Leaving London: Why a pair traded East Greenwich for Southampton

I

In his well-travelled life, Will Wilkins has lived in some glamorous places, from Hong Kong to Dubai, Australia to London. And more recently Southampton.

Will was born and raised in Blackheath but between 1995 and 2013 his career took him around the world. He met his wife, Kate Macdonell, while living and working in Dubai.

When the couple decided to return to London, they bought a rundown one-bedroom flat in East Greenwich for £70,000. They wanted to renovate it and sell it on, but they liked the area so much that they stayed there for three years. In 2017, however, they were fed up with the lack of space.

A friend of theirs had just moved to Southampton, they visited, liked what they saw and found they could refinance their flat and raise enough money to buy a house with a garden in the city.

Trains from Southampton to Waterloo take just over an hour and both liked the idea of ​​living close to the coast and the New Forest. It seemed child’s play.

“It’s a really good place in a lot of ways,” said Will, 55, a freelance events production manager. “We can go down and sit on the beach and there are some lovely walks and bike rides. When we lie in bed we can hear the owls in the forest. But there are bars and cafes in the student area of ​​St Denys that are pretty groovy and we can dip in and out of both worlds.”

Another plus, Will said, is that Southampton doesn’t get overrun with tourists every summer because there’s no sandy beach, and locals can enjoy walks along the coast and Calshot’s shingle beach in relative tranquillity.

After five years in Southampton, the couple are considering a move to Portugal

/ handouts

The couple’s home is a two-bedroom semi-detached Victorian house in the suburb of Sholing, three miles east of the city centre. It cost her £260,000 – today it’s worth around £325,000.

Will’s work involves travel, so in many ways it doesn’t matter where he is. Kate, 53, is a veterinary assistant who has found a job at a local practice.

After five years, Will and Kate get wanderlust again – and consider moving to Portugal, where they recently bought a ‘ruin’ in need of renovation.

And while they enjoyed Southampton, they missed the buzz and excitement of a larger city. “There are a couple of small art galleries in Southampton, but not many, there aren’t any independent shops, and when they tried it at a farmer’s market, he died,” Will said. “It’s a little bit simple, and we crave a little bit more.”

About Nina Snider

Check Also

Thousands are demanding the return of free early London travel for over-60s

The benefit – granted to around 1.3million people over 60 – was suspended for weekday …