After months of lockdown, I decided to leave the big city for a more relaxed life by the sea in Kent
I made the decision to leave London permanently during lockdown(Image: MILLIE BULL)
Following months confined indoors with rowdy neighbours while paying extortionate rent, I made the decision to leave London permanently. After roughly three years in the capital, I’d had enough of the constant noise, mayhem and grime that seemed inescapable.
Prior to lockdown, the city thrived with energy. Eateries were packed, pubs overflowed with punters, and my neighbourhood coffee spots teemed with commuters each morning. It was an ideal location for late nights out, sampling diverse food and catching up with mates.
Yet when lockdown arrived, everything transformed. Like countless others, I became disenchanted with urban life.
What had been a vibrant city centre suddenly felt lifeless, and, like most residents, we were confined indoors all day to prevent catching COVID-19, reports the Express.
Seeing friends or family became impossible, and apart from daily supermarket runs and walks to the nearby park, we were housebound.
Lockdown prompted many to reassess what mattered most. While I’d previously relished pub crawls and all-nighters, I suddenly yearned for outdoor space, stunning seaside views and clean air; three elements London desperately lacked.
Even when cafes and eateries began reopening for takeaway service, London’s appeal had vanished for me, prompting a bold choice: I relocated to a coastal town I’d only visited once previously. Renting in London remains absurdly pricey, but when I swapped my one-bedroom flat in South East London for a property twice the size in the charming coastal town of Deal in Kent, I hadn’t anticipated slashing £275 off my monthly outgoings.
And the savings didn’t stop there. I now live within easy reach of an Aldi, where prices are significantly lower than at the small Sainsbury’s Local at the end of my street in London.
I’d also escaped a draughty, standalone Victorian property that had been shoddily split into flats, meaning my energy bills dropped considerably.
While I still pop up to London occasionally to catch up with mates and go to events, there are three key reasons I’d never return to the capital:
1. The cost
It can occasionally feel as though simply breathing costs 10p per minute in London. Cash seemed to vanish from my bank account while I resided there, making saving anything incredibly difficult.
While I could have reined in spending on coffee shop visits, takeaways and dining out, that’s very much part and parcel of the London experience. Heading out for a couple of drinks with friends could rapidly escalate into a £100 evening once you factor in travel expenses.
I adored having access to diverse restaurants in London; I’d never sampled Eritrean food before relocating there, for instance, but the sheer variety was occasionally daunting. I discovered myself eager to sample everything, which wasn’t always feasible when you had rent and household expenses to cover.
Something many don’t factor in when considering London life is the expense of public transport. Before lockdown, I was fortunate to live relatively near my workplace, yet my daily commute still set me back roughly £10 – costs that rapidly mounted up.
These days, I predominantly work remotely, with occasional trips to the office. While local transport doesn’t meet TfL standards, I seldom need it, except for medical appointments.
I’m currently situated within walking distance of most of Deal’s shops, cafes and eateries, so I travel on foot, which has resulted in substantial savings.
2. The noise
The sheer volume of London only became apparent after I departed. That persistent background din becomes your new normal within days of arrival.
Upon leaving, I found myself overwhelmed by the quietness. I’d grown used to the overground rattling past my garden, distant sirens wailing, and neighbours’ televisions and conversations filtering through.
Town centre living still brings occasional noise disturbance, but nothing comparable to London. My primary grumble nowadays is aggressive seagulls screeching on my roof during summer mornings.
3. The scenery
For me, coastal vistas are unbeatable. Having grown up along Dorset’s shoreline, that brilliant blue line on the horizon feels like home.
Don’t get me wrong, London boasts some stunning vistas. Perched atop Blythe Hill Fields in South London, gazing down at the park and some of the capital’s most recognisable skyscrapers was one of my favourite pastimes when I lived there.
Nevertheless, after several years, I found myself yearning for seaside panoramas. I longed for the shore, the ocean and crisp air.
Regardless of how many green spaces I explored in London, the atmosphere always seemed dense and polluted.
Everyone warned I’d regret my choice to relocate to the coast, but to this day, it remains among the finest decisions I’ve ever taken. There are several drawbacks to seaside living; we’re inundated with holidaymakers during summer, amenities are more limited, and all my acquaintances are considerably further away, but I’d embrace all of that over dwelling in London.
