Moving from the city to the country
Discussion
Im interested to hear tales of moving to more rural parts of the UK, and how well it worked.
We live inside the m25, so pretty urban, but i would love to sell up and move to the country.
My wife's not keen. She thinks it would be awful for the kids (school, friends etc etc) and that she'd miss the conveniences that town life brings.
So we're thinking "maybe when the kids have left home" at this stage...
So, who's done it, and what were the highs and lows?
Thanks!
We live inside the m25, so pretty urban, but i would love to sell up and move to the country.
My wife's not keen. She thinks it would be awful for the kids (school, friends etc etc) and that she'd miss the conveniences that town life brings.
So we're thinking "maybe when the kids have left home" at this stage...
So, who's done it, and what were the highs and lows?
Thanks!
For me, I would prefer the back of beyond. But of course, life and marriage are about compromise, so we'll probably end up semirural.
But i guess almost anywhere in the uk counts as semi rural compared to greater London!
For instance, my mrs is from Northumberland, so thats on the list. Its a beautiful county. We'd probably aim for a small town or village there...
But i guess almost anywhere in the uk counts as semi rural compared to greater London!
For instance, my mrs is from Northumberland, so thats on the list. Its a beautiful county. We'd probably aim for a small town or village there...
W211 said:
SNIP
But i guess almost anywhere in the uk counts as semi rural compared to greater London!
SNIP
It completely depends on your frame of reference - my London-born wife thinks that Stanmore is some kind of bucolic nightmare and that there be dragons north of the A406, let alone the M25...but until you get to Mid-Wales, Cumbria etc, it is very hard to find 'real' country, unlike say rural France or Spain, if by that you mean that there is no other human being, or evidence of such, within sight. But i guess almost anywhere in the uk counts as semi rural compared to greater London!
SNIP
I live in a village about 6 miles north of a large Berkshire town (city sized) and a similar distance from an Oxfordshire riverside market town. This is ideal if you want a rural location (like me) and good links to an urban area (like my wife).
Our village has lots of great amenities so you don't really need to go to a town if you don't want to, especially with online supermarket deliveries and clothes shopping etc. It also has a bus service to the large Berkshire town every 30 mins or so during the week if you'd rather not use the car and the bus stops at the station for commutes into London.
I love it here. Within less than 5 mins I can be walking in open countryside and there are lots of really nice roads for driving (and others great for cycling, so called 'quiet lanes') nearby. There is extensive woodland, farmland, some hilly bits and so on.
This seems to be the kind of place that you need. My wife gets to have all the things she likes about living near a large town and I can choose to totally ignore that it is there if I wish.
Our village has lots of great amenities so you don't really need to go to a town if you don't want to, especially with online supermarket deliveries and clothes shopping etc. It also has a bus service to the large Berkshire town every 30 mins or so during the week if you'd rather not use the car and the bus stops at the station for commutes into London.
I love it here. Within less than 5 mins I can be walking in open countryside and there are lots of really nice roads for driving (and others great for cycling, so called 'quiet lanes') nearby. There is extensive woodland, farmland, some hilly bits and so on.
This seems to be the kind of place that you need. My wife gets to have all the things she likes about living near a large town and I can choose to totally ignore that it is there if I wish.
I did exactly this, I was getting pretty depressed in the city so sold everything and bought a house in a village looking for the country idyll, I absolutely hated it, I live alone so I was alone with my thoughts and it started driving me mad, everything was a few miles away and even getting milk was an expedition.
I once popped to the shop for loo roll, 7 miles there but forgot my wallet so 7 miles back then I realised I'd just driven 28 miles for loo roll.
I missed the city, I missed the shops, the bars. I missed ordering a takeaway and I missed people! within 3 months I was ready to sell everything and go back to civilisation but thought no, I'll stick it out no one will want to buy a house someone just bought anyhow.
A year passed and I was getting used to life albeit with regular trips back "home" The locals would give me a nod in the pub and I didn't even mind the church bells going off every Wednesday evening.
Two years now and I bloody love it, during this lockdown it has been quite possibly the best place to be, I go out on my bike as much as possible, go for walks and we've just had lambing season, I even sit there in the pub and have conversations about keeping pigs with the farmers or the best way to plough a field. You really notice the seasons change. I go back to the city now and think jesus thank god I got out.
oh and get used to the fact if you forgot something at the shops it'll have to wait.
