to ask you where in the UK we should move to on?

[GirlInTheDirtyShirt]

I've been an expat for 10 years (all my adult life). I'm self employed as a writer so can literally live and work anywhere, but DH works in construction and where we live now (Southern Europe) there's no work for him. We're looking to move back to the UK so he can work there, plus I feel the UK education system is better than what we have here, but the question is, where?

We have a toddler, so I'd like somewhere that's nice to bring up children. I like cities rather than rural remoteness, but I want a house rather than a flat as I work from home and want some space. I like the idea of having lots to do and see and perhaps places where I could make friends through things like toddler groups or whatever. I'm not looking for naice leafy suburbs, but nor am I looking for gritty inner city living (I used to live in central Nottingham, so that's coloured my view a bit). I suppose I'm looking for vaguely middle class-ish safe-ish places with low crime.

Our household income would probably be about GBP3k a month until DH gets properly established (and having seen rental prices I'm a bit concerned this might not be enough, tbh ).

Is there anywhere you think we might be able to move to that would work?

I have no family and no ties to the UK at all, it'll be like moving to a whole new country, so I'm open to any suggestion at all to help me narrow down my search!

Recommend Birmingham, that way you can have that city feel you looking for but your also close to the construction jobs in the midlands and the southeast.

Harrogate, york, skipton?

Where would be a nice place to live in Birmingham, greyasanderson or Brummiegirl15 ? I don't want to be too far out and have to drive far to get to the city centre or anything, but I also don't want to wade through gangs on the street outside. (I actually think I'm traumatised from living in St Anns in Nottingham!) Which would be a nice neighbourhood in the city?

We've lived all over the place.

Birmingham - really good
Bristol - really good, issues with secondary schools
Leeds - one of the most depressing, nothing cities I've ever lived near to.
London - too expensive

Live south, and have bigger living costs - live north, and you have a slightly more precarious situation with finding work, possibly.

Best option of all: Glasgow or Edinburgh. Education excellent for lots of reasons, brilliant cities, but cost of living less on average than similar options in England. Mind you, it's very flats rather than houses focused

Birmingham - Moseley is a good option

Aberdeen is the busiest city in Scotland construction wise at the moment. For 3k a month though you would struggle for a house in the city. Average 4 bed rentals of £1600. About 20 miles outside of the city would be around £900.

Elsewhere in Scotland construction isn't paying well. I have researched this well as we were in a similar position 3 years ago and choose to come to Aberdeen. We love it.

I moved to Brighton last year (1st time I've ever lived in UK) and I love it. Energetic, arty, great people, close to London - although housing is pricey.

The centre part of Solihull is quite good easy access to the city centre.

Edinburgh or Glasgow. Edinburgh just edges it for me because the weather is much better and there's less traffic (in my opinion).

Stourbridge (near Birmingham) is lovely!

Im North East England, and would happily recommend Low Fell, Gosforth and Whickham as suitable places. All really really lovely and MC feel.

"I'd look at the south west (Devon/Cornwall) if you have no reason to need to be within striking distance of civilisation "

Cornwall here - how dare you!

I second Moseley for Birmingham. It's really nice. I have friends who live there. I love where I live, Warwickshire, but I am more of a country girl myself although I love London!

How about Bury? The town itself is nice if not terribly exciting, and you're half an hour on the tram from Manchester for the bigger city vibe plus employment possibilities. You'll easily get a house in a safe area for less than £1000 per month.

Hitchin, hertfordshire.

Solihull, my home town - expensive but extremely good state schools due to it being an affluent middle class area with easy train link to Birmingham and future access to sought after Birmingham grammar schools if you should choose. Royal Leamington Spa - I used to live here - absolutely gorgeous centre, Harborne, Edgbaston - wealthy suburbs of Birmingham near the university and relatively near central Birmingham.

Huddersfield!!
Half way between Leeds and Manchester so plenty of scope for jobs etc.
Houses cheap but some very naice areas. Good schools.
Close to cities and also countryside and on the M62 so you can get anywhere pretty quickly

Have you thought of Plymouth? It is a spectacular city with some lovely properties, lots of construction going on in the southwest and tons to do not to mention the most amazing views, if I was moving to a city is move there

Oxford. Absolutely lovely, very well connected for getting to other places quickly and easily, great schools, just urban enough to get away with it.

Wildly expensive property though. But £1400 a month will rent you a lovely house in a family-oriented, friendly area close to public transport etc.

Leeds isn't particularly rainy.

Depends on how big a place you want. I like Leeds because it's a decent size but you can still get out into the countryside pretty quickly. If I wasn't here then I'd go for Bristol or Exeter. Birmingham always just feels like a massive sprawl to me.

If you would like to be close to Bham and Bristol you may want to look around Worcester which is between the two and a relatively easy commute as close to the M5. Small, pretty Cathedral City with affordable housing and close to Wales for short holiday breaks.

I'm moving to Nottingham this summer and want to live in the inner city (The Park).

What about Yorkshire?

Harrogate and York are both lovely places with nice homes even in the city centre.

Harrogate is probably seen as a bit more upmarket, but York has great train links (North and South) and a larger city centre re:shopping etc

The NE. Near uncrowded expanses of lovely countryside and Coast. Decent housing at affordable prices. Friendly people. Newcastle is a beautiful city. ?ou could live by the sea if you wanted"

Bristol. Lovely city, plenty of places to take children, close to the seaside and lovely surrounding countryside. I have lived in many places across the UK and Europe and Bristol (and Madrid ) are my favourite!

I live in the north west at the moment. It is great because I love half way between two big cities - Manchester and Liverpool, and would be able to commute to either. House prices aren't bad.

I went to uni in Sheffield and that is a lovely city. If I didn't have family ties to the north west I would definitely consider moving back there.