Why I left London after 10 years and moved to Puglia, Italy

If you had asked me in my twenties where I saw myself living, I would probably say big city, with lots of things to do, tall buildings, hectic schedule, inspiring vibe, and an infinite choice of foodie spots. For over ten years, to me London was the place to be - vibrant, fast-paced, full of opportunities and inspiration. And even though I’m an introvert and sometimes found that lifestlye exhausting, I was a bit addicted to that rhythm, as it made me feel less lonely and kind in the centre of the world.

But like many things in life, seasons shift. And over time, so did my heart.

When feelings towards big city life started to change.

The first tiny cracks in my big-city mindset appeared when I moved into a flat into a quiet neighbourhood, close to one of London’s biggest parks. Having nature so close brought me a kind of joy I hadn’t realised I was missing. I always loved nature, but I realised I stopped spending time in it, and even when I did, it felt as if I was just doing another activity in the city, rather than actively soaking in its unique beauty. And then when 2020 arrived, like for many of us, life suddenly paused, and I discovered something I didn’t know I craved: slow living. The long walks without rushing anywhere, cooking at home, having a mindful morning routine instead of a nerve-wracking commute… it all felt so natural and nourishing. And once the world started reopening, I realised that part of me wasn’t ready to jump back into the previous hustle.

The growing desire for freedom that led to a drastic career change

During those months, I also experienced remote work for the first time, and it completely changed my perspective. The freedom to work from home, set my own rhythms, and having more time without constantly rushing somewhere made me question the pace I had been living at for so long.

Not long after, I met my now-husband. We moved in together, and a new chapter of my life in London begun. At that time, I was also feeling uninspired and unfulfilled by my current job for different reasons, and made one of the most significant decisions of my adult life: I changed careers completely. I left my job, no other offer lining up, just quit, and dedicated a few months to learning a completely new profession, and landed a junior position with an amazing company for which I still work for today, remotely from Italy.

This new chapter also gave me something I hadn’t fully allowed myself before: space to reconnect with my creativity. I returned to my art, slowly at first (simply for the love of it) and little by little, it grew into a small side business.

From London streets to Apulian olive groves

After living together in London for a couple more years, my husband and I finally took the leap: we packed up our flat and moved to Puglia, the beautiful region of southern Italy where he was born.

Now, our days look very different. We live slowly but intentionally. We plan future travels. We work on our passions and savour the simple freedom I once dreamed of while running to catch the tube during London rush hour.

Do I miss London? Sometimes. But I’m where I need to be now.

London will always have a special place in my heart. It gave me so much growth that I could’ve never get in Milan (where I lived before). I feel that I fully lived my London chapter. And when life offered me the chance to write a new one, I was ready to take it.

This move wasn’t an escape, but a conscious evolution. I’ve always been the kind of person who craves personal growth and changes in life that reflect my current identity, and staying in a place (both mentally and physically) that I feel I’ve outgrown becomes unbearable. Through my 20s, I craved challenges, growth, learning, experiences, and even some drama which made me stronger and wiser. Now, I need a wholesome home surrounded by nature, no drama, fill my time with creative activities, fun experiences with my husband and live life on our terms. So yes, it feels like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be now.