So really if you do it you have to stick with it and get stuck in.
I once popped to the shop for loo roll, 7 miles there but forgot my wallet so 7 miles back then I realised I'd just driven 28 miles for loo roll.
I missed the city, I missed the shops, the bars. I missed ordering a takeaway and I missed people! within 3 months I was ready to sell everything and go back to civilisation but thought no, I'll stick it out no one will want to buy a house someone just bought anyhow.
A year passed and I was getting used to life albeit with regular trips back "home" The locals would give me a nod in the pub and I didn't even mind the church bells going off every Wednesday evening.
Two years now and I bloody love it, during this lockdown it has been quite possibly the best place to be, I go out on my bike as much as possible, go for walks and we've just had lambing season, I even sit there in the pub and have conversations about keeping pigs with the farmers or the best way to plough a field. You really notice the seasons change. I go back to the city now and think jesus thank god I got out.
oh and get used to the fact if you forgot something at the shops it'll have to wait.
So really if you do it you have to stick with it and get stuck in.
There is obviously a lure to London beyond what I can understand. My eldest brother has what I'd call half a house, no front garden, no car and a rear garden that's about 9 m². He loves the atmosphere, works there and has made friends and a lifestyle there I don't think he'd ever do without.
We live in a village outside a generic town and I couldn't be happier. Ten minutes drive in 3 different directions and we're at a big enough town that have cinemas, swimming pools, big shopping outlets but where I am the next nearest house out my back garden is over a mile away in the next village. Lovely
We live in a village outside a generic town and I couldn't be happier. Ten minutes drive in 3 different directions and we're at a big enough town that have cinemas, swimming pools, big shopping outlets but where I am the next nearest house out my back garden is over a mile away in the next village. Lovely
We moved from the town out into the country. Did it specifically for our children - plus I . Now we have good sized garden, fields all around us and quiet country roads perfect for walking or cycling. As one poster said, all we hear is bird song in the mornings (and the occasional tractor which delights our 2 year old no end!) I'm not worried about schools - there are some great schools out in the country. I think in some cases the countryside schools have a nicer atmosphere than the larger town or city schools.
While we're a little way off it I'm not worried about activities, clubs, etc. for our children. You generally end up driving to these things wherever you live and there's a bus route not too far away.
Shops are a bit further away to be fair - more organisation is necessary, not like when we had a shop at the end of the street!
While we're a little way off it I'm not worried about activities, clubs, etc. for our children. You generally end up driving to these things wherever you live and there's a bus route not too far away.
Shops are a bit further away to be fair - more organisation is necessary, not like when we had a shop at the end of the street!
When I was 11 my parents got divorced and my mum and I moved from farnborough to South Wales, still a small village on the urban rural fringe, but it was so much better, the people where friendly, the roads where quieter, schools less crowded and I think I got in better at school.
Less crime etc. Was lovely to wake up to the sounds of the birds instead of traffic noise.
I’m thankful she did move us, I’m now 27 and on the property ladder, not stressed and not working some high pressure underpaid city job like I would have been staying in the Home Counties.
You have to see what really draws you to living where you do, everywhere has shops, sometimes it’s quicker to drive 10 miles from the country to the local town than it is to drive the 2 miles from your city home to the shops.
I wouldn’t trade my life for my sisters for example, she lives in the new millennium village in greenwhich and works in the city, earns a great wage etc but a lot of it is vanity, constantly eating out etc, she loves it when she comes to visit at my mums and gets to go to the country on her doorstep
Less crime etc. Was lovely to wake up to the sounds of the birds instead of traffic noise.
I’m thankful she did move us, I’m now 27 and on the property ladder, not stressed and not working some high pressure underpaid city job like I would have been staying in the Home Counties.
You have to see what really draws you to living where you do, everywhere has shops, sometimes it’s quicker to drive 10 miles from the country to the local town than it is to drive the 2 miles from your city home to the shops.
