Should I be excited about moving to the UK?

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Box_of_rodents@reddit

All depends on how much money you have or will be earning. Such a relative question. Depends where you can afford to stay. If you’re not earning much then there’s really very shitty parts of London that you’d probably hate and vice versa.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I would be comfortable financially living in a nicer part of town, at least for a few years. I have a well paying job but I would have to leave it to move, so I think finding a good job once I settle would be key to determining the long term viability.

Thanks for the input!

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Eyupmeduck1989@reddit

How would you go about immigrating here without a job? Aren’t the visa requirements now pretty strict?

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Still working through those details, but I do have a friend who works for a company based out of London that I would have a good chance of getting a job with. Even for foreign employees they offer to bring you to London for onboarding and a month long training with the option to continue working in London or at another global base.

If that doesn't pan out, it's a much more difficult process, but I have a versatile skill set and strong experience in my field.

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tea-time-11@reddit

Do they sponsor visas?

A lot of people are asking about the visa situation because it will be a waste of time for you to research living in the UK if you aren’t in the correct job type to get an appropriate visa, and the list of jobs eligible is being whittled down as we speak by the UK government.

Uk visa costs are also maybe the highest in the world.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I was unaware that over 100 occupations are actively being removed from the Visa eligible jobs. It looks like the job that would have been sponsored by this company is going to be one of the ones that is no longer offered, unfortunately.

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Veezveez123@reddit

OP could be a British citizen born to a British parent or similar, for all we know 🤷

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mrnico7@reddit

They are pretty strict yeah - unless your job is on the Skilled Workers visa and is one of the eligible occupations AND you’ve found a company willing to take you on then you’re essentially out of luck.

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Last-Supermarket-439@reddit

Unless you're already rich and don't need to worry about money, London isn't possible unless you want to pay £1200 a month for a windowless room that has a fold down bed

Edinburgh is expensive, but London is EXPENSIVE

Come for a week, see how you feel
You will probably love it for 2 days, then see why most of us hate it...

The areas with the most expensive properties are the dirtiest and most disgusting areas
The fun sleazy areas (soho) are now sanitised and have no character due to gentrification
The old school hangouts no longer exist. Walk down Carnaby Street or Old Compton Street and you're far more likely to be accosted by a cunt with a camera rather than a real human interaction

Same with Camden and Vauxhall now.. it's all carefully curated experiences with £7 pints.. nothing is authentic anymore

Went into the new Big Red, and it had posters in frames.. If you're familiar with the metal bar culture in London, you will understand why this angered the fuck out of me

There are still some good venues, but on the whole London is now shit.
I go there to see my Doctor, not for leisure.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Struggling to respond to all the comments but wanted to let you know I appreciate all of this info and it will be taken into account!

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

Depends what country you're moving from.

There are definitely some countries that I'd rather be in than the UK, but at the same time the UK is significantly better than a lot of other countries.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Coming from the US. I'm learning more about the Visa requirements and understand it will be difficult to move there. I'm not even sure that the UK would be my final destination, but I have spent enough time there to be comfortable with it and believe I would be happy there, and it would be much easier to explore other European countries with the UK as a home base than it would be to travel back and forth from the US to try and find the perfect place to live.

If the Visa requirements prove too difficult to navigate, I might just have to find a country that is easier to move to and use that as a home base to explore more of Europe. Who knows, maybe I'll end up loving it and staying.

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daniel2hats@reddit

Why do foreign people think London is the only place in UK?

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I certainly don't. It's just that I currently live in a city of over 7M people and have found that I prefer it to the smaller cities I've lived in. I do really enjoy Edinburgh so maybe smaller European cities would be different for me, but other than Belfast I haven't spent much time in other UK cities so I'm focusing on what I'm familiar with.

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OldSky7061@reddit

This really depends entirely where you are moving from.

Most EU member states, any EFTA state, Australia, New Zealand or Canada = you would be moving for a lower standard of living.

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Sure_Winner4374@reddit

A lower standard of living than the US? 👀

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OldSky7061@reddit

The opposite.

If you move from any of the countries I listed- to the UK - you would be getting a lower standard of living.

