In a surprising reversal of the typical expat dream, a British woman who left the UK for Sydney nearly thirty years ago has revealed why she has now chosen to return, settling in one of Britain's rainiest cities.
From Weymouth to Sydney and Back Again
Lisa York, 52, originally from Weymouth in Dorset, first departed for Australia as a restless teenager seeking adventure beyond her small hometown. Her journey began at age 19 with a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia before arriving in Sydney, where she found work in a bar called Norton Bills and met an Australian man, sparking a whirlwind romance.
When her visa expired, Lisa returned to Weymouth, where she remained for thirteen years, marrying her now ex-husband. In an extraordinary turn of events, just months after their separation, she received an unexpected email from the Australian man she had met years earlier in Sydney.
A New Chapter in Lancaster
After reconnecting and falling in love, Lisa married her Australian beau, Benjamin York, 53, a Navy Captain. The couple went on to have four children, now aged 11 to 16. Their life together involved multiple international moves across different continents, including stints in Bristol, London, Canberra, Sydney, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The family's interest in Lancaster began after attending a three-day wedding celebration in the area. When Lisa's sister-in-law sent them a property listing, they were immediately struck by the affordability compared to their original plan of moving to Richmond in South West London.
In 2023, they made the decisive move, purchasing a Victorian three-bedroom semi-detached house for £390,000 - a property they noted would have cost around £1.2 million in their preferred London location.
Embracing Northern Life
Lisa, who runs an online business called Lisa-York helping small companies sell their products, says she was drawn to Lancaster's strong sense of community and culture. "They're lovely people up here, really friendly," she explained. "People always say hello and pass the time of day with you."
Surprisingly, the mother-of-four even prefers the English weather, appreciating the distinct seasons compared to Sydney's predictable sunshine. "I like the seasons here, they're more noticeable," she said. "I love the change and variety in the weather."
She also values the return to British humour, noting: "I feel when I'm in the UK, people get me. I say stuff and people laugh, whereas sometimes in Australia, they don't."
One Significant Drawback
Despite her contentment with life in northern England, Lisa identifies one area where Australia retains a significant advantage: the healthcare system. She describes the Australian system as "superior to the NHS, particularly for older people," and acknowledges this would be the main reason for considering another move down under.
"Australia is a much richer country - they have had a lot of money," she observed. "The hospitals there are beautiful, the schools are beautiful, the roads are beautiful. The rail network is really cheap. It works really well."
For their long-term future, Lisa and Benjamin plan to relocate to Kingston, London after their children complete higher education, before eventually retiring to Australia to benefit from its healthcare system in their later years.
For now though, Lancaster feels right. "We like change," Lisa concluded. "And after moving so many times, we know that if we don't like something, we'll just change it again."
