I think Tockalosh was referring to this......

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-...-muslim-pupil/

I've read most of the pages of this thread, and personally speaking it's the high house prices that make me want to leave the most

Make you want to leave where exactly?

If you are talking about the UK, I could not disagree with you more. I cannot believe how cheap houses are in the UK in comparison to NZ. Also, there are so many more houses to choose from.

People in the UK (outside the South East) do not know how lucky they have it.

I do wish you the best of luck, truly. BUT; if this is your area of concern and you are coming to Australia, you are in for a rude shock!

Even those happily settled in Aus have real trouble trying to buy something with enough bedrooms, and within reasonable distance of the City. So many have to go to suburbs anything up to an hours drive away.

I can only imagine how tough it is for you, but be prepared. Those TV programmes are sending a false message. Those big houses at an affordable price are some way away from your main employment area.

All the best!

In a comparison to the USA, house prices in the UK are outrageous.

Do not disagree there. The same statement is true though with regards to UK house prices and NZ (Auckland/CHCH/WLG anyhow) - it is outrageous.

Was in Australia a couple of years ago to judge a dog show.......could never afford to live there and would be considered upper middle class here :-(
We were really shocked.

Wow, I hope you arent contemplating going to Australia. Google unaffordable housing and Australia unfortunately is right at the top.

Depends enormously which part of the USA though.

Hereabouts (SW Florida), with a bit of careful shopping, you can get a 3 bed 2 bath house with a full acre of land for about USD90K. But the same thing in Palo Alto Hills, California would run perhaps USD10M.

Location, location, location and all that. But I don't think the ratio of house prices in the UK, cheap area versus expensive area is anything remotely like the 100:1 you will find Stateside.

We had to drive to a village outside Ludlow today and on the way my wife said words to the effect of why would anyone seriously want to live anywhere else in the world and it was pretty hard to disagree. This is such a beautiful country if only more people would open their eyes and take a look.

.......... because they're not walking in the same shoes. Simples.

Different strokes for different folks, but I certainly have my eye on that area if I return post-retirement.

Its a beautiful area, low traffic density, loads of wonderful villages and towns, reasonable unemployment rate, friendly people and great pubs I can think of worst places to retire.

Because the Daily Mail has told them it's shit.

Is it worse that they say it or that some believe it?