I wouldn’t trade my life for my sisters for example, she lives in the new millennium village in greenwhich and works in the city, earns a great wage etc but a lot of it is vanity, constantly eating out etc, she loves it when she comes to visit at my mums and gets to go to the country on her doorstep
Edited by Nickbrapp on Monday 25th May 10:18
I lived in the london suburbs from 1984 to 2014, loved it when I was younger but as I got older decided the extra costs and hassle weren't worth it, as I rarely went into the centre any longer.
Sold up and moved to just outside Chester in North Wales. 10 minutes drive into town, but also 30 seconds from country lanes for driving and cycling. I love it.
My house is a stone built double fronted house - 3 bed that I added a loft conversion to so now is officially 5 bed ( although the loft rooms aren't used as bedrooms) cost me £290k now worth about £350k, so cheap as chips compared with London.
I'm also 10 minutes from the motorway.
Would never go back. Sat in my garden this morning. All I can hear are ducks, birds, and the very occasional car. So peaceful.
Sold up and moved to just outside Chester in North Wales. 10 minutes drive into town, but also 30 seconds from country lanes for driving and cycling. I love it.
My house is a stone built double fronted house - 3 bed that I added a loft conversion to so now is officially 5 bed ( although the loft rooms aren't used as bedrooms) cost me £290k now worth about £350k, so cheap as chips compared with London.
I'm also 10 minutes from the motorway.
Would never go back. Sat in my garden this morning. All I can hear are ducks, birds, and the very occasional car. So peaceful.
Lived in Reading worked near Heathrow, moved back to East Mids small market town. 10 (ish) mins walk to station and town centre, same to get into the middle of the countryside.
Takes the same amount of time to get to ‘big’ shops in nearby towns & cities as it did to drive across Reading to visit the same.
Kids will get over it, we moved twice while I was growing up made new friends. I my case we live within 20 miles of all but one of our direct families, positives do outweigh negatives on that one.
Picking the place is important, a balance can be struck.
Very happy
Takes the same amount of time to get to ‘big’ shops in nearby towns & cities as it did to drive across Reading to visit the same.
Kids will get over it, we moved twice while I was growing up made new friends. I my case we live within 20 miles of all but one of our direct families, positives do outweigh negatives on that one.
Picking the place is important, a balance can be struck.
Very happy
Edited by r159 on Monday 25th May 12:45
I'd love to live in the countryside, peak district, north yorks moors or coast area, north wales, northumberland, lake district or the highlands and i'd be 
Sadly due to ill health i need.to be within sensible.driving distance of a large hospital with a specialist unit, so that does somewhat narrow the field down a bit.
But if i could move to the countryside in a village, i would have no trouble adapting whatsoever.
Sadly due to ill health i need.to be within sensible.driving distance of a large hospital with a specialist unit, so that does somewhat narrow the field down a bit.
But if i could move to the countryside in a village, i would have no trouble adapting whatsoever.
It depends what you mean by the country. I lived in a rural-ish town (about 25,000 People) with forests and so on and that was a great compromise. As children could still walk to their friends, to the shops etc...
Two years ago I then moved to the middle of no-where, not for me (it was only 10m drive to the shops, 30m to Brighton etc...) BUT my children had and are having a hard time as they are completely reliant on my wife and I taking them somewhere. Even the nearest bus is over a thirty minute walk away on roads without a pavement. I SHOULD have thought about this before moving
Two years ago I then moved to the middle of no-where, not for me (it was only 10m drive to the shops, 30m to Brighton etc...) BUT my children had and are having a hard time as they are completely reliant on my wife and I taking them somewhere. Even the nearest bus is over a thirty minute walk away on roads without a pavement. I SHOULD have thought about this before moving
I grew up on a farm with no neighbours - it was lovely in some respects, and not lovely in others!
Now, I live in the South East (Twyford, nr Reading). It's a (big) village, c 7,000 people - few restaurants, Waitrose, Tesco Express in the village plus plenty of other supermarkets and restaurants, pubs within 15 minutes. Mainline train to Paddington in 30 mins, Heathrow is 30 mins away (and yes, you do usually hear the planes...).
Yet, 5-10 minutes walk and we're in fields and farms, and you can keep walking in those fields for hours. To me, it's the "best of both worlds" as it stands at the moment. It also helps that we live on an exceptionally friendly street with the most lovely neighbours.
