If you’ve ever thought about packing your bags, leaving, and starting anew somewhere else, you’ve probably felt overwhelmed with the choices available. Whether you’re moving away to study, or you just need to get away from your old life for a bit, the planet earth has definitely got you covered with prospective new homes. Today, we’re going to take a look at a few cities in the UK which are particularly inviting to outsiders who decide to set up shop there.
London
Ah, the big smoke. London is kind of like New York, and has about the same number of people living there. And, like NY, it also has a fairly cosmopolitan—and totally unique—makeup; because of this, it presents one of the most culturally diverse cities on earth. No matter what age you are, you’ll likely never run out of ways to keep yourself occupied; there are endless touristic sights to see, restaurants that cater to every palette imaginable, some of the best colleges in the world, and enough career opportunities to keep any wide-eyed youngster constantly motivated.
Whether you’re enjoying the world-famous Indian restaurants in Brick Lane, seeing the most exciting new bands performing in Shoreditch, browsing the extensive and unique wares of Camden Market, or bumping shoulders with celebrities in Soho coffee shops, you’ll literally never get bored in London.
Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, is an almost painfully-beautiful place. The neo-Classical and Georgian architecture of the New Town, combined with the medieval Old Town, make it one of the most amazing places to live in the world. In fact, many tourists who go there claim that it’s the most beautiful place they’ve ever seen.
Equally stunning in the dismal Scottish rain as it is on a gorgeous sunny day, Edinburgh is home to around four hundred thousand people. A large part of the population is made up of students, many of whom go to the world-renowned Edinburgh University. It also presents an exciting nightlife with nightclubs offering everything from cutting-edge electronic music to the heaviest of metal, a wealth of art galleries and museums which can be visited and explored for free, as well as an innumerable range of boutique stores, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Despite all this, because Edinburgh is only 102 square miles, you’ll never be more than 40 minutes away from the city borders, which are absolutely filled with lush green fields and places to relax. Whether you’re spending a day walking in the Pentland Hills, enjoying the beach at Seton Sands, or going on a daytrip to the lovely nearby North Berwick, you’ll always have options when you need to get away from the city.
Brighton
Brighton is a particularly unique town, in that it’s very small (it’s less than 32 square miles), and is home to only just over 285,000 people. Despite this, it is one of the most highly-regarded localities in the UK for the liberal attitudes and art-friendly culture which are consistent throughout the seaside resort. In fact, on a clear day, you can see the shore of France from Brighton.
The Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe are two of the biggest events the town holds each year, taking place in May and presenting an incredible parade of activities including pyrotechnics, music and visual arts, as well as ground-breaking theatre. Likewise, the frequent London to Brighton rides showcase one of the most dazzlingly large displays of minis and scooters that you’ll ever see, while food and drink related festivals (such as the general food festival and Fiery Foods Chilli Festival) mean that you’ll be able to enjoy a range of dishes as diverse as the cities population itself.
Particularly loved by students, Brighton is a great place to live no matter your age. The people there are considerably warmer and more open than those you’ll meet in London, and the location means that it’s one of the best places to catch some Summer rays in the UK. If you’re interested in art or music, you have to visit this amazing little town at least once in your life.
We hope that this small list has given you some ideas about where you’re going to move to next. The UK is filled with great places to live in, but these are our three favorites and we’re sure that you’ll feel the same if you take the time to go and check them out too!