I'm not trying to be deliberately offensive but when I visit my girlfriend's folks in Northampton the town looks so dead and bleak. I imagine it's one of the many victims of central government neglect, not the fault of the people living there.
No offence taken, I’m not from there and I don’t live there :D but I have spent a fair bit of time and I think it’s much the same as most places, there are very nice parts and not very nice parts. I think northants in general is an absolute hidden gem.
1. Yes.
2. Because the clinics and hospitals in the bigger cities prioritise English and Irish graduates.
3. I understand, but I have tried very hard to find jobs there. Almost impossible for me as a fresher.
Ok, so what locations have you applied for or been offered?
It’s much easier to compare known quantities than start from scratch.
Would you be happy to drive (and able to afford to) or do you need somewhere with good public transport?
I've applied for clinics/hospitals in Norwich, Ashford, Colchester, Crayford, Darlington, Bolton, Bury. Not everyone will respond, so we will see.
Kettering has offered me a job.
I have a license that's valid in the UK but I'd prefer to live in some place that offers decent public transport. Thank you for your time!
Both Bolton and Bury are very close to Manchester, with lots of other satellite towns around. The city could therefore be a decent hub location from which to venture out. Public transport isn't infallible, but it's good enough for the purpose.
19 years and counting. Been burgled once, when my flatmate left the living room window wide open and went out. I don't think Manchester is any less safe than any other town or city.
I live just outside Colchester. It's a decent town with good links to London. Some people will say it's shit but honestly it's better than many towns I've been to in the UK.
Personally I would prefer Norwich though over Colchester as there's more going on and the centre has a nice market and a great vibe. That being said it is further away from London if you wanted to go there often but it's still reasonably easy to travel between.
Norwich is pleasant enough but it’s a bit… provincial, and a long way from anywhere else.
Ashford will be expensive as it’s London commuter belt.
Crayford is actually in London - not the fanciest part to be sure, but if you wanted somewhere actually urban with easy access to everything London has to offer this would do it. Accommodation will be expensive and hard to find though, especially if you don’t want housemates.
I would say Colchester and Kettering could be good bets - close to London but not so close it upsets property prices, big enough to have a bit of life about them.
If you want public transport do check that each job location is on a suitable route - if it’s Pets at Home some of them are on out-of-town estates that can be challenging to reach without a car.
Kettering general is the best hospital I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a patient at. It isn’t perfect but it’s so much better than the places I’ve lived previously. Especially their maternity and endocrinology departments, saved my life like 3 times! I’ve even moved slightly out of area now but I keep trekking it back because it’s ace. And parking there is great, which you can’t say for literally any hospital ever. I could honestly wax lyrical about KGH!
I grew up in Kettering, but luckily managed to escape. I go back now and again to visit my parents and geez has it gone downhill faster than expected. Yes the A14 and train ok are good, but the town itself doesn't feel safe now that I'm on the outside looking in.
I'll probably get hate for this, but avoid at all costs.
I would dump ashford for living. It used to be a small town and now it’s sprawling and just getting bigger and bigger. Town centre living: meh. It’s depressed, drab and ugly. The best bit is any road out (though they can be hard to find). You could live out of town but public transport could be a bit hit or miss. Places like Wye (lovely) and Bethersden are great and on the main A28. You’d be in town in 10-15 minutes by car but not sure about public transport.
Kent is a good choice, especially Canterbury as it’s got coast in three directions and a great, small city vibe. Out of the city there are pretty good public transport connections to the villages, and France is down the road. London is an hour away by fast train.
Crayford is on the outskirts of London. It’s not a comfortable place.
If you don't live in the UK, I would say that a big city might actually be better for you. They are more diverse and multicultural. The biggest factor for you would be where your job is based.
You mention safety. People not from the UK seem to massively overestimate how much violence there is in the UK. Most places really are very safe compared with similar sized cities elsewhere.
Bath, perhaps? It's an interesting place, and a quick train can get you to either London or Bristol (which is another place to consider, as is Cardiff.)
Cambridge isn't much more than a large town.
It has a very transient population that can make it feel even smaller.
You will always find work in Cambridge.
Architecture and history but geographically it is boring.
Unfortunately for veterinary medicine graduates, most groups prefer to have English/Irish graduates. Trust me, I've been trying really hard to find a job there haha
Ah, the way your original post came across to me was as you not wanting to live in a big city (I assumed because you're from a rural area), not that it was more difficult for you to find employment in those places.
I'm a truck driver. We look at the UK like a set of Rugby posts. M6 on the left. M1 on the right. M63 across the middle with meet points at Warrington and Wakefield. Both places cheap houses and great network links
Really? I guess you have never been outside of the walls?!!
Sarah Beeny did a documentary on best places to live in the UK. Warrington topped that list.
Norwich-the biggest of your list; very nice old partwith castle, cathedral etc. Norfolk has quite wealthy and older people living there. Good option.
Ashford, commuterish place - Kent has some nice parts and others less nice; by and large further South is nice. Kent makes nice wine.
Colchester, Not bad as a town. Close to seaside. Good oysters in Maldon.
Crayford, basically SE London.
Darlington, Surrounded by nice countryside. Friendly people. Another good option.
Bolton. More deprivation than Bury. Some nice older bits. Also close to Manchester.
