

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Squiblet · 28/12/2023 12:24

newnamethanks · 27/12/2023 13:47

It's not snobby pp to want to live in a reasonable area. When I lived in London, walking the dog on New Years day morning, I'd be kicking White Lightning and Stella cans put of the way and avoiding the occasional snoozing celebrant. Moved to a more provincial place, on my first New Years day dog walk, no abandoned empty cans but one empty Moet bottle lying in the road and a nearby Jack Wills necktie. No boozers lurking.😀

"I was miserable stepping over cheap, lower -class rubbish on my daily walk. But now that I step over expensive rubbish, I'm ever so much happier!"

TizerorFizz · 28/12/2023 14:45

But in many pleasant areas in cities and towns you don’t get the rubbish. More of a London issue. Even then, not everywhere.

Finallybreathe · 29/12/2023 07:03

I absolutely would not live in Leamington Spa if I had a budget of £700k 😂. There may be some “posh” bits like every town in the UK however a lot of it is rundown.

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 11:22

Leamington Spa is mostly pleasant but has a student area for Warwick uni students. Nearly every town or city has less desirable areas but it’s safe.

ProfTeeCee · 29/12/2023 11:49

Gosh I love reading these posts about London - it has changed SO much!
I grew up in NW3 - near Hampstead Heath and was completely banned by my parents from visiting many of the places you guys are now saying are 'posh'...and as for people being 'priced out of Hackney' - WTAF!? 🤣
I now live overseas (and have done for almost 18 years) so find these posts so interesting!

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 15:42

@ProfTeeCee In my younger years many areas of London were rough. However demand means roads are gentrified and prices go up. There are plenty of pleasant areas to choose from but some are close to less great areas. Mostly if there’s lots of dome up Victorian streets, a decent park, local artisan shops and cafes, it’s ok. Hopefully a pub or two and restaurants. Decent underground connections and not too far from entertainment are a bonus.

We now have a flat in Shepherds Bush. 50 years ago it was not a great area. Now the park is brilliant, the houses and flats are smart in our tree lined road and we have great transport and shopping nearby. It’s a mixed community but lots going on. Many people don’t look very far and miss some great areas.

InAMess2023 · 29/12/2023 15:44

There's literally only three properties in the whole of my town for sale for over £700k 😯 and it's on the main train line to London 🤣

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