I`m originally from London and looking to move to the UK early next year. I have no family ties or work so anywhere is open to me. London and surrounds are too expensive and I prefer urban to rural but would don`t want to live in a city centre or anything like that. I`d like a nice suburb with countryside not too far away and would be nice as would good transport links as well as. I don`t want to live in a crime riden area but i know most urban areas have these and willing to look at most parts of the UK and doesn`t matter if its a small city or large town either. I suppose the south and midlands would be better than going further north but that is only because i know these areas better. Any ideas and suggestions most welcome.

How about Brighton or somewhere near there.

Just out of interest from your other post which part of the UK is the crime ridden hell on earth where your friends live.

Are you still in Perth Crystal?
When is the big escape?

They live in London which is why i think there vision is blinkered and they are negative about life in the UK. I now have had time to read a lot more posts on here and its great to see how positive a lot of you are on here about the UK and this is helping me stay positive about it all.

I looked at Brighton but very pricey even though Worthing seems more appealing price wise. Never been to Worthing but know Brighton quite well

Salisbury perhaps? Small city, more like a big town & great access to the West Country & fabulous countryside but easy enough journey back to London for weekends or even the day!
Oh & some great village pubs just minutes away!

Oh ok. I don't know much about Brighton prices. Just know it's got good transport links to London and gas a bit of nightlife for you

How about Oxfordshire (a poster has just moved there. Can't recall his name Jon something????? he might be able to help), Warickshire, Kent, Berkshire (Maidenhead, Reading, Windsor).

I'm not familiar with those areas but believe they all have good transport links to London.

Hmm London eh? I'm from London originally - I love it but wouldn't want to live there again. At least you realise the whole of the UK isn't a hell hole

Surely the thought of buying immediately on returning to the UK is wrong. You’d be stuck in a place you may find is not to your liking. Why not rent first and give yourself the freedom to move if you wish to. And isn’t the job search a priority?

Brighton is more expensive than Worthing, Broadstairs is more expensive than Margate, Bromley is more expensive than Catford etc, because they are nicer places to live in.

Wouldn’t it also be easier to return to a place you’re familiar with? You might not recognise anyone in your former local pub, although after ten years away, you still might.

What about joining a social networking site like Facebook or Friends Reunited – you might have forgotten a friend from the past.

I think renting first is an excellent idea, partly because some of the places you might like to be may still be too expensive to buy. However, if you found you liked them, you might eventually decide that buying is the right thing to do.

Definitely agree about Brighton being a great place, very cosmopolitan and young. I also love Bristol, perhaps not to live right in the city, although there are some smashing riverside apartments, to rent or buy.

Having lived in Worthing for 7 years I would not return its a poor mans Eastbourne/Bournemouth however we left in 1997, As Brighton has got more expensive younger families have moved into Worthing not a lot to do neares cinema is either Brighton or Crawley are you working in London what commute do you want if not there are some faboulus countryside in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire etc

Must admit Brighton was a big disappointment to me when I went a few years ago - must have been the street I was walking down (just off the Steyne) where I saw one violent domestic argument (with blood and smashed mobile phone), encountered 3 beggars and saw two young shoplifters being frog marched out of a shop all within half a mile. However the villages around it are beautiful and you dont have to be in central Brighton I guess.

I have a soft spot for Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk but then I always was a Fens girl - boring if you like hills but otherwise bucolically perfect.

I think I would be spoiled for choice if I went back - I want to live in so many places - Devon/Cornwall, Ludlow, North Yorkshire, The Lakes, The Highlands, The Gower etc. However I am of an age where work is not important so I guess my priorities are slightly different.

If you are in any way homophobic at all then Brighton would be out of the question as a city in which to live......being gay friendly and fully tolerant of alternative lifestyles is virtually compulsory. Breezy Brighton By The Sea would not suit you and more significantly you would not suit Brighton! Personally I think it's a fantastic place to be in.

I nearly mentioned that aspect, but thought better of it! My feeling is that the gay community just add some more colour, but yes, it is probably the gay centre of UK!

Strangely enough i was watching one of these property programs last night and they were showing a couple houses in oxfordshire but for the same money they got a lot more going north in warwickshire. So warwickshire is worth looking at and it has some large urban areas such as coventry to look at.

I know what you are saying is good advice but i want to make a firm commitment and settle in a place. if i was going to another country i would do this but going to the UK its all quite familiar and a good look at the area i think would be sufficient.

i`ve got no shortage of friends in the UK and they are fairly spread out.

Yes the job is a priority but i know after many years abroad and no special skills i`m going to pretty low down in the pecking order. So as long as i`m near a large city of some kind this is going to be better for my prospects than being in a rural location.

its funny that you mention Northampton as i saw its prices are quite good and its not to far from London either. I know the city is not so nice as i went there once but that was a long time ago but can you recommend any areas of the county also where do you recommend in warwickshire.