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Original poster

Moving from London to South Wales

103 replies

reptyle · 29/12/2023 08:25

DH and I are hoping to start a family soon. We’ve been living in London for the last 12 years and feel it’s time to move to a new place. We can’t afford to raise a family in London but we can work remotely and or change jobs.

Our budget is around £800k, we can get a mortgage for the right property but a big reason for moving is to be mortgage free. We need three bedrooms minimum. We are leaning towards the countryside but would consider living in a town. We need to be less than an hour drive to Cardiff Central station.

Any tips, areas, ideas?

OP posts:
sunglassesonthetable · 29/12/2023 11:07

This is the underreported but highly known phenomenon of moving to Wales! 😆

Happens all the time.

Bobbotgegrinch · 29/12/2023 11:19

Ginmonkeyagain · 29/12/2023 10:42

If you have £800k equity in a 2 bed flat I am guessing you live in a very central and/or very expensive part of London.

As others have said £800k will get you a fair amount in many suburban areas of London and the home counties.

I would honestly test out living in Wales first before you leap (preferably in Winter). It will be a huge difference in terms of lifestyle and amenities and seriously if you plan on working remotely really really do check the mobile signal and broadband speeds.

Bloody hell, she's talking about Cardiff, not the middle of some remote region.

We do have electricity and broadband you know. Some of us even have indoor toilets!

cardibach · 29/12/2023 11:28

Willywanker1 · 29/12/2023 10:47

South Wales might be fun when you have tiny kids but they'll be bored rigid in a few years. Slower pace of life - does that really equal having kids?! You'll spend your life as a taxi service.

I would keep a foot in London. A flat or whatever. Your kids will thank you when you're able to afford them all of the opportunity London has given you.

I find it baffling people leave London with small kids... The opportunity, the stuff to do, the diversity, the opportunities...

Yes, everywhere in Wales is deadly dull. No theatres, art or museums. Noth8ng to do at all. Cardiff is very diverse, incidentally.
Honestly, listen to yourself. I can’t bear London snobs who think everywhere else is basically wilderness.

cardibach · 29/12/2023 11:30

HollyLondoner · 29/12/2023 11:03

As someone who grew up in Cardiff and hasn't returned to live since I left at 18, you might find it a very slow pace of life compared to London! The people are friendly, but it's a very different world.

I recently moved from London to bucks in my 30s where £800k would get you a nice house and is only a 30min train to London.

Bristol is a fab city but pretty much as expensive as London!

In what way is it slow and ‘a very different world’?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/12/2023 11:32

Prob less of a shock than wales though

sunglassesonthetable · 29/12/2023 11:35

Prob less of a shock than wales though

😂😂😂👍🏻

rochethenut · 29/12/2023 11:44

cardibach · 29/12/2023 11:30

In what way is it slow and ‘a very different world’?

Show quote history

how long do you have?

HollyLondoner · 29/12/2023 11:47

@rochethenut 😂😂😂😂 exactly that! I was trying to be kind.....

ThePoshUns · 29/12/2023 11:51

You'll have lots of choice with that budget in and around Cardiff.
You could go a bit further out and live by the beach.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85843734#/?channel=RES_BUY

Atriskofscurvy · 29/12/2023 11:53

I’m a bit biased as I live here. I’m 30 minutes drive from Cardiff and 20 minutes to Swansea and the Gower Peninsula which is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

We actually have a 4 bed detached house for sale if you fancy a bit of a project. It’s in a lovely location with sea views. Local schools are lovely and very welcoming. Lots of community events linked to local church, library etc.

There’s a larger town 5 minutes drive away and you can be on the M4 in a few minutes but you’d never know as it’s very quiet in the area.

The house is in need of modernisation but can be lived in whilst doing that, there’s LOADS of potential for expansion too.

PM me if you’d like a link to the property xx

callainblue · 29/12/2023 12:27

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139513193

How nice

cardibach · 29/12/2023 12:28

rochethenut · 29/12/2023 11:44

how long do you have?

Show quote history

So you’ve got nothing then? Or nothing but snobbery? Otherwise you’d have made a suggestion or two…
Go on. Three things. Not just little differences, things that make it ‘a different world’. And, presumably, a worse one.
Edit: just noticed you aren’t even who I replied to. @HollyLondoner your response of ‘trying to be kind’ is even more unpleasant and snobby. Challenge if 3 things making it a ‘different world’ to you too. I bloody hate London snobs. Shame they exist because London is a great city.

cardibach · 29/12/2023 12:31

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/12/2023 11:32

Prob less of a shock than wales though

Ffs why would Wales be ‘a shock’ to anyone?

sunglassesonthetable · 29/12/2023 12:36

Ffs why would Wales be ‘a shock’ to anyone?m

Could you sound more ignorant? Hilarious tbh.

sunglassesonthetable · 29/12/2023 12:38

@rochethenut 😂😂😂😂 exactly that! I was trying to be kind.....

Don't bother keep your " kindness " in shock free Bucks.

IClaudine · 29/12/2023 12:41

These threads always bring out the anti-Welsh brigade.

mumonthehill · 29/12/2023 12:42

Cardiff is great, a really good city and great links to other places. We moved to wales when dc were little and to a rural area, dc are and were not bored teenagers, they do all water sports, climbing and various clubs. None of their friends are bored either. They have cities and culture as they want it. They speak welsh and have a wonderful community around them.

Dmsandfloatydress · 29/12/2023 12:43

We left London when we had kids for Monmouthshire. My husband was dragged, kicking and screaming. He now hates London and doesn't even like to visit. Our lifestyle really doesn't compare. It's low stress with , literally, twice as much disposable income. We can now afford school fees which was a pipe dream in London and we don't really need them as the local schools are excellent. It's friendly, beautiful with loads to do and we both now work exclusively from home and are able to do the school run with ease. That's an Estyn outstanding school with 5% free school meals, no social problems, a forest school , one form entry primary school with a den building policy. I often think people who stay in London with kids are barking mad if they have other options.

IClaudine · 29/12/2023 12:44
keeping up appearances 90s GIF

Don't bother keep your " kindness " in shock free Bucks

Shock free Bucks makes me think of this for some reason. Where was the Bucket residence?

WelshNerd · 29/12/2023 12:45

IClaudine · 29/12/2023 12:41

These threads always bring out the anti-Welsh brigade.

Just waiting for people to say how racist Welsh people are and the thread is complete.

Dmsandfloatydress · 29/12/2023 12:45

Oh, and if you are scared of Welsh People definitely come to Monmouthshire, I swear there aren't any 😂

bloatedbobby · 29/12/2023 12:46

That's an Estyn outstanding school with 5% free school meals, no social problems, a forest school , one form entry primary school with a den building policy. I often think people who stay in London with kids are barking mad if they have other options.

As a born & raised Londoner who was once in receipt of FSMs (shudder) I can confirm I am feral & mad.

IClaudine · 29/12/2023 12:47

WelshNerd · 29/12/2023 12:45

Just waiting for people to say how racist Welsh people are and the thread is complete.

Show quote history

Oh yes, we haven't had the switching to Welsh when a non Welsh speaker enters the shop or pub trope yet!

Dmsandfloatydress · 29/12/2023 12:49

Glad you survived. Mumsnet is notoriously middle class and middle class parents worry about such things.

sunglassesonthetable · 29/12/2023 12:50

London can be a great place to live but there is also shit. Works both ways in Wales too.

It's pathetic to limit options to stupid generalisations. m

But luckily OP sounds a bit more open minded than some posters and is asking for you know, suggestions.