Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

Moving back to UK - but where?

29 replies

CountUpTo3 · 10/04/2023 15:22

This probably sounds daft: I want to move back to UK in next 2-3 years but I'm stuck on where to aim for.

Kids will be going to uni in UK and family is in the Midlands; my job is flexible, OH's job is online/international - his only requirement is to be able to get into the countryside easily, without being rural.

I'd like to move to a large town where I can make friends and put down roots so that we're part of the community by the time we retire. Would also be okay in a green bit of city, but not a fan of suburbs. Would be lovely if it had decent shops, cultural life/cinema/live music, and not a total pain to get into London on the train. Drawing a 2-hour drive perimeter around Coventry doesn't really narrow things down!

We've been out of the country for nearly 25 years so I'm planning a series of short trips to explore. Just wondered if anyone's been through the process and has any tips? Any clues to working out where's friendly??

(Before you ask - yes, I know this is a weird time to want to move back, but we want to downsize and life over here is too expensive unless we both keep working full-time; also so many friends have relocated, my heart is broken!)

OP posts:
delilabell · 10/04/2023 15:25

Would somewhere like cirencester be a good place? Its close to the cotswolds , is a town but with a friendly smallish feel and close to midlands?

AgentProvocateur · 10/04/2023 15:27

Edinburgh - it’s easy to get to London by train, and not too expensive if you plan in advance.

NonJeNeRegretteRien · 10/04/2023 15:28

You might like Hitchin which sounds like it might hit all the points you are looking for.

Sundaefraise · 10/04/2023 15:29

If I had a free choice and wanted to be in the midlands I would go to Shrewsbury. Beautiful Shropshire countryside and nice sized place. I have several friends who have moved there and been very happy.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 10/04/2023 15:32

Cirencester is really expensive.

If you're looking for the midlands, what about somewhere like Ironbridge? Nice little town, and easy to get to London. Also being close to your family will be important I think. You kids may choose to go to uni anywhere from Scotland to Cornwall, so I think you should base this decision around what's best for you and DH.

darjeelingrose · 10/04/2023 15:51

That just sounds grim. There are so many places to avoid around there, and the nice places tend to be very, very wet. However, how about Lincoln? It's big enough to have things, about an hour and a half from Coventry and countryside and the sea are not too far.

gogohmm · 10/04/2023 15:57

I'm one hour and 45 mins from Coventry, just outside Bristol - small town with lively music scene and only 25 mins into the city centre, 15 mins to major shops etc however can walk to countryside in 5 minutes and the beach in less (not a beautiful beach but great for walking along the headlands and you can sail or swim if brave enough!)

Needmorelego · 10/04/2023 16:04

If you want nearish Coventry somewhere like Leamington Spa might work. On the Chiltern Railway line so easy to get to London or Birmingham.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 10/04/2023 16:07

@darjeelingrose

That just sounds grim

What sounds grim?

Thiswayorthatway · 10/04/2023 16:19

Macclesfield. Edge of the Peak District but only 2 hours to London on the train.

pilates · 10/04/2023 16:24

Cotswolds

Original poster
CountUpTo3 · 10/04/2023 20:53

Brilliant, thanks for all the responses, have added more to the list of places to explore next time we’re back in the U.K.

@gogohmm your town sounds nice - near Bristol, near the sea. Is it Portishead?

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/04/2023 21:12

Sheffield, west side. S6, S8,10,11 - not cheap, but you could walk into the city centre, or into the Peak District from much of those areas.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/04/2023 21:15

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/04/2023 21:12

Sheffield, west side. S6, S8,10,11 - not cheap, but you could walk into the city centre, or into the Peak District from much of those areas.

Although it is 2hrs 9 mins from Sheffield to St Pancras.

BeringBlue · 10/04/2023 21:19

Kenilworth? It looks quite nice from what I've seen from Facebook friends who live there.

Tomrrowandtomorrowandtommorrow · 10/04/2023 21:21

York.

mafsfan · 10/04/2023 21:23

Shrewsbury - decent size town with lots going on but not too big. Lots of areas with a strong community feel. Reasonably easy access to rail and Manchester/Birmingham airports. London is easy enough on the train. But the countryside is right on your doorstep as well! It's a beautiful place to live.

HungryMum101 · 10/04/2023 21:23

It’s hard to narrow down, can you tell us more about what you’re both interested in outside of work? How would you see yourselves spending time when you retire? Is access to mountains or sea / water important?

cardboardbox24 · 10/04/2023 21:27

What is your budget OP? If you want to have easy access to London, have you considered...... London?! Some nice green bits in the north/east of the city which would make it easy to get to the Midlands

ACynicalDad · 10/04/2023 21:29

Malvern

Suzi9989 · 10/04/2023 21:49

New Forest/ Hampshire?
Close to Southampton/ Winchester/ London
Woodlands and not far from the sea

Riverlee · 10/04/2023 21:55

Places such as Newport Pagnell, Leighton Buzzard etc. near Milton Keynes for railway links, theatre, shopping etc and easy to get to Coventry.

Dibblydoodahdah · 10/04/2023 21:57

York or Cambridge.

TheOtherHotstepper · 10/04/2023 22:15

Other posters have mentioned Leamington Spa and Kenilworth.

I'd add to that Earlsdon or adjoining areas on the south side of Coventry, good pubs,restaurants, lots going on in the community.

JaneyGee · 10/04/2023 22:19

The UK is so suffocatingly crowded, that I would head for Northumberland, or rural Scotland – but then I'm a massive introvert. Also, last summer shook me. I'm in Essex, and that 40 degree heat was no joke. No way would I move to the south. In fact, if we get another summer like the last, I will seriously consider moving to Inverness, where I have family. If it can hit 40 degrees in 2022, what will summers be like in 2032, or 2042?