Leaving England - where to?
Discussion
I'm just interested in suggestions and ideas from others.
We are thinking about options for leaving England and are starting to look around and think about options.
We are in our late 40's with two children in their early teens, so will be looking at university in a few years. My OH is an NHS consultant and we are increasingly looking at the way things are going and the pressures/stresses/negatives are now outweighing the positives by quite a margin.
I think we would really limit ourselves to Europe. We are pinko-commie-socialists and believe in things like the NHS and free education.
I suppose that the easy options would be Scotland or Ireland because of the language, but I guess France/Holland/Denmark/etc might be of interest as well.
Who has made the move and how has it gone? Anyone else looking at things?
I'm really just interested in other peoples thinking and experiences.
thanks!
We are thinking about options for leaving England and are starting to look around and think about options.
We are in our late 40's with two children in their early teens, so will be looking at university in a few years. My OH is an NHS consultant and we are increasingly looking at the way things are going and the pressures/stresses/negatives are now outweighing the positives by quite a margin.
I think we would really limit ourselves to Europe. We are pinko-commie-socialists and believe in things like the NHS and free education.
I suppose that the easy options would be Scotland or Ireland because of the language, but I guess France/Holland/Denmark/etc might be of interest as well.
Who has made the move and how has it gone? Anyone else looking at things?
I'm really just interested in other peoples thinking and experiences.
thanks!
I have many friends that have parted these shores for others and without exception, all would rather that they had not done so and are looking for ways to return.
I have the pleasure of travelling a great deal for work for a job that requires me to get underneath local communities and societies and there are many lovely places to visit and to have a second home in but I've yet to find anywhere I'd put above the UK. For all the crap, IMO, the UK is really a great place to exist by some considerable margin.
Based upon your requirements, a few years ago I would have suggested Sweden - where by BiL lives. But their socialist ideal is fast unravelling and a place where 'bland' is not a negative term.
I think the country you are looking for is called Utopia.
I have the pleasure of travelling a great deal for work for a job that requires me to get underneath local communities and societies and there are many lovely places to visit and to have a second home in but I've yet to find anywhere I'd put above the UK. For all the crap, IMO, the UK is really a great place to exist by some considerable margin.
Based upon your requirements, a few years ago I would have suggested Sweden - where by BiL lives. But their socialist ideal is fast unravelling and a place where 'bland' is not a negative term.
I think the country you are looking for is called Utopia.
TooLateForAName said:
We are pinko-commie-socialists
I'm Scottish and a rare thatcherite in those lands, but Scotland sounds ideal. (I live in south east now). If you head north of the Glasgow / Edinburgh central belt you'll find a more idle life. I'd happily retire to the likes of Applecross ...Don't underestimate friends and family.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc. are all a long way away. When you're lonely or ill, or someone back in the UK is in need of you, you're going to feel very isolated and lonely/useless.
My in-laws moved to Perth for 2 years in the early 90's (my wife was 10 at the time). Father in law loved it, mother in law hated it. They moved back.
Their best friends stayed there, and still live there. They've done well for themselves and own a nice house in Ocean Reef and have a property in Mandurah that they rent out.
However, the lady now has a terminal brain tumour and has been given 3 months to live. All of her family live in the UK. Sunshine and prawns on the BBQ not so important anymore!
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc. are all a long way away. When you're lonely or ill, or someone back in the UK is in need of you, you're going to feel very isolated and lonely/useless.
My in-laws moved to Perth for 2 years in the early 90's (my wife was 10 at the time). Father in law loved it, mother in law hated it. They moved back.
Their best friends stayed there, and still live there. They've done well for themselves and own a nice house in Ocean Reef and have a property in Mandurah that they rent out.
However, the lady now has a terminal brain tumour and has been given 3 months to live. All of her family live in the UK. Sunshine and prawns on the BBQ not so important anymore!