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Sure_Winner4374@reddit

Having lived in Australia I agree standard of living is lower in UK, however it has issues that made it unliveable for me long term

It’s a moot point for OP though as they are moving from US… a different kettle of fish entirely

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OldSky7061@reddit

Ahh I did wonder why you mentioned the US :)

I missed they were moving from there. In that case they are indeed upgrading their standard of living.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Yes, coming from the US. Was advised not to mention it in original post due to a lot of anti-US sentiment (understandable).

I understand the UK isn't the best place in the world but it seems like a step in a better direction and I've been comfortable there on my travels.

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PatTheCatMcDonald@reddit

Outdoor events can be lacking in the Winter in the UK too.

You certainly need money to arrive in London to live well without an income.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

What are some typical winter hobbies/activities in the UK?

I've been saving and planning for a couple of years so am in a good spot to support the move and getting on my feet. Would be looking for a job within a month or two of arriving but coukd last 5-6 months without one without worrying too much. How is the job market?

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Sure_Winner4374@reddit

Job market is not great at the moment, it’s been dry for a couple of years now. I have highly skilled and experienced friends who have been out of work for over a year now. So you are unlikely to walk into a job easily, your visa needs will put you bottom of the list if locals are struggling.

You seem to have a rose tinted view of what our politics are like too, we have a very right wing anti immigrant rhetoric that bubbling within our political class. With all sorts of arbitrary rules and laws that make life hard for all immigrants, you aren’t exempt because you are American. Eg it’s affecting doctors and healthcare workers here… there’s no dearth of tech bros either.

I love London but petty crime is prolific these days and police do absolutely nothing about it. So you safety concerns are simply different, they don’t go away if you move.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Thank you for the info! This is really good to hear bluntly and the type of info that I was hoping to uncover. I have really enjoyed my time in the UK and all the interactions and people I've spoken with in my travels have been pleasant, but you never really get exposed to the true environment without living there for a bit.

I will definitely have to continue doing research and see if this is the right move for me. Crime is a concern but less so when I currently have to worry about someone pulling a gun because they're angry I wasn't driving over the speed limit. It's all relative.

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Substantial__3166@reddit

I’ve been reading your comments. You are stating that you’ll find a job once you settle. Unless you’re moving here on a spouse visa that isn’t going to be possible. You need a job offer on a SWV to be able to move here

What visa are you planning on moving here on, and what are the requirements of it?

I’ve had a look at your account and you seem to be members of communities for TX, Atlanta, and fantasy football. I can only assume you are American (if im wrong apologies). Nothing wrong with this. But there is a massive increase in Americans thinking they can just move somewhere on a whim and figure stuff out later after they arrive. This isn’t the case.

It’ll be recommended you let us know what visa you’re going to be on, as I’m wondering if you’re not aware of the U.K. visa requirements at all?

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Thank you for the advice. Yes, American. I believe I have an opportunity for a skilled worker Visa and have some existing connections with a London based company that I have a good chance at getting a job with. It's not guaranteed, but it's more than a daydream at this point.

If that doesn't work out, I know I can't work while on a standard tourist Visa but I had thought that it would be possible to try and search for an employer willing to hire me while living there, with the understanding that they would have to sponsor a Visa before I could actually be hired.

I do have many years of experience in software/digital technology that I believe could qualify me for a visa via my profession. If none of that works out, I would gladly come spend 6 months as a tourist enjoying my time before they kick me out.

I totally understand the sentiment about Americans, and I'm sure you have had more than your fair share trying to show up lately (I'm sure you can understand why). I don't know much other than I want to leave, and that I have spent a decent bit of time in England, Scotland, and Ireland over the past couple of years and have genuinely loved it, so when thinking about where I'd like to end up, it started there.

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Substantial__3166@reddit

Be very careful on a tourist visa here. You state ‘whilst living there’. Tourist visas are to do tourist things. Not to live. On top of that having the intention of looking for jobs and job seeking even if you won’t work there on that visa isn’t allowed. That isn’t usually what tourists do when they visit a country and it’ll raise suspicions. And rightly so because you are a high risk of being an overstayer if your goal is to live here. Border control if they catch you (might not because you will probs go through E Gates) will have a field day with you.

Searching for an employer who will sponsor you doesn’t work like that either. You can find all of the Skilled worker visa jobs on the .Gov website. These are all the jobs with sponsor licenses. The GOV as of 22nd July will cut 111 jobs off the skilled worker list, and there will be a requirement to hold a Bachelors degree in order to qualify. Your job will also need to meet the income requirement for the role.

