PixabayLondon has long been the go-to destination for young people who are seeking exciting careers and adventure.
However, new research suggests the capital isn’t quite as desirable as it once was, with a quarter of Londoners now looking to move elsewhere.
Berkeley Homes have commissioned revealing research of 1,000 Londoners, finding many city dwellers feel they have ‘no choice’ but to move, with over one third believing the high cost of living will prevent them from living in the capital in the long term.
And money isn’t the only issue. Approximately 51 per cent of study participants felt London life was just ‘too stressful’, with nearly half believing their quality of life would be enhanced following a change in location.
This surprising new research found the average Londoner expected to have made a move elsewhere within the course of the next four years.
The Home Counties – providing fresher air, countryside views and comparably cheaper living – was found to be the destination of choice for Londoners wanting to improve their overall sense of well-being.
Sales and marketing director, Berkeley Homes (Western), Deana Everingham, said:
We have already seen a huge increase in people keen to move out of the capital in order to achieve a higher quality of life.
Of course there are aspects of London they will be sad to leave behind, but the findings suggest the benefits outweigh the negatives.
The Home Counties and beyond are becoming more appealing, with towns that previously might have been overlooked now becoming thriving epicentres in their own right.
PixabayHowever, many Londoners also worried being away from the hustle and bustle of city life would compromise their social lives, with no amount of pretty scenery making up for the world class attractions and entertainment venues of the English capital.
Indeed, 55 per cent worried about missing out on the ‘fun and excitement’ they had become accustomed to following a move to a quieter location.
Everingham continued:
Despite the perception among some of those polled, it is possible to get the best of both worlds – to enjoy everything great about London and to have the benefits of living outside the capital.
Excellent transport links, along with lower pollution, countryside lifestyle and lower living costs are key reasons why we may see somewhat of an exodus from the capital in the coming years.
There are many locations which offer much shorter commuting times. Reading, the UK’s largest town, offers commuting times of just 26 minutes in London Paddington.
Known as the UK’s largest tech cluster, it offers the highest wages in the UK outside of London and now sees more people commuting daily into Reading, than leaving to travel to Central London.
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via [email protected]
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.