[Closed] Aberdeenshire to Londonshire?

Hope you are getting significant salary increases to make that move.

Property prices are massively different.

Don't underestimate the cost of commuting from Dorking and how draining 1 hour or so each way is.

The riding doesn't compare. The coast is shit.It takes ages to get anywhere. The traffic is awful.

I recently moved to Northumberland from Kent and short of complete financial disaster would never move back to the SE.

Three years in Reading, now Tweed Valley.

I know Reading isn't really London but I am never, ever going back.

Are we mad?

Yes.

Having  moved Sheffield urban to Highlands, then to central belt semi-rural, I wouldn't go back to city or down south.

Do not underestimate how crowded and busy SE is, how long your commute will be and how expensive that commute, house prices and childcare will be. The greenspaces are nice but crowded, not that wild really unless you travel further to South Downs.

I much prefer the proximity to (real) nature and wilderness, the quieter and smaller places, safer for us and kids (Dunblane doesn't really have crime...), better education system up here (a big one for us), I prefer Scottish public services and (gasp) Scottish politics.

Would you not be better to move closer to Glasgow?

Are we mad?

Utterly IMO.

Yes you're mad.

You think you'll be out gigging every weekend and pubbing on week nights, you won't be. You won't be able to afford it.

To add to the positive responses ( 😉 ), also bear in mind that in that part of the country, getting into London is easy, getting to the continent is easy, but getting to pretty much anywhere else in the UK is a bit of b@st@rd because, well, you've got London in the way. I've got a mate that lives in Bromley (so further south-east than Epsom admittedly) and it's standing joke that it take shim a minimum of five hours to get anywhere.

if I was where you are and wanted top move South to enjoy the positives of being nearer a city but retain outdoorsy potential, I'd move to somewhere near Edinburgh (or Manchester if you want somewhere more tropical).

Dorking?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52156848.html

LOL!

There’s no great pubs or restaurants nearby.

You know the majority of London restaurants are over-priced and crap?

I've ate in plenty on my employers account and anything less than £50 a head, is usually rubbish.

Had far better in Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen for the same money.

I moved up country from the South East.

Still visit folks and family down there.

No matter how many times they ask me......I'm never moving back.

You are mad! Sorry, somebody had to say it.

You want to take your child to that polluted, noisy, crowded environment and bring them towards adulthood thinking this is a reasonable way to live..?

Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear. Thanks (I think) for the feedback so far.

We would expect a decent salary increase to move...would it be enough to have a similar house and neighbourhood? Not sure yet.

It's either Aberdeen or London unless we both wanted to look for new jobs. I would love to be in the Tweed Valley, I must admit, but I suppose you need to be where there's work. Grudgingly.

I have bit of a love/hate relationship with Glasgow and I can't really explain why.

There must be someone in London that likes it??

Some perspective.

I did similar 15 years ago - Perthshire to Bristol.

Entirely financially motivated - Salary practically double what it would be if I had stayed put.

But my quality of life has suffered greatly, Long commutes, harder work - (Larger salaries come with larger Expectations.) 15 years on I still feel like a visitor, I have made friends, had good times but i just isn't 'home'.

Now playing a waiting game to return home to Scotland - big mortgages mean I can swap my equity for a paid up property (Or two.) in Scotland. As soon as the right opportunity arises I will jump.

But given the time over I wouldn't do it again.

And that's to Bristol, a city that regularly crops up on 'Best Places in the UK to Live' lists. Lists from which Dorking is conspicuously absent.

There must be someone in London that likes it??

I'm sure there are a few landlords who love it.

We would expect a decent salary increase to move…would it be enough to have a similar house and neighbourhood? Not sure yet.

Unless you live in a 1/2 bed flat now, the answer is no.

For a more positive slant, I'm sitting at my desk in Ashtead right now. I've just been out to lunch, via the library. Stopped in the rec. and by the pond. Yesterday I did much the same but went down on to the common (it's big and a nature reserve of some importance). I drive the fifteen mile commute in half an hour on a pleasant route. It's not wild but it's very attractive (most wooded county in England) round here. I don't go to London for work, which may be significant. Apart from a bit round Holmbury the riding is just bridleways, not bike park. There's loads of it because the soil (chalk, sand) was traditionally no good for arable so there were a lot of commons. You can walk and ride all over and not just across a field of some crop. I rarely find it crowded. Like most places once you are away from the honey-pots/car parks you are more or less on your own.

The down side is house prices and much depends on what you have and what you plan. A Victorian terrace will cost you £350k+ in Dorking ( http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52530669.html). More in Ashtead. I understand that Aberdeen is exceptionally expensive for property by not-that-London standards so maybe that isn't such a problem. I'm planning to move away for that very reason, but I am not tied by my job.

