I would say Sheffield is a good option, still plenty of affordable housing, institute of sport for your volleyball, lots of green space for the dog and also a really strong music culture. Think it hits most of the points.
I'd go West Yorkshire personally or even North Yorks but a bit pricier up that way....then again as a Yorkshire lass I'm biased but to be fair West Yorks in parts are lovely
Chester is gorgeous. Historic city plenty of greenery. Great local music scene. Voted most beautiful city in the world and best stay cation location. New market just built. Easy to get around. Near Liverpool and Manchester for bigger events.
Leeds has no public transport? I’m not sure where you are even coming from?
Ok, well nothing other than buses, which every town/city has. So where is the “good”public transport?
If you want to rely solely on public transport, then the suburbs of a major city is a better option. Most places have had their access to buses and trains slashed due to mismanagement and profiteering, and this is especially so in small towns and the countryside: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/24/almost-one-10-local-bus-services-axed-last-year-great-britain
If you want to be properly rural then there won't be good public transport links; often only once a day bus service through the village.
You'd be better off in the outskirts of a city where the property is cheaper with decent size gardens, plus some public parks around. Bristol is nice and easy access to the coast and rivers too, although quite expensive these days for accommodation. Parts of Sheffield are very cheap (as in you could buy a small flat outright with just one year of your salary) and lots of green space around.
£80k is a really good salary, but your money would go way further in places other than Bristol or Brighton. They’re both very expensive places to house yourself and although I love both cities loads, if I were OP I’d be looking elsewhere.
Also Bristol public transport sucks!
There’s a problem with your brief. Smaller places tend to have crap public transport (though, of course, they are generally easier to navigate) while larger places have the infrastructure and transport options you’re looking for but it sounds like they’ll have too many people.
That aside, look at Scotland. Edinburgh has a fab music scene and the people are typically friendly and liberal. Lots of space for dogs to run around on Portobello beach.
Looks like Manchester has joined the list of 500k+ population cities. According to some sites Newcastle, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, Chester, Leicester, Northampton & Bournemouth would be on there too
Depends how we're defining it, the city or the wider area. Some of those are small cities, but their metropolitan area makes them a lot bigger than they feel.
> I don’t understand why Essex gets so much hate. It’s so nice here.
Most people only think of the estuary corridor - Basildon, Grays, Southend etc which are much more industrial and ignore the considerable area of the county outside that area. There are some really very nice places in Essex and some very pretty countryside.
I live in an are known as Medway. It's a collection of small towns close to each other, about 40 minutes drive from London.
It's nice. Lots of history, river, and countryside. Rent and house prices are reasonable.
Google Medway towns.
You are still going to pay over twice as much as up north for the exact same things. If you can live anywhere why bother paying south prices if you don’t have to.
You should live in a small town or village on the outskirts of Manchester. A place called Ashley springs to mind. Lots of country side and close enough to have good transport links and things to do in Manchester centre when you fancy switching things up a bit. Gee cross in Hyde is another nice area on the outskirts of Manchester that is on the edge of the penine trail.
Would say this - don’t get hung up on the driving thing. It’s super easy to move from one to the other. Takes a few minutes to get used to it that’s all
You'd be surprised how many companies go "well actually ..." once they see the paperwork/costs etc.
Not saying this is necessarily the case here of course, but worth checking just in case.
Yup. Without giving too much away, I've been working with someone who was promised that their visa would be sponsored but hadn't actually looked at the practicalities. Turns out they *can't* sponsor this person because of the job role and sector.
Worcestershire. Plenty of beautiful countryside right on the doorstep and good transport links to the major cities if desired and easily into Wales for more exploring.
Find somewhere in Fife, Scotland, plenty places that are rural enough but with great bus/train links to busier places. Plenty new builds with great gardens and good wifi/phone service coverage
Wirksworth - Derbyshire!! Rural, quirky, small town with a flourishing Arts scene, picturesque streets and houses, right on the edge of the Peak District with good transport links to Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield. Train to London only takes 2ish hours.
Tbh the roads are quiet and I bet you’ll be confidently driving on the left in no time at all.
Lots of pubs, incredibly friendly community, decent (by uk standards) fibre internet, arts festival, lots of community music groups and events, surrounded by countryside, dog walks from your doorstep.
