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Which city would you relocate within UK?

60 replies

Kaizen92 · 25/03/2024 10:51

Hello,

It seems that my title is quite vague and unclear.

Let me explain: my husband and I have different areas of expertise career-wise, but our jobs mostly allow us to work from home or visit the office twice a week.
, We have travelled and worked in several different European countries before having a baby.

We are living in Nottingham as husband got a job here also had a baby here. Now, he has a changed his job and now he goes to Manchester and commutes there twice a week. I work from home and occasionally need to commute to Scotland once a month.

We are parents of a nearly 3-year-old child, and it's time for us to settle in an area with good primary schools primarily.

We have contemplated extensively about where we should settle and envision ourselves in the next 4-5 years (we can't plan further ahead than that). We want to live in an area or city where we can easily commute to London (in case of future opportunities) or to the northern part of the UK (as I have connections there).

While we are not particularly attached to Nottingham and don't have a large circle of friends here, we don't mind leaving this city. However, Nottingham's central location is advantageous as it takes only 2 hours to reach London and Manchester.

There are numerous pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to stay here or move to another city (like Manchester). However, our main concern is always about the possibility of great opportunities arising elsewhere in the south. Therefore, choosing the next city should allow for easy commuting and be centrally located to minimize travel time. Nottingham seems to have an edge in that aspect.

Our priority, like every parent, is our child's education and ensuring they have a stable environment to study and make friends.
What are your thoughts on this? For people like us who can work from home and change jobs frequently, which city do you think could be a good fit for a base location?

Or perhaps I'm just overthinking everything?

Given the rising cost of living and soaring property prices, making this decision sooner rather than later has become a topic of discussion in our household. We thought it would be valuable to seek perspectives from others on this matter.

The main question are:

  1. City which gives us god commutable distance and great transport link to commute within UK if we change our jobs in future.
  2. Not crazy big enough like London, have great schools and kid friendly places outdoorsy etc.
OP posts:
fluffycloudalert · 28/03/2024 13:12

Sportbilly79 · 28/03/2024 09:41

What about Cambridge? It’s obviously a bit further south but it’s a lovely city and close to London.

Stupidly expensive though.

LiterallyOnFire · 28/03/2024 13:41

I just came to this platform, Many people might have posted on same topic.

Fair enough. It was the Nottingham & Manchester references that were the same, and the age of the only child.

ZannaDelaney · 28/03/2024 13:46

Lancaster or Leeds

Nw22 · 28/03/2024 13:53

Yes there was a poster the other day asking about Manchester, moving from Nottingham with w child same age.

Claudereigns · 28/03/2024 14:09

Rugby? Direct trains to both Manchester and London. Good for the M6 for getting straight up to Scotland and stopping at the nicest motorway services in the UK on the way.

0ranges · 28/03/2024 14:23

Brighton?

Bluevelvetsofa · 28/03/2024 14:28

Chester
Oxford
Reading
York
Chichester

coxesorangepippin · 28/03/2024 14:29

Lancaster?

coxesorangepippin · 28/03/2024 14:30

Brighton is no good if you have to go to Scotland once a month?

Okokokokokplease · 28/03/2024 14:35

Son was at Lancaster Uni and I thought it was a lovely place. Very close to Lake District as well. Good rail link to London and Scotland.

NotFastButFurious · 28/03/2024 14:39

I think it also depends where in Scotland you need to commute to once a month......if it's one of the major cities then it's often easier to live near an airport and fly rather than take the train or drive. I commuted Edinburgh to Brighton every week for nearly a year. 30min train to Gatwick, an hour check in, an hour and a bit flight and 30min home. On a good run I could do office to home in under 4.5 hours.

SallyWD · 28/03/2024 14:44

I'm a southerner living in Leeds. I absolutely love it and am very happy here. It has great opportunities and high salaries - (highest outside London I read recently). It's a vibrant, lively city with proximity to beautiful countryside and lots of lovely towns such as York, Harrogate, Ilkley.

SallyWD · 28/03/2024 14:46

SallyWD · 28/03/2024 14:44

I'm a southerner living in Leeds. I absolutely love it and am very happy here. It has great opportunities and high salaries - (highest outside London I read recently). It's a vibrant, lively city with proximity to beautiful countryside and lots of lovely towns such as York, Harrogate, Ilkley.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/lifestyle/homes-and-gardens/sunday-times-best-places-to-live-2024-leeds-crowned-the-best-place-to-live-in-the-north-of-england-4553553

GiantRoadPuzzle · 28/03/2024 14:46

Manchester or Leeds in a heartbeat.

Flowermarket · 28/03/2024 14:48

If you live in South Manchester, you can get to London in 2 hours from Stockport/Picadilly and you're obviously already in Manchester.

Lollzi86 · 28/03/2024 14:51

Leeds. Near Manchester so can commute easily there. Approx 2.15 hours to London on train. Loads of lovely suburbs you can move to with access to the ‘city’ vibe but also countryside on your doorstep. Loads of career opps here too

UncleHerbie · 28/03/2024 14:52

I relocated to Leeds upon my marriage. I worked in international law firm which unfortunately did not have an office in Leeds. However within a few months I got a job at another law firm and settled in quite happily. Leeds is 2 hours and a bit hours to KGX, Leeds to Glasgow Central takes over four hours by train but 30 mins by air

Which city would you relocate within UK?
Which city would you relocate within UK?
Stormyweathr · 28/03/2024 16:28

Liverpool is great and easy to get to London
Manchester 1 hour away and if you need to go Scotland occasionally also closer too

It’s a lovely friendly city with the nicest bars and restaurants lots going on to do as well

Brightandbubly · 28/03/2024 16:34

Leeds gets my vote over other northern cities, great travel links, job opportunities, good choices of schools with great reputation or private if you wish. It’s a v walkable city and is on the doorstep to so much you will never be bored

enchantedsquirrelwood · 28/03/2024 16:38

I know you said a city but somewhere like Warwick or Leamington might be nice - good links to London, close to Birmingham and the airport there and easy to get to Scotland by train or road.

Winchester is nice and easy to get to London. Very close to Southampton airport for trips to Scotland. Salisbury is similar but a bit further away from both. Exeter is two hours from London and has an airport.

York or Chester are good as well. I also like Canterbury but it's not very accessible for Scotland, though easy to get to continental Europe from there.

MrsAmaretto · 28/03/2024 16:43

York, newcastle, Edinburgh or Inverness would be my choices.

Riverlee · 28/03/2024 16:45

Harrogate - lovely place.

amyds2104 · 28/03/2024 17:00

Oxford? Or slightly cheaper areas possibly Reading? Still expensive for what you get

Beezknees · 28/03/2024 17:36

Probably biased as I also live in Nottingham but I'd stay there!

You're bang in the centre of England, can get to get to most major cities in under 2 hours and it's far more affordable than many places suggested on here. You've got the peak district next door for countryside.

Newsenmum · 28/03/2024 20:13

It sounds like Nottingham is perfect!