Relocate from London to Liverpool or Chester

[ALyons]

Hi everyone,
I’m currently living in London, working 40 hours a week in an admin role, and I’m just… done. I’m 52, right in the thick of menopause (even though I have recently started HRT), and I’ve reached the point where I feel I’m working just to exist.
My husband and I are seriously looking at the North West. He absolutely loves Chester (the history, the vibe), but I’m worried it might be a bit small for us long-term. On the flip side, Liverpool ticks so many boxes for culture and energy, but I worry it feels a bit "new" or even "rough" in places compared to the South.
I’m an author , but the London grind and hormonal exhaustion have completely killed my creativity. We’re looking for "Old Soul" neighborhoods—think historic, grand, leafy, and quiet enough to eventually get back to my writing. My husband would prefer the docks but I worry it may get too windy!
The Plan: We want to rent out our London place, move up, and rent for a year to see if it fits. I’m hoping to find a part-time admin role to buy myself some "writing time."
A few specifics I’d love your "Mumsnet honesty" on:

1. Neighborhoods: Is the Georgian Quarter in Liverpool actually a nice place to live, or is it just a movie set for tourists? And the docks?
2. Safety & ‘Roughness’: Coming from London, is Liverpool actually "rougher," or is that just an old stereotype? Are there areas that feel truly safe and established?
3. The Dog: We have a Coton de Tulear . She’s our world. How dog-friendly is the city? Chester was very friendly!
4. Menopause Support: are GPs generally good and easy to book?
5. The Move: We don't drive. Is it feasible to live in these "historic" pockets and still get around easily via public transport?
6. Bars & restaurants: we don't have kids, and enjoy a good meal and a drink. My husband loved Chester because of this, but I worry it is too small for us.
7. Weather: I hear it gets very rainy and windy, while London is never too extreme. And with a white dog, this would be a bit challenging.

Am I being demanding, or is this the "Great Reset" I think it is? Would love to hear from anyone who has made the London-to-Liverpool jump! I absolutely Love London, it's my home! But we got overpriced and are not prepared to pay crazy money to move to a nicer area while still being in a shoe box! Thanks in advance! x

I immediately thought of the Georgian Quarter before you mentioned it. Liverpool is very ‘real’ so no, that area isn’t just a film set. It’s friendly, yes with rough areas but no different to any city. So many parks and green spaces for dog walking. And beaches not far by public transport on the Wirral and Southport way for good dog days out.

Public transport is good and the GQ is within reasonable walking distance (there, downhill better!) to the city centre. You’ve got Hope Street and things going on there very close by, the Ropewalks a little further south before you hit the city centre proper.

I think it could be a wise move.

Thank you @AnOldCynic . I hear Scousers are very real, and I am probably going to like that as unfortunately London has become very politically correct and lost its pride in a way. I am just a bit worried about the weather, as I have been told it gets quite wet and we don't really experience that here! Oh well, i shall invest in some cool rain coats then!

Scousers are generally very friendly, I think you’d have an easier time settling in Liverpool in some ways. Chester can be a bit small town insular, and it may be harder to make new friends there.

The Georgian quarter is lovely, you don’t need to drive I don’t think - walking distance to lots of places to go out in the evenings, decent public transport to countryside and coast for dog walks.

Have you considered Manchester? For inexplicable reasons I suspect it might feel less ‘foreign’ to you than Liverpool (which I adore but might feel a bit adrift in if I lived there). Manchester is hugely liveable in and has all the city qualities you’d want. Plus trams. Admittedly no Crosby Beach.

Oxford also has everything you could possibly want. But it’s as expensive as London.

Wildcard - since Chester itself really isn’t going to keep you occupied in the sense of ‘city life’ day in, day out, why not move to a village close by, like Hawarden (just over the border in Wales)? You could spend endless hours at Gladstone’s Library (google it!), or walking the coastal path or Hawarden Estate. You could be in Chester in twenty minutes, or jump on a train to a proper city whenever you like.

I've lived in Liverpool for 10 years, it's gloriously sunny today! It can be wet and windy, avoid living on the river front if you don't like the wind! Georgian quarter is nice, but not very green. Mossley Hill/Aigburth/Allerton are a bit more suburban and nice parks - Sefton and Calderstones. Crosby and Formby areas are nice for beaches and outdoors. Of course it is only 45 mins or so on the train between Chester and Liverpool, so it's very easy to live in one and visit the other.

Have a look at Woolton in Liverpool. Nice old sandstone buildings with a village feel.
Blundellsands or Formby in the north are right on the coast and are great for dog walks.

There’s loads to do in Chester- it’s so full of history, bars, entertainment etc. check out handbridge which is a lovely place to live just a walk over the bridge.

I do also love Liverpool but don’t know it as well.

Not to be confused with Walton.....which is a bit less nice!

Southport and ormskirk are really nice. I like Chester too. I would suggest do a few holidays in both areas before you decide so many nice places in the northwest.

Look around Sefton Park. Also great housing in Waterloo but I suspect that would appeal to your husband more than you.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174595037

Londoner here, worked in Liverpool before the Baltic Triangle and some of the Georgian quarter was built. Have visited - it’s quite studenty and a bit noisy.

I previously lived on South Ferry Quay by the docks but it is a good 20 minute walk to the nearest park. I have a little Cavapoo now so if I were to move back, I would choose Lark Lane/Sefton Park as that’s very popular with small dog owners and feels safe/cultured but not snobby. Liverpool is not rougher than London - many of the social problems were dealt with by the council when it became the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Public transport is good in Liverpool- try and live within 10 mins walk of a bus route/train station. I prefer Liverpool to Manchester as there are more permanent residents around and you get a community feel. Manchester is a bit like London- many transient students.

My GP practice was great - I was in my early 30’s; very supportive. Fewer patients are competing for appointments compared to London so you get seen more quickly by GPs and hospitals.

Lots of fab restaurants in the city centre and in smaller neighbourhoods.

Weather - it’s rainier, windier and 3-5degrees c less than London. I enjoyed my time there - family issues and a job I was seconded from brought me back.

I dream of a house in Formby or a flat in the Albert Docks. 😍
You could live in Crosby and walk the dog on the beach everyday.

I was a carless student and everything was accessable by train or bus (or the occasional taxi).

Liverpool is incredible - you’ll love it. Explore the areas around as you’re spoilt for choice. Check out the seaside towns on the train line - New Brighton is well worth a visit and Crosby is beautiful. Both are cheaper than the Georgian quarter (which is great too). Chester is a train ride away, or you could try Port Sunlight, between the two.

I live near Chester and I love it. Trains to Manchester and Liverpool as well as the North Wales Coast. I never get bored of Chester as so many different pockets to explore - Cheshire itself is fantastic.
Handbridge and Hoole are two urban villages in the city. For a real community feel move to one of the villages - Kelsall
or Tarporley.

I would definitely recommend looking around Lark Lane, Sefton Park is perfect if you have a dog. There are some great pubs and bars in the Georgian quarter and you're only a short walk away from the city center. I wouldn't want to live in formby, every sunny weekend the roads are gridlocked for a few miles, and it's gone downhill over the last few years.
As a pp pointed out, make sure you don't mix up Walton and woolton. They are two very different places.

Liverpool is fabulous. I would live there in a heartbeat if it wasn’t for work. My friend lived in Cressington, with its own station and on main bus routes, it’s lovely. Lark lane has a lovely vibe with bars and restaurants. Everywhere will feel small after London.