Where to move - 57, single, no DC

[paint101]

I live in a scruffy bit of London zone 3 and would like to move. I have a nice house but I hardly know anyone any more as most of my friends moved away when they had children. I feel sad a lot, seeing all my old haunts. I’ve lived in London all my life apart from 3 years abroad so am finding the thought of moving quite overwhelming. I’m worried that I will move but nothing will really change (as in I will end up in another scruffy unfriendly area). Facts below, and other suggestions of where to consider would be great. I will be renting in the new area before buying.

Budget £700k for 2/ 3 bed house. Would like an area not full of dog shit and fly tipping.

I don’t drive so will need to live fairly centrally in a city (plus I always wanted to be central, could never afford it in London).

Personality wise I’m introverted but make friends fairly easily if I join groups etc. I sound pretty ‘London’ in regards to accent, so probably not best off somewhere they hate Londoners. I’m arty, like reading, walks. Bit worried if I move somewhere too small and don’t click with anyone, I will have exhausted the potential friend supply.

I am working (can wfh) but my job is unstable, so fairly high chance of losing it, so need to be somewhere that’s at the very least commutable and not an expensive commute (I do admin so high train fees would eat up a lot of salary). Aiming to work a few more years.

I need to be in the South, I have very elderly parents who live in Cornwall. I don’t want to live in Cornwall, I’d like to be within 2 hours of London by train as I would still like to visit galleries, theatre, the few friends I still have there.

I’m considering Bristol, Hove, Chichester (as have a couple of friends there and it seems nice), Oxford, Leamington Spa, Southsea. I’m not really taken with Margate, Deal etc as not really attracted to being by the sea, but considering Hove as I know it a bit and Southsea as heard it’s nice.

Apologies for long post!

Brighton ?

Already found you a house ! https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174390560#/?channel=RES_BUY] www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174390560#/?channel=RES_BUY]]]]]

Have you considered moving to a one bed in nice part of zone 1 or 2? It’s doable with your budget. I am your age and moved out to the Home Counties to raise my DCs (no regrets) but for next empty nest chapter I am moving back into zone 1 - I will be the 5th of my neighbours to do so in the past year. I can’t wait - swapping my 6 bed detached with 1/2 acre garden for a 2 bed right next to Regents Park. You could easily afford a 2 bed flat in Hampstead and have the marvellous Heath on your doorstep or a one bed further in.

Tunbridge Wells?

Bristol

Bath

Yes I am kind of considering Brighton but thought Hove might be a bit quieter, but still accessible to the more busy Brighton. There are lots of lovely houses in both.

Hmmm I have considered it. I’m really put off by services charges, more potential of noisy neighbours, and leasehold. Plus I never envisaged living my whole life in London, it just happened due to London salaries and I do fancy a fresh start. I’ve had enough of trying to make new friends in London - I make them, then they leave. Everyone is so transient. I have thought maybe I’m missing a trick and there might be somewhere Richmond way that would be nice.

Bath, Bristol, Tunbridge Wells….Bristol is top of list at moment. Bath I haven’t seriously considered yet, wrote it off as a bit ‘posh’ but I’ll look again with more open mind. Tunbridge Wells I know nothing about, I’ll have a look.

If you do admin surely you could work in any decent sized town or city with a thriving business community - or do you mean that you need to commute to London? If you moved to Bristol, for instance, would you envisage yourself getting a job in Bristol?

If your DPs are in Cornwall and you need to be on hand to support them I wouldn't consider moving to Kent, tbh. You need to be west of London to make that journey as easy as possible. In fact, I'd make sure that you're on the right mainline train route to get to where they live.

As to where you should move - I've no idea as I don't know any of the places you've mentioned well. But I would be very strategic about where you move to with regard to job opportunities, decent commute and decent journey to your DPs home.

One more thing, before you write London off, read this article: https://archive.is/ouZPx

i Think all those places good, know people who live there, lots going on, things to join. If I was you I’d move Somewhere between London and your parents in Cornwall. . If you end up helping them in future it will be easier to be nearer, and Cornwall is great to visit I’d imagine.

i Think all those places good, know people who live there, lots going on, things to join. If I was you I’d move Somewhere between London and your parents in Cornwall. . If you end up helping them in future it will be easier to be nearer, and Cornwall is great to visit I’d imagine.

Iffley fields in Oxford ? Chipping Norton if you want somewhere beautiful and don’t mind getting the bus to the station. Kidlington if you want less beautiful but close to countryside and well connected.
Or Charlbury is very beautiful with a station and very much a “community” feel.

Sorry yes I wasn’t clear. Commutable to any city, not just London. I looked at jobs though in e.g. Chichester and there weren’t many admin type jobs, and most of them weren’t possible by public transport (I don’t drive). But I guess there is other commutes to other towns around it.

True about the train lines, am trying to stick with not more than 5 hour journey to Cornwall with not more than one change. It’s currently 5.5 hours for me for tube and train to Cornwall.

What about Exeter? I lived there a long time ago and always wrote it off as a bit dull, but spent a few days there recently and it's lovely, buzzy, clean, 2 hours to London, potential to commute to Plymouth or Bristol, and easy access to Dartmoor and the sea.

That’s quite funny. My family go back centuries in Kidlington, my dad was the first to move away. Ironic if I go there! I’ll look at your suggestions, thanks.

Oh yes, forgot about Exeter. I’ll put it on list.

Whatever you decide, I'd recommend renting for 6 months first and letting your own house out if possible. That way if you don't like it, you can revert back.

Cambridge it’s lush

A 5-hour train journey is very long if there is a risk that you may need to visit your parents on a regular basis. I'm 100 miles from my DPs, door to door, and I drive. In an emergency or for regular help that's quite far enough. I honestly wouldn't recommend that you move the wrong side of London if you rely on public transport to reach Cornwall. Exeter, Bristol, anywhere that way would make much more sense for you.

A good middle ground could be Exeter. I think that’s about half way between.

I see you’ve mentioned Exeter too.

I’d suggest giving Exeter a visit if you haven’t already. There’s a Cathedral, a mix of very nice houses and more ordinary ones. Leafy avenues a walk from the city etc.

Lol I didn’t realise Exeter was being mentioned several times. The universe is telling you to visit Exeter OP. 😂

Winchester. Housing is expensive but you can get a house within your budget close enough to walk to centre. It’s pretty and well connected for both London and the coast and it isn’t super touristy like Bath.

Brighton, Hove, Shoreham