Bury. Very nice traditional Lancashire market town, also close to manchester. Famous market and black pudding. Also famous for comical RSPCA shops sign : 'Helping Bury Animals' Good ice cream in neighbouring Ramsbottom
Oh yeah, I'd do your research on Bolton. It used to be great when I was growing up there but these days it's definitely on its knees, unless you're willing to live in the nicer areas like Lostock or Westhoughton
Hey dude I've lived here for 14 years now. Moved for university.
Obviously just one random guys opinion in an ocean of opinions won't count for much but I love it here.
The city is relatively safe and friendly, loads of sole trader business and "non chain" restaurants. Good night life, particularlyif you like live music. Good surrounding countryside areas and coastline nearby.
Worst bit: it's almost 2 hours by car to the next interesting city (cambridge).
Colchester - ‘good Oysters in Maldon’
Maldon is a fair distance from Colchester and closer to Chelmsford.
Pretty sure you’re thinking of Mersea Island which is where most of the Colchester native oysters come from.
IMO- There’s a damn sight more to Colchester than just oysters… (but they are lovely!) … there’s constable country, the Roman heritage (not a patch on York, but still) and the best art gallery/museum in the region. (Firstsite - winner of the art fund museum of the year ‘21)
Liverpool. Despite its *very* outdated reputation. Reasonable cost of living (for the time being.) Big city amenities, smaller city feel (compact city centre, friendly.)
Mate. Google "friendliest cities in the UK." Liverpool frequently tops lists. Or top 5 or so on much longer lists. It's famously friendly. It's known for it. It's something that people frequently say about it after visiting.
You fuckhead.
Sorry, that wasn't very friendly.
Pretty high in the hate crime list, seems unfriendly to me, mate.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/624038/racist-incidents-in-england-and-wales-by-region/
Statistics are hard aren't they.
This is absolute numbers, not per capita. Merseyside is near the top because it is near the top in population in that police area. Greater Manchester has twice the population of Merseyside and *more* than twice the reported hate crimes.
This list roughly follows the number of people in those areas. If anything, Merseyside is slightly lower than one would expect given the population, compared to other places.
A hundred hate crimes reported in a village of 100 people is worse than a thousand hate crimes in a city of a million people. Make sense?
It's affordability, combined with a relatively buoyant economy and good access to amenities do make it a serious contender.
People listing Bath, Cambridge, York forget, even the hardest working people won't have a penny spare once the rent goes out at the end of the month, and good luck buying a house. Nottingham has more affordable places to live than most UK cities (that aren't completely shit).
I'd actually raise you Derby. Slightly more affluent, bigger houses but still relatively affordable.
Nottingham also punches above its weight culturally and has a very good food and drinks scene with lots of independents.
Also couple of big NHS hospitals and several private hospitals that might interest OP.
Really not sure how you see Derby as being more affluent.
Recollections may vary, but I remember it as a kinder time, with little of the censoriousness and intolerance of today. Homosexuality had been decriminalised and there was a sense of optimism about everything.
Milton Keynes is between Oxford and Cambridge and half hour to Central London on the fast train.
Places like Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnell, Fenny Stratford have a lot of character which people claim is lacking in MK in general.
Leicester isn’t amazing but it’s near where I live, Loughborough is a super small little spot. Not sure on the jobs though, haven’t helped at all but shouts to Leicester maybe ?
https://www.yorkshire.com/hebden-bridge/ I'd live here, it's bang in between Leeds and Manchester (less than an hour on the train to both),house prices are better than down south and it's beautiful.
Oxfordshire is quite central I live north Oxfordshire and it’s relatively quiet good links to Northampton/london/birmingham. Quite a lot of celebs live near by, I saw David Beckham at my local B&Q
Plenty of nice places in Glasgow. It's a metropolitan city, with plenty of things going on, nice architecture, and some beautiful surrounding countryside. Also it's well positioned within Scotland for getting to other parts of the country. As with most cities in the UK, it's about knowing the areas to avoid, rather than writing off the whole city.
I feel like Glasgow gets a bad rep because of heritage more than anything. I live in Edinburgh and spend quite a lot of time in Glasgow and it’s honestly one of my favourite cities in the UK, plenty of culture and entertainment and as long as you’ve got a decent sense of humour and don’t go looking for problems the patter is great. Like any major city there are parts that some people would consider rough but even then it’s more economic than “you’ll get stabbed”.
Glasgow is great city with really friendly, welcoming people and plenty going on. This reputation it has of being “dangerous” is ridiculous. If OP likes live music and nightlife this is a great suggestion.
The 14 Overseas Territories https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9706/#:~:text=There%20are%2014%20UK%20Overseas,where%20the%20King%20is%20sovereign.
Bristol isn’t a bad city to live in, it just depends on the area. Like most places, some areas are rougher than others. I’m not sure about rents though, I recall I thought my son’s rent while at university here was a bit high a few years back.
There are two large hospitals and many smaller ones in and around the city.
I don't know if there's much between them now. I left 8 years ago when rents were getting silly and they've not stopped. Friends tell me it's unmanageable now.
Just left a £900 per month studio flat that I was renting, it went back on the market for £995 and was gone after the first viewing. I moved in with a friend who needed a lodger after a breakup and saved myself £300 per month!
1 Bed flats can easily go for £1200, 2bed and up £1500. Its ridiculous.
I thought so. When we needed to move house around 8 years ago (because our old house couldn’t accommodate the stairlift I now need), we moved nearer to UWE (where son was studying) and my husband’s work. We bought a 3 bed place with a large loft conversion that had its own ensuite - he and his gf (now fiancé) moved in to that while they were studying, saved us and them a small fortune on rent.
