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

Oxford. Great museums, lovely old building, pretty walks, access to the Cotswolds and fast to London.
York, such a lovely city, but a lot of tourists, access to coast and moors. I wouldn’t want to live in Manchester unless I needed to for work.
You need to go and see what feels right.

I would suggest any of Cardiff, York, Salisbury, Winchester or Canterbury. All have lots to do and nice countryside locally, though nothing that exactly competes with what you've got on offer in Glasgow.

Liverpool or Manchester might be worth a look too - friendly, lots to do and both have countryside on their doorstep, especially Manchester with the Peaks. Ditto Leeds but I think York is a nicer place to live if you are going for that area.

Not London - too expensive. I think Brighton and Bristol are expensive too.

If I had that much to spend I'd buy a house in a cheaper city.

I’ve never lived in a town or city so definitely wouldn’t start with that budget.

Why have a couple of pp's said Dublin when the thread title clearly says UK?
Anyway, Manchester would be my suggestion.

I have lived in a number of the places mentioned including Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and London.
If the OPs main interest is cultural then London wins hands down and for public transport as well. No other city in the UK can offer anything like the breadth of theatre and museums London does and any provincial city will offer similar or less than Glasgow.

With a reasonable budget particularly if she will consider flats and I assume a fair income rather than being capital rich income poor. I think London gives her the most of what she wants.

Thank you all for the suggestions and opinions . I really appreciate it. I would actually consider Dublin though I said UK. I have to do a lot more research on various cities too snd might start another thread or too, to narrow my focus. Dawnchoruses That flat is stunning. What a great location.

Madcats Thank you for the mini breaks plan. That's a great idea too to help me get a feel for the cities.

Aberdeen.

You’ll get a beautiful city centre apartment, good public transport. Beach, countryside, international airport. Great theatre and massive brand new busy concert venue

We moved to Loughton in 2019 and we LOVE it.
It is surrounded by Epping Forest, it is on the Central Line (zone 6) and has a really nice High St, supermarkets, restaurants and an excellent LA gym which has had a great refurb. Check it out - it is lovely.

London but even with a great budget a lot of places mentioned above will be out of your range (eg Belsize park Hampstead)

If accessibility and public transport are important to you then nowhere beats London.

In fact nowhere beats London full stop, and with that budget you wouldn't have to live in either a shithole or a suburban outpost.

rodigan (roots if I may?) - agreed. Full stop underlined.

Winchester would get my vote, gorgeous little place and easy access to the coast, new forest and into London

Shrewsbury is a lovely city, Shropshire is a stunning county and you'll be surrounded by wildlife, being fairly central you can have day trips to the beach or get to places like the Lakes or Devon in a couple of hours.

Oooh yes Shrewsbury is gorgeous.

I'd move to Pimlico, London SW1. You can easily get a lovely 2 bed with that budget, whether period or more modern. My friend lived there for years, it's very handy for the station, tubes, easy to get a black cab, plenty of shops/restaurants nearby . But the best thing is when you've spent the night out at the theatre, the black cabs are quite happy to take you to Pimlico as it's quick and easy - as opposed to a dodgy east end suburb miles from anywhere where they can pick up the next fare.

Not sure why people are saying you can get a lovely two bed in Pimlico for 685 !! Or Hampstead. !

I’m further in than Pimlico or Hampstead - if that’s really how much prices have fallen then maybe I’ll think about a move out to the suburbs!

London is the perfect fit for you. No other city in the UK will offer you the access that London does and you have a healthy budget to get a two bedroom flat even in central London

Your budget would buy somewhere relatively central in London if you lived by Vauxhall or the Oval which have very good transport links - buses and 2 tube lines.

There's this close to the Oval, northern line and Kennington Park

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106632341#/

This is right by the river with views of MI6...
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91107031#/

Probably rather better value for money in Vauxhall overlooking the park and close to Victoria Line and the Northern Line Battersea spur. Still very close to the river.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/102597185#/

Well, others have said it, but you'd get a nice 2-bed in London Zone 2 (I live in this zone, north London and love it.) Can't beat it for theatre, art etc, as well as sheer diversity and excitement.

I liked Leeds on a recent-ish visit, but that's only a brief impression as it was a short trip.

Belfast? Near the sea? I don't know anything about its cultural offerings though.

I hear good things about Birmingham.

I was London born and bred but I'd say Brighton. The south gets the best of the weather overall, if you like sunshine that is, and Brighton has the beach as well as lots of cultural attractions.

@Reearry

London is the perfect fit for you. No other city in the UK will offer you the access that London does and you have a healthy budget to get a two bedroom flat even in central London

I agree with this, and also will add that I have two friends with physical disabilities who are unable to drive, and live more independently in London than they would be able to elsewhere thanks to the public transport network.

Glasgow

Vegan, the OP is moving away from Glasgow!

If she weren't, though, that'd be my suggestion –I used to live there and am very fond of it.

Bristol is arty/ theatre and has lots of interesting little book shops.

Or Edinburgh?