If you could live anywhere in the UK, where would you live, and why?

Hello All,

I am hoping to get some recommendations for places to reside in the UK.  I am happy where I am currently, but will have the option of moving on at some point, and it seems I will be able to get a job in most areas of the UK.  So, what does everyone think of the various options?  I would like somewhere quiet, with reasonable housing/cost of living prices.  I am married with one child living with us, and am really looking for somewhere to settle.

Thank you all for your help.

Don

oh...i would love to live somewhere near the water. i grew up in the bay area in california and i dearly miss being what seemed like a stones throw from the water.  but most places i have visited near the water are large cities...which probably wouldn't give you the quiet you're looking for. 

i haven't been to too many places in this country yet...so i can't give a specific city.  i really liked both brighton and cardiff...but like i said, those are both relatively large cities...so i don't know if you would be interested. 

edited to add:  now that i'm reading my post....i have a feeling i didn't help you out one bit.   

If I could live anywhere, I'd stay put in SW Pembrokeshire (Wales). Actually, when I moved over I could have lived anywhere, so I chose wisely! Not sure if it's for you, though. Your question is a tough one because what's heaven to one person can be hell to another. I'm really far out in the country, so if having access to lots of shops, amenities, etc. is important to you, then you wouldn't like it here. It's near the sea which is fantastic, but it means that property prices are pretty high (though nothing compared with London or other large UK cities). It's definitely quiet here and I love that about it. Can you give us any other idea about the kind of places you like?

I am partial to south Wales - spent a year in Swansea and am now returning somewhere near Cardiff. 

Not to say I didn't like the places I visited in England, but they were mostly in the south and quite expensive to live.  Plus I loved being in a small city, with the countryside (and sea) so close.  However, as the size of the city shrinks you will probably find job opportunities shrinking too. 

I'd love to live in Salisbury.

I guess I would like a relatively small town....and I would prefer a more rural setting.  By the sea would be fantastic!

One of the biggest issues I have is I would like to live in an area where the property is perhaps a bit less than what I see here in the Midlands, and what I have heard of London!  I would love to get a house someday....so an area with relatively lower prices would be great.

To be honest, I just don't know much beyond that.....I am open to suggestion, and greatly appreciate all of the responses so far!

Don

oh...i would love to live somewhere near the water. i grew up in the bay area in california and i dearly miss being what seemed like a stones throw from the water. 

I am with you caligirl! Being a stones throw from the Thames is about as close I am to water, not quite the same tho.  I've travelled the south and SE coast of England, eastern coast of Scotland and south Wales and all those were very nice.

As Belindaloo mentioned, one person's heaven can be another's hell.

I think I'd like to live in the Manchester/Cheshire area.  It's not far from the Pennines, Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and N. Wales and Manchester seems to be a much improved city.  Also, BIL and fiancee and DW's gran is up that way so there'd be a lot of family nearby.

The only problem is with jobs.  Back in 2002/03 there were nothing remotely suitable for the type of work I like to do, granted that was a particularly bad time for jobs.  Nowadays, while my work can involve clients in a number of places throughout the UK there doesn't seem to be much up that way.

I think if something did come up and DW was willing to move/change jobs I'd definitely consider going that way!

I'd love to live in Salisbury.

Yes. I love Salisbury!

Yes. I love Salisbury!

I love Salisbury Steak, mmmmm 

i think i'd head over to northern ireland, because it's closer to the republic than the british mainland, and i've always felt that i belong in ireland.

plus, DF's family are all from NI.

I LOVE the Yorkshire Dales.

It's lovely all along the East Coast in Yorkshire. Some gorgeous little picture postcard villages and yet easy to get to big cities like Manchester and York too.

I LOVE the Yorkshire Dales.

It's lovely all along the East Coast in Yorkshire. Some gorgeous little picture postcard villages and yet easy to get to big cities like Manchester and York too.

Harrogate, anyone?

We Yorkshire folk do have it made!

I would love to live down in the Southampton/ Bournemouth area.  My husband grew up there and life is so much more peaceful. I love being close to the sea too. There isn't anything like taking children, or a dog, or a family day out along the beach. At the moment, job salary versus housing doesn't equate for us.

If I could live anywhere...I would probably still stay in Belfast, as it is a city but not a big city so that you're overwhelmed and overcrowded, you are still connected to all sorts of stuff but the country is right there and you're able to get to it like that. However. If wishes were horses, I would live in a different neighborhood - I would want to live in a nice area with a big rambly house and huge garden. So my advice is no matter where you go in the UK or Ireland, the neighborhood setting and type of house should be considered. Do you want to live in a goldfish bowl with little to no personal outdoor space? If you are settling down with children, some sort of garden bigger than a postage stamp would be ideal.