What would you do - where shall I move to?

moneyistooshorttomention

When visiting places you are thinking about living in - buy the local newspaper/s and generally check out their website articles. Probably doesn't matter so much in a bigger place - but do do so if its a smaller place.

That gives some sort of "flavour" of the area. If the newspaper is a bit of a "shocker" in some of the viewpoints it has/prints (see editorial/readers letters) then there will be a noticeable size group of people with viewpoints that are a bit of a "shocker" too. If that's the case - you will need to know its a place with a high proportion of incomers there to counterbalance.

The main local newspaper here has had some distinctly "shocker" editorial/letter to Editor stuff in there sometimes - to the extent that I'm boycotting it and hoping it will go out of business and I am buying a more "normal" newspaper that covers a wider area. But it has served a purpose of showing viewpoints held by a noticeable number of "locals" here.

If all the local newspapers are standard/objective type "proper" newspapers then that tells you something (positive) about local mindset.

PlymouthMaid

I know somebody who moved to Bridport and absolutely loves her new life.

Immers7

Bristol or Manchester. Nice friendly cities with good nightlife.

Both have good public transport. Fast trains to London if you miss it.

PlutoinCapricorn

If the seaside is not essential, then consider Birmingham.

There are also many places in Kent where you can get a direct train to Charing Cross. I have found that nothing compares to London though.

TimeForChange2015

I kind of made my mind up to leave London. Nothing's set in stone of course, but thinking the quality of life would be better out of London - including housing and what you'd get for the money. It's worth keeping options open though so thanks for the suggestion.

Maybe it's partly a mid-life crisis! Not to mention the end of my long-term relationship (I also thought I'd have children by now but it is what it is, and life is what you make of it). I think I want to make some changes and have some new experiences, and see what life is like out of London.

I think that's definitely a good suggestion to check out local newspapers - I'll check out some websites this evening.

KRB2725

If you like Brighton then Bristol may be worth looking at. I know a couple of people that have lived in both and say they have a similar feel to them.

househuntingmad

Off top of head for ideas - Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Norwich. All quite reasonably priced, all have fairly good public transport, and all quite friendly (at least in my experience). But then anything outside of London and the SE has seemed way more friendly to me... (grew up in Midlands, spent many years in London and SE climbing up career ladder before heading back to Midlands).

catshark88

Bude in Cornwall has cheap housing, super fast broadband and the sea. Loads of people have moved there, from all round the country and seem to be having a fab time. Lots going on and quite a few single people.

getmore4less

I did a stint in Glasgow, plenty going on, friendly, loads of meetup groups(did not use I was short term) good public transport easy to get around.

There seemed to be plenty of house share/rooms available for more mature people, If I have been there longer I would have found something(I am older than you) as I was short term I wanted somewhere very central for work/going out.

A very big student population, I think this gives a vibe to a city/town and busy affordable venues pubs, restaurants...


What I would do if looking generally for somewhere new again.

Check out the room to rent/house share sites.
Get a feel for cost and availability, researching areas.

Check out Meetup groups, gives access to social things.

Check out things you can do solo, comedy, theatre, concerts, general events in the area.

I cultivated some social contacts just doing regular things, some free, some cheap.

Public transport, I found this quite liberating over the isolation of using a car everywhere which is my norm.

Long distance transport, Air, train, coach, do they give access to the places you want/need to go.

I would go back to Glasgow, Norwich I know quite well and another good possibility. I think most of the cities would work, some though are so big they are really multiple locations.

if planning to do London occationaly maybe look at commuter towns end of line as it is not a daily trip(if you can't overnight check the last train).

Another option might be to become a bit nomadic and give a place 6 months and move on or even less time and have a year as a UK tourist moving from place to place mixing work with tourist stuff.
Could even mix that with overseas summer UK winter somewhere warmer.

I think outgoing social people can do well just about anywhere, the more insular struggle that's where things like meetup work.

bloolagoon

We moved from London partly house prices, partly childcare prices but also my husbands mother started to need help and his sister was the one doing it all. So we moved up north. Obviously we had to be close to the MIL but were still priced out of the area, so moved somewhere in the middle of our 2 jobs.

Cheaper certainly. Our private garden is bigger than the green that all our housing blocks shared and I have multiple bathrooms and spare bedrooms and a music room. I've also shaved years off the mortgage by paying our old rent rate so in under 10 years it's ours.

The city is newcastle - small City but has most things we need. Great metro and rail link, buses/metro not as often as London tube/buses but you get a seat.

Very close to the Northumbrian countryside and the Coast. Very friendly people and I'm starting to miss London less.

Downside is its nearly all white British so not as diverse as london. The public transport being less often and a Greggs on every street.

You will find that its probably not too much different to anywhere, you will make it your home.

It's £55 return to London if booked in advance