In order to qualify for a job in the U.K. you will need a skilled worker visa, you cannot go searching as a tourist and no one will give you the time of day purely because you’ve got no right to even be searching or applying.

Living in the U.K. is MASSIVELY different to visiting here. You’re going to take a massive cut in salary, whilst having high COL. London is expensive, and busy. Energy bills across the country are through the roof, which is a big expense to many too. we have experienced wage stagnation since 2008 and inflation has always been much higher than wage growth.

Outside of London the public transport sucks, and is very costly so if you want to go anywhere outside of a city good luck.

The U.K. is hot in summer. It may not seem it on paper, but we’ve been having regularly 28-30c for weeks now. It’s incredibly humid when it’s that temp, and it’s suffocating. We don’t have AC much here because we don’t really get hot weather enough to warrant the cost, so you’re regularly sleeping in 25c heat at night and 80%+ humidity. My husband is from a small tropical island and states the U.K. heat is still worse than where he’s from and his country regularly is 36c all year round.

Outdoor activities are going to be usually very rural and again will lack public transport access most will need to be gotten to by car.

Why do you want to live in the U.K.? You’ve not really stated hard reasons for wanting to live in this country aside from you want a city and good public transport routes with some outdoor stuff? What do you like about here and why do you want to make it your home? Culturally we are very different to the USA, our only real connection is the language. Politically we are also not as different as you may realise but just….slower with it... America catches a cold, the U.K. sneezes as we say.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

This is an incredible answer, THANK YOU SO MUCH. This is exactly what I was looking for when I posted.

First off, I didn't realize the illegality of searching while on a tourist Visa. I do have plans to consult with an immigration lawyer prior to any major decisions being made or major planning done, so this would have come up, but it wasn't obvious from the research I've done online.

As for the heat, I'm not put off by it. My current city is 36c or hotter for a large portion of the year with 80+ percent humidity. We do have AC so thats a major difference, but there are few places on Earth that are consistently hotter/more humid than where I live.

The main reason I was looking at the UK is because its somewhere I have been to and enjoyed, and felt like it was easy to integrate into culturally and socially. The city was walkable with the help of public transportation, and I liked the feel of many neighborhoods I stayed near. Just much more "European" than the US, which I guess is true of many places. I'm also a big Arsenal fan so having a more football based community would be nice. There are certainly other countries that I would consider but would require more work to learn the language and culture, and I would need to spend time there first to determine if I like it and what part of the country to live in.

Ultimately, it does concern me about the similarities in politics. I have also followed many European/UK subreddits for a year or two and do see some of the discourse around the country there, so I'm not totally oblivious to it, but its the internet and always taken with a grain of salt.

It seems that cost of living, rising temps, and difficult visa requirements are definitely the obstacles I'd be facing if truly planning to move to the UK. It's still a top candidate for me, but I have some things to consider. Appreciate your time, kind stranger.

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Georgie_Pillson1@reddit

They all panic and shit themselves over ‘those damn Mexicans’ illegally immigrating to America then assume they can illegally immigrate to the UK.

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Substantial__3166@reddit

Look at the ameriexit page or I want out. A LOT of Americans do seem to think they can just hope on a plane and figure it out later and do illegal things on a visa and won’t get caught because they’re Americans. Or that the gov won’t mind because they’re Americans. I don’t know if it’s just a reddit thing though, as I am 100% aware not all Americans are like this of course. It’s just a weird entitlement that rubs me the wrong way when I see it

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mrnico7@reddit

Do you meet the visa requirements?

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another_online_idiot@reddit

Very important consideration this. A working visa is essential.

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navs2002@reddit

London and Edinburgh are fantastic places to live.

Just… expect to be broke for ever more.

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navs2002@reddit

London and Edinburgh are fantastic places to live.

Just… expect to be broke for ever more.

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SwimmingOdd3228@reddit

Sounds like you might prefer a holiday rather than. To stay here

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I certainly enjoyed all of the holidays I've spent in the UK. But why wouldn't I enjoy living there if I enjoyed it on holiday?

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CranberryPuffCake@reddit

Living somewhere and holidaying there are two completely different realities.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Totally understand that, which is why I was asking the question. I know that I like holiday so I'm genuinely asking for specific ways that my holiday experience might differ from living there.

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CranberryPuffCake@reddit

Isn't it obvious?

