If you could live anywhere at all in the UK where would you choose?

[Draxing]

And why?

If you didn't have to factor in things like schools or family or employment, where would you go?

I can work from home, my dc have all left, I'm widowed, I have no other family - and I can feel a certain sense of recklessness creeping up on me where I want to just up sticks and move completely away! I was born and brought up in Wales (but don't know anyone in my home town any more), and currently live in the SE.

I have friends here but no one in the same situation as me, and many of them are planning to move away anyway when they retire.

If I didn't have anything else to consider, and had enough money to live comfortably (it's an expensive area) then somewhere near the Surrey/Hampshire border. I like the Devil's Punchbowl, Frensham Ponds areas

Ideally in a lovely cottage on the edge of a cliff in Cornwall, but that’s not practical as you get older.
Id pick a nice village with good services and hospital not too far away.

River view apartment in a warehouse conversion in Wapping.

North Yorkshire, near the coast. I actually love where we live, but we are here for its proximity to London. If we didn’t need to be, I’d want the bigger house we could afford up north, and closer access to coast and countryside; whilst still having access to York, Leeds, etc for shopping and culture.

I’ve spent a lot of time in North Yorkshire, and I know it’s beautiful, plus I have family and friends up there.

Thank you for the replies :)

I love the sound of a cottage on a cliff in Cornwall. But then I also love the sound of a warehouse apartment in Wapping! Which no doubt explains why I can't decide where to go!

Central London. Marylebone if no-strings me could afford it. Walking distance to everything, always busy. Lovely.

I would live in a huge house in Clerkenwell. I love it there, such an interesting area, and nicely quiet at the weekend too. Walking distance to everywhere I like in London. House would have to have a walled garden though :)

Northumberland for me. Because it is so beautiful.

a friend lives on the Isle of Wight and that looks beautiful too.

Same here. If money was no object, I'd live in Mayfair. I like busy city life, going out for drinks after work, theatre and meals etc, and plenty going on. Great public transport too.

I’d stay where I am in Yorkshire. I’ve lived all over the place including central London, Cambridge, two European cities.

I chose where I live because it was somewhere I wanted to be and created a life around it. Where I live is big enough to have access to theatres, museums, etc., small enough to have vibrant community groups, close to the city in one direction and beautiful countryside in the other.

Definitely 👍🏼

Flat in one of the Barbican towers in the City.

A seaside village on the Isle of Wight, I live in Hampshire and can visit often, next steps is to actually do it :-)

I think I have decided North Yorkshire. Better value than Essex.

Near Hampstead heath with bus/tube stops & local shops/nightlife.

Where I live - sunny Devon - but in a detached house with a swimming pool

Fitzrovia, in central London. Lived in Soho for a while and it was fun, but Fitzrovia is perfect, central but still villagey and pretty quiet at the weekend.

Sounds perfect, providing there’s a train station , decent hospital and gp surgery nearby (# getting old).

The Lake District. We have a second home there and will hopefully be moving there permanently in a few years, once youngest has finished school and college.

I’ve lived all over the UK and I’d stay here in the Highlands!

Flat in Docklands or Brighton.

Look at somewhere with decent public transport for when you're older and can't drive, and good access to shops, hospitals and entertainment.

A small market town/large village on a bus/train route, in a low crime area.

And within reasonable travel distance for the DC - where do they live?

@Ellmau 3 of my dc live the other side of the world (I'm trying not to take it personally!) and the 4th is at uni so unlikely to settle where he's currently living.

It's interesting to see that quite a few people have mentioned areas of London. I have a permanent dialogue in my head where I try to decide if I'd prefer somewhere like that, or somewhere completely different. I wish I was a more decisive person.

If you’re undecided is a London or other city flat and a coastal caravan an option? My family used to have a caravan on the Northumberland coast, going there for the peace and quiet and beautiful scenery after a few busy weeks in London was bliss!

Sefton coast in the north west - flat, beautiful coastline with extensive sand dune system, SSI areas, world-renowned golf course (if it appeals), microclimate, close to vibrant Liverpool (outstanding architecture, culture, hospitals and direct train line to London), near to the Lake District, super friendly people. No, I’ve not been paid to write this!