Moving out of London

Finally exchanged after the bottom of the chain throw her toys out of the pram before Christmas and would only speak via here solicitor. Didn't think it was going to happen. Devon here we come

Congrats! Whereabouts in Devon? I'm East Devon, as a few of us are actually.

Thanks, Teignmouth

Nice spot, my brother lives up on the moors near you.

we are making the move - first of April. All a bit daunting. we are going to rent somewhere for a year, and then look for a house.

my work sitch is easy to sort, but the mrs will need to find a new job after her maternity leave is up.

We haven’t looked back since leaving London. It was a move made with some trepidation. But the first time I went to London after we left I knew I was driving home on my return to Gloucestershire.

It’s great being part of a small community, today I popped into the fruit farm next door to pick up some apples, but was told I didn’t need any as “the wife was here earlier”.

This afternoon I’ll take a neighbour to see her husband who is in hospital.

Occasionally it can feel that old friends are a little far away but since we finally got fibre broadband to the house communications are much much easier.

I get this too. I love it outside of London and I love it inside of London but to get here you have to penetrate a rancid penumbra of fucking interminable suburbia. If I never set foot in Chingford again it’ll be too soon. In fact I never have as I drive through it as fast as I can.

Where you at? I’m from Worcestershire and spent a fair few days out in Glos

Move date is in, 24th jan!

Small village called Upleadon it’s near Newent.

Quite close to where the three shores converge.

I went to secondary school in “Tinmuff” and spent many years growing up in dawlish, shaldon etc.
Some good riding too (lots of hills !)

Nice, I envy your proximity to the Malverns greatly

It’s fucking beautiful here, a little oasis nestled between the Malverns, Cotswolds and Forest of Dean.

I grew nr Malvern. Lovely round there. Bit different to Tottenham.

Hopefully all the years spent riding the great hills of Kent will help, else electric bike time.

I’ve read a lot in the thread about Devon. It looks great. How do the people who’ve moved there find it? What towns would you say to avoid and where would you recommend? I’m a teacher so can find work anywhere.

Disclaimer: I’m not moving out of London, I live in Brighton, but the same reasons apply: cheaper property and slower pace of life (not that Brighton is that hectic!).

We were thinking of going down this summer but Covid has put that to bed.
Google maps/right move it is!

We finally move into our place on Weds. it was originally 01 April.

Can't wait, as we have been at my in-laws the whole time (same village).

Have been thinking about how to respond to this, but struggling a little! I first moved to Devon when I was a kid, and then moved away at Uni and stayed in London and surrounding areas for 10 years or so, and then have moved back to Devon in the last few years.
I think the first thing to say is that it is hard to treat Devon as one place, there are lots of smaller areas, I would broadly split them into:

East Devon and Exeter: This is where I live (and lots of others on the forum too!), and I may be biased but I think that it has a good balance, coastal areas are easy to get to both seaside towns (Sidmouth, Exmouth, or crossing the border into Lyme Regis) and smaller places (Branscombe, Beer). I personally wouldn't recommend living in a coastal areas, they tend to be quite expensive property wise, very busy in the summer (guess you are used to this!) and pretty bleak in the winter, I personally love visiting the coast in the winter with the dogs, but wouldn't want to be there everyday. East Devon has easy access to the M5, which ends in Exeter, so as soon as you go west of there things get a little slower getting back out. Exeter itself is a pretty good city, plenty of regeneration in recent years, and being a uni town, has pretty good nightlife etc. if that is your thing. You also have access to Dartmoor for walking, riding.

South Devon: Bit further down, bit harder to get out! There are some lovely areas down here, and also some really touristy areas (Torquay, paignton for example). Nearest city would then be Plymouth, which is fine, but is a little rougher (only in my view, i'm sure there are good bits!), My wife is also a teacher and did her training placements in Plymouth, and much prefers teaching in East Devon...

North Devon: In my view has the best beaches, and the ability to surf , but is weaker in terms of jobs and cities, with Barnstable being the biggest place, some really good riding around Exmoor and the Quantocks.

No idea if that has been helpful! But if you have any specific questions please shout! My wife is a secondary teacher down here, so can answers questions on that, but guess it is similar to most places in that respect, some good kids, some bad, chronic underfunding...

Nice! Thanks very much. That’s really useful. Definitely up for doing some exploding post Covid!

Anyone know anything about Godalming/Liphook as places to live?

Seems to have snuck onto my partners radar and keep getting sent houses in the area

I have no personal experience, but a friend moved to Haslemere a couple of years ago and seems very happy there.

Its pretty around there. Don't know much else.

Yeah one of my team moved there having lived in Richmond all her life. Loves it.

My wife grew up just down the road in Bordon and we lived near there for a year or so. Tbh the area round Liss/petersfield is my favourite. Some lovely villages and fantastic sunken lanes. Great for riding

Petersfield is really rather nice too.