After five years in rural Somerset, a former Londoner has returned to the capital and found that the quieter life she originally sought was available all along — on her own terms. The move back was meant to be temporary, but within four days she was ready to make it permanent.
A reluctant return to the city
The writer had left London in December 2020, prompted by the strains of lockdown and a desire for "peace and space." After 15 years in the city, she was tired of the treadmill of gym, office, social obligations, meal prep, and sleep. She wanted a calmer life — and in Somerset, she got one.
Life in the countryside became insular and simple: dog walks, video calls, dinner, and television. The nearest decent restaurant was half an hour away in Glastonbury, so going out was rare. Friends were made in the village, with occasional meetings at the nearest pub, a 10-minute drive from home.
The slow slide into sloth
But somewhere along the way, she began to lose her sense of self, retreating inwards. There was always another box set, and London being three hours away provided a convenient excuse to skip social events.
The house they bought — larger than needed, with a one-acre orchard — added to the drift. Gardening turned out to be "just housework, but outdoors," and she had no aptitude for it. The kale she optimistically planted went to seed almost as quickly as she did. Consumed by renovations, housekeeping, and her day job, she rarely changed out of tracksuit bottoms. Standards slipped: no more decent haircuts, workouts, or Botox. Her wardrobe was governed by one question: "Will anyone actually see me?"
Seeing London afresh
The move back was triggered by an unexpected offer on the house from a woman who had always loved its exterior — a price they couldn't refuse. With no rental home available in Somerset and work returning to in-person in summer 2025, London became the practical choice for a short time.
Returning to Waterloo felt different. Elephant and Castle had rebranded as Elephant Park, complete with a Gail's. On their second night, they strolled down for jerk chicken and ice cream. People were shiny, the energy vibrant. She had done her hair and worn real clothes, feeling human in a way she hadn't realised she hadn't been feeling.
The next evening, they got £25 tickets to see Rosamund Pike in Inter Alia at the National Theatre, a short walk from home. Making the most of what London had to offer was as enlivening as a table at her favourite restaurant, Jikoni, after years of dinners on a tray in front of the TV.
A quieter life, on her own terms
London has changed, and so has she. She is calmer, and her social life is too — brunches swapped for reading books at home. But she can Santander Cycle to Covent Garden in 10 minutes for a Crust Bros pizza, a Floozie cookie, or products from The Ordinary. And there's a Sainsbury's Local within walking distance, a joy compared to the 25-minute drive each way to the nearest supermarket in Somerset.
It turns out she didn't need to leave London to find a quieter life. She just needed to come back on her own terms. She still doesn't want to go to everybody's bloody birthday or everybody's bloody brunch — but now, if she does, she can cycle home afterwards.
