Possible move to the UK?

Hi all!
I am an American for has been living abroad since 2006, most in Malmö, Sweden. Just when I thought I turned a corner on living here, dealing with the language and missing the US, well, then it all came to a head! I wanna be in a country where I can speak English and enjoy a good quality of life. Maybe you guys can help me???

Things to know:
I am a Swedish citizen
I want to stay in Europe for many reasons but a big reason is my health, both staying active in my everyday life and the social insurance we receive in the EU (Sweden is nearly free and I think the UK is similar).


Main priorities:
city or town that is cycle friendly
city or town with pedestrian zone
If a town, it must be self sufficient. Have a grocery store, chemist, etc. the nearest city no more than 30 minutes away.
Airports and universities within 30 mins are a plus!


So far I've been looking at Bristol, Plymouth, Huddersfield, and a few different cities in Wales.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I have only been to London and Manchester so I am a novice!

How about Cambridge? It is cycle friendly, has a couple of pedestrian shopping centers, and is a city. Stansted Airport is nearby, and although not as large as Heathrow and Gatwick, has a large number of daily flights to European destinations.

How about Cambridge? It is cycle friendly, has a couple of pedestrian shopping centers, and is a city. Stansted Airport is nearby, and although not as large as Heathrow and Gatwick, has a large number of daily flights to European destinations.

Is Cambridge "city" enough though? It doesn't quite feel like it to me...

I lived in Bath and worked in Bristol and it was great! I'd get the bus to Bristol, there are lots of options, but there is also a canal path and I know some people would cycle between the two. Bristol airport is quite handy and I used it quite a bit for flights to Dublin (my BF was living there), Europe, and the US (I think they've discontinued that flight). There are great rail links to London and the rest of the UK. It has a beautiful, pedestrian friendly city centre. There are two universities. Great shopping and restaurants. Lots of touristy things to do, so when you have guests there's no shortage of things to see.

The OP said city or town so, if we call Cambridge a town, London is 30 mins away by train.

The OP said city or town so, if we call Cambridge a town, London is 30 mins away by train.

Yes. I have been in a don't-know-if-I-like-Cambridge-or-not grump for a while. It does, however, have the highest cycling ratio in the UK.

How about Oxford? I've been a few times and I enjoy it, and it's close to London if you want big city adventures! I also like Weymouth, and it's close to other great towns and lots of heritage sites as well.

Have you looked at places in Yorkshire (in addition to Huddersfield - which is nice but wouldn't be my first choice among the pickings)? Cycling is HUGE in this region! So huge that the Tour de France kicks off here next year - July 2014.

York is a nice city, for instance, and lots of smaller towns dotted about. Leeds is a fabulous city - with three universities, and a regional airport (Leeds-Bradford). Plus there are a couple universities in York as well. Bigger international airport about an hour-ish away at Manchester.

And this week - this just in, with lots of tips about places all over Yorkshire to consider for travel etc.

London is about an hour by train from Cambridge, some are about 45 minutes most take over an hour.  Cambridge, compared to the other cities on the list, is crazy expensive for what you get.

I have lived in Plymouth for the past 9 years.  It's a great town, and has lots to offer. It's cycle friendly, pedestrianised, great transportation system, and has Plymouth University. It's a British forces town as well, which is why I ended up here. It has most the stuff you mentioned. The only thing is that the closest airport is about 50 minutes away in Exeter.  It's never been a problem for my family, but you wanted an airport accessible within 30 minutes, and I'm afraid we don't have one that close. Good luck with whatever you decide! XX

London is about an hour by train from Cambridge, some are about 45 minutes most take over an hour.  Cambridge, compared to the other cities on the list, is crazy expensive for what you get.

I backed off as this isn't a "is Cambridge OK" kind of thread. But I must say it is heartening to see someone else with reservations.....because it isn't by any means a hell-hole. Which is why I question myself on my perception of the place. But it should be a shining gem. It should be a place where planners come and go on tours to see possibilities. The University is at the top of the list and growing in all the right disciplines, and the tech sector is bubbling all around it. Less than an hour to London by train....a major airport. I can't figure it out.

/backing out now

Bristol is brilliant.  If I could choose anywhere in the UK, I'd live there. 

No offense to City of Villages, but I would definitely not recommend Weymouth.  It's a decent enough place, parts of it anyway, but it is not a city and not particularly bicycle or pedestrian friendly, and not convenient to an airport, etc. 

Cardiff is another place to consider, and also Manchester, but personally as I said I would definitely 100% go to Bristol.

Thanks for all the fantastic responses! I am definitely going to look into all these options After these suggestions I feel like I am on the right path because a lot of them were places I was looking into too! Again, thanks! I am truly grateful!

Bristol is brilliant.  If I could choose anywhere in the UK, I'd live there. 

No offense to City of Villages, but I would definitely not recommend Weymouth.  It's a decent enough place, parts of it anyway, but it is not a city and not particularly bicycle or pedestrian friendly, and not convenient to an airport, etc. 

Cardiff is another place to consider, and also Manchester, but personally as I said I would definitely 100% go to Bristol.

No offense taken! I was only going by the very short holiday I took there. You most likely have more knowledge than I do!

Feel free to PM me if you'd like more Yorkshire info or have questions & I'll try to help if I can! (I'm going to be away some the next couple weeks but happy to help when I can can!)

I really think you'd love it here! People love this area for its vast range of outdoorsy pursuits close at hand (two big national parks plus two more nearby, beautiful countryside, etc) plus great cities. A great work-life balance up here! 

Both York & Leeds are cycle friendly & have pedestrianised areas in the city centre. Good bus & rail transport links too. Most people don't live in urban Leeds, but rather in the suburban towns right around it. Harrogate is a nice town sort of between York & Leeds. Ilkley is also very nice.

Very modern up here - all the services you mentioned. I'm a history geek of sorts & I think this area still has a sort of undercurrent of Scandinavian vibe to it...you know the Vikings were all over here waaaay back, some street names still date back to Viking times with 'Gate' and 'Thorpe' in them, etc...

Oh yeah, and here - the eastern side of the Pennines, tends to have a little brighter (less wet) weather than Manchester. It's practically always raining in Manchester! Well it has been most times I've been there. But those Atlantic weather fronts hit the Pennine hills which soak a lot of it up - just like a sponge, those hills, and then we get a little better weather over here. 

Life in The North is good!