Put off by London's ever-increasing rent prices and the cost of living in big cities, young families and those fresh out of university are opting to live in quieter, more rural towns across the UK.
Workers making their money in the capital, before moving away from the city in retirement, is a trend seemingly as old as time.
Recent property data reveals the average home in London costs well over £700,000. Pair that with the cost of living crisis that has bitten so harshly in recent years and it quickly becomes obvious why youngsters are turning their back on the capital. EASTBOURNE: The town earned the nickname 'God's Waiting Room' thanks to its popularity with retirees but has recently seen an influx of under-40s
One of those so-called DFLs , is 33-year-old Rebecca Onyett, who made the pilgrimage from the capital nine years ago and now owns a jewellery shop. Ms Campbell-Bates said: 'We're big foodies and there's an amazing food scene here, that was a big thing for us moving somewhere else from London. 'That's the only thing about moving somewhere else, it takes a while to make friends, so that's one thing that we're trying to work on at the moment.'
'I work in education and there's a massive rich/poor divide, everything is too expensive now because of the influx of people, rent has skyrocketed and it's not all glossy, there's a lot of negative as well.
Jess Hazell, 26, an artist and cafe worker, moved to Margate from London with her partner just over a year ago. 'The city was just too expensive,' she said. The influx of young people has created a small divide between younger and older residents. Ms Hazell said: ' The older community almost feels a little bit separate, we've kind of got the younger side, we are in Cliftonville and then they have the older side, maybe more towards Millmead and Birchington.
Meanwhile, with affordable housing and rental accommodation, it is fast becoming a draw for young people wishing to escape the big cities. 'There are bars and restaurants popping up all the time and the nightlife is great. It's really shrugging off its old reputation as a retirement home for the elderly.'
'In Eastbourne my rent for a two bedroom flat is £900 which is a lot more like it. In London I was running to stay still, working 60 hour weeks and having absolutely nothing to show for it.WESTON-SUPER-MARE: Amanda Hawkings has made the move to Weston into a new four-bedroom home on the Haywood Village site
Mr Vine, who has two daughters, aged two and two months, said: 'Also the nurseries and schools are great and you have a choice of some very decent schools. I wouldn't go back to London if you paid me.' She now has a house with her partner and says that despite rises in mortgage payments they still have money at the end of the month.
The town is renowned for its ornate Opera House, parks and gardens, independent shops, pubs and restaurants, highly-rated schools - plus an array of regular events and cultural festivals such as the Buxton International Festival and International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Explaining why her family made the move in late 2022, she said: 'We wanted to move out of London and love mountains. We looked at the Lake District and Scotland, then came to the Peak District one half term.
He said: 'We had returned from Toronto and initially wanted to be in Manchester to be near Media City but lockdown happened and we decided to head for the hills and take things a bit easier. She and her artist husband Mark Brighton were inspired to make the move seven years ago because of Mark having grown up down the road in Bakewell and having family connections to the area.
BUXTON: The town is becoming home to more young people after traditionally being seen as more of a hotspot for the elderly 'At Christmas, with the old-fashioned street lights and trees outside, it feels like you are in A Christmas Carol.'New residents are among those heavily-involved in Buxton's arts and cultural scene.
Ms Grubb, who had a baby daughter and was pregnant with her youngest son at the time, said: 'We knew we didn't want to be in the big city and wanted to be south of Manchester because our family and friends were back down south. Also immersed in Buxton's cultural scene is Dave Green, 49, who moved north to become chief executive of Buxton Civic Association, which runs Poole's Cavern – a network of spectacular underground passages filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
Ms Webb-Green, 55, a wellness and fitness consultant who was previously a training organiser for volunteers at London museums, said: 'We wanted to move somewhere where there was an opportunity to get involved in the local community.She added: 'All my clients were hysterical when I said I was moving to the home of mineral water. It's nicer than the water in Bath and the quality of water affects health so much.
'Now people are taking more of an interest in living here because, especially post-pandemic; they are realising you no longer need to be in the city.' Robert Largan, Conservative MP for High Peak, said he was 'not surprised' the town has become a property hot spot due to its setting and the lively cultural scene.
New estates are springing up, town centre sites are being converted and local people are hiring out rooms to workers. ULVERSTON: Michelle Scrogham, the town's mayor and owner of fashion shop Pure, told of people visiting for 'staycations' but being so taken with the place they decide to move there Three new estates have provided 1,200 new homes and more are planned on the outskirts of the town, near Swarthmoor.
'BAE is obviously bringing a lot of people into the area. Then you have the Lake District effect. It is a beautiful place to live. It is a festival town with great culture and great community. The 39-year-old has made the move to the North Somerset town which was once the preserve of those looking to spend their retirement by the sea.
The father-of-three said: 'The move to Weston was a no-brainer for us both financially and as a family. 'I was aware of all the talk about Weston being a home for those looking to wind down after a working life, but for us it is the ideal location. 'The deciding factor for us was the affordability of the homes – we would never have been able to afford anything like this in Bristol.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE: The seaside resort on the south-west coast is a holiday favourite - but now many under-40s are moving there too 'And with good schools in the area it has all the upsides and none of the downsides. That's why buyers are flocking to buy in the area because it offers such value for money.'
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