It was love that enticed Julia Portelly away from London. And although her relationship didn’t survive, she couldn’t be more delighted with her decision to move away from the city.
She is now happily ensconced in her own little pied-à-terre in the heart of the cathedral city of St Albans, working from home, and zipping back to visit friends thanks to super fast train connections.
“I have found that I really do love having my own space,” said Julia. “I have my job, I go away a lot at weekends, and it is just wonderful to be able to come home and exhale.”
Julia, 29, was brought up in Thames Ditton, Surrey. She works as an account manager for a public relations firm and began working from home during the pandemic.
Home was a two-bedroom, £750pcm flat in Tooting, and the experience of trying to do her work while neighbours children rampaged through their homes upstairs was an interesting one.
Her then-partner lived in Hertfordshire and his work, based in Welwyn Garden City, meant he couldn’t come to London. He and Julia agreed to find somewhere to rent together in St Albans, halfway between his job and the capital.
They found a three-bedroom house with a garden, which cost £1,700pcm, at the start of 2022 and Julia began exploring the shops, pubs, cafes, and parks of her new town.
“I was really glad to leave London,” she said. “By that point my friends were scattered all over the UK and there was nothing really holding me back from moving. I wanted more space, and more greenery.”
Sadly, last autumn, Julia and her partner split up. Happily, things were amicable enough for them to continue sharing the house until their contract ended.
“Then I just wanted to strike out on my own,” said Julia. She found herself a cute but tiny flat in a great location for £1,000pcm and — to the horror of her parents — decided to stay.
“They were very worried by the fact that the only person I know here is my ex-partner,” said Julia. “I am blessed to still be friends with him, and what I have found is that I can get pretty much anywhere from St Albans.”
Trains to London take less than half an hour and at weekends Julia is touring the UK visiting friends and attending weddings.
“I love being by myself when I can,” she said. “I like to be able to see people when I want to but still have my own space.”
Finding some local mates is, however, on the to do list. “When it is summer time I want to join a tennis or hockey club, and I am looking to join a choir too,” she said. “I will eventually do it because I would like to make some friends here.”