Living as a tourist in a city is a very free experience. You do what you want when you want. You don't need to rush to work during rush hour. You don't mind other tourists as you're a tourist yourself. Tourists as a local are a nuisance. High rents living in the city, high costs of everything. There are so many things that'll crack the fantasy.

Unless you're very rich and have no reason to work, I can't see London staying high in your estimations. Your view point will change.

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SwimmingOdd3228@reddit

Depends where you live.

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MattyJMP@reddit

poor public transport, lack of options for outdoor activities, and miserably hot weather

Tbh, there's 20 countries I can think of that fit this better than the UK...

Okay, fair enough, London is the correct answer for public transport. But be warned, if you want to go outside London, other than train journeys to other big cities, public transport is awful.

Sure, there's some nice walking to do in the UK - but see above re public transport. Otherwise there's not much else to do; it's not like we have Greek-like beaches or USA-level national parks. And it will be miserably dark and damp for 6 months of the year. But sure, it trudging around parks getting wet feet is your bag, sure.

And the UK's hottest days are pretty damn miserable. It's not a lethal 45c heat, but without AC you will lay there at night thinking it properly sucks...

Regardless of country, going on holiday (no matter how many times or for how long) is nothing like living in a country. Before you make the move I really would recommend you try doing a month in July/August and a month in February, in a very ordinary house, doing non-touristy things.

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Infinite-Degree3004@reddit

The public transport in Edinburgh is first class and cheap too.

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MattyJMP@reddit

Not sure I would call a single, infamously bodged, tram line "first class".

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Appreciate the practical advice! I know that tourism can't replicate living there so this is the type of info I wanted to make sure I wasn't going in blind. Living for a month at various times sounds like a good starting point.

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ChompingCucumber4@reddit

and train journeys to other big cities from london will cost half of your life savings even if they work

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louwyatt@reddit

It depends on whether you are working and you budget

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TimeNew2108@reddit

London is the most expensive city in the UK, it's not known for being too friendly either. Much better choices almost anywhere else

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LondonWill8@reddit

London is the poster child of "great place to visit, crap place to live".

If I were moving to the UK and had a blank slate I would move to Bristol. It's a relatively large city, with a large University-related population, professional jobs, cultural scene, etc.

The train to London is as quick as 1hr 20 minutes (+ time to get to the station etc). It's also close to Bath and is a gateway to the south west, which is the best region in the UK both to live and visit.

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Throowaway-today@reddit

I grew up in London and still live and work here — and yeah, there are definitely ups and downs. If you’re into city life, I think you’d enjoy it. There’s always something going on, even when the weather’s rubbish (which it often is 😅). Loads of indoor stuff too — museums, gigs, theatre, pop-ups, you name it.

You don’t need to live right in central to enjoy it either. The tube and trains make it pretty easy to get around, so you can live a bit further out and still be close to everything.

The weather isn’t great, but it definitely doesn’t stop people. There’s always stuff happening in parks or outdoor events even when it’s grey or drizzling.

It’s not perfect — it can be expensive and busy — but there’s a lot to love too. Happy to answer anything if you’ve got questions!

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Thank you! I know the weather can be drab but after living in a city that is frequently over 36C for 5 months out of the year with insane humidity and frequent downpours, the weather in England/Scotland/Ireland in November and December has actually been a welcome experience.

I think I would be happy in central but I'm curious about other areas around the city too. In general, are there characteristics of north/east/south/west London that differentiate them from each other?

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Fluffy_Juggernaut_@reddit

Just a heads up, London has been regularly over 30C for the last couple of months. It's cooler, but not by much.

Come winter, it will be wet, regularly below freezing and with less than 8 hours of daylight per day.

The weather is quite extreme here compared to what you are used to

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Icy-Initial2107@reddit

It's not terrible, but public transport in south London is generally worse than in the north (the stereotypical dividing line is the Thames). Compare the number of tube lines on the "real tube map" for example, though bus connections are decent. The rest is down to neighbourhood, particularly in in the outer zones you can have some incredibly expensive areas not too far from a council estate.

