I Fled Britain's Stress for the South of France – I Never Look Back

A Life Transformed by the Slow Pace of Rural France

Barbara Simpson-Birks, a 74-year-old British woman, has found a peaceful and fulfilling life in the south of France. She moved to the region 23 years ago, seeking a slower pace of life away from the stress of her previous existence in the UK. Today, she lives in a five-bedroom house nestled in the countryside, surrounded by nature and the charm of rural living.

In the late 1990s, Barbara and her husband were busy running their own businesses and raising two children in the Peak District. “It was very stressful,” she recalls. To escape the pressure, they bought a modest house in a village in France for £50,000 in 1998. They would visit it three times a year, using it as a retreat from their hectic lifestyle.

A few years later, after their youngest child turned 21, they made the decision to move permanently to Clermont-l’Hérault, a small town located 40 kilometers west of Montpellier. The property, dating back to around 1156, had four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It was situated right next to a bakery, where the scent of fresh bread filled the air every morning.

The couple eventually sold their first French home in 2004 for £139,000, making an £89,000 profit. They used the money to purchase 6,650 square meters of land and began building a larger home that could serve as both their residence and a rental property for guests seeking a rural getaway.

“We knew if we built our own house, we could design it any way we wanted,” Barbara explains. They started with two cottages, which they lived in while the main house was under construction. “We had to sell everything that was attached to our two businesses,” she says.

The final result was a traditional-style home featuring five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a swimming pool, fountain, terrace, courtyard, and a sprawling garden complete with chickens. “It has a great, big sitting room with a hanging fireplace that comes down from the ceiling,” she says.

When her husband became unwell with Parkinson’s and dementia, Barbara sold the two small cottages they had initially built. “They’re very nice neighbors, but they only come every couple of weeks,” she notes. “Other than them, my nearest neighbor is 50 meters away. Only 10 families live on our lane. I love how quiet it is—living here on my own doesn’t worry me at all.”

A Vibrant Cultural Experience

Not far from her home lies the beautiful city of Montpellier, known for its theaters, ballets, and operas. Just a short drive away is Béziers, a coastal city where Barbara often visits for lunch with friends. “I’ll have food in an old shack on the sea that has fresh fish,” she says.

Over the past two decades, Barbara has embraced the slower pace of life in the French village. “I was running ragged in the UK,” she says. “Here, I’ve got time to just stand and stare.”

Every Wednesday, she visits the local market, where she buys fresh produce such as cheeses, fruits, olives, and vegetables. While food tends to be more expensive in France, she believes it’s generally of higher quality. “It costs to produce good, fresh food, and we’ll pay for it. The French eat healthily and are not afraid to spend money on quality. Neither am I.”

A Culture of Health and Moderation

Wine is a central part of French culture, and Barbara finds it much more affordable than in the UK. “You’ve got to pay so much for good wine in the UK because of taxes,” she says. “I can drink a €6 bottle of wine that would cost £20 in the UK.”

She also notes that drinking habits in France differ from those in the UK. “You just don’t get the heavy drinking here,” she says. “We just celebrated a national French holiday and people were in bars drinking, but no one was drunk. Nobody is sick on the streets.”

This sense of moderation contributes to a feeling of safety for Barbara. “I’ve never had a thing stolen from me since living here,” she says. “I lock my doors at night because I’m here alone, but most of my friends don’t ever lock their doors.”

A Balanced Lifestyle

When she isn’t hosting guests or working as a wedding celebrant, Barbara enjoys meeting friends for meals, doing yoga, swimming in her pool, and tending to her garden. She has friends all over France and frequently visits them. “The roads are great,” she says. “We haven’t got potholes and the motorways are quiet.”

In her experience, the healthcare system in France is much better than in the UK. While state healthcare is not free at the point of use, it is covered through a combination of statutory insurance, co-payments, and private insurance. “When you first come here, you get a card—the most treasured piece of paper you ever get,” she says.

Despite the challenges of bureaucracy, Barbara has no plans to leave. “I feel embedded in French culture,” she concludes. “A Frenchman recently said to me that although I’m English, I’m French at heart. He’s right. Although, I’ll always support England before France in the rugby.”