29F, family all dead/estranged, suggest me a place in the UK for a new start

[BubbleLily]

I’m looking for a new start after a difficult few years with bereavement and family estrangement. I’ve only ever lived in two places in my life so I have very few points of reference to go by!

I’m 29, single, no children, not in touch with any family/relatives, friends scattered across the UK. I work from home full-time and have excellent job security, so I could go pretty much anywhere.

I would be renting initially but am in a good position to buy once I’ve found an area I like enough.

I’m looking for somewhere that’s young, dynamic, left-wing and open minded. Somewhere that’s friendly and not too difficult for a transplant like me to make new friends in. I’d ideally like for the flat itself to be somewhere with cafes, parks etc within easy reach, somewhere with a bit of a buzz around it without being too loud at night.

On paper, Bristol and Brighton/Hove seem like a good fit, although I’ve never visited either. I also want to live alone, which rules out London as that’s too expensive on my current salary - but I think I could manage in any other city.

Sheffield, Sheffield, and Sheffield!!
Come and have a look - we're very friendly. Totally fits your criteria, and The Peaks on the doorstep is added bonus. Look at Crookes, and Walkley.

Edinburgh is expensive and not that friendly. Glasgow is better for people being more friendly. Weather is crap in both though!

Or one of the nice smaller towns in the area - Harrogate, Knaresborough, Malton etc.
Great train links in York.

Sorry for your loss. As others suggest spend time in each city. My eldest went to Uni in Bristol and stayed there. I like it tge independent cafe culture etc.
As a Scot I recommend Glasgow ( West End)
20mins ftom Loch Lomond. Not far from the coast too.
I like Cardiff.
Newcastle and Durham come to mind too.
I like York but too many Stag and Hens.

Good luck in your search
Enjoy your new home

London

I immediately thought Bristol. I think you need somewhere cosmopolitan rather than small if you're single and want to make friends. What do you like doing? Work from that. ( Eg. yoga classes, art classes, hiking, whatever. ) Go where you can find your interests.
A couple of people have suggested Norwich but I lived there for four years and always got treated like an outsider/tourist (London accent) and short-changed in the market. I found it small-minded. That was a few years ago - maybe it's changed.

Lived in Bristol for a few years, great place to live, lots going on, University studrents give it a great vibe. Huge fan of the Harbourside, restaurants, coffee shops, theatre, cinema, just about everything you could want.

Too expensive for me and there was a certain level of inner city decline in some areas but all being said it was a fun to be there while it lasted.

Cardiff is also a brilliant city, same vibrant feel from the students, young, fun, much like Bristol but full of wonderful Welsh people and a nice castle. It can get a bit rowdy when there's a sporting event on at the stadium or when the rugby is on but nothing that would put me off.

City life isn't for me but both places have a lot to offer.

This x100. I live in Brighton and it's very middle class right on. Deprivation is also an issue and even though it's always been bad the drug taking and homelessness on the streets is much worse in recent years.

I miss living up north. Strangers say hi in their neighbourhood that never happens in Brighton. Check out Brighton Girl on FB so many young women in their 20's who aren't making friends and looking for them on this site.

I'm planning to move back to Manchester in the next few years once house prices aren't so stagnant.

Cheltenham, Edinburgh or Oxford

My initial thought was Bristol or Cardiff. I think both are great cities, but quite different from each other. Depending on your budget, I would say a property in Clifton (££££££) or Roath (less expensive than Clifton!) would probably be a good bet.

Consider changing your job op.

It will be tricky to move to entirely new area not knowing anyone and wfh 100% from home

I’d look for a not fully remote job, that you like the feel for the office and similar aged people to you or thereabouts…. And then move according to that location.

Yes to Cardiff, maybe Swansea, and to add to the list I would also consider Leicester.

Actually agree with some comments saying different areas have different weather and this can be an issue. I had mostly lived in the south before, and when we moved near Cardiff one thing I didn’t enjoy was the amount of rain! It’s really true about it being wet and I did struggle with that. Although I miss the city of Cardiff, I don’t miss the weather now I’m back on the drier chalky South Downs.

