Please can someone help me find somewhere to move to?!

[Voilly]

I downsized 2 years ago from the large family home to a smaller house in the same town.

At that point, all 4 of my adult dc weren't living at home, and had no plans to do so. Things have changed since then and 2 of them are now back.

I really hate the house I've moved to, and I suddenly feel that after more than 30 years I don't want to live in this area any more (near Windsor). Many of my friends have moved away or are planning to. Plus most of them are still married/in relationships, whereas I'm widowed and I feel that our friendships have changed :(.

I want to move but don't know where to! I've kind of got RightMove fatigue and am fed up of looking on there. The 2 dc currently living with me will move with me. The other 2 are abroad and not likely to come home. I have no other family, and I work remotely.

I have a budget of up to £600k and, other than being aware that I should factor in getting older (61 now), I could, in theory move anywhere in the U.K. I'd like an airport within about 2 hours to visit my dc living abroad but that's pretty much it.

I'd be so grateful for some suggestions of nice places to live anywhere in the uk (except for Cornwall). Does anyone have somewhere they live that they love, or somewhere they'd like to live that they love?

Thank you 🙏

Anywhere but Cornwall? What did Cornwall do?!

At 61 you are not elderly but if you want to stay somewhere long term then being near a decent hospital is far more vital than an airport. I live rurally and the drive to hospital in an emergency, in bad weather, can be impossible. I am the same age and it’s something that does worry me. So look at places that have good healthcare provision and a decent hospital nearby. Also dentists.

What about somewhere on the South Coast e.g. Worthing which is handy for Gatwick

What about your adult dc's jobs and how will that affect where you can move to?

As someone who has moved a lot, my method is to make a list of the things I want to do with my time outside of work, how I want to live, and therefore what the area needs to offer me. So for example, I'm a keen walker so one of the things on the list is always good walking in the area, especially woods. I also love the theater, wandering round charity shops and seeing my family. So the area needs to facilitate those things. Good transport links for work.
Then I look on Google maps and figure out which areas offer me what I want. Then I do trips to go see those places and get a shortlist together. If I think I'll be there long-term then I go stay for a bit.
I've lived all over the UK and I've loved everywhere, even the places I've landed in with no prep. There are so many possibilities, my method is simply to help narrow it down now I can choose where to go instead of having to move for work.

I could make some suggestions but if your adult DC part of the equation- jobs /friends etc or do they not care? Are they needing to be near bigger places for work? Also can I ask do you like smaller places that are a bit bohemian and maybe a bit tatty round the edges or pristine with an M&S on tap etc ? What do you like doing? Hiking, camping, countryside or a bit more of a towny? House or open to flats? Just helps me get a better feel for what might suit - we used to live in Windsor by the way but the planes drove us nuts- we live in Bath now !

Chichester. There’s a hospital pretty much in the town centre. The centre is pedestrianised and has some independent shops. There’s the cathedral, the Festival Theatre, museums, art galleries, history. There are train links to London, Gatwick, Brighton, Southampton, Portsmouth and stops in between.

Nearby is the coast with plenty of small villages. The South Downs has plenty to offer if you like walking.

Your adult DC would find things of interest I’m sure and be able to travel quite a wide area if needed. The A27 can be very busy, but public transport is reasonable. You’d get a 3 bed house for your budget, or possibly a 4 bed in some areas.

What kind of area do you want? City, town, village, rural? What sort of ameneties are important? Public transport, restaurants, shops or are you happy with looking at open fields and rolling hills?

Thank you for the replies and the advice/suggestions.

The 2 dc who are moving with me don't intend to live with me for too long. One is saving up and is lucky enough that his job allows him to work anywhere. The other is actually in his last year at uni so I'll just be a base for him until he (hopefully) gets a job.

One of the reasons I can't decide where to go is because I'm very annoying and can't even decide if I want rural or more urban! I grew up rurally so am drawn to rural areas, but then I'm also aware that I will have to forge a whole new social network so I don't want to isolate myself self either! And, of course, I need to take aging into account!

The things I enjoy doing are indoorsy type things. I do have a dog though and enjoy walking with her.

Ps I only said not Cornwall because it has some traumatic memories for me.

Bristol? Good airport, fast train to London, lots of green space in the city, small but lively.

Tynemouth.

What about Northern Ireland? Great house prices and some lovely areas. Or Scotland?

Is there specific hobby you love that has more of a presence in some areas than others? For example if I loved skiing/snowboarding I’d look to be near Milton Keynes/Tamworth/Manchester for a snow dome (all of those places are handy for airports too!) or Cardiff if I loved canoeing. Anything like that to base your search around?

Suburbs SW Sheffield. Half in the Peak District, all of it edges onto open country. But yoh have bus stops and hospitals very nearby.

South west coast of Fife - Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn. Great value for money, direct access to Edinburgh on the train (30/40 mins), airport nearby good mix of being rural with the benefits of a city nearby. Beaches on the doorstep and lots of nice cafes (particularly in Aberdour). Lovely communities with a lot of opportunities to get involved and to meet people.

I live on the peak district edge of manchester. You have easy access in to the city, hospitals, etc, but amazing countryside on your doorstep. £600k would get you something fairly nice around here (although it's still an expensive part of the north west). It does rain a fair bit, but that's why it's so nice and green!

Could I suggest Lichfield in South Staffordshire? It’s a lovely cathedral city with lots of Georgian architecture and a thriving city centre with a beautiful park. It’s a nice mix of families and older residents and lots of activities for retirees. You could get a lovely home for your budget within walking distance of the city centre. Cannock Chase is a 20 minute drive away and the Peak District less than an hour. Birmingham airport about 45 mins away.

Northumberland/ Tyne Valley look market towns like Hexham, Morpeth, Alnwick rural enough and near Newcastle with airport and multiple hospitals. I'm from the North East and my parents are mid 60s and have moved to Hexham.. they have loads going on and 3 rescue dogs! Also house prices will be very reasonable although those areas are expensive for the North East they will be a bargain compared to what you are used to.

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172304987

How about Tynemouth? Near to Newcastle airport and some lovely coast as well as easy train from Newcastle to London and close to the Northumberland coast and Scotland.

Second this.

Great theatre, independent cinema, decent shops, on the edge of the South Downs, beaches easily accessible. Train to London or Gatwick is easy, also ferries from Portsmouth. Reasonable bus service, St Richards Hospital on the doorstep.

£600k is a good budget for a nice house with a garden.

Cheltenham? This is gorgeous, 4 beds, self contained annexe - maybe one day you live in that and your dc family have the house?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170460140?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

I am moving from Surrey to Port Sunlight on the wirral in August. Nice new build estate next to the river. 20 mins into Liverpool, 25 into Chester, North Wales coast nearby, as is lovely beaches on the Liverpool coast. I have family 30 mins away and will work in Liverpool, hence why I chose it. But can’t wait for this new chapter.

somewhere in the Cotswolds?
cheltenham is lovely.
Stroud and surrounding areas are great too.

I was going to suggest Bath! I spend a lot of time there, and it ticks a lot of OPs boxes...