Transport

Be prepared to drive everywhere whether it’s to the supermarket or to meet up with friends for a night out. You will need at least one, possibly two cars.  Public transport is as rare as hen’s teeth. If you’re lucky, there may be one bus per hour on weekdays but forget Sunday and evening buses as cash-strapped councils have axed most subsidised rural routes. A move to the country could also mean a longer commute into work, bumping up your travel costs. Rural properties located near railway stations are likely to be more expensive.

If you have children, a good village school within walking distance is a huge bonus. In rural areas, the local education authority usually provides free bus travel to the nearest comprehensive. But don’t just think about the school run. What is there for kids to do locally apart from hang out in the park? You are likely to be parent taxi for any after school activities or parties until they’re old enough to drive.  

Location, location, location

A house in the country could be miles from the nearest neighbour or in a village high street or cul-de-sac.  Do you want to be able to walk to a friendly village shop for a newspaper or pint of milk? If you have children, it makes a huge difference if there are other kids of a similar age living nearby to play with. Or is living off the beaten track for you? Can you cope with the loneliness and isolation?  Is one of the positives of a move to the country having no neighbours to disturb your Sunday morning lie-ins? Make sure you know what you want – and what is on offer.

Space

Being able to buy a bigger home is the reason many people choose to move to the country. Typically, you get more space for your money. A young family may be able to move up from a three-bedroom terraced house in a city to a four-bedroom detached property in the rural outskirts, for example.  Gardens can also be larger with rivers and fields at the bottom, offering beautiful views and plenty of outdoor space for children to run around. You may even want eggs from your own chickens. However big plots will push up the price of properties. Many new-build rural homes have relatively small gardens.

Village shop and pub

Can you cope with just one village shop? It’s very different from the city with plenty of coffee shops and delicatessens on your doorstep. Today some villages lack even a single shop or pub as rural life has eroded. This makes it more difficult to meet people queuing at the post office or over a pint in the pub. However surviving village shops and post offices are often highly enterprising and offer other services, such as café, ready-made meals, taxis, dry cleaning and hairdresser. While food prices are often higher than in supermarkets which bulk buy and choice is obviously more limited, it’s amazing how often they manage to stock the one item you urgently need no matter how obscure, saving a trip into town.

Dark skies at night

Without bright street lights (and pavements), a late-night walk home from the local pub can be a bit scary.  You may have to dive into a hedgerow to avoid getting hit by passing cars.  Avoid death defying walks by carrying a torch. But one of the great joys of the country is the dark sky at night and being able to see the stars. The milky way is awe-inspiring. But long winter evenings can be a bit dark and depressing in the country. A roaring log fire is especially good for this time of year.

Forget about being anonymous

While it’s easy to be anonymous in cities, it’s impossible in villages. Strangers say hello and stop for a chat whether you’re out walking your dog or posting a letter. Don’t be surprised if they already know your name and which house you live in. Village gossip travels fast. It can be a bit off-putting at first to be part of a small community where everyone knows everyone else’s business (or knows someone who does) but locals are usually incredibly friendly and welcoming.

Countryside smells

There’s plenty of fresh air in the countryside, but be warned it can get whiffy. Living in the countrside means dealing with the stench of sewage spread on farmers’ fields. But it doesn’t happen often and you can always close your windows. If you suffer from hayfever or are allergic to rape seed, it’s probably not a great idea to choose a property next to fields. Always check if a house is on the mainline sewage system – taking waste water from toilet, sinks, showers, baths and washing machines. If not, it may have a cesspit or septic tank in the garden which will need to be maintained and emptied regularly, a smelly business.

Mobile phone signals and WiFi

Be prepared to hear your neighbour (if you have one) in their garden talking very loudly on their mobile. Rural areas are known for their poor reception. Good broadband is a given in cities but a bit of a lottery in the countryside. If you want to work from home, check mobile and WiFi signal if you don’t want to end up in a broadband blackhole.

Schools

Even if you aren’t planning a family yet, it’s a good idea to scope out the schools or you could find yourself moving all over again. There are probably several primary schools nearby with available spaces. A tiny village school might be less daunting for a shy child but their friendship group will be limited which can cause problems. Could your child walk to school? Or is there a bus? This is important as otherwise you may be shackled to driving your child to and from school every day if you can’t find another parent to car share. Remember to consider secondary schools too. It may seem a long way in the future, but babies have a habit of growing up.

Community

The long-running BBC Radio 4 show The Archers may be a bit of a cliché but there really are village pantos and church fetes as well a harvest suppers and bell ringing. Some villages have a thriving community life while others are just a dormitory for a larger town, or full of holiday homes.  Check out what’s going on in the local parish magazine or website. It helps to be good at village life but don’t worry if you’re not a natural joiner. There’s still plenty to enjoy whether its berry picking in the hedgerows, cycling around country lanes or listening to the sound of owls hooting at night. However your days of ordering pizza are over. If you’re lucky, there may be a mobile fish and chip van. 

There’s lots to consider. It’s important  to get it right because once you’ve made the move from the city to the country, you may not be able to afford to move back. House prices tend to rise faster in cities than in the countryside.