Where in the UK to move to

[timmothy]

Hi all

Hoping for your combined wisdom on our dilemma that me and my fiancee face. It just feels so daunting and keep going through ideas in our heads.

Added information - We don't have to buy straight away as could rent to check an area out. We haven't had a career for a long time as we have been doing a load of different jobs while traveling. Open to any type of work options available. Wouldn't want to pay more than £800 in rent a month and when we go to buy our budget would be £225000. We love hiking, would like birds and trees in our garden. Access to green spaces in walking distance would be ideal. Low crime rate and no children so don't care about schools.
Quite like the idea of Scotland as after three years we will have the option to study for free. Also possibility of leaving the UK so we may be able to travel more freely for work in the rest of the UK.



Been away from the UK for 7 years on working holidays in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Had a great time but age means we have to come back to the UK now.

Before traveling we were living in St Austell, Cornwall. Both our parents lived there and we had lived there for about 8 years. Didn't love the people honestly but the scenery was amazing. It's also very isolated and both our parents have now left since we have been gone.

My fiancee is from Stanford le hope in Essex which she loves, unfortunately it's incredibly expensive to buy a house there and crime is an issue.

We lived in Aberdeen for a few months during lockdown and loved hiking in the Cairngorms. It was over summer though so we saw it at it's best.

My mum is now in Bristol which is again very expensive to buy a house in a decent area, I do like the feeling of the city though.

My fiancee's parents are in Great Yarmouth. I'm not overly keen on the area and feels isolated from the rest of the UK. Also the scenery is not my favorite.

Other than that we have no ties to work or places. Would like to be somewhere affordable for buying a house, nice scenery around, work prospects and as decent weather as the UK allows. I understand there might have to be compromises.

 

[Malevolence]

I'd say Ambleside, but then I don't know your financial situation and 'affordable for buying a house' is relative.

 

[aVdub]

Decent weather would place you between Kent and Hampshire, but affordable could be a problem, unless you are prepared to look at area's that are up and coming, like Folkestone for example.

Do you need to be within an easy reach of large towns or cities, but far enough away to not be bothered by them.

The area either side of the M3 & A3 have some brilliant mountain bike area's if that floats your boat and of course coastal.

 

[moon man]

You already know Cornwall but again it all depends on budget, we had less than half the average house price in the SW at that time to spend but it was cash so looked at lots and lots of properties that were 100k or under and ticked the near the coast, in the countryside box, made some downright rude offers (on houses that were way way over 100k) and got a place needing tlc (2 of the outbuildings had doors seized shut, garden overgrown) but actually a newish private build.

This was just a jungle.........

 

[sigma]

Why not stay in NZ? The UK economy is going through one of the toughest periods it's seen in recent history.

 

[ci_newman]

Why not stay in NZ? The UK economy is going through one of the toughest periods it's seen in recent history.

OP has already stated that they were on a working VISA that they cannot now renew due to their age

 

[Efour]

Romford 8n Essex.

Your women gets the essex vibes and you get all the cultural and financial benefits of living in the SE.
You can go hiking in Tower Hamlets/Dagenham and Redbridge but look out for dangerous animals.

 

[FISHGUTS]

I'd say Ambleside, but then I don't know your financial situation and 'affordable for buying a house' is relative.

Ulverston would be better than Ambleside. Less tourists, but the Lakes are in easy reach. Crap weather though.

 

[Whitewater]

Northumberland. Good walks, cheap houses, great people.

 

[peterwalkley]

What do you both do for a living as unless you can guarantee remote working then surely availability of jobs will be the key factor ?

I have my own bias here, but the North West might be a reasonable shout. The bigger cities of Liverpool and Manchester for jobs, culture and both North Wales and the Lake District are easy to get to for outdoor stuff (assuming you drive !).

 

[Hagar]

What do you both do for a living as unless you can guarantee remote working then surely availability of jobs will be the key factor ?

I have my own bias here, but the North West might be a reasonable shout. The bigger cities of Liverpool and Manchester for jobs, culture and both North Wales and the Lake District are easy to get to for outdoor stuff (assuming you drive !).

Similar but a bit further south. Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire. Easy reach of the cities above but also South Wales, Bristol area, from Crewe you can reach the World.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Romford 8n Essex.

Your women gets the essex vibes and you get all the cultural and financial benefits of living in the SE.
You can go hiking in Tower Hamlets/Dagenham and Redbridge but look out for dangerous animals.

There are parts of Redbridge where you won’t get mugged/murdered/eaten in the first 5 minutes, but Tower Hamlets and The ‘Nham should only be viewed from orbit.

 

[wesimmo]

Northumberland. Good walks, cheap houses, great people.

Can't say I'm unhappy to have relocated to the North East. The coast is stunning and you can be on the West Coast in a couple of hours spirited, fun driving.

 

[mid_gen]

Hi all

Hoping for your combined wisdom on our dilemma that me and my fiancee face. It just feels so daunting and keep going through ideas in our heads

Been away from the UK for 7 years on working holidays in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Had a great time but age means we have to come back to the UK now.

Be prepared to not like what you come back to. We were away for 10 years and came back in 2019.....thought it was covid, but have since realised we just don't like living here any more.

There are practical things to consider like not being able to rely on an ambulance turning up if you need it, apart from other quality of life stuff like lousy work culture and crap transport networks.

 

[arknor]

Move up north where houses are cheap and the weathers cold.

 

[413x]

It's hard to recommend places as everyone's needs are different.

Can't tell if you want a city, rural, or something in between.

Sorry you had to come back to a country going downhill.

 

[Quartz]

We lived in Aberdeen for a few months during lockdown and loved hiking in the Cairngorms. It was over summer though so we saw it at it's best.

Housing in NE Scotland can be very cheap. Aberdeen gets good springs and autumns. Winter is moderated by being on the coast.

 

[tlrBeta]

Does she want to be near family? If so, that might drive it.

Ignoring that and finances, if i had the choice it would be Cornwall or Lake district area - prices are a killer though.

Maybe further up north is your best bet? You lived there previously and it will likely be cheaper vs down south.

 

[adam cool dude]

You really need a budget as it will vary what kind of quality of life you will be getting in the UK.

 

[UTmaniac]

Location in UK in such a trade off, weather Vs affordability Vs population density. And that's before you consider ties like family and friends etc.