Edit: my brother lives in the Tweed valley in a big converted five bedroom farm building. I'm not sure I'd want to live there, but then a lot is what you are used to.

MiL lives in Leatherhead and absolutely loves it. From Dorking you've got a lot of pleasant walking, doggering and pub-lunching nearby and likely walkable from your front door. London (Waterloo) is easily accessible for a weekend afternoon but I wouldn't fancy those packed rushhour trains for 2 hours a day

Leatherhead itself is quite nice - moderately posh but not offensively so, friendly enough etc.

But what I can't get my head around is how busy it is - for a 'rural' area. Drive 10 miles from A to B in that area and you'll find yourself in a 20mph queue of prestigious German cars that appears to start in A and end up well past B. I don't know who they are or where they're going, but they're there...

There is a huge road riding culture - you see absolutely tonnes of cyclists around. In full kit, natch. Team Sky are a bit older and fatter than they look on the telly 😉

And that’s to Bristol, a city that regularly crops up on ‘Best Places in the UK to Live’ lists. Lists from which Dorking is conspicuously absent.

The lists lie, complied by people who had a day out in Bristol and managed to avoid the drugs and poverty hotspots.

For balance, its somewhat better than Cumbernauld.

(I’ve been trying to reply individually but it’s not working. Think my question broke teh internets

You want to take your child to that polluted, noisy, crowded environment and bring them towards adulthood thinking this is a reasonable way to live..?

They'll appreciate the rural life all the more when they move back... 😉

I live in London and love it, but this is my home turf

I live in North London. Houses are expensive for sure, think £650k minimum if you want a 3 bed semi, goes up if you want it in a nice road etc. But salaries are high too, and there's loads of jobs. I couldn't get a similar job outside of London easily, South East is pretty good, and being in London is really helpful

I work in Central London, I cycle to work nearly every day. It's mostly roads on the way home but there are more interesting ways home too, if I fancy it.

Food isn't cheap, but you can pick where you're eating and the choice is amazing. If we want to do something for the day with the kids then we have endless choice.

If you want to go out it's easy - cinemas, restaurants, theatres etc. The tube runs 24 hours a day on the weekend. I'm out tonight and have no issues with going home at any time of the day.

I live on the edge of the green belt, lots of parks that are easily accessible and nice

I'd like to like closer to the hills, but I don't. I deal with it. I have no immediate plans to move to the countryside, my family (on both sides) are all close anyway so moving would give us no benefit, apart from getting to the hills more easily.

I really do wish the hills were closer though - walking, camping, biking etc

If I had to commute by train everyday I'd hate it though, lots of people doing that. Sounds horrific. I'd probably take my motorbike in, I did before I was into cycling. But now I get free transport and free exercise everyday (maintenance costs aside) and I actually enjoy it

So I live in Bookham/Fetcham (just outside Leatherhead). Direct trains to Sutton (on the Victoria trains - 25mins - pretty good for a London commute) and up to Waterloo. Plenty of job opportunities around here in your area if you need to move from Aberdeen. Dorking is nice and twee but its relatively small hence it has a smaller house stock on offer.

Riding - I'm straight out the door onto bridleways and then there is a huge number of trails main south of here. Lots of road riding (and roadies too). Pretty good for the south east. Better weather too but not a patch on the tranquillity of your part of Scotland

Yes housing is a lot more expensive (completing house move on Monday).

Bookham and Fetcham were my favourite 1970s TV cop duo

MiL lives in Leatherhead and absolutely loves it.

doggering

Why are you looking to move in the first place? If you don't like Aberdeen as a place (or anything close by that's commutable) and London way is your only other option then fair enough I guess. But if it's other reasons like financial, work/life balance, riding it seems a backward move to me.

My brother (+wife and 4 young kids) live in South London and seem to like it (lots to do without needing to get in the car, they live close to a tube station though) the kids are all settled into schools to but otherwise I think they're a bit mad. I can see the attraction as a young adult wanting a great night life, or someone that needs to be there for their job but otherwise no thanks.

Bookham and Fetcham were my favourite 1970s TV cop duo

Whenever I go through Bookham I find myself saying " ... Danno, murder one".

think £650k minimum if you want a 3 bed semi (in North London)

Stirling to Glasgow on train = 35mins

Or, you could live in Stirling 5 mins walk to station

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64713424.html

Bridge of Allan, 5-10 mins walk from station, and yes that is lower Mine Woods behind, home to some great riding.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64634365.html

Or you could shout at surroundedbyhills and I from here in sunny Dunblane, 5 mins to station.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65342182.html

All the above have schools and nurseries within 5-10mins walk (or closer...), shops and amenities, shorter commute, access to whole central belt for nice meals out and gigs / shows / theatre in an evening.

