We were in a very unique position when we decided to sell our home and move out of the area. We don’t have children which makes it a lot easier to just pick up and start again – no schools to apply to, no Ofsted reports to fret over, no worries about finishing out a school year. Added to that is the fact that I’m a freelancer and really, can work from anywhere. My ‘office’ is the internet after all. As for Wayne, he works as a car sprayer with over 20 years of experience. The nice thing about the motor trade is that it’s everywhere. There are few areas in this country that don’t have car dealerships and so many people drive and own cars that his skills are needed everywhere.
So, in a sense, the world (or rather, England) was our oyster. And so deciding where we wanted to live was both wonderful – we can go anywhere! – and also frightfully wide open – oh shit, we can go anywhere! Where do we go?! I thought today’s post would be a good way to share how we narrowed down our options and how we eventually decided to live in Shrewsbury.
A Two-Hour Radius from Family
2 hours radius south of Manchester and within England was our search area!
One of the biggest decisions we made was that we didn’t want to be much more than around a 2-hour drive from Wayne’s family in Manchester. He grew up in the area and we knew we’d still want to visit often. His mum is nearing 70 now and while she’s incredibly healthy, we wanted her to feel assured we weren’t really far away if she ever needed us. We also have 3 wonderful nieces who are part of our lives and we want to see them grow up and not be so far away that we only saw them a few times a year. A 2-hour driving radius seemed a good arbitrary distance – not too far to do in an afternoon but also far enough away that we felt we were having a different experience in our lives. We also wanted to stay in England so that ruled out Wales.
Escaping at least some of the rain
The River Severn in Shrewsbury via Lee Roberts @salopsbfg on Instagram
Despite its reputation, Manchester is actually not the rainiest city in the UK (it’s actually Cardiff). However, I have spent nearly 8 years here after living in the South for the previous 8 years (Kent, if you’re curious) and I can definitely attest to the fact that it gets more than your average rainfall. One of the things that was high on my list was choosing an area that gets less rainfall and fewer grey days than Manchester.
This meant actually looking at multiple weather maps, average rainfall and sunshine data for numerous cities to ensure we were at least getting fewer days of rain a year. As an example, Shrewsbury apparently gets over 20 days of sunshine more than Manchester each year – 3 more weeks of sunshine? Yes, please, I’ll take it.
Further South
One other way we ended up choosing a place is that I knew I didn’t want to live further North than where we were already living. That wiped out a huge portion of our radius circle obviously (and ruled out areas like Yorkshire) and this was partly because I still wanted to be within a few hours drive from London. I travel there for work and I have friends that live there so making the drive or train journey even longer than it already was wasn’t an option we wanted to consider.
Shrewsbury Train Station via Mikey White @mikeyacwhite on Instagram
Now, we are very lucky in Manchester because we have a fast train that gets me to Euston in 2 hours and this wouldn’t necessarily be an option living in other areas but I didn’t want to be on a train for more than around 2 1/2 hours. One other reason we didn’t want to go further north was because,Β for the most part, the weather is warmer by a few degrees the further South you go in the country so warmer drier weather was also part of that decision.
A Bustling Town or City with Things to Do
via At Shrewsbury @atshrewsbury on Instagram
We are townies at heart. That ended up ruling out the houses in the middle of nowhere because as romantic as it sounds to live in a tiny village somewhere where your nearest neighbour is a car drive away, it’s just not the way we like to live. Saying that, where we live now wasn’t exactly perfect either. We currently live just too far away to walk to the nearest train station which means that any time we want to go into Manchester, we have to take a taxi first and then a train into the city. That extra step (and cost) of a taxi means we don’t go into the city as often as we would like. We can walk into Cheadle village (we are not far outside of it) but there isn’t really loads to do there. A couple of decent pubs and a couple of restaurants is about it but the shopping leaves a bit to be desired!
