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 🙏

What a list! Wokingham to Broughty Ferry. I had my lunch there once looking over the Tay. I loved the place but it was a bit expensive for us at the time. You'd have to throw in Perth if you're up there!

Westbury-on-Trym (Bristol) was nice when we lived there - especially walking around the Blaise Estate (is the Hansel and Gretel house still there?). But we have been back one or twice and it's not the same any longer.

I had no idea about any of this. My mum’s friend lived at Barton Farm and on googling I see it is really old. And it was 80s rather than 70s. Still a bit hippy though. They had people who bought a house there who did rebirthing in hot tubs.

The other thing about BOA I forgot to say is whilst I am not the biggest fan of Trowbridge , it is only 3 miles from BOA and very handy and practical for stuff like B&Q, garages etc .

You are going to get so many answers!

If it were me I'd be looking at the villages that surround Stratford Upon Avon. Or Somerset, the villages near Taunton, eg Ash Priors, Bishops Lydeard. Somewhere rural ish but close enough to a town for town type activities. If you like the sea, Watchet area in Somerset.

How about a market town in Northumberland? Close to Newcastle (including the airport and train station with a fast train to London if needed) and market towns are a great balance of town and country (and in some cases, beaches too). Hexham, Morpeth and Alnwick would all be on my list.

@Seedlingsparrow suppose a catch might be it seems a lot for a terrace without a massive garden. But these are huge inside, no noise from neighbours because of the walls. The parking permit wouldn't bother me. The location looks amazing

I am quite taken with it myself tbh:) walking distance of everything in a nice area, great for any age, and looking at the map, a waitrose too:) plus literary events, science, racing, theatre. And lovely walks.

Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden

Never expected Fife to be mentioned. Unusual.

Ilkley in West Yorkshire? You’ve got the moors on your doorstep as well as the river wharfe and park and very close to Otley chevin. The town centre is also the starting point for the Dales Way route. It’s also got a good train station, good community feel with lots going on, a Betty’s, small cinema etc.

Plenty of shops in the centre but it’s also direct on the train to Leeds and Bradford for bigger towns or for connections to the coast.

Just as an example, but there’s loads under budget. I just put in three bedroom under £600,000. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171932492#/?channel=RESBUY

Forgot to add it’s only 25-30 mins drive to Leeds Bradford airport.

A: what do you like doing? (To build a social life around).
B: do you want to be withing travelling distance to somewhere, like London?
C: airport- its useful to know where you might be travelling to, not every airport goes everywhere.

Shropshire could be a good bet. Shrewsbury is a lovely town or Chuch Stretton could be perfect. It’s on the trainline and has a really vibrant community (with a lot of retirees) countryside is gorgeous around there too.

I really like Shrewsbury too

So sorry for not coming back to the thread yesterday - got busy! Will read all replies today - thank you :)

Could I ask what you don't like about your current area? Might help in suggesting somewhere different.

I agree that we need more information about what you do not like about current area, and what you do like.

I have an underlying concern that your reasons for moving are likely to 'go with you' and you still find yourself unsettled, except you are now away from friends and familiarity...

You’re not a fan of the kingdom?

What’s your preferred vibe, op? I would relocate to York, it’s such a beautiful place architecturally, very lively, and surrounded by beautiful countryside.
chichester I think is very lovely too, very liveable. Personally I’d be very upset if I had to live in Stroud, I find it depressing, tatty/shabby. I have friends in BoA who love it..but it’s very small, I’d feel claustrophobic there.
what size place is your cup of tea?

Us to Chichester, Cheltenham
maybe Winchester, Salisbury, or how about Bridport?
bridport is quite down to earth but very near beautiful coast, has a friendly arty vibe, near lovely countryside and not too long to Heathrow

I would put in a word for Saffron Walden. Plenty of indoorsy things to do but really easy to get to some great places to walk. Not too far to coastal options that do not really attract a lot of tourism if that tempts you. Close to Cambridge, Newmarket, and easy London train connections. The airport would be Stansted (or Norwich) - other smaller ones, such as Leeds Bradford, I have not found great - I come from very near there and invariably would travel elsewhere to be able to get a useful flight. Parking and transport connections a little more dubious than other places. But Stansted has lots of options.

An obvious suggestion that you might have overlooked - what about moving to London?
Wherever you are in London you are in easy travel to all of the London airports.
Plenty of green spaces around for walking your dog.
Lots of activities and buzz, plenty of opportunity to meet new people and build a social circle.
I am in zone 2, with a dog, 20 minutes into central London, but next to a huge park and a canal so it’s fairly quiet and green. An hour to Heathrow or Stansted. Two-bedroom apartments here for 550K.
Or you could go further out into more suburban, still good public transport but even quieter and more property for your money.

My DB and his family bought a Victorian house in Catford last year for I think £575K. Up and coming area and good links to London Bridge from station. Their actual area is great, lots of nice shops and near naicer areas.

How about bishops Stortford? Good transport links as near Liverpool Street and Stansted airport.