If you could live anywhere in the UK, where would it be?

[fluffernutter]

We are planning on returning to the UK after many years abroad and can pretty much live anywhere but haven't a clue where to start. We'd be renting initially (btw do you know if you have to actually own a house to be included in a catchment area or is renting ok?)

We'd need great secondary and primary schools, near a happening town/city that's go a bit of an art/music/literary scene as we like that sort of thing.

I'm from the North West, not so keen to head back there again, I'd like a new adventure.

People keep mentioning Cheltenham/Cotswolds so any pros and cons for that, but also suggestions for anywhere else.

Sorry, lots of questions. Any advice very welcome!

Brighton?

Pickering

Like the sound of Brighton, will google Pickering...

The Peak District - The bit that's just outside Sheffield

I'd love the Yorkshire Moors or the Peak District, though I should add that we are living somewhere subtropical right now so not sure if my ds's could handle a northern winter.

Dorset, lulworth, really beautiful!

I agree that Sheffield/Peak District will tick all your boxes, but it will come at a price. S10, S11,S32 are the postcodes to look at.

Renting in a catchment is fine, as long as you live there.

central london, west end

Edinburgh.

Renting fine for catchment, so long as it's your primary home in the UK.

Where to live depends on budget I guess, north obv cheaper than south as a general rule. My personal choices based on holidays (we live in the NW so we're out) would be N Yorks (I like Pickering, but there are places with better coffee...), E Sussex, Berkshire and Edinburgh. Cheltenham's nice enough, but wouldn't be my dream destination. Cotswolds obviously beautiful but maybe wouldn't tick your easy access to culture boxes unless near Oxford (bit hazy about this though, happy to be corrected...)

Cheltenham where I live now! I am a Cheltonian born and bred but I've lived elsewhere. Cheltenham is pretty, relatively safe ( I've always felt safe), it has great schools and nice areas to live in, open spaces/parks, hill walks especially for walkers and dog walking, great shopping with Bristol, Birmingham and Oxford an hour away and fantastic cultural events.

Fluffer, did you have a look at this?: Cheltenham Festivals

I went to the Literature Festival recently and it was brilliant! A lot of the schools take their students to this and other festivals such as the Science Festival.

I'm sure there are other lovely places in the UK but I can only speak as I find.

Bloomsbury (obviously)...

Truro!
Really good primary schools choice of 2 fabulous secondary schools. All the joy of a small city.. Bt less than 20minutes from beaches, countryside, moors...

Yes it is Cornwall and with the lush surroundings it can be rainy, but I wouldn't be anywhere else, neither would kids or DH.

Stratford upon Avon, only 1.5 hours from London, good schools, close to Cotswolds, RSC theatre, very safe

Cambridge or Edinburgh

Harrogate, Leeds or York... And buy thermals

Hello thekitchenfairy I live near Truro too! (Small village nearby)

Truro is fab!

Cheltenham is my vote too, otherwise Chester or Shrewsbury all 3 beautiful, very historic, cultural, good scenes for ur interests and great shopping too. They all have town centres with independent shops still, very much a rarity in this day and age

I think Gloucestershire would have good schools , they still have a grammar system. Cheltenham etc very nice. I live near Oxford and it has the scene you describe mostly for monied uni students and the wealthy in Oxfordshire but worth looking into.

Oh and York would be a contender too.

Leeds, Chesterfield or Newark.

3 of my favourite places for various different reasons.

If you can afford living somewhere like amersham in bucks and have academic kids that would be great- last stop in metropolitan line. Scottish option ... glasgow- schools in East Renfrewshire around clarkston are fantastic and housing much cheaper than down south x

I'm Gloucestershire and would highly recommend that. We have Cheltenham and Oxford both 40mins away, although if you lived closer to the A40, you'd reduce this to half hour.

Local catchment school is fab: almost 30% of students got 5A/A* last year, and most of the other local schools are good too. Grammar schools if you want to go to Cheltenham, but not that many bother with this option. Beautiful countryside all around, but all the culture in the cities if you want it. Cirencester, Witney etc closer rural towns for daily needs, so you don't often need to make the commute to the big cities.

Biggest downside, I would say was lack of public transport. You have to be prepared to drive everywhere.

Shropshire is a great place to live.