Shrewsbury Folk Festival via At Shrewsbury @atshrewsbury on Instagram
So in looking for our next home, we knew that first, we wanted to be within walking distance of the main town or city centre and secondly, within walking distance of a train station. This ended up ruling out another city that was on our list – Nottingham. The houses we looked at that were within our budget were in areas that just weren’t close enough to the city centre or nearby train stations. This meant we would be dependent upon buses for public transport. It seems like a small thing but for us, it was really important that we were within walking distance to everything an area had to offer. We didn’t want to be in the middle of a major city (as I said, we’re really townies) but we just wanted that happy medium.
Near to Green Areas for Walking the Dog
via At Shrewsbury @atshrewsbury on Instagram
One of the things we really do like about the area we live in now is that we are near to lots of wonderful areas to walk to the dog. Travelling just 10-20 minutes outside of our area, there are beautiful picturesque areas to explore. We live not far now from a big lovely park as well which is perfect to walk the dog. And so, when we were searching for our next area to live, we knew this had to be a priority. Close to the town or city centre but also close enough to have green areas to walk the dog – yes, we wanted the best of both worlds! Not too tall an order, right? Ha!
The Right Housing Stock
Shrewsbury via Logan Stuart Photography @loganstuartphoto on Instagram
Now, there was something that was absolutely non-negotiable when it came to finding the next house – and that was that it had to be either a Victorian or Edwardian property (I was happy to look at Georgian as well although they were rarely for sale in the areas we were looking). We had to dismiss lots of areas simply because they didn’t have the right kind of housing stock on the market. For instance, going back to Nottingham as an example, I found many, many properties which were built around the 1930’s but this wasn’t the style of house I was after. The Victorian houses that we could afford were in ‘rougher’ areas or were mostly student houses – something we also wanted to avoid.
And so that meant looking at older cities and towns where there had been industry and a good population of people at the turn of the last century when these kinds of houses were built. This ruled out some newer cities in our search and we came to realise that some older provincial towns had much better housing stock. It was around this time that Nottingham dropped down our list and other towns like Worcester and Shrewsbury came up for consideration.
Getting More for Our Money
Shrewsbury Town via At Shrewsbury @atshrewsbury on Instagram
In terms of our budget, we realised something as we were looking as well. The further south you go, the more expensive the houses get. So, for instance, we had considered Cheltenham as an area we really liked (you can read about our weekend there here) despite the fact it was just a little further out than our 2 hour radius – but because it’s quite a bit further south than Manchester, you simply get less for your money there. Despite the fact we had a budget which was around Β£100k higher than what we just sold our house for (and more than Β£200k than what we had when we bought the house back in 2001), going that far south meant that we’d ultimately be looking at a similar size house for Β£100k more, simply because of it’s proximity to London.
We wanted to know we were getting more house for our money – not just the same kind or style of house we were already living in. We wanted to feel like we were taking the next true step up on the property ladder. So this was another reason for that 2-hour radius we had initially considered. It also meant ruling out areas like Bath, Cheltenham or Bristol because our budget simply wouldn’t go far enough in these areas.
Why Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Town Centre via Lee Roberts @salopsbfg on Instagram
And so going through lots of different areas and doing an incredible amount of research, we stumbled upon Shrewsbury. The crazy thing is that we’d seen it in a television programme earlier in the year and we both said how lovely it looked. Initially I ruled it out as I felt it wasn’t quite far enough south but the more we read about it, looked to see what people were saying about it, checked out things like the housing stock, the town activities and reading through various forums (Mumsnet is great for this by the way!), the more we realised it was a place that sounded nearly perfect for us.
First, it’s only about an hour and a half to where Wayne’s family lives – a totally do-able drive or train journey if we wanted to spend time with family or they wanted to come visit us. The town itself is incredibly self-contained. There is pretty much everything you might want on your doorstep – from annual events like the Folk Festival and Flower Festival as well as weekly markets in the town centre to bars, restaurants and pubs to river walks and live music venues. Plus, the train station – within walking distance to the house we found – will put you into major cities like Birmingham in under an hour and Manchester in just over an hour. London is a bit further of course – around 2 1/2 hours but that’s doable!