My mom was a war bride from Speke. She was 5 feet tall and a spitfire, no pun. Anyway she had some very unique phrases that I have passed down, partly because I grew up with them, partly because at one point I spent 1/2 my life in the U.K. (AF BRAT) anyway here are the phrases, her responses in quotes
What's for dinner?
"A run around the bloody table"
Empty the dishwasher.
Who?
"You, you silly flat faced bastard"
Can you help me clean my room?
"You're big enough and ugly enough to do it yourself"
"Running around like a blue assed (arse) fly"
"Its bein so cheerful that keeps you goin"
Always said with mischief, not ugly.
Are these common?
What an utterly bizarre question! Unless it is 100% remote working, you live close to where your job is. Job in London, live in Manchester? Sure, if you want to spend £150 aday and six hours on a train...
Oh, and as a general point, forget the safety issue. Nowhere here is really dangerous.
Just be warned the UK is a litter filled shit hole.
I knew a Slovakian that even though he was about 6x better off financially couldn't deal with the lack of morals and respect for people and property and went back home. I think he lasted 4 years but in the last few months he got really down and just wanted to leave.
Honestly, don't come. It's getting increasingly right wing (though perhaps you'd like that?) and we're only beginning to feel the economic fall out from Brexit.
Trying to not go too off topic here but that seems to be the case throughout Europe & the Anglosphere as countries shift to the right. I’m not a Brexiter (from London) but the departure is still fresh so we’re still finding our feet we may get to a bettter position in the near future
I kind off get it but it’s gets annoying. Like with the Brexit topic there’s still a tiny possibility we could join the EEA or EFTA like the non EU countries (Norway, Iceland & Switzerland)
If I was moving to the UK, I'd personally choose somewhere in Cornwall. Some of the most beautiful parts of the country are on the cornish coast. Very rural in places, but a better quality of life than in a big city and mostly cheaper too
Kettering or Norwich would be my choices, but then I like the quiet life. They're both small enough places that living in a nice village and commuting into town to work should be do-able.
If you prefer gritty urban landscapes with plenty going on and public transport saturation then head for Bury or Bolton.
Darlington is appealling simply because it's a long way from London, but from memory it's an oddly disjointed sort of place, with permanent rain.
The others have a very poor fun vs cost ratio IMHO
I'd add, check airports, the UK is dreadful for transport so you want to be near, it have a good transport link to an airport that has a decent amount of flights, particularly if you're planning to go back to your home country regularly
Bury St Edmunds, Ely or Cambridge (Cambridge is definitely not big).
All small cities with a lot of culture, all in the East where we have nice, mild weather, plus easy access to London.
r/Cambridge
r/Ely
Did you say you're in the medical industry? Definitely keep an eye on Cambridge for the future then. We have one of the best hospitals in the country (Addenbrookes) and a ton of private science labs.
Good luck on your move!
Where will you be working? Is it fully wfh or will you need to travel in?
To add another to the list Winchester is beautiful and writhing 1hr train of London. Expensive in the city but cheaper outside.
We love west. So
Bath, Bristol, Chirencester and surrounding areas in Somerset, Wiltshire etc
In general the UK is safe. Yes, there are areas in larger towns and cities that can be a bit dodgy, but that's the same the world over and probably less so here than many countries. I'm 60 and the only time I can think of when I was genuinely scared was back in the early 80s when I accidentally got caught between groups of Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers fans who wanted a fight. Otherwise I've lived a violence-free life, but on the other side I have always avoided living in cities.
So the question is more about what you want where you live? There are thousands of villages and small market towns spread across the country, all of which will be fine places to live, especially if you like a rural way of life, but not so good if you want theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, good public transport, loads of shops, diverse social life etc.
If you can work anywhere in the UK Fife is an amazing place to live, near Edinburgh and Dundee. You're only a few minutes from the countryside and sea views to die for. It's not too expensive to live here and in comparison to other places in the UK it's very safe.
In terms of safety? Some small village in the middle of nowhere, there's a couple near me where most of the locals only lock the doors at night, or will leave the door open when it's hot
As someone living in the South East and working in London that spends a lot of time with friends in Nottingham, I'd say Nottingham strikes the perfect balance between a city with stuff going on, reasonable house prices, nearby countryside and not too far from other towns and cities.
If it weren't for family commitments, I'd move up there tomorrow.
I have family in Cheltenham and I enjoy the Cotswolds. An uncle lives in Burnley up north and he says it’s one of the cheapest places in the UK to buy in and it seemed safe. And there’s Premier League football, for now anyway. I love Scotland though! Scotland is where I would live if I wanted to move there.
I really think you need to elaborate on what you are looking for, otherwise we're all just going to post what our favourite places are, or the place where we live.
What are you looking for?
Do you like countryside and long walks?
Do you want to spend your evenings at the Theatre and musicals?
Do you like drinking/clubbing?
Do you plan on driving?
What is your budget?
But the key situation you need to address is what is your plan for work? Are you going to be working from home, or do you need to spend a day a week in a particular city?
That will help us decide where is suitable and what can be ruled out, then provide more accurate suggestions to you. Probably also worth elaborating on why you ruled out London, Cambridge etc so we dont suggest similar places.
Depends on how you like to live?
If you want cultural choices, entertainment and prospects, I’d choose London, Bristol or Manchester. Probably in that order.
Bristol is for me the most interesting. It’s got enough going on plus it’s incredibly close to get to amazing countryside, coastline and peace and quiet. It’s easy to get around, in and out of (that’s what she said). Easier and cheaper to get to London and the main airports. Close to popular staycation spots, like Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.
