Where to re-settle in UK?
 

My wife said that she wants to "get as far away from Adelaide as she can". Funny cos she was born here.

Anyway, we don't know where to go in UK and would be interested in advice.

I am 45, wife is 32, our daughter is 2. We love the country and the peace and seclusion we have here in the Adelaide Hills and we enjoy our jobs here. But we are bored sick of Adelaide, hate the monoculture here and have real worries about the education here.

As for UK we want to live in the country and start our own business (tourism / property developing / farming / consultancy). We want a property with land so will get better value up north.

My home town is in the W Midlands but since my parents died have little connection back there. I love the Lake District, wife loves Scotland. We've good friend / family connections in Geordieland, Berkshire, Liverpool and Devon.

We literally don't have a clue where to live. We fancy Skye and Lochalsh but have also been looking at Aberdeenshire, Lancashire and Dorset. Shit, how do we narrow it down?

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Try the Carlisle area. Property is reasonably priced and you are close to the Lake District and Scotland. Or, see where you can find a suitable property and take it from there. Here is a bargain property site:

http://www.propertysnake.co.uk/

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

cool will take a look right now.... and thanks for your other response re exchange / equity

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

The North does tend to be a lot cheaper than the South West. Don't know what your requirements are, but Scotland is maybe a little remote and difficult to get around (a 30 mile journey in Scotland will take you as long as a 45/50 mile drive elsewhere).

However, in Scotland you will probably get more for your money again.

Carlisle is a nice area and cheap as the previous posters says, plus near countryside and Scotland/Lakes.

As mentioned in other posts on this forum, a big key consideration is to keep away from anywhere which is 'infested' with Chavs or hoodies (ie Rat like vermin).:thumbdown:

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

We came back with no particular connections to return to, but we were certain we wanted coast. We chose Whitby and we'll see how that works out.

You want land, but you don't say what you want to do with it. I think, for example, that land in the Lake District is of limited use unless you just want space around you.

Land's definitely cheaper up north. Some friends are looking for about 10 acres and they're looking in Yorkshire now because it will be cheaper than most midland places. They were looking in Shropshire and Cheshire. IMO, southern Lancashire is congested and I wouldn't live there. Further north is good but you're getting into moors so the land is of less use.

Lastly, there are differences between northerners and southerners -- generalizing of course. Neither's better than the other, but you might feel more at home in one area or the other. We decided to give the north a try first.

My comments, FWTW,

Bev.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Wales :thumbsup:

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

You may wish to read this also. Good news for those of us returning:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgag...age_id=57&ct=5

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I'd suggest you go to within an hour's drive or less of your best family/friend connections. Remember the weather in the North is quite a bit grimmer than the South. I can say that as I was born in North and moved South ;).

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Not likely, if you are English, you are likely to get your home burnt down, i.e. ethnic cleansing the Welsh way.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...s-1471584.html

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Yeah they've been around for a long time.
None of my family would live past Bangor and we are all born and bred in Wales. I always wanted to live on Anglesey where my step Dad was from, but they have become more militant as the years go by. We still see the "welsh welsh" part of the family occasionally, they are all elderly, and on their last legs, so once they go we won't even go past Bangor (thats where the big Tesco is :lol:)
I'd suggest inland a bit from the coast, places like Meliden and Rhuddlan near Prestatyn and Rhyl, not prestatyn or Rhyl unless you are really into the Morning Campers type holiday parks and lots of drunks all hours all summer.
Theres still some lovely areas with people who will speak English and not judge.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Carlisle is nice - I have a brother there. Close to Scotland and the Lakes - very nice - shame about the weather tho':(

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Looking at the stats, the Kent area gets the most sunshine in the UK by far. So, maybe this would be the most suitable area for people returning from warmer climates.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

DORSET .Rural but townie and still close to london . perfect and you wont get bored .:)

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Kent/ East Sussex is probably the warmest part of the UK. I love it in Sussex.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I actually quiet like carlisle and it still had the feel of being in the Border Reiver days of swashbuckling and kidnapping by the differnt familys from either side of the Border . seriously though its a fasinating part of the uk from carlisle to newcastle .Lots of lovely little towns on the way ie hexham and corbridge ,all good for setting something up for tourism because of hadrians wall and the easy access to scotland .

