To ask which city you'd move to in England if you didn't live there already

[CurdinHenry]

I am thinking about it. Would prefer not London tbh although appreciate that's where the jobs are (and in some ways it's probably the easiest fit for outsiders).

Where is friendly, has stuff to do, jobs and the like. I think my answer is going to end up being Newcastle (but I like York).

I guess it depends what you like doing - I am there at moment for a weekend - it has a ton of festivals, lovely cafes and bars up in Montpellier, nice vibrant area up the Bath Road , lovely well kept gardens - I guess one persons dull is another persons ordered- wheteas I worked on Birmingham years ago and hated it

Certain parts of West London only.

it’s a different country so a different city . I’ve lived in England 20 years before going to Scotland and I’m definitely not going back lol 😜 for me it’s way better but that’s my perspective.

Why is it better?

London - first, last and always. If money were no object I would move back there tomorrow. I also like Bristol, Norwich and Brighton. And Wells and Chichester, though tbh I think they feel more like towns even though technically they're cities. Not much love for York, Exeter or Bath. I think Lincoln has a very strange atmosphere, like you're being watched, and agree with a pp that Cambridge feels like a party you've gatecrashed. I enjoyed visiting Oxford and Liverpool but don't know them well enough to say more. I detest Manchester. I know you only asked about England, but fwiw I like Bristol way more than Cardiff, and Glasgow more than Edinburgh. My favourite city is Strasbourg (definitely not within your parameters). Hope you find what you're looking for.

Yeah there are maybe a few streets or estates like that, but perhaps more so historically as they've gentrified hugely in the last decade or so.

When we were trying to figure out where exactly to buy I looked up the crime stats and they are pretty tame all over Bath. The so-called rough areas are similar to some of the most desirable parts of e.g. Bristol or London. That's one of the things I love about living here. There's really nowhere that's properly scary.

The worst area is the city centre apparently, maybe the Georgian architecture sets people off 😅

Edinburgh has been totally fucked by the cyclist culture, mounds of dog shit and the unaccountable electric bikes sponsored by the council plus the Oxford Street dodgy geezerisation of princes street

Find it boggling that anyone would want to live there but I suppose some places must be worse

Peoples way of being , nhs is better I get appointments on the same day and maternity care is way better , school is smaller and do much more , prettier ( no need to explain this one ) , cleaner ( no need to explain this either ) . I should add I do not live in Edinburgh I said Edinburgh because you asked about a city and it’s the prettiest city in the U.K. hence my answer . But as far as Scotland or England I would never go back to living in England

Really I love it , but I wouldn’t what to live in any city . I find it mind boggling anyone would want to live in any city specially London , Birmingham or manchester as they are just so dirty and crime filled

@LancashireButterPie I’m in a lovely village just outside Wrexham. Wrexham has had its ups and downs over the years but is now getting more investment than before (and it is now a city, hence the investment). And, if all else fails you’ll also be near Chester!

Birmingham for me.

Sheffield

I’m from York but live in the Dales atm. We go regularly to see family and imo York has really taken a downturn in the last few years. Poor choice of shops, lots of homeless folks and unpleasant drunks on a weekend. Traffic is horrendous!

we are seriously considering a retirement in London!

York

If you want a big city then possibly Newcastle. My choice though would always be for one of the smaller cathedral cities such as Lincoln of Hereford

Oxford’s terrible. Vastly overpriced, crowded and you can’t easily get a car into the city, or even park it outside your own house in some areas.

Well, we need to work and don't fancy spending half our lives transporting to and from it I guess. Personally I'd go mad living somewhere I needed a car. Fair play if you have a no car lifestyle somehow.

Too cold up north and they speak funny

I am guilty of not appreciating it’s beauty, and craving the excitement and vibrancy of Liverpool.
this thread has inspired me to take a big bike ride around my city and appreciate it.
Still love Liverpool more than any other city. However Newcastle is amazing, I always knew it had a Liverpool vibe, but until visiting it had no appreciation of how beautiful, compact, historic and interesting it is. I can really imagine living there, plus close to the coast and beautiful countryside

I’ll get the train in and see you down Lark Lane. I look like Petula Gordeno anyway (old, knackered) so I will probably be in Keith’s Wine Bar on the red vino, talking about my famous youth.
I am not born and bred, so my accent isn’t up to scratch, but I can revert to the lingo when required.

I wanted to clarify my earlier point as I was being silly. Cardiff is a FANTASTIC city, and, given your criteria (apart from the England bit!) does fit the bill. I lived there and it was just the bilingual stuff that put me off, but, indeed, part of the charm.

Reading through this thread, you could pretty much live in most places, depending on budget. Because the whole point of cities is that they are large, and there are always desirable areas.

Are you really looking for a TOWN?

So happy to see a few votes for Cardiff

First York (because it was the closest city I was born to and DH has family living there). Second, Durham (because I was at uni there and it always instantly felt like a second home). Third choice is Leeds where a lot of my friends from school/college moved to and I've made a business in the city; although it's never felt like 'home' in the same way though.

With stupid money, London.

With comfortable money, a nice coastal area. I just want to be close to the sea. Maybe Whitby?

There are Egyptians? Reform really need to deport them.