Whenever I tell someone what I do for a living, there’s one question that crops up almost instantly:
“Do you not need to live in London for that?”
As a freelance ~content creator~ working mostly in the fashion industry, living in London – one of the world’s leading fashion cities and home to the biggest brands and advertising agencies – would probably be beneficial for me. I’m sure I’d get more work, as I turn down at least a job a week because the client wants me in-house in London. And I’d certainly have more opportunity to network if I was able to attend the endless stream of London-based events I’m invited to.
But I don’t live in London. It’s not because I can’t afford it (although the cost of renting is MIND BOGGLING) or because I’m a scared of ‘the big city’ (Leeds is the 3rd largest in the UK, you know).
It’s because I don’t want to.
Haworth, West Yorkshire
When I first went freelance back in 2011, I had a big wobble about living Not In London. I was working with a high fashion label and flying to New York for Fashion Week – when people clocked the British accent, they asked what “fashion’s like in London” and I felt like such a fraud with my Zara heels and LS postcode. I’d just nod and smile and do my posh phone voice so no one would guess I wasn’t actually part of the London Fashion Scene.
When someone asked me what part of London I lived in and I replied “Shoreditch” (classic), their response was “me too! Whereabouts?” which left me flustering about for an answer (Dalston? Are they the same place?!) before walking away mid-conversation and promising myself I’d be more truthful from then on.
I toyed with the idea of moving down for a while, but Rob was wholly unconvinced and to be honest, I don’t think I ever wanted to go. I thought I needed to, but it was really just a bad case of FOMO clouding my judgement and the promise of all those burger restaurants reeling me in (it was 2011, after all).
Ryedale, North Yorkshire
So I didn’t move to London. I stayed in Leeds, a city that’s only 40 minutes from where I grew up. And there are a few reasons for that…
Firstly, I’m a bit horrified by the cost of living in London. I think when you’ve been in the north for so long, it’s even harder to wrap your head around paying £700+ per month for a room when up here you’d get a 4-bedroom house for that. Travelling everywhere by public transport seems like a hassle when you’re used to the convenience of a car. Handing over £7 for a single G&T is simply ludicrous. Northerners are renowned for being tight but actually, stuff is just much more affordable up here.
Secondly, I’m just a little chippy about moving to London. As someone who doesn’t live there, you’re kinda reminded of it All. The. Time. We hear constantly how ‘everyone should live in London at least once’ and ‘when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’, but really – why should we have to uproot ourselves just for a shot at a decent career in a creative field? Why should we move away from family and familiarity to experience culture and decent public transport? Can we not have that outside of London, too? There is LOTS to say on this subject, going right back to Thatcher’s dismantling of northern industry and beyond, but that’s a topic for another time. Let’s just say, the decision to live in the north often requires justification, and I think that’s straight up BS.
My last reason is my most straightforward and my most compelling – I’m a pretty homely person, and I love being near my family. I can’t imagine moving hundreds of miles away, unless it was to America (hey Manhattan, I’m still waiting for your call).
I feel very strongly that the north will only start to challenge London in terms of jobs, culture, investment, etc, if we stay and build our lives here. So that’s what I’m doing, and that’s why I don’t live in London.
How about you?
Corn Exchange, Leeds
I live in London and always have done. I absoloutely love it, but I can see how the ‘northern’ lifestyle appeals 🙂
-Morgan x
http://www.justmorgs.com
I grew up in Leeds and left because (back then) it was pretty pants and I wanted to go to uni somewhere exciting. So I went to London where I was utterly miserable for three years. Most of my friends were from the Home Counties & went home every weekend, it was horrifically expensive, and everyone was really unfriendly. So I ended up in Edinburgh – all of the beauty and personality, combined with the joys of living in a capital that very much isn’t London. I suspect my career would go much further if I went back down, but frankly I don’t want to (and ultimately – the biggest deciding factor is that there’s no way I could my current lifestyle there)!
This is so totally and utterly IT, Gwen! Also I adore Edinburgh and would live there in a heartbeat. Great choice! <3
I am a Newcastle girl through and through. I studied fashion design at university and always thought I’d move to London when I graduated but after a 11 month placement living in London I just couldn’t do it. It was the loneliest 11 months of my life and I just couldn’t see myself living there.
I love my city, and sadly it meant I couldn’t have a career in fashion but I wouldn’t change my life for the world.
I definitely had to sacrifice some career stuff to stay up north, but it’s a choice I made and I’m happy with it. Sure you’ve looked into it already, but as you’re in Newcastle, have you considered Barbour?