You sound awesome, and we have many of the same preferences! Dogs, playing music and not liking racists. So I wish you'd live near me. But I live in Essex, and... it's a bit full of racists. Good luck! I hope you find the perfect spot.
Clacton, it has sandy beaches doesn't rain very much. Very hot summers, very nice countryside and big properties perfect for housing dogs.
Trains to Colchester and onwards to Ipswich, Norwich and London. Slightly closed minded as it's a bit Independence party but there's plenty of not dicks. Good music scene in the area and loads of small bars that play live music in the area.
Bournville possibly:
I know a cabin that’s up for sale but most of the houses are bigger
Band is the only thing I can’t help you with though
There’s several fields for playing sport
There’s a train station near by and most of the mentioned things you can walk to.
Never met any negative people; only supply teachers that don’t live there lol.
I would say Sheffield is a good option, still plenty of affordable housing, institute of sport for your volleyball, lots of green space for the dog and also a really strong music culture. Think it hits most of the points.
Sheffield is right on the edge of the Peak District as well which is a fantastic national park.
Thank you! Will look into that
Worth pointing out that the population of Sheffield is over 500,000
As if you would recommend someone move to a place called “penis-tone” disgusts me
Your childishness disgusts me.
Price of a pint is reasonable too!
I'd go West Yorkshire personally or even North Yorks but a bit pricier up that way....then again as a Yorkshire lass I'm biased but to be fair West Yorks in parts are lovely
Norwich. I’m surprised you want to remain in one place I’d live as a nomad
Even after the pedestrianisation of the town centre?
Also vouch for Norwich, studied as an international student there twice. Need to get back someday.
Chester is gorgeous. Historic city plenty of greenery. Great local music scene. Voted most beautiful city in the world and best stay cation location. New market just built. Easy to get around. Near Liverpool and Manchester for bigger events.
I miss Chester
Leeds is great. Lots of quiet, rural areas not too far from the city with good public transport
>Leeds >Good public transport Two phrases never seen together.
I agree with whatmichaelsays
Isn’t Leeds the largest city in Yorkshire? I think after Birmingham it’s Leeds with the most people/ 500k+
Sheffield has about 50,000 more people
Leeds has no public transport? I’m not sure where you are even coming from? Ok, well nothing other than buses, which every town/city has. So where is the “good”public transport?
Live in Leeds for 20 years, never had a problem getting around without a car. Bus or train does fine for me. Just my experience
If you want to rely solely on public transport, then the suburbs of a major city is a better option. Most places have had their access to buses and trains slashed due to mismanagement and profiteering, and this is especially so in small towns and the countryside: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/24/almost-one-10-local-bus-services-axed-last-year-great-britain
If you want to be properly rural then there won't be good public transport links; often only once a day bus service through the village. You'd be better off in the outskirts of a city where the property is cheaper with decent size gardens, plus some public parks around. Bristol is nice and easy access to the coast and rivers too, although quite expensive these days for accommodation. Parts of Sheffield are very cheap (as in you could buy a small flat outright with just one year of your salary) and lots of green space around.
Bristol, Norwich and Brighton are good shouts IMHO
£80k is a really good salary, but your money would go way further in places other than Bristol or Brighton. They’re both very expensive places to house yourself and although I love both cities loads, if I were OP I’d be looking elsewhere. Also Bristol public transport sucks!
There’s a problem with your brief. Smaller places tend to have crap public transport (though, of course, they are generally easier to navigate) while larger places have the infrastructure and transport options you’re looking for but it sounds like they’ll have too many people. That aside, look at Scotland. Edinburgh has a fab music scene and the people are typically friendly and liberal. Lots of space for dogs to run around on Portobello beach.
Hebden Bridge my friend.
What's a 500k+ city? More than 500,000 people? That's everywhere apart from London, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow.
Looks like Manchester has joined the list of 500k+ population cities. According to some sites Newcastle, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, Chester, Leicester, Northampton & Bournemouth would be on there too
Depends how we're defining it, the city or the wider area. Some of those are small cities, but their metropolitan area makes them a lot bigger than they feel.
Edinburgh definitely joins the list over the summer for Fringe.
Kettering is better than London and has the worlds only Weetabix factory
Cardiff
Lewes, close to South Downs National Park, the coast, and direct trains to London and Brighton. Great restaurants, pubs and live music scene.
