It was a tough decision, but we’ve left behind the hustle and bustle of the big city to kick off a fresh new chapter!
After nearly two decades of calling London home, making the decision to leave was no small feat! This city has been part of some of the most significant moments in my life: meeting my husband, buying our first home, having our first child and countless other milestones. But now here we are, packing up our memories and preparing for a brand new chapter.
If you’ve been through this you’ll know what a bittersweet realisation is is! London is vibrant, chaotic, and filled with endless opportunities. But life evolves, and so do our priorities. So, how did we know we were ready to say goodbye? Well, it wasn’t a decision we took lightly!
Why We Left London
We’d Outgrown Our London Flat
When we first bought our cosy two-bedroom flat, it was perfect for a couple enjoying city life. There was space to work from home, a lovely garden, and easy access to everything we loved about London.
But throw a child into the mix, and suddenly things felt a little… snug. The “second bedroom” became a nursery, which meant losing our communal space. Add in the mountain of baby gear—high chairs, car seats, and an army of toys—and we were bursting at the seams.
In this post I’ll take you on a quick tour through our reasons, what felt important to us, and how we made that big decision.
How Do You Know If You’re Ready To Leave London?
We’d outgrown our London flat
We bought our two-bed flat four years ago and at the time it was perfect for a London couple, who worked from home, travelled a lot and spent plenty of time in the city centre. It was within our budget, had a lovely garden, didn’t need any work doing and was in an easy location for transport.
Add in a child and everything changed! Our ‘second bedroom’ had been our lounge, so we lost that communal space, making the rest of the flat feel miles smaller. Then there’s the extra clutter that comes with a little person… high chairs, car seats, cots, toys. The cupboards were literally bursting!
We Were Priced Out
We dreamed of upgrading to a proper house. You know, with stairs and all! But in West London, the prices were eye-watering. A small three-bedroom house was around £800k, and anything with decent garden space was well over £1m. Settling for something we’d outgrow didn’t feel like the right move, and the higher prices were simply out of reach. We were priced out and needed to look elsewhere.
Our Need to Be in the City Had Faded
In my 20s I ‘popped’ into town like I was nipping to the supermarket. I lived centrally and it didn’t feel like a big deal to get on a tube and meet friends for the afternoon or go out for dinner. But by my mid-30s, life had shifted. With a toddler in tow, spontaneous city adventures became rare. Home life took precedence, and we found ourselves craving a new balance.
We didn’t want to be far from London, so we searched for houses within an hour of the city, with a good train line. At the end of the day, it’s about compromise, and we would happily sacrifice the ease of being in town, for having more space.
We Craved Calmer, Greener Spaces
I never thought I’d want to trade the buzz of London for the tranquility of the countryside. And it wasn’t all I wanted, but I was ready for a bit more headspace.
Having a toddler in tow has made me appreciate green spaces and safe places more. I didn’t want him growing up on a busy street with lots of traffic. I didn’t want his weekends to be in shopping centres! I wanted us all to have more time in nature and be close to beautiful places.
We Wanted More Room for Our Little One
If you’re a parent, you know kids come with stuff… and a lot of it! From cribs and changing tables, to pushchairs and more toys than you can count, our flat just couldn’t handle it all. We longed for more cupboard space to hide things away. We also craved more floor space so our son could play with his toys.
One of the top priorities with our house move was to have a bigger garden. I think that will be an amazing perk once the weather warms up!
I Was Ready for a Fresh Start
After 18 incredible years in London, I felt ready for a new adventure. A new area to explore, different opportunities, chances to make friends and a bit more motivation for my work. Although London is constantly evolving, it’s possible to feel tired of it. I hope my new hometown provides everything I’ve been looking for!
Leaving London isn’t just a move… it’s the next step in our family’s journey. If you’re considering a similar one, know that while it’s a big decision to make, it’ll probably feel incredibly liberating too.
If you’ve got any questions or are thinking about making the move yourself, feel free to get in touch. I’d be happy to share more about our experience!
Plus, stay tuned as I’ll be sharing where we’ve moved to very soon!