Cambridge
Bristol
York
Newcastle

I'd book a weekend trip to each and see what suits.

I wouldn't choose Brighton - so touristy, very LGBTQ+ and grotty in places. Norwich and Oxford too quiet imo.

Are you wedded to the UK with your job? I'd definitely be considering European cities.

Had a friend move from London to York and she's so happy there. She was single when she moved, joined a netball team and made lots of friends, she's since met her now husband there. She really struggled with online dating in London - it's almost too big!

Strathbungo and Crossmeloaf! Worth moving just for the names!
Seriously, I wouldn't move because all contacts are in London and the SE (and probably because of the weather). But if those weren't factors I'd definitely look at some of the large cities already mentioned e.g. Manchester, Cardiff. Although not particularly cheap, in the nice areas you get so much more for your money than in London and some properties are really attractive, plus all the city has to offer.

@NotMeekNotObedient being honest I would say Bristol is exactly as you described Brighton , but grubbier - which is why we moved 11 miles up road to Bath. In my honest opinion and I know all these places well Cardiff is a better bet than Bristol , better shopping, better and cheaper housing and far friendlier across the board - my son get fed up when he lived in Bristol of looking at house shares where they only wanted you if you were LBTQ and vegan

Apart from Cardiff and Bristol I was going to suggest Exeter. Lots going on, easy road and rail links to other parts of the UK but best of all, the gateway to the SW, beautiful beaches, surfing communities etc.

Perth.

Another vote for Glasgow. Moved here from the south. Have coped with the weather and in the summer it's actually lovely that it is a bit cooler sometimes - I visit London for work and it's too hot! Beautiful parks, great live music and theatre scene, lovely restaurants, the city is full of creative people. Lots of students/young people. Property is cheaper than down south, although mainly (quite grand) apartments rather than houses in the West End.

Nice of the OP to come back and read our suggestions

Another vote for Edinburgh, lots of flats close to green spaces, hills on one side of the city, sea on the other, thriving arts scene, excellent public transport, loads of young professionals and folk who aren't "locals", good train and air links, drier than many places in the west of the country (Manchester and Glasgow I'm looking at you!), the only downside is the price of property compared to some cities and rate of income tax if you're in the higher bands.
I don't agree with those suggesting the "naice" suburbs of Manchester, they're very boring suburbia IMO compared to somewhere like Brighton (which wouldn't be my choice personally because it's overpriced and dirty!)

I doubt that anything will come of the plan anyway.

So many great suggestions! Thank you all for your input. I think the advice of booking AirBnBs in a few different places is what I’ll be doing this summer. Brighton on paper is where I’m leaning towards as it’s within a reasonable distance of London to see friends that live there, if I change jobs at some point in the future and get a hybrid job based in London, etc. Going to give Bristol and Sheffield a visit too.

I know Brighton well. Just bear in mind, Brighton is v expensive for property to buy/rent and the traffic is something else. But worth exploring, if you are considering it. Good luck OP.

I can comment well having lived all over London and Brighton too. Can confirm Worthing is a great place if you want:
-A lovely quiet beach-
Beautiful countryside and walking nearby-
Friendly community, quite diverse and queer friendly
-Very good cafes restaurants pubs and bars (both traditional and also natural wines bars and small plates etc, craft breweries for a bit of pizazz)
-Two great cinemas and theatres
-Good schools
-Leafy parks
-Decent town centre with walkable shops
-Three train stations(!) and an easy enough commute straight to Victoria/East Croydon/Clapham
-Decent parking (especially compared to Brighton)
-And affordable homes! I bought my three bedroom house in a good area for only 30k more than my one bedroom flat in Brighton-For us it's been a no brainer and we love it, we're in our 30s and lots of our friends are following suit.
-Best areas: Check it out in person. Personally we're near the station on a leafy nice street, Tarring (West) is also desirable. But the best way to ascertain is to go and walk around