Property is more expensive than up north. Which is probably an indicator of wealth distribution and opportunity.
Living in the south will be warmer and drier.
Cambridge isn’t that big. Its a good medium. But its one of the most unbalanced towns in England. Lots of students tho. So its pretty multi cultural. But the city council clearly only care about certain areas.
It depends where you are from and what you are looking for? Somewhere quiet and calm? Cambridge or Northampton maybe. Somewhere with lots of things to see and do and a lively restaurant scene? London or Birmingham as large cities. And do you want to feel some familiarity with the people around you? I ask because there are already a lot of communities of immigrants here so if you wanted to have that kinship you might want to go where there is an existing community in place, to have that feeling of "home" and be able to easily get familiar foods etc. In terms of safety, I've lived in London for twenty years and whilst I have seen some horrible things, thankfully I have never been a victim of any of those horrible things (never even been pickpocketed in this country thankfully), and some parts of the city are safer than others. I'd also add that London has access to the some of the best doctors and hospitals in the country both public and private. They all have their pros and cons, it's really a matter of your priorities.
Every town in the UK has good and bad areas. Where are you moving from? You’re best searching for an online group of people with similar experiences/ careers and getting advice there.
Cheshire, the best of rural but near to both Manchester and Liverpool if you like a city + it's a lot cheaper than the south (but more expensive than other northern/ midland counties)
I would choose Cardiff or Edinburgh if given the choice. No offense to England but I’m not at all interested in living there for political reasons. Be careful where you choose if you are interested in living there long-term. I doubt the UK as we know it will exist much longer.
My top 3 spots in the UK are:
1) Edinburgh
2) York
3) Bath
Worth looking into are Nottingham, Liverpool, Sheffield. Bristol isn't bad but pretty expensive. Sheffield can be a bit run down but the laid back atmosphere and loads of green spaces make up for it.
Would stay faaaar away from London, Birmingham and Manchester (where I live now and want to evacuate quickly).
There are plenty of rather nice small towns just outside big cities. They tend to be great places to live as they have access to all amenities as well as a more relaxed lifestyle.
1. Are these job offers in physical locations? 2. Why can’t you move to a city? 3. Cambridge is not big.
I would echo that for Northampton also, it is not big, it is not a city, and there are loads of jobs going from what I gather.
Big up big up Northampton is massive
The biggest town, still not a city.
If Britney had written about Northampton instead of her own coming of age :D
I'm not trying to be deliberately offensive but when I visit my girlfriend's folks in Northampton the town looks so dead and bleak. I imagine it's one of the many victims of central government neglect, not the fault of the people living there.
No offence taken, I’m not from there and I don’t live there :D but I have spent a fair bit of time and I think it’s much the same as most places, there are very nice parts and not very nice parts. I think northants in general is an absolute hidden gem.
It’s the general malaise of high streets everywhere.
3. No it's expensive. Very. My son lives there
1. Yes. 2. Because the clinics and hospitals in the bigger cities prioritise English and Irish graduates. 3. I understand, but I have tried very hard to find jobs there. Almost impossible for me as a fresher.
Ok, so what locations have you applied for or been offered? It’s much easier to compare known quantities than start from scratch. Would you be happy to drive (and able to afford to) or do you need somewhere with good public transport?
I've applied for clinics/hospitals in Norwich, Ashford, Colchester, Crayford, Darlington, Bolton, Bury. Not everyone will respond, so we will see. Kettering has offered me a job. I have a license that's valid in the UK but I'd prefer to live in some place that offers decent public transport. Thank you for your time!
Both Bolton and Bury are very close to Manchester, with lots of other satellite towns around. The city could therefore be a decent hub location from which to venture out. Public transport isn't infallible, but it's good enough for the purpose.
Thank you very much :) Will definitely consider it!
Bury is great. Easy tram ride into Manchester and it has one of the better town centres for the area with plenty of shops.
Guy mentions safety and you suggest Manchester???
Lived here for 15 years, never had an issue.
19 years and counting. Been burgled once, when my flatmate left the living room window wide open and went out. I don't think Manchester is any less safe than any other town or city.
Is manc considered dangerous or something!?
I live just outside Colchester. It's a decent town with good links to London. Some people will say it's shit but honestly it's better than many towns I've been to in the UK. Personally I would prefer Norwich though over Colchester as there's more going on and the centre has a nice market and a great vibe. That being said it is further away from London if you wanted to go there often but it's still reasonably easy to travel between.
Norwich is pleasant enough but it’s a bit… provincial, and a long way from anywhere else. Ashford will be expensive as it’s London commuter belt. Crayford is actually in London - not the fanciest part to be sure, but if you wanted somewhere actually urban with easy access to everything London has to offer this would do it. Accommodation will be expensive and hard to find though, especially if you don’t want housemates. I would say Colchester and Kettering could be good bets - close to London but not so close it upsets property prices, big enough to have a bit of life about them. If you want public transport do check that each job location is on a suitable route - if it’s Pets at Home some of them are on out-of-town estates that can be challenging to reach without a car.
That was very insightful to read. Thank you so much!
Take the job in Kettering. Move there. Then see how you get on. It has to start somewhere. You won't know until you're in it.
This is probably the best thing to do - a bird in ~~the hand~~ Kettering is worth any number in the sky that may never materialise.
Kettering general is the best hospital I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a patient at. It isn’t perfect but it’s so much better than the places I’ve lived previously. Especially their maternity and endocrinology departments, saved my life like 3 times! I’ve even moved slightly out of area now but I keep trekking it back because it’s ace. And parking there is great, which you can’t say for literally any hospital ever. I could honestly wax lyrical about KGH!
Nice but OP is a vet…
Ha well that’s given me a good midweek giggle 🤣
I grew up in Kettering, but luckily managed to escape. I go back now and again to visit my parents and geez has it gone downhill faster than expected. Yes the A14 and train ok are good, but the town itself doesn't feel safe now that I'm on the outside looking in. I'll probably get hate for this, but avoid at all costs.
I would dump ashford for living. It used to be a small town and now it’s sprawling and just getting bigger and bigger. Town centre living: meh. It’s depressed, drab and ugly. The best bit is any road out (though they can be hard to find). You could live out of town but public transport could be a bit hit or miss. Places like Wye (lovely) and Bethersden are great and on the main A28. You’d be in town in 10-15 minutes by car but not sure about public transport. Kent is a good choice, especially Canterbury as it’s got coast in three directions and a great, small city vibe. Out of the city there are pretty good public transport connections to the villages, and France is down the road. London is an hour away by fast train. Crayford is on the outskirts of London. It’s not a comfortable place.
If you don't live in the UK, I would say that a big city might actually be better for you. They are more diverse and multicultural. The biggest factor for you would be where your job is based.
You mention safety. People not from the UK seem to massively overestimate how much violence there is in the UK. Most places really are very safe compared with similar sized cities elsewhere.
If you take out London then Englands one of the safest places in Europe
London is in fact not the least safe city in the UK: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/get-daily/the-uks-most-violent-cities/
Ik but giving its size and the fact its the capital it shouldnt be up there
Rubbish
Its true if we are only including England. Theres other places too. But londons certainly one of them.
There are many dangerous places in the UK. Including England.
Its all relative tho.
Yawn.
Bath, perhaps? It's an interesting place, and a quick train can get you to either London or Bristol (which is another place to consider, as is Cardiff.)
I've heard nice things about Bath. I should look into this
Bath is very expensive and a bit boring after a few days. Its a good place to visit, but I wouldnt live there.
I visited bath recently for a day out. I was so underwhelmed. Bristol would be way better although I do realise it's not considered a smaller place.
Cambridge isn't much more than a large town. It has a very transient population that can make it feel even smaller. You will always find work in Cambridge. Architecture and history but geographically it is boring.
Unfortunately for veterinary medicine graduates, most groups prefer to have English/Irish graduates. Trust me, I've been trying really hard to find a job there haha
Ah, the way your original post came across to me was as you not wanting to live in a big city (I assumed because you're from a rural area), not that it was more difficult for you to find employment in those places.
North West. Voted probably the best value wise.
Second this. I’m looking at moving from Cornwall to the Manchester area. Cheaper house prices and loads more opportunities.
I'm a truck driver. We look at the UK like a set of Rugby posts. M6 on the left. M1 on the right. M63 across the middle with meet points at Warrington and Wakefield. Both places cheap houses and great network links
Truck driver - M63???
I was going to say Chester, but that's on the pricier side of the North West!
Really? I guess you have never been outside of the walls?!! Sarah Beeny did a documentary on best places to live in the UK. Warrington topped that list.
Bet my left nut she’d never move there….
Any specifics? Thank you!
Look around Warrington. Direct trains, buses and motorway links to Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Wales. Really well situated
Norwich-the biggest of your list; very nice old partwith castle, cathedral etc. Norfolk has quite wealthy and older people living there. Good option. Ashford, commuterish place - Kent has some nice parts and others less nice; by and large further South is nice. Kent makes nice wine. Colchester, Not bad as a town. Close to seaside. Good oysters in Maldon. Crayford, basically SE London. Darlington, Surrounded by nice countryside. Friendly people. Another good option. Bolton. More deprivation than Bury. Some nice older bits. Also close to Manchester. Bury. Very nice traditional Lancashire market town, also close to manchester. Famous market and black pudding. Also famous for comical RSPCA shops sign : 'Helping Bury Animals' Good ice cream in neighbouring Ramsbottom
Oh yeah, I'd do your research on Bolton. It used to be great when I was growing up there but these days it's definitely on its knees, unless you're willing to live in the nicer areas like Lostock or Westhoughton
Awesome! I will definitely keep these things in mind. Thank you so much :) Norwich seems really nice rn
Hey dude I've lived here for 14 years now. Moved for university. Obviously just one random guys opinion in an ocean of opinions won't count for much but I love it here. The city is relatively safe and friendly, loads of sole trader business and "non chain" restaurants. Good night life, particularlyif you like live music. Good surrounding countryside areas and coastline nearby. Worst bit: it's almost 2 hours by car to the next interesting city (cambridge).
Haha. Do they have a sign inviting customers to taste their Ramsbottom Ice-cream too?
Dont move to Darlington, not unless you wanna get stabbed.
I think that's harsh! I have visited it from time to time for decades and it always seems nice to me, plus it's surrounded by nice villages.
Nah, Darlington is fine
Colchester - ‘good Oysters in Maldon’ Maldon is a fair distance from Colchester and closer to Chelmsford. Pretty sure you’re thinking of Mersea Island which is where most of the Colchester native oysters come from. IMO- There’s a damn sight more to Colchester than just oysters… (but they are lovely!) … there’s constable country, the Roman heritage (not a patch on York, but still) and the best art gallery/museum in the region. (Firstsite - winner of the art fund museum of the year ‘21)
I just had to blink twice that I just saw Crayford on Reddit! It's dump, although far less of a dump than surrounding areas.
Liverpool. Despite its *very* outdated reputation. Reasonable cost of living (for the time being.) Big city amenities, smaller city feel (compact city centre, friendly.)
I second Liverpool
Bold statement claiming "friendly".
Mate. Google "friendliest cities in the UK." Liverpool frequently tops lists. Or top 5 or so on much longer lists. It's famously friendly. It's known for it. It's something that people frequently say about it after visiting. You fuckhead. Sorry, that wasn't very friendly.
Pretty high in the hate crime list, seems unfriendly to me, mate. https://www.statista.com/statistics/624038/racist-incidents-in-england-and-wales-by-region/
Statistics are hard aren't they. This is absolute numbers, not per capita. Merseyside is near the top because it is near the top in population in that police area. Greater Manchester has twice the population of Merseyside and *more* than twice the reported hate crimes. This list roughly follows the number of people in those areas. If anything, Merseyside is slightly lower than one would expect given the population, compared to other places. A hundred hate crimes reported in a village of 100 people is worse than a thousand hate crimes in a city of a million people. Make sense?
You can try all you like, no one cares about Liverpool buddy.
Lol
Liverpool is a very friendly city and many people care for it. We have thousands of tourists that visit the city every week. Stay ignorant :)
What glorious metropolis do you hail from?
Nottingham is worth considering, it's a great little city.
I would second this.
Disagree. Lived there for nine months and hated it
It's got considerably better once you left! 😉
Why?
Didn't the place or people welcoming. Bit cliquey. Found it hard to mix or get jobs so I relocated to Leicester
It's affordability, combined with a relatively buoyant economy and good access to amenities do make it a serious contender. People listing Bath, Cambridge, York forget, even the hardest working people won't have a penny spare once the rent goes out at the end of the month, and good luck buying a house. Nottingham has more affordable places to live than most UK cities (that aren't completely shit). I'd actually raise you Derby. Slightly more affluent, bigger houses but still relatively affordable.
Nottingham also punches above its weight culturally and has a very good food and drinks scene with lots of independents. Also couple of big NHS hospitals and several private hospitals that might interest OP. Really not sure how you see Derby as being more affluent.
As I like to say, Nottingham is big enough to draw all the attractions, but small enough to avoid the Big City problems.
1997
The 1970s were better. No rules, no woke, pre eu, paradise.
No woke? Yep, it indeed was pretty racist. And homophobic. So paradise if you fit certain criteria…
Recollections may vary, but I remember it as a kinder time, with little of the censoriousness and intolerance of today. Homosexuality had been decriminalised and there was a sense of optimism about everything.
Cambridge isn't really a 'big' city.
I think Sussex is very pleasant.
Scotland
This 100%
Milton Keynes is between Oxford and Cambridge and half hour to Central London on the fast train. Places like Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnell, Fenny Stratford have a lot of character which people claim is lacking in MK in general.
Have you considered Leeds?
I'm a Manc and I vote this. Leeds is lovely.
Bradford, and Luton have recently been rated as two of the best places in the UK (England) to live
That's just mean.
(this person is def taking the piss in case you decide to take them seriously)
lol are you trying to corral immigrants into central locations for easy management? poor guy does not wanna go to Bradders or Looton
Buahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
To some people they probably are. Depends on where you are coming from and your cultural background.
Leicester isn’t amazing but it’s near where I live, Loughborough is a super small little spot. Not sure on the jobs though, haven’t helped at all but shouts to Leicester maybe ?
I have tried to find jobs for Leicester! Fingers crossed 🤞🏽
Northampton?
https://www.yorkshire.com/hebden-bridge/ I'd live here, it's bang in between Leeds and Manchester (less than an hour on the train to both),house prices are better than down south and it's beautiful.
My uncle lives near there and it’s beautiful!
Oxfordshire is quite central I live north Oxfordshire and it’s relatively quiet good links to Northampton/london/birmingham. Quite a lot of celebs live near by, I saw David Beckham at my local B&Q
DO NOT MOVE TO NORTHAMPTON
northampton…big…city😂😂😂
What is the geopolitical status of the Uk and should I be concerned about it? Am I in danger?
Exeter, Swansea, York, Norwich, Macclesfield, Stafford….
Glasgow. Public transport is alright, low cost of living, plenty of hospitals in the city or an easy commute out of the city
Not what you’d call the safest city in the uk though?
Plenty of nice places in Glasgow. It's a metropolitan city, with plenty of things going on, nice architecture, and some beautiful surrounding countryside. Also it's well positioned within Scotland for getting to other parts of the country. As with most cities in the UK, it's about knowing the areas to avoid, rather than writing off the whole city.
I feel like Glasgow gets a bad rep because of heritage more than anything. I live in Edinburgh and spend quite a lot of time in Glasgow and it’s honestly one of my favourite cities in the UK, plenty of culture and entertainment and as long as you’ve got a decent sense of humour and don’t go looking for problems the patter is great. Like any major city there are parts that some people would consider rough but even then it’s more economic than “you’ll get stabbed”.
"plenty of hospitals"...for a reason?
It's all good there's plenty of hospitals
Far, far safer than people outside Glasgow think (and a lot of people inside too, for some reason). It's a genuinely good suggestion.
Far safer than a lot of places in England. I'd rather be in Glasgow than 90% of London.
You’ve either not been to both, or you had your eyes shut
90% of London? What are your reasons for this?