The River Severn Shrewsbury via Lee Roberts @salopsbfg on Instagram
The River Severn winds around the whole town and it’s a beautiful walk. Yes, there is flooding in the town centre but the house we have found is outside the flood risk area so that’s liveable. There are plenty of parks as well and Shropshire as a county has some of the most incredible views and plenty of gorgeous country walks too only a short drive away.
The housing stock was also ideal. The town goes back hundreds of years (15th and 16th-century buildings are still scattered through the town) which means there is a huge amount of Victorian houses in the area. Indeed every street we went down had more and more beautiful old properties – there was absolutely no shortage of available properties and we found a house that gave us nearly everything we were looking for.
Shrewsbury via Shropshire Drones @shropshiredrones on Instagram
Essentially, Shrewsbury ticked pretty much every single box for us. Having a very clear view of what we wanted from an area and how we know we like to live our lives was crucial – when we began to consider areas, our list became more fine-tuned as we went. We ruled out what we definitely didn’t want and we looked for the various things we knew we did. We didn’t want to settle.
And so, that’s how we ended up deciding to move to Shrewsbury and why, on our very first visit to the town EVER, we put in an offer on a wonderful house. After nearly a year of considering so many areas, we feel really confident we found the right place to live – and I can’t wait to move there!
How did you decide where you wanted to live? And is Shrewsbury a town you’ve ever visited?
**UPDATE! Four months after moving to Shrewsbury – was it the right move to make? Find out my thoughts in this blog post!**
Ahh, I would have loved to welcome you to my home town of Nottingham! However I think that you have made the perfect choice. Shrewsbury is just lovely :) It is a real shame that many of Nottingham’s most beautiful properties are all split into flats for students and the ones that are closer to the centre (that are affordable) are not quite in the most desirable areas. I’m in the throes of moving to a new house too so I’ll be enjoying your lovely blog even more as I scour for inspiration x
Aww thank you! Nottingham was an area we had heavily considered and while we really wanted it to work, we just couldn’t find a property that worked for us! I think we’ve made a good choice too! Best of luck in your own move – it’s so stressful! xxx
Youβve followed a very logical process and Shrewsbury sounds absolutely wonderful! Iβm sure youβll be very happy there, and although I wouldβve loved for you to have moved to Nottingham (being purely selfish) I totally understand why Shrewsbury won out. I love Nottingham but I too think itβs such a shame that many of the older properties got turned into flats and became student areas π. Hope the conveyancing is going well and you get in your new home soon! Iβm looking forward to visiting Shrewsbury once youβre settled in π€
I’m a bit sad that Nottingham didn’t work out for us (for the same selfish reasons! Ha!) but I do think we made the right decision! Thanks darling and you know you are always welcome for a visit ;) xxx
When I moved back to Cape Cod after 30+ years of living down South, I just knew where I wanted to be and it was here on the Cape. I have wanted to live here since I was 5 years old (I grew up outside of Boston and we summered here for many years). I initially lived in Hyannis and just grabbed a space to get settled. I found out that I don’t need 2 BR/2BH, etc. I love my 1 BR condo – great neighbors, 6 blocks to the beach and only 2 to our little downtown which is mobbed in the summer with visitors! Best decision ever! And I love Shrewsbury…
Oh Cape Cod is just SO beautiful – I can’t blame you for making that decision! Sounds like it was absolutely meant to be. It’s funny how your priorities change isn’t it? Location is really everything! xx
Kimberly! I can barely contain my excitement that you are moving to our beloved Shrewsbury! It’s a wonderful place to live, I will Dm you on instagram now- I’m @makingspacescount and it just so happens that I am married to @shropshiredrones- one of the images you have so kindly used in this blog post! Kiren x
Oh my goodness, such a small world! We are really REALLY excited about moving to Shrewsbury, we’ve fallen in love with it and we’ve heard so many positive things about it from residents there so it’s great to know how much you love it too! How funny that you are married to Shropshire Drones! That picture is amazing! Will look for you and follow you on Instagram ;) xx
Kimberley, I bet you never knew what interior design excitement you would cause by deciding to move here! It makes me very proud to see Shrewsbury so celebrated through your eyes. Kiren, I’ve just checked out your instagram, I love your style and your thrifting prowess!
