Help On Moving Out Of London

[Charliebar1984]

Morning all

I have a big dilemma and really don't know what to do.

Ever since I can remember I have always hated London (I live in south east London) I think I've always been a country girl at heart.

For years I've been wrestling with my conscience whether to move or not.
I REALLY do want to go but then I feel guilty about leaving my family especially my young nieces and nephews who adore me and I them.

I am currently not working due to illness and do not drive.

So I think my question is do I actually do something for myself for once and make myself happy and pack up and go or should I stick it out until the family are a bit older (oldest is 13, youngest is 2).

Also I have a dilemma about where to go. I know I want countryside (a little village) but I don't know anywhere within easy reach of London.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

[Charliebar1984]

Should have mentioned that it would be just me, my 2 cats and my dog. No partner or children to look after

[woofgang]

If you want to go and can afford it, then go.

[mallyh]

theres places like hertfordshire easy to get to london by train .you think of your own happiness for a change .

[Charliebar1984]

I'm looking to rent (if possible) I just want easy acces so the kids can come and see me and spend weekends with me.

2 sister drives and my 2 other sisters husbands drive so they can come see me whenever they want.

I just want ideas of where to go now

[coccinelle]

If your family live near one of the main railway stations in London you might want to look at villages with stations which come into that station. This would mean you could get to see them quite often and your nieces could come to see you by taking the train. It would also be a village where you could shop etc Personally, I couldn't live in a city and just love being part of nature out in the countryside so understand what you're aiming for.

[Tilly2]

If you do decide to go, don't go anywhere too remote. Think about access to shops and hospitals, especially as you don't drive. You also might like your family to visit on a regular basis.

[jomifl]

Your young nieces and nephews will not be young forever and will most likely eventually move away to follow education/careers/jobs. Move while you are fit enough and have the energy. If you don't need to commute you have the advantage of not needing easy rail/motorway access so have a better choice of village.

[237SJ]

You don`t have to go too far out. Sussex is within easy reach of London and I know everyone jokes about Essex but there are some nice little villages and they would be within easy reach of SE London.

[Charliebar1984]

That's exactly what I want coccinelle. I'm not a big people person anyway and like spending time in my own company.

I hate EVERYTHING about cities. The noise, the people even supermarkets. I prefer farmers markets and butchers instead of horrible overcrowded sainsburys!!

At 29 I feel the time has come for me to do exactly what I want instead of what others want!

Now just need to find a nice rural village to go to

[EDDIE51]

Just one point when you move out of London you are really going to miss not having a car and being able to drive. London has such good transport links that a car is almost more trouble than is worth , traffic parking etc.
I live in North Hertfordshire and we have good trains to Kings Cross but it is expensive, nearly £30 for a day return and that only gets you to Kings Cross the tube is several £s more. Most of the village's here have one bus a day if any , many have no public transport at all and no shops so you can't even buy a loaf of bread unless you have a car.

[TWR]

Come up North where it's cheaper to live and easy to commute.

[homedeeth]

Dont move to coventry. Its a dump

[starone]

Do it while you have a chance. You will be old all too soon and regretting that you did not take the opportunity. As it is, you are still young enough to appreciate the difference in life style.

[LochNessMonster]

Head up to Inverness, plenty of wee towns around here with loads and loads of countryside.

Nessie LNM

[sunny-dave]

Cheeky bugger, homedeeth - Cov is OK - it may be ugly, but it is functional in a way that many other cities aren't.

It's also surrounded by lovely North Warwickshire ... :)

[LochNessMonster]

http://youtu.be/l3DRkE4SkUY

A wee taste of Alba

[divegirl]

Not exactly 'country village' areas but have you considered staying on the central line and heading out towards Epping or Theydon Bois?

Lisa x

[woofgang]

reading your posts are you SURE that the countryside that you are looking for is not in your imagination? I am lucky enough to live in Hampshire just outside the New Forest and we shop in supermarkets. There is no decent butcher around here the meat is better from Waitrose and the Farmers Markets, while fun, are commercial leisure and entertainment affairs rather than actual practical buy what you need to live markets. Public transport is not good and if you need to get a pet to the vet, you need to be able to drive or to know someone who does. I am not saying don't do it, just be very sure that your vision is realistic.

[islasmum]

I'd head south - lovely places in Hampshire, West and East Sussex and easy links to London etc - not just rail, but National Coaches, and various buses provide good travel links. I know what you mean - I used to live in suburbia but always worked in the country, and always felt much happier there - my mother was a farmer's daughter, and I think that has rubbed off on me. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[atalanta]

I have always advised young single people - if you have to choose between going and staying - go. break the ties before they strangle you.