So yes, technically I’ve only semi-left London because I’m still here most days for work or visiting family and friends. But leaving London life for a more quiet existence in a small village somewhere between Stevenage and Cambridge was still daunting. It’s been nearly 18 months since our move. Princess is settled into school life and I’m used to the commute, though I’ll never get used to forking over so much each month for the pleasure of it!
Want to know what I’ve learnt about London and village living? Here’s a nice concise list!
- London Transport is amazing and we should kiss TFL’s feet
- I’m a city girl through and through but there are huge benefits to moving out
- Hourly bus services are the norm in our neighbourhood
- 24 hour buses, 24 hour corner shops and takeaways are amazing and sorely missed
- Train stations may have taxi ranks but don’t expect to see any taxis in them unless you’ve ordered them in advance
- Finding yourself at the local service station at 9pm buying milk is the norm. The local shops close early
- Finding a decent Chinese restaurant is hard
- Finding a Turkish / Nigerian / most ethnic minority restaurant is close to impossible. Let’s face it, it’s much easier to drive back into the city and go to those you know
- Uber? Ha!
- Stars are everywhere. Like omg it’s friggin magical. Street lights are near non existent so the moon and stars take the stage.
- People not only say hello to you, but will stop and have random conversations with you. Not in a creepy, get ready to call 999 and run to safety way either.
- It doesn’t really snow in London
- 4×4’s are almost a necessary evil on some of the rougher country roads.
- Schools are less crowded (at least where we are)
- My child flourishes in a village environment
- We (Londoners) have some of the greatest museums and attractions in the country (read whole world)
- There is so much to do outdoors for free including tonnes of right of way walks
- Travelling an hour for a decent burger is no biggie
- The phrase ethnic minority really takes on new meaning
- You may not get stuck in traffic jams but hay trucks and roaming deer may slow you down
- It can be much more straightforward to commute 40 miles into London from within in
- Hunter wellies are a city thing. Though wellies in general are definitely a must have in the countryside
- People still Morris dance
- It takes a village to raise a child – mine now has three people she considers ‘mum’
- You adapt or perish
Have you made the move from city to village or vice versa? Would you add anything to this?
Something so quaint and romantic about a village life…so simple and the stars without the light pollution…enjoy your new digs!
I’ve never lived in London or made the move from the city I live in to a village, but love your concise (and brilliant) list! Sounds as though it’s all going swimmingly so far :o)
After I moved out of London it really amused me to watch people run for the tube, I mean there’s another on in TWO MINUTES. I feel so zen waiting for the next train.
YESSSS! It’s always better to wait for the next train! I remember having to wait 6 minutes once on the Northern line and I was so upset, it felt like the world was coming to an end. The tube is usually so quick but it seems only Londoners realise this!!