I love following this thought of process, I must say that being a Swede I am a little intrigued about why wales got knicked from the list =) we drove around a bit for the WC 2016 and I would not really be able to tell the difference between people in England and Wales. So nice to have so many great towns to choose from, here most mid-sized towns have demolished all their buildings from before 1940. Sweden did not get bombed so the politicians took it upon themselves to “modernise” us… Looking forward to pics of Shrewsbury and the countryside!
Hahaha! Oh no offence to Wales at all – we actually love visiting the beaches there! It was really just a matter of keeping things simple – while Wales is part of the UK, it is a different country and so we wanted to stay where we knew (including the language – we don’t speak any Welsh!) ;) It’s such a shame about politicians demolishing old buildings – how crazy is that! I love all the varied kinds of architecture in this country – especially seeing old buildings contrasted with new! It really tells the history of the area :) xx
Your process is very similar to the one my husband and I undertook last year. We’ve lived in Seattle for 20 years but, when it came time to move, found ourselves in the one of (if not THE) hottest growth areas in the US. We determined the priorities (transportation for me, yard space for him, structurally sound,etc) and then found the perfect place just outside of Seattle. It turned out to be in the least expected local!
Also, having grown up in Worcester, MA I was tickled to see you considered Worcester, England.
I loved this explanation. Having lived in Shropshire now for 14 years, itβs definitely a place I call home. Youβll love it here I am sure. Hope the move goes smoothly and you settle in really quick!
Oh Kimberly ! I watch as many British home shows as I can being here in the states (New Jersey) but Shrewsbury is stunning!
Can’t wait to see your new abode & follow your journey as you fill it full of magical boho glam! xx π
Thank you for this. I am just putting my flat on the market and as soon as it sells Iβm off to stay with my brother while I decide where I want to live and what I want to do. Iβve been a paramedic for 15 years and live in the south of England and have decided to give up both! It could be scary but Iβm mostly excited π I look forward to hearing about your adventure x
Shrewsbury is lovely, I live nearby in Staffordshire and we visit regularly. Usually just after Christmas when they have the GIANT light up reindeer in the town centre and we have just discovered a lovely (and very cheap at lunchtime) French restaurant there. Also did you know Ebenezer scrooge’s grave is still in one of the churches from when they filmed a Christmas carol? It’s worth a look if you like those kind of things! (Hubby is a film buff so knows this kinda stuff!) Will keep an eye out for you next time we visit! Hope it all goes well! X
Shrewsbury looks lovely Kimberley and I’ve been to Shropshire and it’s a beautiful part of the country. Sounds like a good decision and well thought out. I can see why you chose it.
I’m a Cheltonion born and bred and it would have been lovely to have welcomed you to Cheltenham. I’m sure you would have loved it here but I completely understand about the cost of houses here. We too are moving – still in Cheltenham – and Cheltenham has certainly become very expensive.
I look forward to seeing pictures of your new house!
You’ve made a good choice Kimberly, we’ve been once and had a fab time. The area is very beautiful. Xxx
I can relate to so much of this Kimberly. We’re in the middle of moving too and because we also don’t have children, like you and Wayne we found ourselves in the position where we could move literally anywhere. The choice was really daunting. Your new house looks absolutely amazing. I can totally understand why you decided to move to Shrewsbury. Hope your move goes ahead smoothly soon and can’t wait to see how you style your new home. x
I too can relate to so much of this Kimberly. However, we do have children so had another aspect to think about. We’re returning from Norway and so the UK is pretty much our oyster, but like you and Wayne, we have family in Manchester and also Yorkshire and London. I work in Portsmouth, but we want more for our money. Shrewsbury is not only great for location but great for our small family to thrive.
Oh how fantastic and yes, it would be ideally placed in terms of where your family is in the country. Happily, Shrewsbury does have some great schools so I don’t think you’ll have too much problem and since we’ve moved, I’ve fallen even more in love with the area – it’s truly fantastic. Wishing you the best of luck in your return to the UK! xx