I work in London 9-5 – would I ever live there? Hell no. Why? I went to visit my friend who lives in the Barbican and I saw a primary school with no grass. It was up there with one of the saddest things I’ve seen. FYI I live in a small village in Surrey, next to a primary school with a MASSIVE playing field. Imagine not being able to run around on the grass and get muddy in P.E or making daisy chains? I am totally aware I sound like a weirdo (and my blog is called City Girl) but I totally resonate with this post. Plus, when i whip out my village smile in London I get death stares.
Hi, I live in Northampton, work in London and have to travel to Leeds every other week.
Firstly, I grew up in Luton and moved to Northampton for an ex boyfriend 10 years ago (good move from grim Luton) my parents followed me 5 years ago so no need to go back to my home town. Started working in London 3 years ago and constantly get asked why I don’t live in London. I spent about 3/4 hours a day commuting that means 12 hours days at least. BUTstill happy to stay in Northampton. It means I could afford to buy my own home, close to family, cheap pints, cheap gym and beautiful countryside. I think I get the best of both worlds as I work in London to know about great sales, pop up events, staying with friends when I need to etc. Just takes a bit more planning on the travel front 😉
Sounds like a great set-up! I think it definitely helps when you’re able to travel to London – I go down pretty regularly for work and I have friends who live there so it doesn’t feel like a huge TRIP when I want to visit.
So I love in London now, but for 7 years was based in Leicester. Leicester gave me the opportunity to step into marketing jobs I wouldn’t have got back home in Suffolk. I could afford to intern and waitress, then to work full time, drive, have my own place etc. It’s so cheap there! I’d say most of my time there was pretty lonely though.
By taking time to build my career (and wage) elsewhere it meant I could fulfill my dream of moving here and actually being able to do it and live somewhere nice rather than stuff myself into a box room. London can be glorious, so long as it’s done right! But I adore my time back in Suffolk (the good thing is I’m now much closer). Leeds too is an amazing city. I would be happy to move to a city like Leeds, Birmingham, Brighton or Bristol when I leave London – sea, fields and trees please!
YES Jen. A thousand times yes in reply to your jobs comment. It makes me so mad that everyone from the north who wants to do something creative/in policy/environmental issues/media/events etc just thinks they have to up and move to London. I’m in Manchester and so many of my friends have moved, I hate it. The (large) company I work for is moving the majority of their London office to Manchester – but not the policy jobs because (and they actually said this) there aren’t the ‘right kind of candidates’ outside of London. I was so angry, AS IF in the whole north of England you won’t find someone able to do that job! Two of my friends moved from Manchester to do those exact jobs in London. My company could really set a trend by moving their whole operation here, but they still believe in that myth that the only talented people are in London. Maddening.
Ahem, rant over! But just know you aren’t alone in being proud to stay in the north.
This is a perfect example of what I mean, Kirsty! It is endlessly frustrating when companies decide the ONLY place for certain industries or operations is London. That’s why I love fashion brands like Boo Hoo and Missguided, who have brought in industry back to the north (both HQs are in Manchester). If they can do it, why can’t others?
Thanks for your comment! x
Good post. Have to say I was concerned when I read on Twitter that your ‘not-living-in-London’ post had turned into a rant – I live in London and hate the need to defend my decision. As much as there IS a long-standing city superiority, I feel in recent years there has been a rise in suburban superiority. More and more people are leaving London, buying property, starting families, and preaching about the process to city-dwellers with a smug grin on their face and immaculate Joules wellies – only having left London eighteen months earlier.
Your point about nurturing industry outside of the capital is very important. My career is unique to the city, as is my partner’s. We both yearn for the day where we own a veritable castle in North Yorkshire surrounded by sky and trees and his loving family. But for now, our chosen career paths require us to remain in the capital a little longer. Creative industries should – and I think will – really flourish outside of this supposed centre. Tech businesses are beginning to move away from London, but these regional offices have typically been borne of tax breaks and national services relocating. Not ideal, of course, but maybe other industries will follow suit.
I am happy to live in London. While I certainly complain about tourists and the Tube, like every annoying Londoner, I know that right now this is one of the best places for me – not only professionally, but personally too.
I can see that growing up outside of London and having no desire to live in London while hearing all about London must be tiresome! But having to apologise for the decisions others have made through the centuries to focus so many industries here is no fun either. I often wish I had the skills to forge a more creative path for myself in whichever environment I choose. For now, I live and work in London and I really enjoy it. But I suppose I am fortunate to be able to say that I am not currently sacrificing my personal lifestyle for my career prospects.
