Where would you go in the UK?

[BrightonEarly1]

Next year I plan on moving back to the UK and fancy a fresh start!

If you were 36, childfree, working in a creative field (freelance) where would you go?

On my radar:

• Edinburgh (but will it be too posh?)
• Bristol (I liked Brighton but found it a bit middle class bubbley, someone suggested Bristol)
• London (lived here before, great, but massively expensive - any easy access towns that are actually energetic in their own right and not zombie commuter towns?)
• Lancaster (im very close to my aunt who lives there but I'm worried it could feel boring?)
• Sheffield (dont know why, just speaks to me)

I'm originally from the north and have family around Lancaster as I say, but also manchester and leeds

Places that I have (unfair?) preconceived ideas about:

• Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds: faintly depress me for some reason (?)

But if you can share your experiences of living there I'm all ears

Also, what about southern coastal towns that are maybe on there way up? What about places like Margate, Hastings, etc. Places that dont feel too grim but also not too sterile.

Basically im at that fun stage of just daydreaming and considering options, and would love to hear your odes to places, or places you hated, and why.

Considering my profile i really dont care about things like schools, fresh air and open spaces 😂 My priorities are a welcoming community, fairly well connected, lots of groups to get involved with

I loved living in Oxford, it's a pretty place, lots of lovely restaurants and bars, the Ashmolean museum is great, easy to get around, lots of good theatre. Quick train into london

Honestly, if you have no ties to anywhere I would go to the North where things, especially housing, are so much cheaper. I grew up in Sheffield and now live near Liverpool and love both. We live in a lovely area, great schools, and own a 3 bed semi with a really low mortgage. We would never have been able to afford to buy in the south.

I love living in Bristol, loads to do; cultural, diverse, busy, can get to London easily, can get to Devon/Dorset easily, lots of live music events, great places to eat, bars etc

Bristol, for sure.

Sheffield, brilliant, vibrant, creative city, sporty, sciencey city. Always loads going on. Museums, galleries, theatres a plenty, especially theatres. Peak District on the doorstep. M1 and mainline to London too.

I like Sheffield a lot. It's friendly but has all the city elements you can need, plus several galleries and theatres and concert venues in normal times (you don't say what sort of creative work you do) and you can get to London or Manchester airport quickly, or out into the Peak quickly.

I would choose Whitstable

If I had lots of money maybe London but I think I’d get bored of it and want out as soon as I’d exhausted the delights of Coal Drops and Shoreditch

Just seen other people mention Bristol and actually I totally agree with that. So ignore my previous post. I’d choose Bristol

What about Glasgow, if you're worried Edinburgh would be too posh. Great place to live!

I think you’d love Bristol.

Nice to see so much support for Bristol. Once covid is behind us I'll definitely need to visit. Sheffield I really like the place has a great vibe. But maybe Bristol would be easier in terms of London.

What do you all think of Nottingham and Birmingham? Seems like they never developed that "positive" vibe that places like Bristol, Manchester; Sheffield did?

Shame someone says definitely not Lancaster because I really am so close to my aunt, if I lived there I'd be popping in three or four times a week. And I find it beautiful. But maybe too isolated and quiet in the long term

Newcastle?

Am a very proud Bristolian so I might be biased, but from how you’ve described yourself, OP, I would think Bristol would really work for you. It’s a really vibrant, creative city - check out Upfest as a simple example. Great city for singletons, couples and families -something for everyone!

@Belepheron

Newcastle?

Yes!!!!! Lovely, lively city and close to the coast.

Hi there, in a similar position to you years ago I moved back to the UK and first settled in Bournemouth. Parts of it do have the same issues you have with Brighton. I liked it and it was full of creative types but I wasn't free lance wages were low and I found it difficult to make friends.

I moved to the West Midlands. Birmingham is a vibrant city. We were about 10 miles out. I travelled more around the UK more than ever when I lived there because the rail network was better there than anywhere I'd ever lived. And you get quite a lot for your money property wise.

We went abroad again though! But do talk about going back to the UK and if we do we'll be looking at Bristol we have a family now and I also miss the coast when I'm in the Midlands.

I would stay near your aunt to be honest if it were me.

I’ve lived in Newcastle, London, Manchester and sheffield (and remote areas of North Yorkshire). I would say Sheffield hands down. Very friendly city with a energetic vibe, lots to do, low crime, low mortgage and great schools. Also you have the peaks a few minutes away when you need a rural break

How are you with cold weather? I can't cope so am stuck in the South, shame as I have really adored some Northern towns in younger days and house prices are less RIDIC

Manchester as it’s such a young populated city and close to countryside

Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield and even Hull have all changed massively over the past few years.

Channel 4 have just moved to Leeds, which may be something that's relevant to your industry. There's also the arena and a massive new shopping centre (Trinity) which as well as shops has an Everyman cinema and street food vendors that change regularly.

I'd suggest spending a week touring the cities of northern England. Spend at least a day in each one. Eg get a city centre Premier Inn/Air BnB and travel around by train if you don't have a car. Look on the tourist info websites. See what's happening in each city in your field. If you're still of the impression that 'it's grim up north' I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Newcastle for me

I live just outside Bristol on the coast and it's lovely, I can see the marina from my bedroom, pubs and restaurants right there (when open!) open countryside in walking distance, but if we want the big city Bristol is 30 mins on the bus that stops across the road and they are building a new railway to connect us to the network (patience required covid delays). Very mixed ages, lots of families, lots of kids left home age group and those recently retired, lots in creative industries too. Lots of new developments in last 20 years including houses, flats etc. Not as expensive as Bristol it's self but depends on what you consider reasonable

Manchester is full of young creatives. It’s only a hop to Lancaster too. As well as the Lakes, the coast and the Peaks.
It’s friendly, vibrant and has a great vibe, BUT to live in the city is becoming more expensive year by year.
Lots and lots of music, theatre and science going on too. I’m biased though cos I live there lol.
Weather-wise go south! But it can be so expensive.... good luck op.

Also Media City is in Manchester if that’s relevant to your industry.