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Own_Divide262@reddit

london is great but as others have said it is expensive to live in. And it is also massive. To me it’s like a whole load of towns joined together and each one has its own centre and its own identity.

if you want something more manageable size wise and less costly to live in consider the northern cities like Manchester or Leeds or Liverpool. or think about scotland. i am from glasgow so obvs i am going to say that’s the best (!!) but edinburgh is great too

and don’t worry about it being too hot 😂😂😂😂

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Miserable-Entry1429@reddit

If you think London is massive you’re in for a surprise with some other cities 🤣

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Fluffy_Juggernaut_@reddit

A quick Google suggests there are only 37 cities globally that are larger than London. Looking at the "city proper" rather than "metropolitan area" data, there are only 23 cities larger than London by population.

London is undeniably a massive city

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ChompingCucumber4@reddit

like what lmao, maybe worldwide idk but it’s bigger or similar size to most other european capitals

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

That's part of what has been so interesting in my trips there - I've gotten to explore many different areas and neighborhoods and they've all been unique and charming in their own way.

Edinburgh is a very real candidate as well so I'm definitely considering it! Will look into the northern cities as well. Thank you!

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Pootles13@reddit

Yeah I’d look into other areas of the UK as rent wise London is astronomical at the moment! To give you an idea I live basically out in the sticks in a one bed flat (beyond zone 3 on the tube) and the rent for my flat went up by £200 a month last year and anouther £100 this year. I’m currently preparing to move to outside the London area and some of the places I’m looking at are two bed, with a garden and more space for like £300-500 less a month than I’m paying now. Other areas of the UK are amazing, I love Edinburgh but Manchester is also amazing (tbh it’s kind of becoming the new London) also worth looking at some towns that are on the outskirts of cities as many also have great art and culture scenes with the bonus of being closer to the countryside.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Great feedback, thank you!

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Invanabloom@reddit

Move where you can get the best standard of living… you won’t be fussed about museums after a while

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MattDubh@reddit

Where are you moving from?

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

The US

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MattDubh@reddit

There's loads of great places in the US, isn't there?

Out of interest, why the UK? If you can get a visa to move there, there's other, perhaps more favourable, places you could consider.

Have you discounted other countries? Obviously every country has its social problems - the UK being no exception.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

There are some great places in the US, but unfortunately none that are exempt from the madness that's happening over here right now. I personally dont feel that you can put the toothpaste back in the tube in many regards and would like a new adventure free from the constant fear and danger here.

I'm lucky enough to have the means and lack of any inescapable responsibilities that prevent me from leaving, so I'd like to. As for why the UK, mostly because I have spent time there and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am absolutely open to other countries, but haven't been anywhere else in Europe (and Europe is where I would want to be) to have any real convictions.

Spain and Portugal are attractive and from what I've seen, more accessible. Do you have any suggestions of other countries that you think might be worth looking into?

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MattDubh@reddit

Australia, NZ? Not cheap. But warm. And if you're there for a while, earn good coin, an ideal place to use as a base to see that side of the world.

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makemycockcry@reddit

Brighton.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I'm mostly replying to this to tell you that your username got my attention

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Historical_Royal_187@reddit

Have you lived abroad before?

I would aways consider spending 6 months to a year on a working visa befor permanatly settling in a country.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I have not, but have spent enough time in the UK to think it would be the ideal place for me to start. The decision would be more of a trial run to be sure - would be open to relocating if it wasn't working out - but am definitely trying to uncover as many pros/cons before I make that decision to reduce the chance a relocation is needed.

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dvi84@reddit

We have a housing crisis mate. We aren’t taking anybody unless they can prove they work in an area with a skills shortage. Your employer will need to sponsor your work visa and fill in loads of paperwork to say why they couldn’t hire anybody domestically for the role. If you meet the requirements then go for it, but bear in mind it isn’t as easy as you’d think.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I'm definitely finding it to be more restrictive than I had initially imagined. I do have a connection or two with UK employers that I might be able to get hired through, but there are a lot of hoops to jump through to get there.

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ambergriswoldo@reddit

Depends where you’re moving from tbh - US / Russia / Israel - yes U.K is a great choice. Italy / Spain - I’d choose them over the U.K any day

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Spain and Portugal are also high on my list, but English is my native language and it will take me a little time to master Portuguese/Spanish so I am less comfortable there. I would want to learn the native language even if I can get by with English.

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Fanackapan_@reddit

I live just across the river from Liverpool. It's not London but it does have lots to offer and the transport it good. A couple of hours on a train to London. I love London but it's getting too hot down there these days, here we have the sea keeping us a tadge cooler.

