Where do I want to live?

[OhHelpNooo]

In a few years I will be qualified in my specialist area and looking for a job. Every area needs what I do, though for convenience I would have to be near a major administrative centre or large-ish city/county town, say 30 - 45 minute commute. I have 2 DC so need good schools (senior and possibly junior depending on timing. They are currently in the independent sector). Ideally I would like to look for a job in an area where I can afford a bit of space, where we are right now is really expensive. Coastal would be nice, but not necessary. Needs to have lots of outdoor opportunities for the children. Housing budget say £500K?

I'm not from UK so don't know much about areas other than where I live. Would love some suggestions for places I might want to look. Thanks very much!

Where are you now? Would you need to be within a certain travelling distance to there?

No, I could move completely. I am in the south just now.

Northumberland

Norwich?

Oh damn sorry meant also to add that DH needs an airport reasonably close by!

East Lothian. Beautiful coast and a short commute to Edinburgh. Look on www.espc.co.uk for property in your price range (though remember the system in Scotland is offers over prices.)

Lovely Liverpool?

You'll get a lot for your money in or around Norwich, plus near the coast and independent schools, my dsis moved there from London and loves it.

Swansea and Gower.

Where is nice near Liverpool? There would definitely be work for me there.
Norwich is Norfolk, right? Is the weather okay?

CelticPromise I thought about Wales but in my line of work there might be an expectation that I would be a Welsh speaker. Every advert I see is written in both languages. What is the reality of that perception?

Are your children happy where you are now? Uprooting could be tough for them.

NeverTwerk Yes they are very happy but I do have to work and the reality is that it might very well not be here.

Aberdeen. Edinburgh, Glasgow. You're not going to get coastal, city, and airport in England.

Newcastle is coastal, city and airport!

Lots of suggestions! Thanks. Just to be clear I don't necessarily want to live IN a city, just need to be within commuting distance.

It depends... All local government /NHS /education jobs will have Welsh speaker desirable on there. Everything "official" is required to be published in both languages. In some areas it's the everyday language eg the north west and most people do speak Welsh. In others not so much. The everyday language around here is English (though you don't have to go far to hear a lot of Welsh). If there are two equally qualified people and one speaks Welsh, they will get the job, but in reality there aren't very many fluent Welsh speakers in some areas.

Somewhere in Cheshire - The village of Hartford is lovely and handy for airports/Manchester/Liverpool/chester/northwich. Good schools.
Frodsham/Chester/Areas of Manchester

East Devon

Another vote for Northumberland

Bristol ?

Manchester / Liverpool or somewhere between them

I'm seconding Cheshire.

Or south Manchester!

Hope Valley. In the middle of the Peak District and in between Sheffield and Manchester (and Chesterfield really) for cities. Manchester airport is massive and Doncaster airport smaller and still easy to get to. I’d live there in a second if I had your budget. So beautiful.