So, don't feel you need to go full blown "country".
Now, I live in the South East (Twyford, nr Reading). It's a (big) village, c 7,000 people - few restaurants, Waitrose, Tesco Express in the village plus plenty of other supermarkets and restaurants, pubs within 15 minutes. Mainline train to Paddington in 30 mins, Heathrow is 30 mins away (and yes, you do usually hear the planes...).
Yet, 5-10 minutes walk and we're in fields and farms, and you can keep walking in those fields for hours. To me, it's the "best of both worlds" as it stands at the moment. It also helps that we live on an exceptionally friendly street with the most lovely neighbours.
So, don't feel you need to go full blown "country".
Children will clearly be a major factor for you, for us it wasn’t as only me and the wife. I grew up in Cheltenham, a decent-sized town with Cotswold countryside all around, before moving to south-west London with a new job.
I subsequently lived in Kingston, Putney, Wimbledon and Weybridge over 5 years, always in rented, and really enjoyed life until my work changed and had an opportunity to move out. We seized it as a massive place like London just wasn’t for us (albeit we really lived on the outskirts).
We moved to Hartley Wintney in North Hampshire, which is a charming but very sleepy village (too quiet for us) before a number of years in Hedge End outside Southampton and recently moved to west Hampshire, 5 minutes drive outside a market town and within minutes on foot of open countryside, which is the perfect balance for our lifestyle.
We have the glorious New Forest within striking distance, as well as the south coast, cities like Winchester are accessible along with places like Stockbridge, Salisbury etc. Plus if we want to go to London (my wife more than me!) there are direct trains in an hour.
We have never bought and always prefer renting as it gives us huge flexibility to up sticks if necessary. Good luck in your hunt!
I subsequently lived in Kingston, Putney, Wimbledon and Weybridge over 5 years, always in rented, and really enjoyed life until my work changed and had an opportunity to move out. We seized it as a massive place like London just wasn’t for us (albeit we really lived on the outskirts).
We moved to Hartley Wintney in North Hampshire, which is a charming but very sleepy village (too quiet for us) before a number of years in Hedge End outside Southampton and recently moved to west Hampshire, 5 minutes drive outside a market town and within minutes on foot of open countryside, which is the perfect balance for our lifestyle.
We have the glorious New Forest within striking distance, as well as the south coast, cities like Winchester are accessible along with places like Stockbridge, Salisbury etc. Plus if we want to go to London (my wife more than me!) there are direct trains in an hour.
We have never bought and always prefer renting as it gives us huge flexibility to up sticks if necessary. Good luck in your hunt!
We moved to a little village in 2018 in deepest, darkest west Wales.
Pros for us...
- Beautiful countryside
- Very friendly village
- Peaceful and quiet
- Get loads of your money property-wise
- Clean and fresh
- On edge of a huge forest for walks (or mountain biking)
- Cracking village pub
Cons for some folks I guess...
- Weak internet
- Poor mobile phone signal
- No takeaway deliveries
The internet suffices (at 1.5mbs download and 0.7mbs upload) and the mobile works enough (we still use a landline as well). Plus I took up Indian cookery so not worried about the lack of deliveries.
Its 4.5 miles to the nearest small shop; 25 mins drive to the nearest large towns with a supermarket; and 35mins to the end of the M4.
We sit out in the garden with only the sounds of nature around us plus the tinkling of the small river that runs at our back garden boundary.
Wouldn't change it for the world
Pros for us...
- Beautiful countryside
- Very friendly village
- Peaceful and quiet
- Get loads of your money property-wise
- Clean and fresh
- On edge of a huge forest for walks (or mountain biking)
- Cracking village pub
Cons for some folks I guess...
- Weak internet
- Poor mobile phone signal
- No takeaway deliveries
The internet suffices (at 1.5mbs download and 0.7mbs upload) and the mobile works enough (we still use a landline as well). Plus I took up Indian cookery so not worried about the lack of deliveries.
Its 4.5 miles to the nearest small shop; 25 mins drive to the nearest large towns with a supermarket; and 35mins to the end of the M4.
We sit out in the garden with only the sounds of nature around us plus the tinkling of the small river that runs at our back garden boundary.
Wouldn't change it for the world
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