Best of all, this is the locality for outdoors:

Why, why, why go down south?

That works if you can find work in Glasgow, which I would struggle to do (niche job)

I certainly don't deny that it's appealing. One of my things to do when we go on holiday is to look at what we could buy in the area. Pretty serious property usually, with space. Makes me daydream!

I used to work in Epsom and run up to the racecourse at lunch times.  There is a little steep lane so nice and quiet, a quick loop of the course and back.  The area up the hill looks q nice to live in, between the town and the downs.

Commuting i used to drive from Kingston and it was a nightmare 20 years ago at rush hour.

Saying that i lived in Sutton for 6 months and commuted by bike to central london, worst journey ever, all busy roads and little green space.

Not sure if you are buying or renting but i have flats in kingston and the rents always increase and they have never been empty.  Nice central flats but i would never pay what the tenants have to. Kingston is a hot spot though with the uni and hospital.

I know the property market well around kingston so if you need any help just ask.

One thing is certain - I wouldn’t be home by 1650 like today (and every day)

Hi Craig,

Interestingly, I completed the exact same move as you back in 2014 (Westhill, Aberdeenshire) to Purley (Surrey).

I grew up in Aberdeenshire and have lived in other parts of the UK too (Cumbria, Warwickshire) so feel that I'm able to give a balanced and informed opinion on the matter.

As the others have highlighted, do not underestimate just how busy it can be in the SE. At times it is horrendous and I have seen myself wanting to just get out of this area, even for the weekend, just to simply breathe!

That said, once you have been here for a little while, it is possible to find areas that are quieter and more in line with how we wish to live our lives. Contrary to what others may say, there is a huge amount of countryside to be found here, lots of it is very quiet and beautiful in it's own right, just don't expect it to look anything like picture postcard Scotland.

I ride regularly in the Surrey Hills (Peaslake) and there are a few trail centres within an hour's drive if the weather is bad. I can be at the Forest of Dean in 2.5 Hours and BPW in just over 3. Like you say, it's no different that driving from Stonehaven to Glentress for the day or weekend.

Regarding the "Greater Cultural Experience", I would say yes, again if you look in the right places you can find that here too. I'm not sure what you and your wife's interests are but as a music lovers, theatre, opera, exhibitions etc - London is great for us. As others have said, it's not cheap but I'm sure you knew that already! you can't have it both ways!

I love Scotland and there is no better place in the world if you are an outdoors type BUT.... Unless you are living that outdoor life all of the time, I can understand why you may be interested to see what London / SE has to offer.

We are lucky in that we still have a home in Scotland too so we do go back regularly and spend the majority of the time outdoors, walking Munro's etc which is great. I'm just not sure we'd be happy being there ALL of the time as knowing ourselves we'd get bored quite easily.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have regarding the area in general or MTB'ing here. Feel free to send me a PM.

Cheers,

Craig (also!)

I moved from Edinburgh to London about 4 1/2 years ago and my experience has been rather better than most of the ones listed above. We spent the first year down here in Greenwich (which I loved) before deciding to move closer to my wife's school which is close to Epping Forest - on the London/Essex border. I've been pleasantly surprised in just how much green space there is, with decent mountain biking in Epping Forest as well as pretty good road cycling in the Essex lanes. I also run a fair bit and there are plenty of green areas to do that (in fact my current place is only 1km from the start of the local parkrun).

Ok yes it is expensive down here - not just for accomodation but also when going out for food or beers - but on the upside the salaries are significantly higher and there are also a lot more senior roles available (in my industry anyway) as well as easy access to the continent etc. There is also loads to do in London, although I'm happier to be down here now my kids are grown-up, as I think Edinburgh is a far better place for bringing up kids. Depending on where you work then commuting in London can also be reasonably relaxing. I'm about 15 miles door-to-door so could commute by bike but don't because the tube is faster and I'm also far enough out on the central line that I usually get a seat in the morning so can relax and read my kindle. I don't go into the office every day but the door to door commute from home to office is no longer than a public transport commute would be from my Edinburgh house (in Balerno) to central Edinburgh.

I quite like Aberdeen (spent a couple of years up there on a project in recent years) but it's also not the cheapest of places to live, and on balance I definitely prefer London to Aberdeen (although I would say I still prefer Edinburgh to either).