A budget of £250k to live anywhere in UK

[cunningplan101]

If you had this budget and were looking for a really lovely part of the UK to relocate, where would you choose?

No kids and can telecommute.

Looking for a lovely 1-2 bedroom house, so that obviously counts out London.

Where would be your dream place to live, if you didn't have to worry about schools or your job?

Looking for ideas for a friend who is desperate to downsize her London mortgage for a better quality of life. She's open to all suggestions.

A really random thing to suggest/observe but figure out how you deal with dull or grey days and winds and cold. London is so sheltered by buildings.

I grew up near the coast below the South Downs in Sussex (where it was v windy but didn't rain much), and I REALLY noticed the dull grey skies when I went to uni in Bristol.

Also think abut the bits that she really enjoys about London (coffee shops/theatres/parks/restaurants/diversity/culture etc etc?). Would she prefer to be able to pop back with relative ease or isn't it a big deal?

Also think about whether you want to walk to everywhere (so probably small market town) or whether you like driving etc.

Think about trains/planes etc.

Maybe get a big map, throw some pins into it and think "why not?". Then go and spend a weekend there.

What about Lincoln? Dryer than other parts of the U.K., university town, lovely town centre, and cheap property eg this Victorian terrace near a park for £220k! www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35575347.html
Drive or train to Newark for a 1h20min journey to London Kings Cross.

2 bedroom house for sale
47 Fore Street, Port Isaac, Port Isaac Guide Price
£250,000 overlooking the sea

2 bedroom semi-detached house for sale
St Uny, Main Road, Canonstown, Hayle,TR27 £250,000

weather is indeed important - but there are plenty of sunny places with a decent climate in the UK.

although I have to say that a lot of the places mentioned further up are fairly notorious for worse climate! Check geography and monitor temperatures.

I'd stay here, buy my house and have around half that budget in change. I'm in the North East, but please don't send all the disillusioned Londoners here!

The NE is indeed colder than the south but you get used to it pretty quickly and it's generally rather dry compared to lots of the country (I'm a relocated southerner)

I was going to suggest York, too. with that budget, she could get a 2 bedroom flat in the city centre, or a 2-3 bedroom house within walking distance of the city centre. There are lots of wild green green spaces within walking distance and proper countryside within cycling distance. The rail links are excellent, and it's 2 hours to Kings Cross. The universities, Minster, museums and National Centre for Early Music mean that there is a lot going on for such a small city. The Yorkshire countryside is stunning.

Alternatively (especially if she is an alternative type) I'd go for Hebden Bridge, or one of the small towns nearby.

Rosemarkie on the Black Isle. Lovely beach, dolphins, Fairy Glen, fab fish n chips, and for 250k you could buy a beautiful house!

Kendal or outer edges of the lake district