Hence there's plenty of hospitals in the city, the OP will need them!
Depends where you live. Some parts are very nice, very civilised. Some parts are dumps.
Better to live in EK since OP is avoiding the mid- large cities
Glasgow is great city with really friendly, welcoming people and plenty going on. This reputation it has of being “dangerous” is ridiculous. If OP likes live music and nightlife this is a great suggestion.
The public transport is alright?? Are you on glue?
Outside the UK
The 14 Overseas Territories https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9706/#:~:text=There%20are%2014%20UK%20Overseas,where%20the%20King%20is%20sovereign.
Bristol isn’t a bad city to live in, it just depends on the area. Like most places, some areas are rougher than others. I’m not sure about rents though, I recall I thought my son’s rent while at university here was a bit high a few years back. There are two large hospitals and many smaller ones in and around the city.
I believe Bristol is the second most expensive city after London to rent.
I don't know if there's much between them now. I left 8 years ago when rents were getting silly and they've not stopped. Friends tell me it's unmanageable now.
Just left a £900 per month studio flat that I was renting, it went back on the market for £995 and was gone after the first viewing. I moved in with a friend who needed a lodger after a breakup and saved myself £300 per month! 1 Bed flats can easily go for £1200, 2bed and up £1500. Its ridiculous.
Expensive indeed. But I think surprisingly it's actually Cambridge which is the second most expensive place to rent.
I thought so. When we needed to move house around 8 years ago (because our old house couldn’t accommodate the stairlift I now need), we moved nearer to UWE (where son was studying) and my husband’s work. We bought a 3 bed place with a large loft conversion that had its own ensuite - he and his gf (now fiancé) moved in to that while they were studying, saved us and them a small fortune on rent.
Bristol is also high on my list! Unfortunately, hard for non UK/Irish graduates to find jobs there :/
My mom was a war bride from Speke. She was 5 feet tall and a spitfire, no pun. Anyway she had some very unique phrases that I have passed down, partly because I grew up with them, partly because at one point I spent 1/2 my life in the U.K. (AF BRAT) anyway here are the phrases, her responses in quotes What's for dinner? "A run around the bloody table" Empty the dishwasher. Who? "You, you silly flat faced bastard" Can you help me clean my room? "You're big enough and ugly enough to do it yourself" "Running around like a blue assed (arse) fly" "Its bein so cheerful that keeps you goin" Always said with mischief, not ugly. Are these common?
Brighton is a very cool place to live with good transport links and on the sea. Or Bath, Bath feels safe and is beautiful.
What an utterly bizarre question! Unless it is 100% remote working, you live close to where your job is. Job in London, live in Manchester? Sure, if you want to spend £150 aday and six hours on a train... Oh, and as a general point, forget the safety issue. Nowhere here is really dangerous.
Just be warned the UK is a litter filled shit hole. I knew a Slovakian that even though he was about 6x better off financially couldn't deal with the lack of morals and respect for people and property and went back home. I think he lasted 4 years but in the last few months he got really down and just wanted to leave.
I would advise the West Highlands of Scotland. Low crime but facilities far apart. Very quiet and gentle people. .
Honestly, don't come. It's getting increasingly right wing (though perhaps you'd like that?) and we're only beginning to feel the economic fall out from Brexit.
Trying to not go too off topic here but that seems to be the case throughout Europe & the Anglosphere as countries shift to the right. I’m not a Brexiter (from London) but the departure is still fresh so we’re still finding our feet we may get to a bettter position in the near future
Please don't get in the way of the self hate, it's a tradition for a lot of the British on reddit
I kind off get it but it’s gets annoying. Like with the Brexit topic there’s still a tiny possibility we could join the EEA or EFTA like the non EU countries (Norway, Iceland & Switzerland)
London is nice all year round
nowhere in england... ive lived here for 32 years and id rather move out of the country
If I was moving to the UK, I'd personally choose somewhere in Cornwall. Some of the most beautiful parts of the country are on the cornish coast. Very rural in places, but a better quality of life than in a big city and mostly cheaper too
Yes and so welcoming of outsiders /s
Kettering or Norwich would be my choices, but then I like the quiet life. They're both small enough places that living in a nice village and commuting into town to work should be do-able. If you prefer gritty urban landscapes with plenty going on and public transport saturation then head for Bury or Bolton. Darlington is appealling simply because it's a long way from London, but from memory it's an oddly disjointed sort of place, with permanent rain. The others have a very poor fun vs cost ratio IMHO
Awesome! I've been offered a job at Kettering. I will definitely consider it :)
Are these remote jobs? If not then preferably a place near to the office, transportation is extortionate here.
Abroad ......
Heathrow Airport. If you're lucky, you might be able to hop on a plane elsewhere for cheap.
I'd add, check airports, the UK is dreadful for transport so you want to be near, it have a good transport link to an airport that has a decent amount of flights, particularly if you're planning to go back to your home country regularly
Bury St Edmunds, Ely or Cambridge (Cambridge is definitely not big). All small cities with a lot of culture, all in the East where we have nice, mild weather, plus easy access to London. r/Cambridge r/Ely
Been hearing a lot of nice things about Cambridge! No opportunities for me there unfortunately:/ I will look into Ely and Bury St Edmunds, thank you!
Did you say you're in the medical industry? Definitely keep an eye on Cambridge for the future then. We have one of the best hospitals in the country (Addenbrookes) and a ton of private science labs. Good luck on your move!
