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

[CailinDeas]

Try it...say for a year. If it doesn't work out, move back. No prob.

[woofgang]

great idea if you can afford it. Moving is expensive!

[diddlydo]

Try Haddenham in Buckinghamshire - frequent fast trains into London Marylebone, decent bus service (every 20 minutes to Oxford and Aylesbury weekdays), local shops, retsaurants, doctor's surgery, library etc etc

[EcclesCake]

The nearest mainline station for Lambeth is Waterloo, there are many lines going out from there that will give you an easy weekday commute and cheaper accomodation than staying more centrally.

The tip about looking for Mon-Fri lodgings is a good one. Many people are happy to have mid week lodgers but prefer having the house to themselves at the weekend when friends and family visit.

[jno]

there does seem to be something slightly mythical about your views of village life. Most villagers seem to have cars and drive to the nearest Tescos, whether it's a mile or 20 miles - and you won't have that option if you don't drive. So you'll need a place with good local buses and be prepared to take your time. Farmers' markets won't necessarily supply you with avocados and other non-local things you might have a taste for. And if you want to travel anywhere distance you'll need trains. Have you considered learning to drive?

As for leaving your family - well, that's your choice. Your nieces and nephews may manage fine without you after all; will you do the same without them? You have to weigh the pluses and minuses to you, not to anyone else.

Good luck, whatever. It's your life, find happiness when you can.

[woofgang]

wrong thread eccles???

[EcclesCake]

Ooops!!! I've answered a similar but rather different question.....please ignore me :-)

[jake-the-peg]

Careful here

You say you don't drive but you want to move to a village.

Bus transportation from villages is very poor in most cases. In the village where I live there's one out and one back every day and that's it.

There's also much less going on in most villages, village pubs and shops are closing left right and centre as people drive out for shopping.

Think about how you would get your groceries etc.

I think you would do well to consider a nice market town rather than a village - I think you'd feel very isolated pretty quickly

[Charliebar1984]

Eccles - it may be the wrong thread but quite relevant as I live in Lambeth lol.

I know I must think long and hard but I've been thinking about it since I was 17!!

I can actually drive I just haven't taken my test which I may do at the beginning of next year.

Thank you for all your answers, I have a lot of places to look at now as you e given some brilliant ideas

[murraymints]

I moved from north london to just outside st Albans....main line train in and out ! Best of both worlds....

[emmie]

do it if you can find happiness, but consider that the amenities you need, if you don;t drive, you will be reliant on local buses, often a big drawback,
doctors, hospitals not in the location you go to, but a bus ride of two away, that is if they run, an area that some family live in have poor public transport, so they need a car to get around. Its a nice thought living out in the sticks, no one to bother you, but that can also be a double edged sword.
someone within easy reach of London, perhaps Essex, but you will still be reliant on trains, and bus to get to the station. Perhaps do a recce to a
village, or see if any friends who live outside the capital can put you up for a few days to see how you get on, it will give you a taster of how life could be, it's worth a try.