I moved from beautiful countryside in North Wales, lovely but not a lot to do and quite remote. I've now got gigs on the doorstep :-)

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I've never been to Liverpool but have been interested in visiting. The Scouse accent would take some getting used to, it's the one I seem to have the most trouble picking up!

Thanks for the input!

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CraigL8@reddit

Not everybody has a full on Scouse accent :)

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Haha I was mostly taking the piss, I do struggle with the Scouse accent a bit but I didnt think it would be a reason not to live there.

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jordancr1@reddit

You should be excited.

The only downside is the weather, but you can't grow food without rain 😁.

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Mongoose-Relevant@reddit

Where are you moving from?

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ExtensionGuilty8084@reddit

Depends where you plan to live. You can cycle and a lot which saves on the transport or buses are around £2 unlimited buses within an hour)…

…not sure where you are coming from; the buses here are pretty good. Buses in USA are not 😬

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I've used most modes of public transportation across London and never had any complaints about any of them! I would likely not want a car so utilizing public transportation or cycling/walking would be the way.

Thanks for the advice!

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ExtensionGuilty8084@reddit

Oh gosh, no. Having a car in London is insanity. Those people tend to be very selfish or needing to drive far out of the city for work.

Otherwise, you don’t need a car whatsoever. Hoping for a safe and smooth transition! Best of luck 😊

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Thank you! Still working toward making it a reality but very excited.

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ExtensionGuilty8084@reddit

Bit of a weird one; if needing any help then let me know. I’m central-west.

All the best!

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sjintje@reddit

london is brilliant but. the commuting times are insane. so taking advantage of all those things is still a day trip to zone 1. even if you work in the center, you can't even visit somewhere in your lunch hour, because it will take you at least an hour travelling within zone 1.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Commuting via the tube and buses, or on the roads? I likely wouldn't be taking too many trips over lunch hour other than to a local restaurant, but weekends and evenings would be great for exploring.

When visiting I've stayed near Kings Cross and also in Kensington and everything was very easy to get to via tube and walking.

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OpenBuddy2634@reddit

If I could live anywhere the UK would not be even on my top 10 places.

If I had a choice to live anywhere in the UK? London would be my 3rd choice after Glasgow and Edinburgh.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Appreciate the feedback! I actually LOVED Edinburgh more than anywhere else I've traveled but thought it easy enough to get to from London for a weekend if I wanted to.

Out of curiosity, is there another city/country in western Europe that would crack your top 10?

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OpenBuddy2634@reddit

Assuming there's no issues getting the chance to work/live there, i would say Finland or Estonia, outside of that Germany or Ireland (republic, not Northern)

Failing those, Portugal. Minus the Maddie McCann drama, its a nice place.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Loved Ireland when I spent time there, and Portugal has been highly recommended. I know very little about Finland or Estonia but would be interested in visiting and exploring the country. Germany is probably not somewhere I'd be able to move short term but potentially after living for a while in another country.

Appreciate the input!

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tommycahil1995@reddit

Well it depends how much money you have. London is great if you can afford a place in a nice area. Lots of outdoors activities, public transport is good (depends where you're coming from for the comparison).

Otherwise it could be doing a flat share in a less nice area.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Thank you for the feedback!

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turk91@reddit

If we were in the late 90s right now I'd be telling you just how much of a treat you're in for.

Right now?

I'm not religious but god bless, wish you all the best.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Is there anything in particular you think has changed that would be a turn off?

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ElizabethHiems@reddit

Birmingham is nestled up close to Wales.

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Street_Inflation_124@reddit

Sounds like you will love London. If you have a good job / a lot of money, it’s basically unbeatable for culture and sport, and the museums are generally free and we have “acquired” a lot of cool stuff over the centuries.

But if you aren’t earning 50 k plus, you’ll have to live a fucking long way out and you can’t afford the theatre or most sports (learn to love cricket, it’s still reasonably priced, support Surrey and go to the 20:20s - 4 hours of fun for 30 quid, and you get to win most of the time).

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

Appreciate the advice! I'm fortunate enough to have a well paying job today but I dont believe I would be able to keep it if I moved.

I believe I have sufficient experience and qualifications in my field to find a good job there, but that's based on nothing but my own ego. With a stable job I could live there for years off my savings even if it didn't pay too well.

