If you could live anywhere in the UK, where would it be?

[slapmatt]

Me and the Missus have been pondering a move out of Swindon for some time, but in all honestly I am totally stumped as to where in the country to move to. Swindon is a scabby hell-hole full of over-weight single mothers and Burberry wearing cocks, but where isn't nowadays?

I would love to live in Bournemouth/Dorset, but there is literally no IT development jobs there at all - and unfortunately a job is a necessary evil.

I've lived in London - and it's not my cup of tea.

Short of leaving the country (which doesn't sound like a bad idea) can anyone suggest some nice places to live... please.

[vixpy1]

Why would anyone want to live in a city?

[Jaglover]

Nice places?

In the Cotswolds or much of Devon and Cornwall. Whether there is any work there for you is another matter.

>> Edited by Jaglover on Wednesday 8th February 11:28

[wolves_wanderer]

Leeds, I lived there at Uni and for a while afterwards and would move back in a flash if I could keep my job. Great people, fantastic nightlife - definately the best place I've ever lived.

[ewenm]

I do IT development and live in Bath. Nice place and easy access to the countryside/fun roads. Property is a bit pricey though. Bristol is an easy commute too for more work opportunities.

>> Edited by ewenm on Wednesday 8th February 11:29

[slapmatt]

Jaglover said:

Nice places? In the Cotswolds or much of Devon and Cornwall. Whether there is any work there for you is another matter.

That is the crux of the matter though Jags, Swindon is what-it-is, but it is overflowing with decent paying IT jobs.

[alfaman]

Cotswolds

[TeamD]

slapmatt said:

Short of leaving the country (which doesn't sound like a bad idea) can anyone suggest some nice places to live... please.

At home, I'm getting fed up with my itinerant/nomadic existence. It'd be really nice to see the wife and kids for more than just weekends.

[bga]

Brighton?
Will be moving there in next couple of years myself

[Moose.]

In a nice small village on the Cornwall coastline

[timmy30]

There are some nice villages up the Thames valley/Chilterns border from Reading, you could ive either in a village or in the countryside a short distance from the train station, and there are still plenty of IT jobs in Reading.

Have you looked at any of Goring, Pangbourne, Henley?

[alexkp]

Easy - Lyme Regis.

[NAS]

vixpy1 said:

Why would anyone want to live in a city?

I grew up in a village with 2000 people living there. Then 14 years somewhere with 25.000 inhabitants. Then 2 cities with 1.5 million and now in one which is twice the size of London.

I used to think I'd never love a city, but I do. It's fantastic. Maybe in 10 years when I'm 35 a small town will appeal again, but I'd miss the food, the nightlife and meeting new people from dozens of different countries every day. And the women. I'd miss the women. City life rules

[Flat in Fifth]

South Hams, but not Kingsbridge.

Hope Cove I think but plenty of places to choose from.

[gbbird]

Scarborough!

[Donut]

I've heard good things about Milton Keynes

[TheRedOnion]

I would have to say Dorset too as I've got some friends down there(preferably Sandbanks in Poole, unfortunately the lottery numbers haven't come up yet!). I'm in IT too and there doesn't seem to be a lot of it going about down there.

Sunny sussex (at the moment) isn't so bad though, live in a village with several pubs, really sociable people, a fantastic Indian restaurant and a 15 min drive to work. The only thing is a lack of 30something ladies! Ah well, you can't have everything I suppose

[alexkp]

Donut said:

I've heard good things about Milton Keynes

There are many, many worse places than Milton Keynes.

For some reaon it was fashionable to slate it, but very few places have so many green spaces, lakes, leisure facilities and are as car friendly.

To be honest, it should be PH paradise.

[zoidberg]

slapmatt said:

Me and the Missus have been pondering a move out of Swindon for some time, but in all honestly I am totally stumped as to where in the country to move to. Swindon is a scabby hell-hole full of over-weight single mothers and Burberry wearing cocks, but where isn't nowadays?

Why not move out of Swindon and into a surrounding town/village? Nice new developments in the Cotswolds water parks (about 10-15 mins away) or Cirencester?

[princeperch]

Whilst I wouldnt want to live in London either, I think life would be a lot poorer if I couldnt pop to London now and again.

To that end, Im quite happy living where I do in Herts. Hardly any chavs/yobs, fairly quiet but enough bars/clubs close by to go to. The schools are good and my little market town has some nice independant shops, and no big chain stores (apart from a Tescos obviously, but most places have these now).

Most of my friends live minutes away in various villages with well kept greens with duckponds, proper local pubs, ancient churches, Norman castles, timber-framed cottages, ancient-spired churches and stately old halls and mansions etc etc..

Hertfordshire is just a nice county to live in (Steveo is prob the worst for environment/chav levels etc but even its not so bad)

Im quite surprised it only made it to number 6 in that C4 best places to live in Britain thing not so long ago.