Ideas for moving further oop North...
23 October 2006, 02:50 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Kent
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ideas for moving further oop North...
My girlfriend and I are considering relocating to somewhere outside of Londons commuter belt.
We're tired of the stress, bussyness, pace of life around London, and place a quieter less stressful existance above any sort of high flying career.
Im not talking cattle farming and growing my own vegetables here, just somewhere outside of what is considered commuter belt.
South is an option too, but as we want an area where house prices are significantly lower than where we are, im not sure it'd be realistic.
Looking for somewhere with nice coutryside, not too many chavs or that sort of person, but that still has some sort of business district/park where we could both potentially get jobs (im 3rd line support engineer, messaging systems, but could do anything Microsoft IT related really).
So, any ideas? dont want to stray too far oop North because of family in Kent, so a couple hours from Watford would probably do it, or even the West Country? (all I know of the West Country is its legal to marry a sheep).
Anyone know of somewhere that sounds suitable, or should I stop watching reruns of The Good Life?
We're tired of the stress, bussyness, pace of life around London, and place a quieter less stressful existance above any sort of high flying career.
Im not talking cattle farming and growing my own vegetables here, just somewhere outside of what is considered commuter belt.
South is an option too, but as we want an area where house prices are significantly lower than where we are, im not sure it'd be realistic.
Looking for somewhere with nice coutryside, not too many chavs or that sort of person, but that still has some sort of business district/park where we could both potentially get jobs (im 3rd line support engineer, messaging systems, but could do anything Microsoft IT related really).
So, any ideas? dont want to stray too far oop North because of family in Kent, so a couple hours from Watford would probably do it, or even the West Country? (all I know of the West Country is its legal to marry a sheep).
Anyone know of somewhere that sounds suitable, or should I stop watching reruns of The Good Life?
23 October 2006, 02:56 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Too far for you, but I moved to West Wales from Oxford and once you get past the sheep ******** jokes, its a great place to live. Actually, Pembrokeshire is considered little England even though its about as west as you can get on the map.
Houses were cheap as chips and still much better than most places. Living standard is pretty high IMO.
I won't be going back.
Houses were cheap as chips and still much better than most places. Living standard is pretty high IMO.
I won't be going back.
Trending Topics
23 October 2006, 03:21 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Derbyshire is pleasant enough. Peak district close at hand and about 1hr 40 on the train to St Pancras. If you go for an old mining town, houses are cheap as chips (under £100K for a 2 bed terraced) and both Nottingham and Derby within easy reach for work.
23 October 2006, 03:47 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: same time, different place
Posts: 11,313
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by SideShowBob
should I stop watching reruns of The Good Life?
23 October 2006, 04:37 PM
#12
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live between Reading and Maidenhead... probably one of the most expensive areas in the country but work from home. I'm an idiot. Actually my wife's job keeps us here, otherwise I'd be oop north, west or south-west like a shot. (Not east though 
)
)
23 October 2006, 05:03 PM
#14
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Kent
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ergo, you think that anyone outside London can't have a high-flying career? Plenty of folk choose to commute a little further (to their low or high flying career), and live in a more rural area. There are lots of great jobs well away from London, especially with your skills. Someone has already suggested Warwick/south Warwickshire area - but with IT skills, you could live almost anywhere in the UK.
Dont think that at all, just thats all London seems to be about, whereas it seems you have the option of choosing a less work orientated existance if you live somewhere where London doesnt even factor.
Warick sounds good, we'll have a good google at that and see what we think.
23 October 2006, 05:06 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were in Ealing up until late last year. Now in Stevenage (relocated to different site with same company), have bought a house and loving being away from London and in the countryside where I can DRIVE the Scooby!
23 October 2006, 05:37 PM
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Most of the places mentioned are still considered as south (Birmingham and below) You dont want to remain in the south, full of weird people
The north is much friendlier, people are not as arrogant, and you are less likely to be stabbed from someone from Africa/Eastern europe
People from the north dont walk around with their head stuck up their own ***** either (like many in the big city, who think they are someone )
As said a couple of posts above, Harrogate and York are very nice
Considered quite rich areas of the north and that obviously comes with being a very nice place to live with low crime statistics! Not many chavs up this end of the wood
Although probably a 3 hr drive down to kent so may be too far north for you
(Birmingham and below) You dont want to remain in the south, full of weird people The north is much friendlier, people are not as arrogant, and you are less likely to be stabbed from someone from Africa/Eastern europe
People from the north dont walk around with their head stuck up their own ***** either (like many in the big city, who think they are someone )As said a couple of posts above, Harrogate and York are very nice
Considered quite rich areas of the north and that obviously comes with being a very nice place to live with low crime statistics! Not many chavs up this end of the wood
Although probably a 3 hr drive down to kent so may be too far north for you
Last edited by Mitchy260; 23 October 2006 at 05:40 PM.