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

The more i read this thread ,i have come to the conclusion all of britain is great ,except for dodgy areas of london ,birmingham ,manchester ,glasgow .Id go anywhere .

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Yeah I think you're right.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I think you're all right and am now even more CONFUSED!!!!

Some good advice everyone and thanks for the links.

I am going to try to narrow it down let's see. Isle of Skye or Dorset?

I want to sail boats so both would be good. Do you reckon Skye would be less chavish than Dorset?

rab

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Absolutely correct! There are so many places I would love to live in - North Yorkshire (with thermal underwear of course), Somerset or anywhere else down in the West Country, East Anglia (home is where the heart is and all that), somewhere in the Ludlow area, The Lakes, Scotland - Mull has a distinct appeal! Just keep me out of Central Bradford and I would be just fine.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

most definetly less chavish in skye , but dont forget its remote and idd hate to think youd end up in the same boat as many of us do in aussie . Dorset gets my vote.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

ludlow is lovely and surrounded by history because of the dastardly welsh , lovely spot though .

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Is that the Skye Boat Song???????????????:lol:

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Hey we'll 'ave a little less of that then :p

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

My impression is that happens more in mid- and north Wales. South Wales doesn't seem quite so obsessed with the Welsh language thing and anti-Englishism. Properties can be VERY inexpensive there, however, you have to choose location carefully. Scout lives in S. Wales and can fill you in on it ... some really quite economically downtrodden areas and chavism, but also some beautiful countryside and pockets of nice housing. I spent 9 months there when I first came back and though aspects of my experience were not positive (more to do with personal issues than Wales itself), I met some very nice people in the short time I was there.

[BTW, I know you're from Wales, Mummy, so when I say "You", I mean people reading this thread as obviously you know Wales already]

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I`ve been reading about the Meibion Glyndwr and they are an interesting group, they are part of a greater whole and have largely been inactive since the 90`s. What makes them interesting though, is that they seemed to come about due to Brits buying second homes in Wales and pushing up local house prices there, this certainly seems a good reason to set up a nationalist movement.:ohmy:

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Yes when I was growing up there, there was a lot of cottage burning going on. Retirees from the big English cities were buying up homes that normally would have been bought by young local couples, and it was pushing the prices so high that locals couldn't afford to buy, even with two incomes in the villages they were born in. You can see why they'd get so annoyed.
My cousins outside Barcelona were having a similar problem, people buying holiday homes and driving up prices, they had a hard time buying their first homes in the small town they were born and raised in. They finally did buy, one has ended up across the street from his Dad :lol: He hasn't gone too far.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

You're right to head up north then - I'm presuming you have a regular budget - because land is still very expensive in the south even after the crash. But then it depends on how much land you want, I guess, and what kind of a house sitting on it. You'll definitely get a decent four bedroom house and a few acres for £1.5 million in a place like Dorset, but I guess it's much cheaper up north. I just looked on Rightmove and there's a six bed place in Yorkshire with 25 acres for £1,000,000 and several 4/5 bed places with real old-world charm but no land for around the £500,000 mark. Some of them are incredibly beautiful as well.... You should look round on Rightmove there are some amazing places on there. I guess if you were happy to "do up a dump" you could get something for a lot cheaper as well.

Also, if you have concerns about education in Aus they're not going to go away in the UK, btw. I read they're about to sack 3000 teachers so that's going to have an impact on quality and teacher/student ratios.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

King Kong, I am going back soon and am focusing on Dorset, even though I have never lived there and really have no first hand experience of it. I am wondering why you say it gets your vote..... I would be looking at the coast. Any info much appreciated. I am not planning on buying, just renting a flat for now.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I remember the sketch (not the 9 o'clock news?). Come home to a real fire.........Buy a cottage in Wales. :rofl:

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I like wales and have good friends there too just up from merthyr in a place called focrw . Great people and have had it tough too but retain their sense of humour and once they get to know you they certainly arent any way insulting to outsiders as long as you show you spend a fair amount of time around the village , they arent stupid there isnt the work there these days and some people have to spend time over the bridge in england working .
The last time i was in North wales they were equally as welcoming ,obviously more militant but to be honest they seemed more cheesed off with the fact the polish have been treated better in some respects in regards to their language use .
I was talking to an old guy and he said '' we been fighting the bloody english a thousand years but its not them we fear now ,its the polish they get language rights the minute they land here ''.
Read into that what you like and im not trying to start a racial debate but after what the welsh have been thru i can understand his point .
Wales very much reminds me in many ways what the whole of britain was like 30-40 years ago , people very friendly once they get to welcome you into the community ,sure its a battle sometimes but its worth it .

