I once couldn't imagine ever leaving London, but I did. At the time, cost of housing was the main reason; we were a young family and wanted a house that could accommodate three kids. We had no preference with regard to location (i.e. we didn't want to move to "x" ) so we simply drew a circle round London on the map at the distance we'd need to go to be able to afford the sort of property we wanted. In very rough terms, Oxford and Cambridge (not the specific cities, both of which are expensive) but the general areas came up as the viable options and we moved to Oxfordshire (Bicester area, originally) 15 years ago. A couple of years later, we moved on to a very small village further up the road (near Silverstone). Still there.

Personally, I've never looked back. I love it where we are now. My boys have grown up in a village that doesn't have a single commercial establishment; they're out on the field playing football/cricket/rugby etc. with their mates non-stop, in one house and out of another with no doors every really locked. Schools are brilliant; couldn't be happier with their education and the life they are growing up with is totally different to the one I grew up with (Sydenham) but, if I am honest, better. The only pain is the commuting back to Selhurst for Palace.

Life's an adventure. Spread your wings and go for it is my advice. Let's be honest, if the move doesn't work out you just go back. What have you lost?

Edited by sydtheeagle (02 Apr 2015 9.22am)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Apology: you're not your in my post:I'm tired!

I grow up in Green Lane Had a family moved to Orpington for 14 years then the wife wanted to move to Abbey Wood.

She a London girl and loves being around family, I have asked her for years if we could move right out into the countryside but she wont have none of it.

Even though our four children have grown up and have their own family's now she still wont move out of London
Women lol

Irony? No?

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.