Moving to Horsham From Scandinavia: Rasmus and Rikke’s Story
Coming from a small, picturesque village in Scandinavia, Rasmus Fuglsig, Rikke Herskind, and their two children enjoyed living a life of hygge - the Danish concept of enjoying the simple things in life.
But after Rasmus was offered a new job in Central London, the family relocated over 600 miles from Denmark to the UK. After searching far and wide for a property with a feeling of home - just like what they had left behind - the family found solace in a Berkeley Group development based in Highwood Village in Horsham, West Sussex.
Keep reading to learn more about the family’s move to Horsham or start the search for your new home today.
How Did You Prepare to Buy a Home in the UK?
"When we first moved to the UK, we decided to rent somewhere while we house-hunted for a home that was exactly what we were looking for. We used to own our home in Scandinavia, so we were very particular in our demands for the type of house we wanted to buy in the UK. I would definitely say we were picky buyers!"
- Rikke Herskind, Highwood Village resident 5
After just over a year of renting in Wickhurst Green, the family found their ideal four-bedroom home in Highwood Village, Horsham.
What Did You Look for When Searching for a New Property?
"Scandinavian living is very much about 'hygge' - open-plan living and big, open white spaces with a minimalistic approach. We really wanted to buy a similar type of house, so it took a lot of searching to find one that was right for us.
Over eight months we looked on property websites and viewed about 20 properties in total, both new builds and older houses. We both agreed on the fact that we would prefer a new build - in an older house we would have to do a lot of renovating for it to meet our criteria and, with a busy family life and work, we just wouldn't have the time!
The house at Highwood Village was the first one we viewed that we felt met all of our criteria and, as it was a new build, we could get all the specifications that we wanted without having to do a thing ourselves!"
- Rasmus Fuglsig, Highwood Village resident
"Being a typical Scandinavian family, we really wanted to incorporate hygge into our new home. We wanted a house that would bring togetherness for the whole family, with open space where the children can do their homework and we can do the cooking whilst still spending time together.
This was difficult to find in a typical English house, but we found it with Berkeley Homes. We found a home that has a big open space in the kitchen area where we can come together as a family, which is very special for us."
- Rikke Herskind, Highwood Village resident
Why Did You Move to Horsham?
"We moved to the UK because I had got a new job in Central London, and we had two main criteria when choosing an area we wanted to live in. Firstly, we wanted a direct line into Victoria as we are highly dependent on our commute to London each day, and we also wanted good schools for our children.
We compared lots of different areas in the suburbs of London, but Horsham came out on top. It has the best of both worlds - it's close to the city but isn't as cramped as living in an inner city, and has a lovely open feel. It's also really close to Gatwick Airport, which is convenient when I have to travel for work."
- Rasmus Fuglsig, Highwood Village resident
"Horsham has a really great village feel, with lots of peaceful countryside in the surrounding areas. The South Downs are within walking distance from our house, and we are also not too far from the coast which is great for the summer months!
The secondary schools in Horsham are outstanding, and both children have settled in well. It's comforting to know that you don't have to worry about them walking to school on their own through the town centre - it's a really safe place to be."
- Rikke Herskind, Highwood Village resident
What Made You Choose a New Home at Highwood Village?
"We loved the open-plan feel of the house when we viewed it, and, due to the stage of the building process when we bought it, Berkeley gave us the freedom to have an input on the final product.
We were able to have double doors installed between the living room and kitchen area, making it even more open-plan and giving us a flow throughout the ground floor of the house. Berkeley was so accommodating in listening to how we wanted our home to look; they listened to our wishes and made it happen."
- Rasmus Fuglsig, Highwood Village resident
"We love our new home - it has the dimensions of a typical British house but with a touch of Scandinavian flair. We're really looking forward to getting the last bits of furniture into the house, and we can't wait to show our family members the house when they visit!"
- Rikke Herskind, Highwood Village resident
Would You Recommend Berkeley Group to a Friend?
"We would highly recommend buying a property with Berkeley. They've been so accommodating in helping us find the perfect home and went above and beyond to make sure it was just right for us."
- Rasmus Fuglsig, Highwood Village resident
Discover Your New Home With Berkeley Group
Comprising stunning apartments and houses, Highwood Village in Horsham boasts its own vibrant community - all within walking distance of the town centre.
Many of our developments, like those in West Sussex, offer the benefits of a modern village lifestyle within a safe and welcoming neighbourhood. Here, residents can enjoy a new way of life, surrounded by meticulously designed green spaces and natural facilities, including allotments, a wildlife corridor and natural play areas.
Discover our development locations to find a new home that’s right for you, or learn more about buying with Berkeley Group.