Whether you’re looking for a quaint and cute cottage in the countryside or a flat in the middle of a vibrant city – we’ve got a list of the best places to move to in the UK.
So no matter if you’re ready to move or are simply daydreaming of new places to relocate to, read on to get inspired.
Best areas for those who like to party
With so many great spots to choose from, it was difficult to whittle it down to a few.
Starting in Scotland with Stirling, this city is a great place for those who love to go on a night out. Home to the University of Stirling, you’ll find many great bars, clubs and restaurants that cater to various tastes. It also is easily accessible from Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, which also has many amazing clubs in which you can dance the night away. If you’re looking to buy in Stirling, house prices are £213,893 and average rents are £1,473 per calendar month (pcm).*
Next up, we have Newcastle-upon-Tyne – a popular destination for anyone looking for a good night out. Newcastle has an infamous clubbing scene that spreads across the entire city, from the Quayside to the city’s busy centre and beyond. You definitely won’t be short of options here. If you’re looking to get the full Newcastle experience and are looking to move here, you’ll find house prices currently lie at an average of £213,818, while rents average at £1,270 pcm.*
Moving further south to Canterbury in Kent, you may not have considered this history-filled city to be one of the best areas for those who like to party, but thanks to its growing population and the various universities and colleges in the city and surrounding area, you’ll find Canterbury to have a number of great pubs, bars, restaurants, and clubs. In Canterbury, average house prices are £364,098 and monthly rents come to an average of £1,292 pcm.*
Last, but certainly not least, Brighton cannot be missing from this list. With the seaside on one side and the buzzing city on the other, Brighton is up there with the top party locations the UK has to offer. Thanks to its great music venues and comfortable coffee shops and bakeries to help cure a sore head, you’ll quickly grow to love the city and everything it has to offer. House prices average around £534,288, while average rents are £2,108 pcm.*
Of course, London and Manchester aren’t to be forgotten about either as two of the top locations in the UK to party and enjoy a variety of clubs and music.
Best areas to start a family
Finding an area that provides a family with young kids all the amenities it needs can be time-consuming. So, to offer you a helping hand, we’ve rounded up the following cities that include schools with ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted ratings and easily accessible green spaces.
For example, Saffron Walden in Essex is a market town with a population of roughly 16,600. With a local market that takes place twice a week, many independent shops and cafés, as well as a variety of sports clubs, you’ll find plenty of activities for the entire family. The town has several schools and nurseries, with the Saffron Walden County High School achieving an Ofsted rating of Outstanding. *** What’s more, Saffron Walden is easily commutable thanks to a direct train to London Liverpool Street that only takes 52 minutes and to Cambridge, which takes about 15 minutes. Average house prices in Saffron Walden currently are £484,560, while average rents lie at £1,204 pcm.*
Known for its beautiful architecture, Royal Leamington Spa is popular with young professionals, families, and retirees. With beautiful, wide boulevards, a winding river, museums, galleries and gardens, this town is a popular destination for many. It’s a particularly great place to move to for those working in the digital space and gaming, as various digital companies have established themselves in this area. Royal Leamington Spa is also well-connected to its surrounding area and the rest of the UK, and boasts numerous schools with Good to Outstanding Ofsted ratings.** Average house prices here are £401,701 and average rents are £2,012 pcm.
If you’re looking for a great place in Scotland to settle down in, Helensburgh may be the one for you. With current house prices at £254,785, and average rent around £1,259 pcm, * as well as easy access to the countryside and Glasgow, this coastal town located at the mouth of the Gareloch is one to watch. As one of Scotland’s more affluent towns, it offers many attractions to its residents, whether that’s award-winning restaurants or its many independent shops and local sports clubs.
If none of these quite hit the mark for you, you might find Biggleswade, St Ives or Falmouth to be other wonderful UK locations to settle down in.
Best areas to enjoy the city buzz and country feel
Are you torn between being able to enjoy all the buzz a city has to offer and wanting to lead a more laid-back life surrounded by rolling green hills? Then we’ve got some great options for you.
Exmouth in Devon not only has easy access to rolling hills of green, but also sandy beaches and a beautiful coastline. With plenty of restaurants, bars and cafés serving delicious food, Exmouth offers its residents a good balance of both city and country. If you’re looking to buy, house prices in the area are currently £385,650 and monthly average rent is £1,142 pcm.*
Leighton Buzzard is another popular area where you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Just 35 minutes away from central London and with a high street that has everything you need, you won’t have to travel far to get your groceries and other household items. It also has many open spaces and green areas that are great for recreational activities, including areas for water sports and woodland walks. Average house prices in Leighton Buzzard are £346,550 and average rents £1,318 pcm.*
Moving slightly further north, you’ll find Bury St Edmunds. Known for excellent food and a whole host of different activities to fill your weekends with, Bury St Edmunds definitely has a buzz to it. It also has great connections to Norwich, Cambridge and London, as well as Stansted airport, if you’re looking to travel further afield. And when you’ve had enough of the city buzz, Suffolk’s countryside is only a stone throw away, offering you perfect opportunities for city breaks. If you’ve been searching for a place that sounds just like this, average house prices in this area currently are £359,776, while average rents are £1,483 pcm.*
It would be amiss to not mention Cambridge, Norwich, and Aylesbury in this section, too, as these three locations also offer its residents a good mix of city buzz and country feel.
Best areas to escape from the city
Now, for those who value countryside over cityscapes and would rather enjoy a place in the UK that allows one to relax away from the busy streets of London, Newcastle, Glasgow or any other major city in England, Scotland or Wales.
Does this sound like music to your ears? Then you’ll find that there’s no better place to start than Porthmadog in North Wales. Featuring stunning beaches and a beautiful coastline, as well as Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) immediately to the east, this village has a little bit of everything – mountains and castles included. If you’re interested in buying or renting in this slice of heaven, you’ll find that house prices are £184,162 and average monthly rent is £1,385 pcm.*
Next up, Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Surrounded by gentle hills, beautiful gardens and much history, Royal Tunbridge Wells not only is a picturesque place to call home, it was also named one of the happiest places to live in Britain.^ It has excellent transport connections to its surrounding areas and beautiful beaches within an hour’s drive. House prices here average at £563,664, while average rents lie at £2,098 pcm.*
Largs, on the west coast of Scotland, is a hidden gem, especially for families and retirees, and also attracts some young professionals looking to live by the sea. With many historic links to the Vikings, there are many interesting quirks to discover, and you’ll find it easy to relax along the shoreline or go sailing on the Firth of Clyde. House prices in this charming seaside town are £160,021 and average rent is £1,924 pcm.*
In addition to the above locations, you might find that Totnes in Devon, Penzance in Wales and Ely in East Cambridgeshire are great locations to consider moving to if you’d like to escape from the city.
Tips to keep in mind when moving
If moving is on the cards for you soon, or you’ve been inspired by some of the above locations, here are some handy tips to keep in mind:
Declutter your home
Start early by donating or throwing away the items you no longer use any more. Not only will this help you get organised for your upcoming move, it also means you’ll have to pack up and move fewer things into your new home.
Organise your packing
Keep your boxes organised by room. For example, pack all kitchen utensils in one box and label it accordingly.
Hire a removals company
Moving can be stressful, and by hiring experts, you can alleviate some stress and know that your belongings are in safe hands.
Don’t forget about your utilities and internet
Ensure that you’ve informed your providers of your move, and that you’ve transferred or set up a new account for utilities and internet in your new home.
To help you avoid any other common moving mistakes, read more about it here.
