Moving to the UK from NZ
Discussion
I have been living in Australia & New Zealand for over 4 yrs now, sadly due to visa restrictions I may have to go back to the UK! I have no idea where to live tho! I would like to be near the Ocean or at least a lake haha as thats what I have been use to and love for 4 yrs now. I understand this is the UK, so dont expect much, but any advice would be great. I am early 30s and looking for somewhere that is not full of teens but still holds a great atmosphere and is friendly. Not really a city gal so London is a huge no! What about Exeter? I hear thats a nice place???? Can anyone help???
kerr004646 said:
I would like to be near the Ocean or at least a lake haha as thats what I have been use to and love for 4 yrs now. I understand this is the UK, so dont expect much, but any advice would be great.
The Uk is an Island just like new Zealand... you have your choice of thousands of miles of coastline.A simple guideline would be, up north it's colder and wetter and down south, warmer and sunnier.
Up North where I live it is sparsely populated and in the words of one politician "desolate", however it is very beautiful and peaceful.
Further south it is a lot more crowded and bustling, however work prospects are better.
I love Cornwall personally. St. Ives, Penzance, Truro and Newquay are some of my favourite places. Truro is more in land though and Newquay is very much a teenage tourist destination.
If you want somewhere really quiet, there are loads of little fishing vilages such as Port Isaac.
I've never lived in any of these places but if I had a choice of where to live in the UK, these are the places I'd be looking.
Where in New Zealand do you live? I spent some time around Mount Maunganui and it's probably the most beautiful, interesting and amazing place I've ever been to.
If you want somewhere really quiet, there are loads of little fishing vilages such as Port Isaac.
I've never lived in any of these places but if I had a choice of where to live in the UK, these are the places I'd be looking.
Where in New Zealand do you live? I spent some time around Mount Maunganui and it's probably the most beautiful, interesting and amazing place I've ever been to.
Edited by TheTurbonator on Saturday 11th January 23:04
One of your main considerations will be budget and property aspirations. Poole, Bournemouth and the surrounding area, as mentioned already, are nice, with great beaches and good watersports, but a lot more expensive than Exeter and the west country, which you mentioned. This is one of the things that's driving my wife and I out of the UK - she's a doctor and I'm an IT contractor, so we're not exactly hard up, but we live in a tiny 3 bed house with a single garage, because we've chosen to live within commuting distance of London. We're seriously considering moving to somewhere else in Europe, where our money can quite easily buy a four bed house with a double garage and a sizeable garden, plus enough free cash for me to restart racing or buy a nice GT car for holidays 
. If I were you I'd seriously consider that, rather than coming back to the UK. The other problem with the UK is the number of people - the government are doing nothing at all about the population explosion, and even as it is, the aforementioned Poole and Bournemouth are virtually inaccessible during the summer months. I took a random Thursday off to go kayaking there this summer, left home at 6:45am and got back at 1pm having not left the car and eventually turning back - it's that bad; there are just far too many people here. On the other hand, if you like the ocean but don't actually go in it, or don't mind the cold, then there are lots of lovely places up North where the property is affordable.
. If I were you I'd seriously consider that, rather than coming back to the UK. The other problem with the UK is the number of people - the government are doing nothing at all about the population explosion, and even as it is, the aforementioned Poole and Bournemouth are virtually inaccessible during the summer months. I took a random Thursday off to go kayaking there this summer, left home at 6:45am and got back at 1pm having not left the car and eventually turning back - it's that bad; there are just far too many people here. On the other hand, if you like the ocean but don't actually go in it, or don't mind the cold, then there are lots of lovely places up North where the property is affordable.Where in NZ....Queenstown of all places lol....I like how its not a huge city, but at the same time good choice of restaurants, bars, cafes and the biking :-) .... But at the same time its NOT a mad city like London! I fully know I will not get anywhere in the UK even close to QT, but its been over 4 yrs since I was last in the UK and would love some advice! Not really into fishing villages, maybe somewhere thats friendly, welcoming, upbeat, easy to meet new ppl, dont mind a drive to get to the lakes or sea front at all, places to bike, and somewhere that doesnt fall asleep at night...haha I dont ask for much do I!!!
kerr004646 said:
Where in NZ....Queenstown of all places lol....I like how its not a huge city, but at the same time good choice of restaurants, bars, cafes and the biking :-) .... But at the same time its NOT a mad city like London! I fully know I will not get anywhere in the UK even close to QT, but its been over 4 yrs since I was last in the UK and would love some advice! Not really into fishing villages, maybe somewhere thats friendly, welcoming, upbeat, easy to meet new ppl, dont mind a drive to get to the lakes or sea front at all, places to bike, and somewhere that doesnt fall asleep at night...haha I dont ask for much do I!!!
Try Newcastle upon Tyne...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_upon_Tyne
Small to midsize city with a bustling centre. It's a university town with a good night-life and relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Within 30 miles you have the largest man made lake in Europe, mountains, rugged coastline, forests and miles of parkland.
http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/
You may want to look at somewhere like Lymington in the New Forest (there are many small coastal towns similar to this round the UK). It's a pretty small town with a reasonable choice of pubs. If you are into water sports (not that kind!), there is a pretty good community. There is great countryside right on the doorstep and you have direct access to The Solent.
Alternatively, if you don't mind a drive to the coast, somewhere like Bath has a very vibrant community, some great restaurants, stunning architecture and is a reasonably quick drive to the coast around the Bristol area.
Alternatively, if you don't mind a drive to the coast, somewhere like Bath has a very vibrant community, some great restaurants, stunning architecture and is a reasonably quick drive to the coast around the Bristol area.
Edited by schmalex on Saturday 11th January 23:35
73mark said:
I live in Exeter and my advice is not Exeter ,Torquay would be a better bet.
I lived in the South West for 7 years, 1 in Torquay, 6 in Exeter - I'd move back to Exeter (or somewhere near) in a heartbeat, but wouldn't live in Torquay if you paid me. It's a nightmare with grockles in the summer, and has turned from a nice place into somewhere quite rough. Exeter on the other hand is going through a period of regeneration, and gives you the option of a) work and b) multiple sea side towns within 30 minutes to an hour away
Leith side of Edinburgh, I know it's got a bad rep but it's been completely revitalised, great property developments, a fascinating and burgeoning food scene (Tom Kitchin anyone?) a separate feeling to the main city (Thank god). Easy access to open land/sea and yet on the doorstep of a 'Major' city. Biggest plus side, you can easily get out the city for some good drives
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