Cost becomes a bigger factor in the south. I dn't think I would live in the south were it not for work, but that is presumably not an issue for you.


This is unlikely to be an issue in UK. It is a small country, even if you live in a rural location, it still won't be far to the nearest town or city. I live in an extremely rural location, my "next door neighbour" on one side is about a km away with a field between us, but I can still be in central London in 90 minutes and in numerous towns in less. A car may be essential though in a rural location.

No special reason, though most of that area to the south which is the east of a center-line is going to be unnecessarily expensive ..... very nice, but expensive because of the "London effect". The south west is very nice, though Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall are getting progressively more remote, but that may, after all, not be a concern for you.

As it happens I used to live in Gloucester when I was at school (age 8-18) and my mother still lives there. It's not a bad area, though caught between Bristol and Birmingham it is inconveniently far from both of them for trips to the theatre or concerts. Cheltenham is arguably a bit "nicer", and perhaps a bit more expensive, certainly for mid-range housing, and it has a small theatre. Both are about two hours from London by train.

Even inside the M25 (London outer beltway), there are pockets with very poor public transport - an area just south of Heathrow had, (when I lived in London, has?) an hourly bus service that stopped around 7pm. Most smaller cities and towns likely have only hub-and-spoke bus services, making it difficult to get from one suburb to another.

I think I will want to start out in a larger city then, or a large suburb.

Me too (age 2-11)

Yes indeed, that why I mentioned a car can be essential. The public transport options near me are virtually non existent, there is a bus that runs to the nearest town. I have seen it about four times since I moved back here a year ago. I think it runs every Thursday.

Compared with the USA, there isn't really anywhere in Britain that is in the 'middle of nowhere'.

Transport, if you haven't got a car, can be an issue. But, some rural areas are surprisingly well served by buses, and some suburban areas only have links to the centre of town, so it is worth checking out public transport wherever you are thinking of moving. There can be a big difference between one village and the next.

Google maps has a public transport option on their directions tool, and I find that a good guide to how long it will take me to get from A to B by bus or train.

I suggest that with the needs and aims you have described, a market-town would be a better option than the city or suburbia. Market towns usually have a strong community spirit, good transport, and cultural attractions.

Six lesser-known market towns that offer some of the best value homes in the country | This is Money

You mention looking in particular for a 'bungalow' but there are a lot of other alternatives. Apartments, maisonettes, small houses. Some properties are specific to communities over 55 years of age that may have other benefits worth considering.

We have been keeping an eye on rental properties in Cornwall for the last year on a budget of $1200. Specifically minimum of two bedrooms and coastal locations and there are loads around within our budget. Thing is, nothing stays on the market for very long, in some cases, days, so its a case of being there and ready to move quickly.

Another issue we are running into is the agents inability to run credit checks on us and accepting our references as our history is in the USA. We have been asked to pay 6 months rent up front in addition to other fees/deposits as a way around this but that can be pretty expensive!.

Here's another area you may wish to explore; the county of Shropshire, which has a border with Wales. The countryside is stunning (some of it is designated as an "area of outstanding natural beauty" and there are market towns in Shropshire.

You may particularly like the lovely and thriving market town of Ludlow with Georgian and black & white timber framed Tudor buildings. There is even a castle in Ludlow

Http://www.ludlow.org.uk

Http://www.visitshropshirehills.co.uk

You may also wish to look at other counties in the west of England/border of Wales which also have pretty towns and countryside, eg. Herefordshire/Monmouthshire.....there is the lovely Forest of Dean (Symonds Yat, Ross-on-Wye).

The further you are away from London, property prices are more reasonable with the exception of cities such as Oxford, Cambridge although parts of Bristol and the small city of Bath are also very expensive for property.

Thanks for this. Very interesting. These towns look lovely. I'll have to look into rental prices in a few to get a feel for what's available.

Since I am single and looking to meet people and be active in a community, will these market towns in general be good places for me? I want to be in an area with people of all ages and have opportunities to meet single men as well

This is a bit of a worry. I'm not going to be in a position to be paying 6 mos. in advance, that's for sure.
Are all properties handled by agents with fees? I would think you could find places listed by their owners.

Not all properties are going to be handled by agents but the landlord may still want references. I would if it were me.

There are also scam artists around claiming to be owners advertising properties just to make a fast buck so be careful.

As per my usual advice for people moving into the US, you will likely do best finding a private landlord that you can deal face-to-face with, so they can appraise you as a prospective tenant and aren't constrained by some corporate or agency policy.

I'm not moving into the US, I'd be moving into the UK. Also, I'd kind of like to have a place to live when I get there.

You over looked the "As per ..... ", so let's try that again!

As per my usual advice for people moving into the US, when moving to the UK you will likely do best finding a private landlord that you can deal face-to-face with, so they can appraise you as a prospective tenant and aren't constrained by some corporate or agency policy.