Good cities/large towns for easy access to culture and activities.

[PlanningAhead20]

I’m planning for the future. I’m 41 now and I have just moved so I don’t want to go anywhere for now but I wondered which cities and large towns would be good for me when I’m in my early to mid 50s.

I’ll still be working but I love the idea of being able to go straight to a museum or talk or other event within a relatively short distance from my home. Easy access to other cities/towns with things to do would be a bonus.

No kids. Just two dogs. I don’t drink alcohol and I don’t care about nightlife as such but I enjoy the theatre and restaurants. Dog related events/meetups would be a plus.

I live just outside of a city now and I like it but I’ve spent most of my life around the area and I want a change in future but I want a large town or other city so that everything is close at hand.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

TIA

Edinburgh is a fantastic city, really beautiful itself, lots to do and near great sceanary.

Just 50mins from Glasgow for even more museums and events etc.

If you don't want to move that far north, you could look at Bristol - close to Bath and Cardiff is fairly near too.

Chester

Oxford

Bristol or Bath. They are only about 20 minutes train ride from each other.
Property prices are high in both cities though

York

Thanks all. I really appreciate the suggestions.

Milton Keynes.

Definitely would suggest York to tick the boxes you mentioned - art gallery, minister, museums, theatres etc. also Harrogate which is not too far away with similar vibes!

Frome in Somerset sounds good. I moved here 18 months ago from London and really like it here and it seems to tick all your boxes.

Cambridge

Most university towns or cities

Oxford's great for museums, lectures and talks, musical recitals, theatre performances (including open air Shakespeare in the summer), it has good links to London and Birmingham, lots of parks and open spaces (and dog lovers!) but it is eye wateringly expensive. Highest cost of living outside London, so think carefully about it!

Oxford, plus you have really frequent bus services to London, great walking on the Ridgeway and in the Cotswolds, and lots of interesting countryside and villages to explore.

Cambridge - oops duplicate

Sheffield you get great countryside plus culture.
Easy to get to leeds/york/Manchester etc.

I always hear great things about Chichester - it has a lot of shows before they go to the West End and then you are in easy reach of other places on the south coast as well.

Just returned from a first visit to Bristol. Impressive!

Loved being near water, industrial but arty and creative. Museums, projects. Bristol Old Vic. Cycle friendly. Sense of community. Loads going on. Distinct areas.

House price dependant of course.