Hi Julia,
Thanks so much for your comment – it’s so interesting to hear the other side, from people who live in London and feel they need to defend their decisions, too. I definitely agree that more people are moving out of the city and instantly becoming ‘at one’ with the countryside, but actually this is something that annoys me too… people who built up their careers by living in London, THEN move out and crow about ‘local community’ and ‘supporting the countryside’ etc etc.
Of course, absolutely everyone is entitled to make their own choices and live wherever the hell they want – I’m not at all saying I think living outside of London is a better choice for everyone. But I wanted to shine a light on the fact that it really is possible to have a big career, exciting life, cosmopolitan surroundings, whatever, without moving away from your home. I don’t like being thought of as ‘lacking’ or ‘missing out’ because I didn’t follow my industry to London. I want to make my industry a ‘thing’ up here, and I’d love it if other people made that choice, too.
Totally understand that for some, that’s just not a choice they can make. Maybe in years to come, when working life is more flexible and careers are less defined, we’ll have the freedom to live across the country no matter what job we do. Until then I think the most important thing is to talk about these things, discuss our fears and hopes and options and work towards a more inclusive society. 🙂 x
Jen, I LOVE this post. When I was in Newcastle uni, near graduation, every was so London bound, I never was and that only put me off more. I moved from Newcastle, to the bigger city of Manchester (it was a Leeds or Manchester toss up – wanted north – wanted a bigger city though). Manchester won the coin toss, I LOVED IT, and I have loved Leeds also when I visit. The North of England is so overlooked sometimes it’s frustrating! Well done to you for sticking to your guns and where you want to live!
I now live out of Manchester and own a cafe (something I’d never have been able to risk doing had I been in a city with huge overheads) three years on – best outcome ever.
This is such a great story, Holly. My ultimate dream is to own a boutique shop… maybe I’ll pick your brains about how you got your cafe up and running? Total life goals right there! Thanks for sharing x
More than happy to share anything I could help with anytime! Boutique shop sounds fab, and Leeds is totally the right place for that kind of appeal too!
What a great post Jen. I completely applaud your decision to stay in Leeds and it sounds like you’ve carved out a real niche for yourself there. When I was starting out in my career (not in the creative industries) I had a dilemma about whether to stay in Wales or move to London. I chose the latter but wondered whether I should have done – we can’t complain about a lack of jobs/investment/good artisan coffee shops in our home towns if we don’t do something about it ourselves and put something back in our local communities.
Career choices aside, your blog is so much more interesting for you being based up North – I really like your local posts and having a snapshot of what life is like there.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kate! I think it is all just down to personal choice, and I know lots of people who have moved to London and love it… but it’s important to present an alternative option, and I hope that’s what I’ve done here.
More local posts coming soon, I promise! 🙂 x
Can I firstly just say, THANK YOU. This post has given me so much hope for my future. I’m in exactly the same position as you perhaps were a few years ago: my passion is in writing; particularly in fashion, and it’s a bit of a nut to the gut to think that if I just made that move down to London, I could probably land a job at a magazine and everything would be hunkydory.
My fiance and I live on a little narrowboat in Derbyshire and honestly, I would not change anything for the world. I like knowing the local pub landlord by name. I like thanking my bus driver after a journey. I like not paying an extortionate amount of money for a gin and tonic. But there’s just this niggling feeling in the back of my brain that I simply must move to London for the sake of my career.
I decided a while ago that going freelance was my only route to working in this industry without moving to London, but I’ll be honest with you, I’m struggling to find work, because like you say, most companies want people based in-house (in bloody LDN.)
This post has definitely given me hope that I can stay firmly put in my cosy little boat and still work with great names in the fashion industry. Just need to knuckle down and find myself some work! But thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the motivation more than anything. x
Your set-up sounds so idyllic, Olivia! I love the idea of living on a narrowboat.
I think I’m going to write a post about this – some thoughts, ideas and tips on working in fashion/lifestyle/entertainment and not living in London. There’s no doubt it is hard, and to be really honest I think it’s much harder now than it was when I started in 2011… I got established at a time when not many people were doing what I do, but now everyone is striving for the same work and if you’re lacking in contacts, it can be hard to break through. But more on that in another post!
