A mother who quit London and moved to Cornwall after 16 years in the capital says she had two big fears about making the huge move – but they were quickly proved unfounded
Robin Cottle Assistant Editor Trendswatch
10:38, 25 May 2026
Laura Schofield and her family moved to Cornwall after 16 years in London(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A mother who quit London and moved to Cornwall with her family says her two main fears were proven totally wrong.
For many people leaving the London rat race for a quieter life is a dream, especially in this new world of remote working.
But for Laura Schofield, 40, who moved to Cornwall with her husband Tim, she approached the move with a certain sense of trepidation. Her other half is originally from a small place near Truro, and after living in London together for 16 years, a change in work circumstances meant they made the huge decision to uproot their family and move down south.
She had two big worries before embarking on the major life change. One was that their new life was going to be too quiet, and the other was how locals would take to Londoners muscling in on their real estate.
Writing in The Times, Laura said: “Before we moved I thought we were going to some sleepy retirement village, but I was wrong. It is quieter in the winter but in the summer it is like Ibiza. There are parties every night – even the pasty shop turns into a nightclub.”
Laura loves their new life in Lizard (Image: Getty Images)
She later added: “One thing that did terrify me was people thinking we were Londoners turning up and pushing house prices up and stopping local people buying a home. My catchphrase at the time was: ‘My husband is Cornish!'”
Laura and her family sold their five-bedroom detached home in south London, upsizing to a seven-bedroom house in the village of Lizard. She says it is “literally twice the size” and cost less money as well.
She admitted that although she liked going to Cornwall to visit her husband’s family, it was never on her radar to move to the area permanently with children Matilda, 11, and Arthur, nine.
Laura says she loves the beaches near her new home (Image: Getty Images)
Laura and her family made the plunge when her shoe business for women with larger feet took off. This coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic when her husband, who is a marketing director for a a travel company, proved that he could work efficiently from home. He subsequently negotiated a remote contract.
They have totally renovated the house since moving there in August 2021, spending around £175,000 on the refurbishments.
She has noticed a number of other positives about quitting their suburban life, including friendly locals, improved safety and all the beautiful beaches that Cornwall has to offer.
The mum-of-two concluded: “When I look back, my suburban life on the edge of London feels a bit sterile. I had really underestimated the importance of fresh air and feeling the sand under my feet.
“It has made a seismic difference to my mental health. People just seem happier in Cornwall.”