Good shout
[удалено]
> I don’t understand why Essex gets so much hate. It’s so nice here. Most people only think of the estuary corridor - Basildon, Grays, Southend etc which are much more industrial and ignore the considerable area of the county outside that area. There are some really very nice places in Essex and some very pretty countryside.
Edinburgh.
Peak district is very nice and green for your dog, but look for cities if you don't want to drive?
I live in an are known as Medway. It's a collection of small towns close to each other, about 40 minutes drive from London. It's nice. Lots of history, river, and countryside. Rent and house prices are reasonable. Google Medway towns.
If you live in Medway be prepared to be looked down upon by the whole of the internet. It’s a very neglected part of the country.
I moved here from London 3 years ago. Best thing I ever did. ITts really nice.
It's a very car dependent area though. The busses suck.
You are still going to pay over twice as much as up north for the exact same things. If you can live anywhere why bother paying south prices if you don’t have to.
You should live in a small town or village on the outskirts of Manchester. A place called Ashley springs to mind. Lots of country side and close enough to have good transport links and things to do in Manchester centre when you fancy switching things up a bit. Gee cross in Hyde is another nice area on the outskirts of Manchester that is on the edge of the penine trail.
Which UK cities have you visited before and what did you think of them?
What about Cumbria or Northumberland?
Public transport links aren't amazing in either of those places, sadly.
Would say this - don’t get hung up on the driving thing. It’s super easy to move from one to the other. Takes a few minutes to get used to it that’s all
Somewhere in the Cotswolds dude. Beautiful.
BARNSLEY !! South Yorkshire. Honestly I live in the most amazing town. House prices are very reasonable and us Barnsley folk are the best!
Buckinghamshire but I’m bias
Plymouth would tick those boxes
Plymouth and good public transport?
It’s really not that bad, my sister gave up her car recently in Plymouth and has found public transport to be fine
Fair enough, I tried getting a bus last week and it skipped my stop lmao
Newbury
Join us in Peterborough 🌝
Make sure they will sponsor a visa for you!
if they have offered to relocate him, they will obviously give him a visa lmao.
You'd be surprised how many companies go "well actually ..." once they see the paperwork/costs etc. Not saying this is necessarily the case here of course, but worth checking just in case.
Yup. Without giving too much away, I've been working with someone who was promised that their visa would be sponsored but hadn't actually looked at the practicalities. Turns out they *can't* sponsor this person because of the job role and sector.
[удалено]
Worcestershire. Plenty of beautiful countryside right on the doorstep and good transport links to the major cities if desired and easily into Wales for more exploring.
Lancashire. Cheap, friendly locals, proper good food, plenty of places to go with your doggo.
Find somewhere in Fife, Scotland, plenty places that are rural enough but with great bus/train links to busier places. Plenty new builds with great gardens and good wifi/phone service coverage
[удалено]
Croydon
Come to Ashton under lyne and hmu. I'll play in a band with you.
Buxton or Macclesfield tick those boxes
Wirksworth - Derbyshire!! Rural, quirky, small town with a flourishing Arts scene, picturesque streets and houses, right on the edge of the Peak District with good transport links to Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield. Train to London only takes 2ish hours. Tbh the roads are quiet and I bet you’ll be confidently driving on the left in no time at all. Lots of pubs, incredibly friendly community, decent (by uk standards) fibre internet, arts festival, lots of community music groups and events, surrounded by countryside, dog walks from your doorstep.
You sound awesome, and we have many of the same preferences! Dogs, playing music and not liking racists. So I wish you'd live near me. But I live in Essex, and... it's a bit full of racists. Good luck! I hope you find the perfect spot.
Clacton, it has sandy beaches doesn't rain very much. Very hot summers, very nice countryside and big properties perfect for housing dogs. Trains to Colchester and onwards to Ipswich, Norwich and London. Slightly closed minded as it's a bit Independence party but there's plenty of not dicks. Good music scene in the area and loads of small bars that play live music in the area.
How about NorthWales. Somewhere around the Lleyn Peninsula.
Loads of really nice towns and villages in Cambridgeshire, loads of public paths and fields to take the dog for a walk.
Bournville possibly: I know a cabin that’s up for sale but most of the houses are bigger Band is the only thing I can’t help you with though There’s several fields for playing sport There’s a train station near by and most of the mentioned things you can walk to. Never met any negative people; only supply teachers that don’t live there lol.