How did you decide you wanted to move out of London, and where did you go?
Posted by Winniethebun@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I kind of can’t stand London now, it was great in my 20s and 30s but I’m tired now, and I’d like to live somewhere quieter.
Did you move out? How did you choose?
Relevant_Till_4486@reddit
I'm in the process of heading out now after 12 years. I've had a great time but I'm finding the city is becoming more unaffordable and generally less pleasant to be in (busy, messy, low-level antisocial behaviour tolerated). I did some work with a Coach via my work on what I valued most and what I wanted my day/weekends to look like, who I would want to spend it with etc. That helped narrow down a location that still offers city opportunities and connection, but with a bit more breathing room. Hope that resonates.
Gold-Creme-9597@reddit
If you can, do a test move and rent somewhere for a few months, especially in winter.
Signed, fellow native Londoner who tried and came back.
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
This did make me laugh! Did you try a few places?
Gold-Creme-9597@reddit
Was in Europe. Was away for uni but don’t consider that a good judge of anything but also didn’t love that. I’ve travelled a lot of UK as an adult and find myself missing a lot of what London offers, came to the conclusion that even though I don’t spend every night doing anything the city has to offer, it’s basically nice to have the option.
mikpgod@reddit
Was walking along the high street one Saturday in Streatham and could see the air, or rather the diesel. Before the days of electric/hybrid buses however. Might be better now. But can't afford it anymore.
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
Streatham depresses me
Groovy66@reddit
I moved from Stepney to Manchester. Smaller and more compact than London with access to the countryside in 30 mins in any direction.
When I went in the office my commute was 30 mins door to door
I’m planning to move a bit further out in the coming years, maybe Lymm or Marple.
deadliftbear@reddit
I moved from South London to Staffordshire after the last lockdown in 2021.
Why? London was killing me slowly. Constant background stress, pollution, isolation. Most of my friends lived in the Midlands and Greater Manchester. We wanted a garden, and to own our home instead of shovelling ever-increasing rent into a landlord’s wallet.
We chose Staffordshire for its transport connections and affordability. We got a good size 3-bedroom semi for £260k. We can be in Manchester in less than an hour, London in 75 minutes. Fresh air and closer to friends. I’m not going back.
MightyDevOps@reddit
That's 5 years ago , how is the property market there?
deadliftbear@reddit
Still cheaper than the south east. I’m remortgaging at the moment and the estimated value of the house is in the region of £300k, which I think is high compared to what I know neighbouring houses have sold for.
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
Thanks for this. Did you get a new job? Really wish I’d added this to my post
deadliftbear@reddit
I was able to keep my job and work remotely – my employer at the time only required office presence once a fortnight. I’ve since changed jobs a few times (contractor).
SnooozeFezt@reddit
When I couldn't afford it.
HAH-PAH@reddit
Could never leave London.
The economic opportunities, internationalism and range of things to do is a compounding treat. You really begin to understand the genius of Pepys’ quip ‘when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’ the more you grow with London.
London is the only global city in Europe, putting it at par with the likes of New York and Tokyo. The fact that all UK citizens have visa free access to a global hub like that and not take advantage of it is mind boggling.
Resident_Ebb_9354@reddit
Moved from Battersea to Dorset. London nearly killed me! Now it’s fresh air and a much slower pace of life. There are lots of jobs but you will want to be able to drive. Do a few day trips and find where you like is my advice. South is more expensive rent and house wise, north is cheaper and arguably more cultured.
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
Thank you, so I don’t drive, so would need to live near a city 😂. Did you do quite a few day trips and how hard was it to find a job? Thanks
LaurenNotABot@reddit
We were ready to buy a house but no way could we afford a decent one in London , so moved out to Hertfordshire.
Have never looked back.
More house for your money, lots of countryside , decent transport links and the schools are less er … stabby. Also, the worst traffic here is like very light traffic in London .
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
What's your budget for buying?
How often do you need to be in London?
Kids?
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
No kids, but a partner who works at a uni. There could be a struggle to find a role for him outside of London, so a uni town is a must. I mainly work from home. Although I have friends here, they now have small children so things have changed. 500k max as I’d love to reduce our mortgage.
Are you in or out of London?
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Just outside - uni town - Reading !
Random_Nobody1991@reddit
I lived in London for seven years, but with remote work becoming more of a thing, I was able to escape. Live within commuting distance and generally happier for it. Nothing against London in of itself, but I grew up in a mostly rural area and never liked big cities.
CoffeeIgnoramus@reddit
To be fair, I moved to London before moving away again, so I'm not a Londoner with deep ties. But I felt done with the hectic (or that's how it felt at the end) lifestyle. I moved back to my home town of Oxford which has a much more small town feel with nature round every corner and a very safe and very "easy" lifestyle. It's definitely cushty. It's not where you'll get thrills of big city life with stuff every night. It's not for everyone. But for me, I spent long enough that I worked out small city life was my speed.
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Yes like most people when they want to settle down. Very few people can afford to buy a property in London so tend to move about an hour out. Where to depends a lot of which train station nearest your work, any family connections, house prices etc.
Ended up in a less salubrious town but it is ok. My commute is longish but walking distance to station and to work and usually get a seat. So not wasted time. If I had changes or needed to drive to station/take tube in London, I'd be less happy. Trains generally ok but when there is a muck-up, I have 24/7 hour access to an office with TVs, internet, coffee, toilets, showers so tend to just work late until issue resolved if in London and WFH if not.
jlt33333@reddit
Moved to Sussex. In theory it's only an hours train to Victoria for work. In practice the train is either never on time or never arrives. Ended up hating it and wanting to move back.
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
Interesting, the commute is the part that would frustrate me the most. Although, I mostly work from home. Partner doesn’t…
Sadie_UK@reddit
Can't stand London? Where abouts are you? Moved from Sydenham to Hampshire and I'd LOVE to go back, just can't afford to!
Artistic-Fish1125@reddit
I left Hampshire and moved 20 mins from Zone 6. Couldn't imagine ever moving back to Hampshire.
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
You moved back to London, well on the outskirts?
Artistic-Fish1125@reddit
Have only ever lived in two parts of Hampshire. Just moved last year to the outskirts of Zone 6. It's so much easier to commute to London and there's a lot more to do.
Winniethebun@reddit (OP)
Why would you love to go back 🙂? I’m intrigued. Brixton, busy and I can’t stand it. But I was born in London and have been here a long time
BigBeanMarketing@reddit
I spent 22 - 30 in London and had the time of my life, would not change it for the world. Left in 2021 due to friends all scattering due to covid, living in a 1 bed flat was suffocating, and remote roles which I've held on to.
Had no idea where I wanted to move to but knew I wanted to be within an hour of London. Took to Google and looked for every smallish town with an M&S Foodhall and a Waitrose. They're usually decent indicators of nice places to live. Bought a house in St Neots, in Cambridgeshire. Really nice town market town, growing quite rapidly with lots of investment, new properties and Londoners leaving the city. It's about 45 minutes on the train to KX. 30 minute drive to Cambridge. There's lots of green space. You can see the stars at night. Very happy with it.
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