Thanks so much for your lovely words – I really hope you find your feet in the freelance world so you can live out the narrowboat dream! Lots of luck <3 x
I live just under an hour from Leeds and I love living up North. It’s just so clean and green! My favourite part of living in the North is that you can be in the countryside one minute then in a big city (Leeds, Manchester, York, Newcastle) the next. I do love London though, but going down for a few days on the two hour express from York is enough for me.
Leeds is one of the best places to live for getting around the UK – it’s so close to all the motorways! We travel around the country a lot just for fun – there’s so much more out there than London. And yeah, the trains are pretty decent too! 🙂
I live in London…it’s where my family are and I moved back there after university and living abroad for four years. I love it here and unfortunately I’m used to the cost of things, not that it makes it any easier to deal with. I wish renting was more reasonable – it’s soul destroying not being able to save anything after paying rent and travel costs!
Gorgeous photos – I need to explore the north a little more 🙂
I live in a village outside Cambridge and I even get people going ‘oh you don’t live in Cambridge? Isn’t it boring?’ like a village 15 minutes away is basically on Mars. So the comparison to London is even more stark! We considered London ages ago but it was hard to find work and we found that we really liked Cambridgeshire. We work in Cambridge so we get the benefits of the restaurants, pubs and shopping but we also love village life. I get a lot of FOMO about both London and Cambridge, but then I reel myself in and remember that where we lives means we can have a studio each, a nice garden and we can use our cars to get places!
I do think it can be harder to find the more interesting/lucrative work in marketing/content/social outside of London, which is a shame. I am hoping more companies embrace remote working or expand out of the capital, we have all the technology available to us – so why do we need to be tied to a location 9-5, 5 days a week?
Hey fellow Northern dweller! Love this post Jen. I live in a tiny village 6 miles out of Whitby in North Yorkshire. When it snows here, we’re fooked. I run a successful business in the wedding industry with a very healthy 5 figure turnover. I have reps in London if I need them and I employ people located all over the UK.
I’m way more choice about what events I personally attend in London these days given the faff/expense it takes to get there, but I view this as a business bonus (money/time/energy saved). There was a lovely email that came through from my subscription to thinksplendid.com a few days ago, it said this:-
“We tend to fear missing out more than we fear mediocrity. Saying yes to every opportunity and hiding behind choices that only serve to make us look good in the eyes of others results in a lack of focus and muddled vision. It also depletes emotional, physical and financial resources that could be used to pursue the goals we truly value instead.You weren’t designed to do or be everything. Pursuing excellence means embracing the joy of missing out.”
It reminded me that it doesn’t matter that I’m not nearer to the centre of everything (and believe me, just like in mainstream fashion, bridal fashion ‘mostly happens’ in London too). It’s inspired a passion to more proactively support designers based in the North too – small, independent designers who are brilliant at what they do but struggle to get on the main stage.
My office view is fields of green across the North Yorks Moors and I truly adore it. It inspires me daily and helps me work better.
I have a house that I would never in a month of Sunday’s be able to afford if I were to buy it’s equivalent in London. We’d literally be talking millions. I have a great quality of life here in the country miles from everything.
I can run my business through the Internet and keep in touch with colleagues through Skype. I don’t need to be in London but more importantly, I choose not to be. I adore my life out in the sticks.
I love visiting London and try to mix work and pleasure when I do. I absolutely love seeing friends, colleagues, and the buzz of the city, but give me 3 – 4 days max and I’m pining for my peaceful, country retreat, barn owls twit-twoo’ing at night, beautiful clear skies due to lack of light pollution and the sound of silence.
Hell. YES!! London isn’t for everybody. I love visiting London every now and then, but it stresses me out quite quickly…. I imagine I’d swiftly have a breakdown if I lived there! Bristol is big enough and creative enough for me, and – like you – I like to be near my family. They’re all in Devon, but I’m only an hour and a half away.
Strangely, most people I know who live/lived in London actually hate/hated living there! It was too expensive for them to actually enjoy all the wicked stuff available there.
I’m glad you’re happy where you are and don’t feel the pressure to leave.
x
So much love for this post! I live in the north-west and have worked in e-commerce for the last 4 years – successfully without having to move to the capital! Yes there are companies I’d love to work for down South but I love that I can rent a 3 bed terraced house with a garden, live in a gorgeous part of North Liverpool whilst commuting to work AND still afford a social life / ASOS addiction! The grass may always be greener but ultimately I get to have the career I want plus a happy home life without many (actually any) sacrifices!