Simon Brooks said:
New Zealand in a heart beat
Despite my earlier post, NZ is one of the few places where I do 'get' people wanting to live. It is a terrific place and very British to the point that when you get off the plane having spent a day on one, you're forgiven for thinking "have I actually gone anywhere?"That said, I was there last October and met many Brits - in fact, I think every third person I met was a Brit - and was taken aback by the amount saying they were looking to move back to the UK. Many Kiwis too. I get the impression that you very quickly hit the limit of what you are capable of doing in life in terms of work with far great opportunity to progress here.
crankedup said:
New Zealand would be first on my list for consideration.
This.A close friend of mine moved there (Wellington) April last year and works for their version of the highways agency and DVLA (combined I think)
He absolutely loves it, we're both from South wales and he says it's just like home but with better ish weather. Also NZ is slightly bigger than the UK but with around 4-5 million people I think, the amount of space when you get out of the cities apparently is staggering.
I can't wait to visit.
Whereabouts do you live presently?
I've seen/spent a lot of time in other countries and bar the weather I feel the UK is one of the best places to live in the world. When the sun shines it's simply the best.
If you are in the South I would suggest a move further North. It doesn't necessarily have to be Scotland, but a much gentler pace of life can be guaranteed by heading towards Yorkshire/Northumbria and Cumbria.
If you are in those areas you'll still have good transport links and opportunities for employment. Wages will be less but the reduced living costs more than makes up for that.
I like peace and quiet so found even Yorkshire too crowded for my liking and decided to settle in Scotland. I love the lack of congestion and overcrowding, but it's nice to be able to visit family and friends once in a while back home or for emergencies. 4 hours in a car is nothing in comparison to living the other side of the world.
Changing countries can be a drastic step when what you are looking for is achievable here.
I've seen/spent a lot of time in other countries and bar the weather I feel the UK is one of the best places to live in the world. When the sun shines it's simply the best.
If you are in the South I would suggest a move further North. It doesn't necessarily have to be Scotland, but a much gentler pace of life can be guaranteed by heading towards Yorkshire/Northumbria and Cumbria.
If you are in those areas you'll still have good transport links and opportunities for employment. Wages will be less but the reduced living costs more than makes up for that.
I like peace and quiet so found even Yorkshire too crowded for my liking and decided to settle in Scotland. I love the lack of congestion and overcrowding, but it's nice to be able to visit family and friends once in a while back home or for emergencies. 4 hours in a car is nothing in comparison to living the other side of the world.
Changing countries can be a drastic step when what you are looking for is achievable here.
Having had a serious look at New Zealand a couple of year ago, I found property in New Zealand can be a bit expensive, as is any food not grown on the Island. Schools can be a bit rubbish. Generally about 10 years behind Oz, which is a few years behind the UK. If you have plenty of money its a fantastic place to live.
If you don't mind the cold and are prepared to learn the language northern Sweden would get my vote.
If you don't mind the cold and are prepared to learn the language northern Sweden would get my vote.
Jasandjules said:
Would quite like the idea of Australia. But I would also look at Canada. Really it depends on your family situation etc as being 12-24 hours away from friends/family can be a problem for some people
Canada is not necessarily that far away. Nova Scotia, for instance, can be got to in 5 hours or so, which isn't much different than Greece or Cyprus. Prince Edward Island is very pretty if you like that sort of thing.I was in Ottawa for a month last year, that too is a fantastic city, and not too difficult to get to.
However, much of Canada is very cold in winter, if you want British style climate, you need to look at Vancouver, as it's warmed by the Pacific version of our Gulf Stream, and is very mild, albeit somewhat wet. It's 11 hours away though.
Actually, having spent 9 weeks in Vancouver working, it's one of the few places I've been to that I would be happy to live in. For reference, I've worked in many places, the longest been 5 months (Spain, never again), and although I've not been anywhere long enough to get a proper feel for a place, you do see things differently when working as opposed to holidaying.
Things that are quaint, or amusing when you're on holiday are a massive pain in the proverbial when you are there for work.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff