Where to move In the UK?

[Einnie]

We just moved from Italy to the UK. We currently live in Rotherham, but due to my husband's work we didn't have much choice. We have a 5yo daughter and she goes to a pretty good school but we're not happy with this town. We will be able to move in a year and a half and are looking to buy a house. We're open to all of England but are looking for areas with a good community and nice cafes and good schools. Whatever it is, it needs to be within 20 minutes from a hospital (my husband is a doctor), easy access to shops so that you don't need a car for everything (I can't drive) and not extremely expensive.

So far on my list is... Dore next to Sheffield.

We do hope for somewhere nice south from here. We want a few places to check out and then go spend time there. Your suggestions are more than welcome!

5 bed cottage!
Front Street, Preston Village, North Shields, NE29
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66483852.html

@HelgaHere1 Are you perhaps familiar with Manchester? What’s the nicest area there? I don’t mind a big city as long as I have a lovely corner of the big city. I do agree about it being great to live near an airport.

Thank you for all these suggestions. I’m writing everything down and we are going to be planning some weekend trips. Really, you’re all so kind and lol, I also love to see pretty properties on Rightmove and wish my own house was a fraction as well decorated and tidy.

Liverpool? There is a coast nearby. Many hospitals my Dh is also a doc and enjoys working there, we have moved out of the city now and he still commutes in fairly easily. Great community and everyone so friendly. They have the underground/train so it's easy to get around. There is also a great girls school.

Einie Sympathies over this I had an uncomfortable incident when some people found out that I’m Jewish that really defined my feelings about this area.

As that is the case I would suggest moving near to Leeds or Manchester, both of which have substantial Jewish communities. You really don't need antisemitism to blight your life here.

This is STC. But gives an idea of what you could buy Scotstoun/Broomhill area of Glasgow.

Northumberland is beautiful - beaches, countryside, Newcastle (and hospital) close to hand, good schools and University

Definitely the south-west side of Sheffield - Endcliffe, Ecclesall Road areas, etc. It’s a world away from Rotherham!

Oh, and I would stay north or Midlands with that budget, would definitely get more for your money than in the SE. Although Bristol might be an option.

You would be able to afford a decent 3 bed in north Leeds (has an existing Jewish community) or a larger 4 bed in south Leeds (Rothwell, Morley). 2 Large hospitals, culture, shopping, countryside in the form of the Dales or the North York Moors within reach.

The weather in the south east is significantly better than any of the rest of the UK which you might prefer coming from Italy. Less rain, more sun, hotter. Like pp's somewhere like Cambridge, Bury st Edmonds, saffron Walden, Chelmsford are all lovely. Really good job opportunities at addenbrookes hospital.

Cambridge is expensive but for £450k you could get a 3 bed semi in some parts of the city (there are no bad parts, just less nice) or a bigger house in a village like fulbourn, waterbeach, Linton, Melbourn.

Liverpool would be a good fit and with your budget you'd get a lovely house. Lots of hospitals and within reach of beaches/coast. Look in the south part of the city around Allerton/Aigburth/Sefton Park.

I grew up in Sheffield and think it’s a lovely place (moved to London for work but would move back if I could!). Dore is lovely and close to the countryside, but you could look at Broomhill in Sheffield as well - a lovely community, vv close to a big hospital, but a good central shopping street/villagey vibe.

Leeds seems to have plenty of 4+ bedroom houses on offer for £400K or less.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75356419.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66896952.html

DOre is lovely but for your budget you'll only get a semi. Rotherham is a terrible town and no sign of any improvement on the near future. Harrogate is lovely but again property is expensive.

Leeds has a large Jewish community.

Other end of the country entirely but we absolutely adore Folkestone on the Kent coast, after moving around a fair bit (including overseas). Property here is very reasonable - you could probably get a detached house in town for that. There is a high proportion of elderly people as traditionally it was a retirement place but huge investment has seen lots of regeneration and families moving down from London. Big cafe culture, NHS walk in centre In town and a massive hospital in Ashford (twenty minute drive away). Doctors are in high demand here owing to the recently influx of DFLs (down from Londoners). Plus it has been easy to make friends as many people in the same situation. Loads to do for kids as we are on the coast and also loads of countryside to explore. There is also a huge arts scene and lots of heavily funded or free clubs owing to a heavily subsidised regeneration plan by a local billionaire. London is fifty minutes away by train (and a pound return for children) and Canterbury is also a 10 minute drive (or a bus journey) and a beautiful city for days out. Schools are generally very good. Best move we ever made!

This sort of thing is on the outskirts of Folkestone in a part that has its own community and shops but is only short hop from all the main action www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66125589.html or something slightly smaller in the grand West End of town where you will almost be able to see the sea and will definitely be in short strolling distance of the amazing cafe culture www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76260490.html

I’m also going to suggest Sheffield, and as a PP says, the south-west is the best bit. Endcliffe, Broomhill, Fulwood, Ranmoor all lovely. Super close to hospitals, very leafy, great schools, very family friendly, just a few miles from the Peak District for gorgeous countryside but loads of food/drink/cultural options as well.

Not at all like Rotherham!

York is also lovely and nothing like Rotherham. It would be easy to pop up for a day trip from Rotherham to take a look.

Sorry I don't know Manchester. But Edinburgh and Glasgow are both good.
Perhaps check out good schools too. DD is young but if an area has a good secondary school it is another +point .

North Leeds or even North Bradford/Airevalley. City and country at your doorstep, not too expensive, decent transport. Check out Saltaire or Bingley.

I've lived in Manchester for 16 years and love it, though commuting isn't always easy within it. Lots of hospitals in Greater Manchester though ( 9-10 off the top of my head depending on what you count!) There's loads going on in Manchester. Large Jewish community in Prestwich and some parts of Salford. For smaller towns near the city, have a look at Ramsbottom, Macclesfield. Parts of Stockport are nice eg Bramhall (known for good schools) and very easy airport access.

I'm pretty sure there's a dedicated psychiatry unit in Prestwich too

Also Altrincham/Sale/Hale lovely, great schools, but more expensive

Bristol's great, agree with pp. Liberal, beautiful, warmer than the North. Several big hospitals AND Medical uni / teaching establishments.
Cafes, some aeras are quite boho, others just nice.
It's not that great to get to either London or the North (good routes but expensive) but if you don't need these connections, that's no an issue.
Public transport (well buses) is very good , trains also good to various regional places. Good theatres there and in Bath, great concert hall.