So glad you decided to give blogging another go btw – it doesn’t have to be all outfit posts. Us 25+ readers like a bit of reality every now and again 🙂
Ruth | ruth-writes.co.uk
Both this post and the previous one really resonates with me. As a 30 year old who has always longed to try out the London thing after I graduated from uni, I decided to give it a try last year when a great, short-term opportunity came up. I had this romantic idea about living in London, I thought it was going to be just like how it appears on all of my friends’ FB posts.
The reality of it was that I spent 6 months feeling anxious, stressed, upset, nervous, and lonely on most days. Oh, not to mention skint from paying rent (for one room) and bills, I had a measley £50 left over each month which went on my food shop. The homesick-ness subsided after a few weeks, but I found the finance side of things hard to grasp. Rent was an absolute rip-off. IF the cost of living wasn’t so expensive and I had money to enjoy the city, then it would have been the dream!
I always felt a sense of disappointment that I never took that path in life after graduation but now I realise I’m not cut out for THAT life. I am proud that I left my little Yorkshire bubble to live in the big city on my own, even if it was only for a few months. I needed to do that to appreciate how AWESOME the good old north is! xxx
Quite right Jen. I grew up in London and loathe it. My husband, who’s from the peak district, moved there after uni, much to my disgust. I love where he grew up, I envy you your roots in the north. As soon as I can work out how to be a scientist away from Cambridge ( Cambridge is to science what London is to fashion) I’m off to the north west. Or possibly back to Norfolk where I’m from. Either is infinitely preferable to the big smoke.
SO with you here! I’m based in the East Midlands and have been a copywriter here for five years now. I love to visit London and actually find myself visiting the Northern cities most. We probably try to do a new city or town once a month. But I mostly like to come back home – even if it’s over 15 miles from a train station…
Totally agree! I lived in London for a year and I did love the experience, but the rent was just insane. £550 a month sharing an awful house with awful flatmates. Up in the north of Scotland, I’m £180! I think you’re right- if more people dig their heels in and try to build industry and business in the area they live in, it will eventually build.
I love this! I studied & now live in Birmingham, and even though the stigma attached to the Midlands isn’t quite the same as The North, a lot of people still look at Brum like it’s still stuck in the 1970s, and a lot of people constantly express surprise that I actually enjoy living here. Despite that it’s the Second City and is packed with amazing culture and communities (and shopping and business)
I do love London for day-trips and weekends, but I also find it really overwhelming and the sheer expense of it makes me really nervous (especially as someone still very much at the start of my career). I’m really interesting in policy making, and whilst I’m working in local government at the minute; a lot of the places I’d like to work are all based in London due to being close to ‘decision makers’ which is such a pain…so I’m clinging to Brum for as long as possible! Also my brother lives in Leeds, and I think it’s a really lovely city 🙂
Hey Jen, so this is RIGHT on point. Totally.
I always thought LONDON was it. I told my parents over dinner aged 11, that I was destined for London, and my career was most certainly going to be in the capital. But, guess what it didn’t work out like that.
You know what, I wanted a job in food marketing for SO long, I didn’t think it existed, oh heck I was sure it didn’t (except only perhaps in London). But, you know it happened! It totally happened. And, we all know the story of how 😉
Keep smashing goals, you are my hero.
Alice x
What a spot on post! London is fabulous, no doubt about it, and I love the occasional weekend there, but I’m sorry, England does exist outside of the southeast. I always remember a remark my husband overhead, “Yea sure, I’d love to swap my four bedroom house in the North for two rooms over the Tube in London.”…. I think as that part of the country becomes increasingly unaffordable and unable to take in any more people, you will see outward migration. I”m in the Midlands, which might as well be the ass-end of the Planet to some Londoners. But housing is very reasonable (we bought our first home last Summer), our businesses, both net-based, are thriving nicely thank you and isn’t it ironic, my clients are all London-based!
This is so timely for me. I’m a Californian by birth–and I just got back to Leeds yesterday. (Let’s skip over the whole “Wait, you left California?” bit.)
I’m currently toying with the idea of moving back to Leeds. I did my MA at LCoM, and it’s always been a special place to me. Like you, I work almost exclusively remotely–and will happily jump on a plane for a client if they really need me.
When I mention Leeds to friends and family, they always say something similar: “Oh, but I can totally see you in London. Don’t you want to go there instead?”
No. Not particularly. I know that I *could*–but is that really the point?
Thanks for this post. And a high five from me!