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

i lived there before coming to australia , its a marvellous part of the country ,great scenery ,great walks , its got everything thats typical english with good towns like bournemouth ,poole ,dorchester ,weymouth amongst tons of quaint villages .I believe it would take a life time to discover the county of dorset with every drive out taking you to a place you have never been before .
In many respects i regret leaving dorset , i felt like i was on holiday every day as it isnt my place of birth or where i grew up .But that is where i will end up eventually ,if not straight away it wont be long .
P.S if you want pointers on where to live etc ,then ask me i know the area very very well .

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I was working back in Blighty a few years ago and have a lot of respect for the Polish guys I was working with. It's not easy to up sticks and move to a foreign country, especially when you don't speak the language. Something us expats know all too well. They were there 'cause they wanted to work and make a better life for themselves and their families and they sent most of their wages back home. I know Britain was kind of overwhelmed by the numbers that came but that was the fault of the British Government, not the Polish immigrants.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Agreed .many british including myself did it in germany ,its not a direct attack on the polish and indeed i know a few poles and they are very hard workers indeed . I am just repeating what an indeginous member of the british isles said to me .
No doubt a fair amount of money was sent out of the uk back to poland and if a general conversation i had with a builder in uk was anything to go by then ''them living on spuds '' and sending all the money home must have been a negative effect on the economy ,sure they may well have been paying tax but millions going out everyweek to overseas isnt good .

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I didn't read as one and I apologise if my reply sounded as if i did.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

No apology needed ,it was most likely me being a twat.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

If that was you being a twat then I dare say you must be a thoroughly decent bloke. Cheers Squire.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Thanks King Kong, I will. I have to sell this house first, :eek: so in the meantime I am scouting around on line ,but have no clue other than to actually start in Bournemouth - thinking it is easier to get to from London Gatwick/Heathrow. That means physically stay there when I get off the plane. Any areas to avoid? Some other poster suggested Boscome was not so good? I like the look of Poole, but seem to think it is much more expensive. I need somewhere quiet, a village but not isolated, that still has public transport access as I won't be driving. Also close to the coast as I live 10 minutes away now and will miss the ocean!! Not asking for much am I??:rofl: I was wondering about trying to get a housesit for a few weeks in Dorset, to explore further. Anyone tried that? There is a good site called housecarers.com. Haven't done it myself but do know someone who has in this country and likes it.

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

Areas around bournemouth /poole to avoid would be , charminster ,boscombe ,turlin moor ,kinson ,parts of hamworthy , im not keen on creekmoor or canford heath .
i prefer poole to bournmouth ,poole has a certain feel and and to be honest id live anywhere in poole except ,turlin moor ,canford heath and creekmoor . All the others i have listed come under bournemouth .
I know a town thats not isolated and has all u want and thats wareham which is around towards swanage from poole .i like the town personally .
I most likely will end up in parkstone ,which has a feel about it too you either like it or dont .I cant quiet put my finger on it but i guess theres a few scallywags there and gypsie familys like the nelsons and the stanleys but i just like it and always fitted in nicely , maybe the fact my grand ma was a gypsie may have helped .

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I hate that word Mr Kong lol xxxxxxxxxx:rofl:

Re: Where to re-settle in UK?
 

I agree completely! I worked with a Czech guy back home and he was the nicest man you could meet. Living in a shared house in crap conditions and sending most of his wages back home so his two teenage kids could have a good education and his family a decent standard of living; at the same time only getting to see them perhaps once a year. The sacrifices people like these make are incredible and they just take it in their stride.