Until she was in her thirties Shubhi Grover had only ever lived in huge cities. First her native Mumbai in India and then her adopted home, London.
Two months ago Shubhi took her first ever step into country life — and she couldn’t be more delighted with her new commuter lifestyle having exchanged the urban oasis of Primrose Hill for acres, and acres of open countryside.
Shubhi, 35, moved to London in 2021 to complete a master’s degree at the London School of Economics. She then landed a job in public relations and is now head of consumer for a communications company.
Her first home in the capital was student halls in King’s Cross and from there she moved to Islington and then Hampstead, where she paid circa £1,700pcm for a tiny studio flat.
“My friends kindly called it the shoebox and my mother said that it was like I was living on a train platform, because there were suitcases everywhere,” said Shubi.
Eventually she decided that she didn't want to emulate friends who were renting storage space to house their overflowing possessions, and really needed a home with more space.
So she began asking friends and connections for recommendations of handy commuter options. When Welwyn Garden City, just 20 miles north of central London, was suggested she went to have a look and was instantly taken with its combination of convenience and open space.
“There is a sign saying ‘Welcome to Welwyn Garden City — a marriage of country and town’ and that is exactly right,” said Shubhi. “I am a big believer in gut feeling and I just felt it was the right place.”
Shubhi made the move two months ago and now shares a two-bedroom house with her partner. They each pay £1,000pcm for the property. “You get much more space out of London,” said Shubhi.
Trains from Welwyn Garden City to King's Cross take around half an hour, and a round trip costs £30 – Shubhi is expected in the office three days per week but despite the extra travel expense she is still better off in Welwyn than she was in London.
“I really look forward to my weekends because I can do the things I really enjoy like cooking and gardening – and I have a walk-in wardrobe with so much space for all my shoes and bags,” she said.
She is also enjoying exploring the area, visiting the cafes and boutiques of St Albans and heading out into the countryside for walks. “It has been a really huge transformation of my life,” she said. “It hurts my heart to say it but I don’t miss Hampstead at all.”