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Wholly agree with every single point. If I hadn’t fallen into a job in Leeds I would have been down to London straight after graduating, but in hindsight, I’m quite glad I didn’t.
There are several points for YORKSHIRE, but the main one for me is the cost. When I see what you get up ‘ere for what you can get in London it baffles me. I can’t imagine how different my social life would be with the London income vs adult outgoings needed if in London.
I’ve been in the same position as you at having to justify Yorkshire but you don’t even need to think about it, it’s bloody lovely up here and I genuinely fall more in love with Yorkshire (cities and countryside) every day.
Love this post 🙂
So much love for this post!Wholly agree with every single point.
Thank you for such a strong & inspiring post about this 🙂 It’s so refreshing to hear how you are making freelancing work for you outside of London & rightly so, it’s super important that creative jobs & industries of any kind can flourish no matter what your postcode happens to be. All of the comments have been a great read too … my hope is that we can all be supportive of each other no matter where we choose to live, no one place in the world should have a hold on creativity. Thanks Jen 🙂
Great to meet you today Jen…just on the train back down to London. That said I completely agree with your post! It’s my dream to move back up and it’s been great hearing about your freelance work today and how you make it work regardless of location. Up north is home to me and the quality of life in London just doesn’t come close. It’s been good for the experience but I’ll heave a huge sigh of relief when I’m back home. X
I love this post! I obviously do live in London, but I’ve only lived *in* London for 2.5 years, before then, I was always on the outskirts. I wanted to do the ‘live in London once in your life’ and I do love it, the opportunities, the nightlife, etc etc. But I don’t want to be here forever, in fact, probably not for more than 5 years and thinking where to move to next is always a challenge. It’s good to know the work opportunities are there in Leeds as it’s a potential place – boyfriend’s parents and siblings all live in Leeds, Ilkley or Bradford. But he spent all his teens trying to escape and is reluctant to go back… plus I would be REALLY far from my family. But it really has everything you need and OH the moors! <3 It's almost enough to put up with the cold… 😉 love from a soft southerner x
Totally share your viewpoint, Jen. Although I still live in London, I dream of leaving it every day. Often times, this city is so frustrating. I do hope the North will soon catch up, so that I can move there once and for all.
Here here! There is so much potential for creative businesses to thrive up North… It is very easy to stay in touch with whats going on in the capital whilst having some ‘objective’ distance! I lived in London for a year but jumped at the chance to move back to Newcastle…Here’s to having a life outside of work (or the tube) and being able to get on the property ladder before you’re 50!
This is a brilliant post. Its so nice to hear how you are making things work despite living outside of the capital 🙂
I am from London, but up until recently, I lived in Leeds for study and work for a few years. I prefer London but I totally understand where you are coming from. To be honest, I’m looking to move to the outskirts in the future, and also, I can’t stand how London is treated as the only place that is worth living in/centre of the universe.
Chichi
chichiwrites.com
Great reading all these posts. I think a lot of southern people still think it’s grim up north. I tell you want is grim, being pressed up against a door on a packed train carriage while your heads in someone’s sweaty arm pit, some ones hand bag literally within your stomach under your ribs, and your carrying a suitcase all in 32degrees heat… .. that ladies and gentlemen, is what I consider grim! Believe me, it happened, i have billions of stories I can tell you…but that will be a grim read.
Yes, I have lived the London life. Oh the glam when you at 18 and a student. It is a big play ground if you come from a small town in wales. I’m a musician, and generally, you have to be in London to ‘make it’. Ah, balls to that idea (now).
I’ve lived everywhere, from Maida Vale to catford, Edgware Road to Wembley, Mile End to Greenwich. Plus more. After 13 years, you really do have the tube map imprinted on your Brain, and you do (sadly) know all the shortcuts on the tube , the pubs and coffee shops (or museums) to quickly have a pee. But, was it worth it, yes. I loved it while I still loved it. The saddest thing was falling out of love with London. And going through the whole process of, shall I go, shall I stay. It took, 4/5 years to finally leave. Yes, I moved to w.yorkshire to begin a family.
Strange at first, but I now consider the north as my new play ground. Leeds zone 1, zone two Sheffield / Manchester york, zone 3 country side. !!
Don’t ever look back in life. It can only move forward. I laugh so much at old friends who are broke in London, yes they post more crap on facebook, look at me, in living in London still, burning credit money, and living in a shit hole… each to their own.
Anyway, do what you knows best, move out of London.
Thanks from Martin