Moving from south to north? Did you regret it?

[user1473671327]

Hi all!

We have been considering moving north from the south east for a while and lockdown has kind of confirmed the desire to move and start over. We absolutely love the appeal of the scenery, more friendly and chatty people and a more rural way of life (we already live in a village but it feels like all the new builds are merging into one!)
I’d love to hear any suggestions of places to look or any stories if anyone has done a move like this and if you regretted it??
I’ve had a look through at Lancashire, Shropshire, Worcestershire as main areas of interest but would be keen to what any ideas!
Schooling is particularly important as we have a dd (in reception) and ds who is 2 who are both in great school/nursery settings and that would be my greatest concern uprooting them ☹️
Sorry for the long old post 😂 any suggestions would be great!

I second other recommendations of Lancaster area. Anywhere in the Lune Valley would be fab, and Lancaster itself is a great city.
It’s about 50 miles from where I live, but I love going for a day out.
Not telling you where I live, cos it’s the best place in Lancashire, and I don’t want everyone knowing about it 😜

@QueenOfTheDoubleWide thank you, sounds exactly what we are looking for. That is one of our concerns about not being able to move back (if it goes horribly wrong!) really hoping to get it right first time 😁

@Iwantmychairback haha 😂 that’s fair enough! I totally respect that! Thank you for the suggestions, I will have a look into Lune Valley 😁

Hanley Swan is nice, though the B4209 that runs through east/west can be quite busy. Some lovely properties there, and the pub is good - it was the last pub I went to, last Mothering Sunday! The shop I've never been in, as when I have been in the village it's usually on a Sunday or evening for a quick walk (there's a nice, short circuit if you park near the pond area). It's generally a lovely area, decent schools, but also good towns and not far to a bunch of cities if required (Hereford, Chelt, Gloucs, and Worcs, all around 30 mins). The only thing I would say about the villages, is that most are not amenity heavy, unlike a lot of the villages towards the Cotswolds, which have a bit more in terms of pubs and shops. A lot of the villages around here are just homes.

I love this area; sometimes I wish it were nearer the sea, but the hills are wonderful as compensation. Spent 30 years in the south. I miss it in some respects, but don't regret the move.

If you can find an area/house you are happy with, then it could be work out very well in terms of quality of life and financially. It's good to have the option of moving elsewhere if it doesn't work out.

I moved from the SE to the East Midlands, so not technically north, but we're fairly close to the Yorkshire border. I miss my family down south but we live in a lovely hamlet, ds goes to a fab, small village school, and as much as anyone can make friends in a pandemic, people seem nice. Value for money as far as housing goes is amazing whether you rent or buy.

We moved from West Sussex to Worcestershire, and love it here. Its not North, in fact at our end of the county we are barely Midlands. We are in a very small town on the Avon, and it is a perfect mix of facilities in walkable distance but small enough to be really friendly.

Thank you so much ladies! Sorry work and homeschooling has kept me from replying as quickly!
@BiarritzCrackers thank you for the in depth info! It honestly is so much help to know even the simplest things about a place with such a big decision!

@Shmithecat2 thank you, I do worry about moving away from family (my kids do love their grandparents and it worries me that I’d be causing them hurt) but I do feel it will be better for them in the long run with the quality of life, schooling etc and hopefully more quality time if they come to visit for a week or longer at a time.

@CMOTDibbler that was our original search as it didn’t seem too far away from where we live now. It does seems like it would offer a lot.

I’ve almost become too confused now 😂 with so much on offer we are like in two minds whether to go midlands or northern! It does seem that either way it would be the life we are looking for and hopefully be the best thing we did!

Honestly the response from you all has been incredible and I really am so appreciative of all your comments and recommendations 💜

Moved from overseas to South Shropshire - but otherwise would have been living in the South-East (London Commuting).

I don't regret it at all - I weekly commute to London and think I have the best of both worlds (albeit it is a fair trek to London).

My DW, I think, does regret it. Mainly due to the limited employment opportunities in such a rural area.

