Which U.K city would you live in/around on a £680k budget?

[ThePolkaDotGiraffe]

I'm looking to make a move, and have been for some time but Covid and family issues delayed it again.

I live outside Glasgow just now but really want a change, most likely somewhere in England but I would consider elsewhere in the U.K.

I've been focusing on London, but I know that I'll likely get more for my money elsewhere though it's still a top choice.

I want a 1-2(ideally 2) bedroom house or flat, and to be in or around a city, it doesn't have to be one of the major ones,because of the range of things to do, also I can't drive at present(due to disabilities) and reasonable public transport is important. I love the suburbs so happy to live there if not too far.

I don't have children and work from home so those aren't factors. I don't care about bars and clubs. but I do enjoy theatre, museums, reading, wildlife watching, going to restaurants and pottering about shops, preferably book shops and some independent shops (but I appreciate those may be thin on the ground due to Covid).

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

TIA

What about Winchester? Not huge but lots of lovely shops and things going on. You'd get a lovely place for the money. Good train links to London

Manchester - lots going on and things to do and see.

London or Dublin. Dublin & surrounds has more to offer than any of the non-London UK options IMO - shopping, culture, and endless nice day trips around Co.Dublin on public transport. But housing in any decent area is also more expensive than any UK city other than London.

I think in your heart you want to move to London. And you can afford to. So do it I say

Oxford

Cardiff. You could have a beautiful Victorian terrace in Pontcanna with your budget which is walking distance to the city centre which has lovely old arcades and independent shops. You're close to the coast and mountains too

Cardiff for me too.

Sheffield - it's got everything you listed and for that money you could get a 4 bed detached in the nicest areas on the city I.e. Dore/fulwood/crosspool

Chester, York, Cheshire, Manchester, The Wirral, Shropshire

I would absolutely stay away from London although I do love the cotswolds not too far from there

Do you have any preferences atm op?

A few people have suggested Cambridge but I disagree. The public transport is crap. There are some theatres and museums but nothing like as many or as good as London or other big cities. (I love Cambridge but I don't think it's what OP is after!)

It sounds as if you want to move to London, in which case go for it! Otherwise make sure it's a big city like Edinburgh, Manchester or Oxford, as they'll be more likely to tick the things on your wish list than smaller cities.

Sheffield or Nottingham.

York? Harrogate?

Another Edinburgh.

I would also say London because the public transport is better there than anywhere else. And the network of Uber drivers is also better.

You could get a nice 2 bed for your budget

I live in Moseley a burb of Birmingham - plenty of culture and arts and good public transport links with better to come.

Chichester is great

You can get a house for that in East London (some places).

London

Public transport almost everywhere else is shocking

I live in a gorgeous flat without service charges - plenty of them about

This house is near me and right next to Greenwich Park - it's not large, there's loads of larger flats - but it is perfectly situated and a freehold house

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91081723#/

Manchester!

York.

If you are able to walk and cope with steps and hills, I'll throw Bath into the mix. I think we drove 500 miles last year (big things get delivered or we walk to a shop).

It's a bit cliquey, but there are some lovely communities.

I would have said Glasgow...

Belfast. You would get an amazing place for that budget!

I think it does sound like London is your wish, I wish I had lived in London for a while when I was younger/pre kids.

But Chester is a good option too! I used to live there and miss it so much. Beautiful, small city with good transport links to North Wales, Liverpool and Manchester.
Amazing restaurants, lots of lovely shops (chain and independent), and on a sunny day amazing views towards the Welsh mountains!

Manchester or London.
The difference being you could live in a lovely suburb, with lots of independent shops and great restaurants, comfortably in Manchester for that budget. Didsbury and Chorlton are both on the Metro for easy city centre access and also close to the Mersey valley trail for wildlife