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

@Sunshiney1981
Yes I was a bit disappointed when I went to look on Gumtree for Manchester - I thought fucking hell at those prices I might as well just stick to London!

Newcastle strikes me as too far away, and actually being realistic, so is Edinburgh. I need to get to London maybe once every three weeks and most of my friends are in the south so I can do north of England but not "NORTH North" if you see what I mean

Edinburgh (but will it be too posh?)

How on earth can a whole city be ‘posh’?
What a weird idea.

A lot is going to depend on your budget but I would definitely look at Liverpool and Leeds. Both have plenty of facilities and nice areas to live in.

Also, if you are considering Bristol, think about Cardiff - it's a capital city and has a lot going for it. I almost like it as much as Edinburgh, though nothing can beat the Edinburgh cityscape. Better climate though (well milder but wetter).

Exeter might tick a few boxes too but it is getting expensive because people have noticed how nice it is ;)

Near London you have St Albans (very expensive though), Guildford (also very expensive and a bit too aspirational entitled middle class for me), Winchester a bit further out and Salisbury.

You say you find the northern cities faintly depressing, I feel like that about coastal resorts, so wouldn't want live in Bournemouth or Brighton.

I have lived in Leeds and Sheffield, and think that Leeds has more to offer than Sheffield. I visit Newcastle frequently and love it. Manchester is OK, but it rains a lot. I also love York, and think that Glasgow has a lot going for it.

Liverpool, Manchester or Newcastle for me!

Based on what you have said I would go to Edinburgh or Bristol.

Edinburgh is my home town so I’m biased but it is so beautiful and there is stuff going on all year round. I would also recommend the west end of Glasgow, it’s lovely, very vibrant and also very friendly.

We are in a similar position in that we are planning to move within the UK and fancy a change (we have been in Wales for years). We have two dc though. We are currently considering places round Edinburgh, Bristol, Bath, Oxford and Exeter.

I live near Liverpool and I love it. It has an amazing amount of innovation in terms of creative and tech industries. It is a real tourist attraction city, with its big public art events and its music, sport, galleries (including Tate North), theatres, TV/film and architecture. It is an hour's drive from Lancaster. It has beautiful coastal areas and countryside surrounding it such as Freshfields (with red squirrels) and Wirral Country Park / Deeside. North Wales is nearby and so is Manchester, another vibrant city. Liverpool is well-known for being a friendly city and Scousers are known for their warmth and humour. It has lots of parks and green spaces with lots of shopping / eating / drinking / clubbing to do. There are some great arty places with their own vibes such as Lark Lane, Baltic, Smithdown, Granby, Allerton, the Georgian Quarter, the Docks. Loads of arty and food markets. Loads of free events. It's a city with a strong identity. It's not expensive and you only have to pay for parking in the city centre, it's free everywhere else. Newcomers are very welcome.

I would go for Glasgow over Edinburgh. The West End of Glasgow might fit your criteria.

Birmingham is a much nicer city than it used to be.

And there are some lovely areas in the Wesr Mids. Worcestershire and Warwickshire for example.

Newcastle or Whitley bay/tynemouth (next to newcastle)

@SummerWhisper
Maybe I should rethink Liverpool, I've always had an aversion to it because my dad is a scouser and was a complete twat! 😂 Not a good reason to write off a city I know. Stereotypes linger though and I've always imagined it as being "rough". But this could be a good option as I also have very close family in dublin. 🤔 Will google london trains now. I'm assuming it's much cheaper than Manchester?

I’d go Bristol too (despite my user name I’m from the West Country). It’s main problem is it’s rather expensive though / particularly housing.

Here's a creative chat about Nottingham.
City Of Literature - Creative Writing CTA
It's a UNESCO City of Literature, with a good creative community. The universities keep it feeling young, the housing is cheapish and it's centrally placed on the train line. Good rental market if you wanted to try before you buy.
(I think the link should be a short video clip showing some of what you've asked for).

It is misunderstood, imo.

Newcastle to London can be as little as three hours on the train, it’s really not very far.

If you like the great outdoors and find "posh" worries you, then Sheffield will be right up your street.

Sorry!
Try this link
www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/courses/find-your-course/arts-humanities/pg/2020-21/creative-writing?wvideo=bfk5d0goyf

Hebden Bridge? Very creative small town with a great sense of community and lots of interesting unconventional people.
1.5hrs drive from Lancaster so easily doable in a day and 30 mins on public transport into Manchester.

Bristol and Bath have well known creative communities. I'd start with where your work network will be, then work out from there.

Manchester it Liverpool. Great culture, people, affordable , vibrant. Great restaurants etc

I'm from Kent but leave it regularly to have an affair with Bristol. My family are from the surrounding area and it's beautiful - some amazing walks surrounding the city. The city itself has so many lovely, distinct districts and is vibrant everywhere you go! And also pretty green/eco friendly compared to lots of other UK cities. I would say go for it!

PS OP your life sounds amazing. Total goals!

Have you ruled out Wales? Cardiff is great.

I live in the Peak District so really near Sheffield and it’s fabulous I’ve been here since Uni now in my 50’s and I simply love it.
Lots of people including me are pretty keen outdoor lovers and Sheffield itself is big city with great community vibe. Great theatres, museums music, galleries etc. (well - when not in lockdown that is!)

If it's a creative field, London depending on how it recovers from Covid seems first choice. Manchester and Glasgow were the other two that came into my head first.

Edinburgh is lovely and I wouldn’t consider posh, but house prices are pricey.

Nottingham - know people who live here and visited a lot. Always seems to have a lot going on.

Birmingham - isn’t the Commonwealth games being held there. Events like this always boost a city.

Margate- ten years ago - avoid. More recently, had investment, Turner exhibition etc, so on the cusp of a change. Lots of arty Londoners moving there. So improving.

top places to live

top arty/creative places

creative top places

@Standrewsschool
Thank you for those great links.

@nosswith
I would love to go back to London. But it's all about price I'm afraid. Having said that I would save money on train tickets. Hoping that post covid shifts will bring prices down slightly but that's optimistic granted!