23 October 2006, 05:43 PM
#20
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nobbering about...
Posts: 16,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
East Herts/North Essex are nice areas, lovely countryside but close to London and M25/M11/Stansted. I'm a bit biased as I come from East Herts (Ware area) although having said that I now live up in beautiful North Yorkshire which is the dogs
East Herts has good access to larger towns such as Stevenage and Harlow both of which have big industrial and business parks. There are some nice towns around (Ware/Hertford/Bishops Stortford/Sawbridgeworth) and some stunning villages - Much Hadham is beautiful
East Herts has good access to larger towns such as Stevenage and Harlow both of which have big industrial and business parks. There are some nice towns around (Ware/Hertford/Bishops Stortford/Sawbridgeworth) and some stunning villages - Much Hadham is beautiful
23 October 2006, 06:02 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Kent
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cool, some really good ideas, business parks and the like are a necessity, so now to start pricing up the houses in the far North (okay, its sort of North South Central, but thats North to me, ive always been told never to cross the Thames into the dark North, dangerous place)
23 October 2006, 06:08 PM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Between the Fens and the Wolds.
Posts: 3,027
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nice to see there's a few Lincs. Links here. We moved here to Just south of Bourne in South Lincs 2 years ago from Croxley Green in South Herts. Can't understand why we didn't do it sooner.
We have everything here on our doorstep and in some cases, getting tradesmen to do jobs is far quicker than it was within the M25.
We have acres and acres of sky and no matter what that sky is doing, bearing storm clouds or the brightest of blues, we just love it. The people are freindly, they actually smile at you and say 'hello' here.
Good luck with your new lives.
Yve
We have everything here on our doorstep and in some cases, getting tradesmen to do jobs is far quicker than it was within the M25.
We have acres and acres of sky and no matter what that sky is doing, bearing storm clouds or the brightest of blues, we just love it. The people are freindly, they actually smile at you and say 'hello' here.
Good luck with your new lives.
Yve
and it's full of scum but not me
23 October 2006, 08:54 PM
#25
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by SideShowBob
Swtmerce, Stevenage is a nice distance, is it quite rural? and any recommended areas there?
I rented in Ware for a while (very nice larger village with a river) but when it came to buy Ware was too expensive. Stevenage itself has the nice Old Town part, and the new build Great Ashby area. The rest of Stevenage is 60's ex-council houses and 80's private builds.
23 October 2006, 09:13 PM
#26
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't go north - go west! (there's a song in there somewhere....)
You'll have to go west of the Bath area for cheaper housing, but there is quite a few industrial parks springing up all over the South West, and as most of the people there just think about ******** thier cousin all day, you should do well in the jobs department.
Lived in the South West and the North of England, and I'd say the former is by far the best option. Stunning scenery, pretty difficult to live too far from the coast, great people (in general, there are sh1tty areas of course but where aren't there?).
The only thing the South West lacks is any race tracks, Castle Combe is nearest but they have some really strict noise regs. If that's not an issue then I'd suggest look seriously SW!
You'll have to go west of the Bath area for cheaper housing, but there is quite a few industrial parks springing up all over the South West, and as most of the people there just think about ******** thier cousin all day, you should do well in the jobs department.
Lived in the South West and the North of England, and I'd say the former is by far the best option. Stunning scenery, pretty difficult to live too far from the coast, great people (in general, there are sh1tty areas of course but where aren't there?).
The only thing the South West lacks is any race tracks, Castle Combe is nearest but they have some really strict noise regs. If that's not an issue then I'd suggest look seriously SW!
24 October 2006, 12:54 PM
#30
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by scoobychick
although having said that I now live up in beautiful North Yorkshire which is the dogs
Agreed!
West/North border like me!