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WildPinata@reddit

What visa are you planning to move on? That might impact where you need to move to if you need sponsorship etc.

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Newbie_lux@reddit

London has a quite decent public transportation system. Some delays and old, yes. But you can get around without much issues. Very expensive though.

Also i find there maby outdoor activities too

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MartyTax@reddit

Think North! Far better value for money and far more friendly 😉

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yellowyellow_@reddit

Probably Manchester

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Interesting_War_zone@reddit

Honestly as an educated English man don’t bloody bother it’s shite here go to somewhere else

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robowns87@reddit

What do you do for work? That will be the primary factor in whether you can afford a nice life in London.

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theabominablewonder@reddit

You’d enjoy London just make sure you scout out the area you are thinking of living in. Also more jobs in London than elsewhere so probably a nice starting point. You can easily explore rest of the UK with the connections from London.

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Swimbearuk@reddit

I think if you can afford to live in a nice part of London, then it can be a great city, especially if you are quite young.

I've lived on the outskirts for more than 25 years, and the draw of the city disappeared for me a long time ago. I can't remember the last time I went into the city for anything, whether it was shopping, meeting people, pubs/clubs, museums, etc. For the first 10 years or so, I was much more interested in the nightlife and seeing attractions.

It would definitely be an adventure, but don't expect everything to be amazing. London has its problems too.

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True_Sir_4382@reddit

I would advise against living in London unless you have a really good paying job and don’t mind that it’s very fractured both within its self and England. Most people have a negative opinion of London that live mostly in the south and though the country, I would advise you live somewhere else like Birmingham if you haven’t visited London, in my experience London has a different vibe and how it works compared to other countries. The south has very good public transport for political reasons I won’t get into but Edinburgh or Birmingham if you want a big city or smaller city’s outside of London(Southampton, Cambridge) is my what I would suggest. Job market is shit good look.

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Professional-Day6965@reddit

I'd like to live in London provided I didn't have to work in London and I could afford a nice place.

But free choice, money no object, I'd move up to the Northumbria coast. Warkworth, Alnmouth or Bamburgh. Probably Bamburgh

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I know nothing about those areas so I'll have to do some research and see if it's for me. I've spent time in the Lake District but not the east coast.

What about that area do you like so much? And what about London would make you not want to live/work there?

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HotelPuzzleheaded654@reddit

As lovely as the Northumbria coast is, the recommendation is pretty dire based on the spec you’ve provided.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

That's what I was thinking. I do appreciate the natural beauty of less inhabited areas, but I like having my creature comforts nearby and being able to visit those areas when I can.

Absolutely love the Scottish Highlands, Lake District, and the area around the Causeway but don't think I could live there and be happy with it.

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Professional-Day6965@reddit

It's peaceful, much quieter than the lakes, good beaches, nice villages/towns, castles, pubs, birdwatching .... It's where I see myself slowing down.

Londons great, I love it as a visitor, but commuting around it is hell. I've done it a few times with work and it's far too busy at peak times.

I could probably live and work remote there. Part of me really wants to try city living before I'm put out to pasture. But I can't afford London, my 3 bed house in a Yorkshire commuter village would buy me a manky studio in London.

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SuburbanBushwacker@reddit

scotland or bristol. london kills me

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Margaet_moon@reddit

Where are you moving from? What do you do for work/how high is your income? These are all big things to consider.

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No_Potato_4341@reddit

Don't see why you shouldn't be excites

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Superb-Ad-8823@reddit

Definitely not. We would leave if we weren't too old and had enough money. It's slowly going to the dogs. My perception is that the politicians are want the UK to be more like USA. Maybe it's just me though. I live in Scotland and would never live in England. England is good for a holiday though.

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Wonderful_Welder_796@reddit

London is sick. Really expensive, but sick. Everything there is good, but again, expensive.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

I've been following and researching cost of living for a while and it's expensive for sure, but I could make it work. Thanks for the input!

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kimba-the-tabby-lion@reddit

I am confused. London has great food choices, sporting events, amazing museums and uncountable entertainment options.

Seems better than where you are now, but only you can make that choice.

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PruIsBlue@reddit (OP)

That was what I thought of London as well, which is why I think I will be happy there. But as a tourist you often get to enjoy these things without seeing the downsides of living somewhere. Just probing for anything I might learn later and regret.

Thank you for your response!

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