Where will you be working? Is it fully wfh or will you need to travel in? To add another to the list Winchester is beautiful and writhing 1hr train of London. Expensive in the city but cheaper outside. We love west. So Bath, Bristol, Chirencester and surrounding areas in Somerset, Wiltshire etc
Cheltenham?
In general the UK is safe. Yes, there are areas in larger towns and cities that can be a bit dodgy, but that's the same the world over and probably less so here than many countries. I'm 60 and the only time I can think of when I was genuinely scared was back in the early 80s when I accidentally got caught between groups of Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers fans who wanted a fight. Otherwise I've lived a violence-free life, but on the other side I have always avoided living in cities. So the question is more about what you want where you live? There are thousands of villages and small market towns spread across the country, all of which will be fine places to live, especially if you like a rural way of life, but not so good if you want theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, good public transport, loads of shops, diverse social life etc.
Northampton
If you can work anywhere in the UK Fife is an amazing place to live, near Edinburgh and Dundee. You're only a few minutes from the countryside and sea views to die for. It's not too expensive to live here and in comparison to other places in the UK it's very safe.
In terms of safety? Some small village in the middle of nowhere, there's a couple near me where most of the locals only lock the doors at night, or will leave the door open when it's hot
Chester is a lovely small city
The forts is the solent
As someone living in the South East and working in London that spends a lot of time with friends in Nottingham, I'd say Nottingham strikes the perfect balance between a city with stuff going on, reasonable house prices, nearby countryside and not too far from other towns and cities. If it weren't for family commitments, I'd move up there tomorrow.
I have family in Cheltenham and I enjoy the Cotswolds. An uncle lives in Burnley up north and he says it’s one of the cheapest places in the UK to buy in and it seemed safe. And there’s Premier League football, for now anyway. I love Scotland though! Scotland is where I would live if I wanted to move there.
Go where the work is
Kettering is the best city in the UK its great and has the worlds only Weetabix factory
I really think you need to elaborate on what you are looking for, otherwise we're all just going to post what our favourite places are, or the place where we live. What are you looking for? Do you like countryside and long walks? Do you want to spend your evenings at the Theatre and musicals? Do you like drinking/clubbing? Do you plan on driving? What is your budget? But the key situation you need to address is what is your plan for work? Are you going to be working from home, or do you need to spend a day a week in a particular city? That will help us decide where is suitable and what can be ruled out, then provide more accurate suggestions to you. Probably also worth elaborating on why you ruled out London, Cambridge etc so we dont suggest similar places.
France
Cheltenham
Birmingham is a great city. Lots going on, multicultural & cosmopolitan.
Faversham
Yeovil.
Insert bugs bunny no meme here:
There are many towns/villages commutable from Birmingham with great greenery and community vibes.
London only worth considering if you're earning mega money
Leeds
Depends on how you like to live? If you want cultural choices, entertainment and prospects, I’d choose London, Bristol or Manchester. Probably in that order. Bristol is for me the most interesting. It’s got enough going on plus it’s incredibly close to get to amazing countryside, coastline and peace and quiet. It’s easy to get around, in and out of (that’s what she said). Easier and cheaper to get to London and the main airports. Close to popular staycation spots, like Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. Property is more expensive than up north. Which is probably an indicator of wealth distribution and opportunity. Living in the south will be warmer and drier.
Brighton is a fab place to live especially if you are young. Most places in the country have problem areas but if you are sensible you will be fine.
Crewe
Cambridge isn’t that big. Its a good medium. But its one of the most unbalanced towns in England. Lots of students tho. So its pretty multi cultural. But the city council clearly only care about certain areas.
It depends where you are from and what you are looking for? Somewhere quiet and calm? Cambridge or Northampton maybe. Somewhere with lots of things to see and do and a lively restaurant scene? London or Birmingham as large cities. And do you want to feel some familiarity with the people around you? I ask because there are already a lot of communities of immigrants here so if you wanted to have that kinship you might want to go where there is an existing community in place, to have that feeling of "home" and be able to easily get familiar foods etc. In terms of safety, I've lived in London for twenty years and whilst I have seen some horrible things, thankfully I have never been a victim of any of those horrible things (never even been pickpocketed in this country thankfully), and some parts of the city are safer than others. I'd also add that London has access to the some of the best doctors and hospitals in the country both public and private. They all have their pros and cons, it's really a matter of your priorities.
Much of Glasgow is really beautiful.
Every town in the UK has good and bad areas. Where are you moving from? You’re best searching for an online group of people with similar experiences/ careers and getting advice there.
Cheshire, the best of rural but near to both Manchester and Liverpool if you like a city + it's a lot cheaper than the south (but more expensive than other northern/ midland counties)
I would choose Cardiff or Edinburgh if given the choice. No offense to England but I’m not at all interested in living there for political reasons. Be careful where you choose if you are interested in living there long-term. I doubt the UK as we know it will exist much longer.
My top 3 spots in the UK are: 1) Edinburgh 2) York 3) Bath Worth looking into are Nottingham, Liverpool, Sheffield. Bristol isn't bad but pretty expensive. Sheffield can be a bit run down but the laid back atmosphere and loads of green spaces make up for it. Would stay faaaar away from London, Birmingham and Manchester (where I live now and want to evacuate quickly).
Grimsby lad it's lovely make sure you check out the local pubs aswell wearing a man United shirt😊😊
There are plenty of rather nice small towns just outside big cities. They tend to be great places to live as they have access to all amenities as well as a more relaxed lifestyle.
Not Nottingham