100% don’t regret it! We lived in london for 10 years, relocated to ‘the north’ when youngest DC was 3 and I was pregnant with our 2nd. Bought our first home (4 bed Victorian semi) in a lovely large ish village on the edge of the Peak District. 20 mins into manchester (although never go). On a train line, two major cities for dinners, theatres etc and a lovely village with several small cafes and restaurants. Amazing outdoor life. I haven’t missed anything except shopping but I go down once a year for that! I suppose perhaps in preferred meeting people and socialising in london but I’ve met lots of lovely people here too via school and had a good network of friends anyway.

Also love Shropshire! Good choice!

I moved from the very South to Yorkshire many years ago following a really awful divorce as I wanted a fresh start and had a great work opportunity. It is only Covid and the lockdowns that have given any reason for regret as my family in the South seem so far away now. In normal circumstances no regrets at all. Moved with teens who settled really well but (sadly) both returned south for Uni. Obviously this makes it even harder being up here, and long term I'm not sure all the benefits outweigh the greater contact I'd have if I was nearer them (in non-Covid times).

The biggest things I noticed for the better are the cheaper housing, whether bought or rented, amazing amounts of unspoilt countryside, chattier and friendlier communities and all the people I met had more seemingly expendable income largely due to far cheaper housing costs. Most of the working age people I know in the South are spending ridiculous amounts for decent houses (again whether rented or mortgaged).

The weather is the biggest downside - it IS noticeably colder even on the hottest summer days and I'm very rarely warm in the winter!

At the age your DC are, and being in a stable relationship, I'd say go for it - and go as far North as you can as it just gets better and better in terms of scenery, beaches, small towns/communities, green space and fabulous cities. However, if you will find distance from existing family or friends difficult, or if your relationship isn't solid and happy, I'd urge caution as once here it will be very difficult to go back IMO. I had to have special Court granted permission to move the teens that far from their dad and had to pay all the costs of every other weekend contact. So if you were to split in the future and wanted to go back South, it's not that straightforward.

Over the last five years I've met loads of Southerners who've made the move, more and more are seeing the positives.

Very best of luck - keep us updated!

I am a Londoner who left 22 years ago! There's great places for sure but please remember things are a bit different, and one of the bugbears people have is those who move to cheaper parts of the country buying up homes then precede to moan that this or that isn't like where they are from. Even if you think it, keep it to yourself basically.

We moved to North Yorkshire 10 year ago, wouldn’t go back.

One thing I’d say about moving “more rural” - look for somewhere with reasonable public transport to a town/city. Your children will be teenagers before you know it.

Just bear in mind if you are rural you will be a permanent taxi for kids to get anywhere as bus services are non existent.

We moved from the midlands to Morecambe when I was a teenager and have never looked back. Now we live in a small village in Wyre. You’re right, people are friendlier up here and it’s very beautiful. You will find that there are an awful lot of new builds springing up on Fylde and Wyre though! DS went to 2 outstanding primary schools and now goes to Lancaster Royal Grammar School, so his education has been exceptional. It’s cold up here though, so cold, so you have been warned!!

Thank you all. There’s definitely food for thought! We have been looking again and have been careful looking at properties closer to links for transport for when they are older. We don’t have a huge budget so there will definitely be compromises but less so than here (as I’m sure is the same for many!)
Growing up I lived with my mum which was an hours walk to the closest bus route and even that was a hit and miss route! As she was working I know how annoying I found having to try and get out and about as a teenager so would feel for my children if it was the same. (Although it did give me my great love and appreciation of walking and hiking!) We are definitely thinking village with links and a fairly active community.
@Da1sycha1n thank you for sharing your story and I imagine it must be really hard. You never know what the future will bring in terms of relationships, we all hope for the best!
Our families are pretty spread out, my dad and brothers are in Asia, Mum is here in Kent and we have friends that have moved away, although not in the areas we are looking. We are quite used to being distant and hoping my Mum will eventually be able to retire and we could have enough space for her to live with us with her own space (if she wants to!)

And I love the warnings of it being cold 😂 my husband may not be too keen as he loves the warmth. I’ll have to prepare him well! Hopefully it won’t be a deal breaker!