Best places to live?

@Chlammy Edinburgh is so pretty BUT I found it really difficult to make friends at first. Glasgow has a much better night life, better music scene too; and also a a better gay scene.

what are you after?
 
SDF said:
@Chlammy Edinburgh is so pretty BUT I found it really difficult to make friends at first. Glasgow has a much better night life, better music scene too; and also a a better gay scene.

what are you after?
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Objectively I'd like

Somewhere where making friends is easy
Somewhere LGBTIQ+ friendly (and active)
Somewhere not hyper big and bustling but not dead quiet
Somewhere with easy access to nature
Somewhere where running is easy (and ideally cycling)
Somewhere with a big arts scene (writing, theatre, storytelling etc)

I think all of these have a lot of this in their own way. I just think Manchester is quite sprawled and ugly in parts, but I've heard it's great to live in.
 
Somewhere where making friends is easy - Glasgow
Somewhere LGBTIQ+ friendly (and active) -Glasgow
Somewhere not hyper big and bustling but not dead quiet - Edinburgh is a bit smaller, but still big enough to not feel claustrophobic
Somewhere with easy access to nature - Edinburgh
Somewhere where running is easy (and ideally cycling) - Either, Edinburgh has a great cycle path network, Glasgow not as much but lots of cycle paths on roads, both have plenty of places to go running
Somewhere with a big arts scene (writing, theatre, storytelling etc) - Glasgow
 
Glasgow is probably a good choice because I have friends there and it's cheaper so would be easier to get started in. It's just also the only one I've never actually been in!

Of course I'm saying all this and need to actually find a job, but I'm thinking I have enough money saved that I could probably teach supply in somewhere like Glasgow for a while.
 
Chlammy said:
Objectively I'd like

Somewhere where making friends is easy
Somewhere LGBTIQ+ friendly (and active)
Somewhere not hyper big and bustling but not dead quiet
Somewhere with easy access to nature
Somewhere where running is easy (and ideally cycling)
Somewhere with a big arts scene (writing, theatre, storytelling etc)

I think all of these have a lot of this in their own way. I just think Manchester is quite sprawled and ugly in parts, but I've heard it's great to live in.
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Manchester is a great city - the only place it might fall down for you is the access to nature.

I used to live in Didsbury, South Manchester, and that and Chorlton have nice big, wooded parks with the Mersey running through them. They're really nice places. Naturally they're a bit more expensive than other suburbs, but they are very nice.

If a single blade of grass threatens to break through in the city centre they throw a skyscraper on it though.
 
Gangsta Nancy Lam said:
Manchester is a great city - the only place it might fall down for you is the access to nature.

I used to live in Didsbury, South Manchester, and that and Chorlton have nice big, wooded parks with the Mersey running through them. They're really nice places. Naturally they're a bit more expensive than other suburbs, but they are very nice.

If a single blade of grass threatens to break through in the city centre they throw a skyscraper on it though.
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Nature is a pretty big thing for me too, but I do love Chorlton and Didsbury and would live there if I could.

Altrincham and Prestwich look nice too though. And much easier finding jobs in Manchester than the other three!
 
Chlammy said:
Nature is a pretty big thing for me too, but I do love Chorlton and Didsbury and would live there if I could.

Altrincham and Prestwich look nice too though. And much easier finding jobs in Manchester than the other three!
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I live near Didsbury, it's beautiful... And hello, the peak district is on your doorstep.
 
Chlammy said:
Objectively I'd like

Somewhere where making friends is easy
Somewhere LGBTIQ+ friendly (and active)
Somewhere not hyper big and bustling but not dead quiet
Somewhere with easy access to nature
Somewhere where running is easy (and ideally cycling)
Somewhere with a big arts scene (writing, theatre, storytelling etc)

I think all of these have a lot of this in their own way. I just think Manchester is quite sprawled and ugly in parts, but I've heard it's great to live in.
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The city centre is being entirely redeveloped and theres so much springing up, not to mention the amazing music arts and theatre stuff going on. Yeah some of the outskirts are a bit rough and ready but trust me I’ve lived in some shitholes (St Annes Nottingham anyone?) and Manchesters ‘rough’ parts still have a lot of charm
 
Chlammy said:
Nature is a pretty big thing for me too, but I do love Chorlton and Didsbury and would live there if I could.

Altrincham and Prestwich look nice too though. And much easier finding jobs in Manchester than the other three!
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I’ve lived in Prestwich and live in Altrincham now, the later is amazing, Cheshire is on the doorstep, with amazing countryside, the coast is an hour away, the Lake District just up the M6. It ticks a lot of boxes for you.
 
The food in Alti is fucking AMAZING as well by the way, nightlifes just bars and pubs (and a titty bar if you fancy a walk on the wild side) but Manchester's just up the road. Check out http://www.altrinchammarket.co.uk/ (there's a bigger version in Manchester CC too called Mackie Mayor) which is such a nice place to eat and drink. Sugo, Evuna etc all amazing restaurants. Sugo probably in my top 5 ever.
 
Chlammy said:
Nature is a pretty big thing for me too, but I do love Chorlton and Didsbury and would live there if I could.

Altrincham and Prestwich look nice too though. And much easier finding jobs in Manchester than the other three!
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Heaton Park and Prestwich Clough, plenty of greenery
big ron said:
The food in Alti is fucking AMAZING as well by the way, nightlifes just bars and pubs (and a titty bar if you fancy a walk on the wild side) but Manchester's just up the road. Check out http://www.altrinchammarket.co.uk/ (there's a bigger version in Manchester CC too called Mackie Mayor) which is such a nice place to eat and drink. Sugo, Evuna etc all amazing restaurants. Sugo probably in my top 5 ever.
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Yes Sugo and Evuna are two of my faves too !
 
But yeah, move to Manchester, its a great city and only getting better. I think its by far the best place in the UK outside of London, which you can't really compare with anything.
 
What a random bunch :D

I really like living in Leeds. It's a student city so there's a lot going on (in non-COVID times) but also you can sit on a train for 10-15 minutes and be out in the glorious Yorkshire Moors, so if you're an outdoorsy type who also craves a bit of city life it offers a good balance.

Not sure it would compare to living abroad for culture or excitement though!
 
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Barnacle said:
Anyone have thoughts on these places as BPtL?

Brussels
Montevideo
Leeds
Norwich
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No idea with BPtL is but I'm going with BRITISH PERSON TEACHING LANGUAGES.

The only thing I have to say is i think Brussels is a mainly English speaking city these days as it's bang in the middle of French and Flemish Belgium so has always been dual-language and obviously now has all the EU buildings as well.

I can't advise about any of the others. :D although I've been to Bradford once and it was... An experience
 
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Thanks @VoR - there is a job that is within good distance (according to the advert) to Manc and Leeds but slightly closer to Leeds, but I've never been and am not sure if it's a bit of a concrete jungle.

@Tisch - would you live in Brussels?
 
Barnacle said:
Thanks @VoR - there is a job that is within good distance (according to the advert) to Manc and Leeds but slightly closer to Leeds, but I've never been and am not sure if it's a bit of a concrete jungle.
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If you don't mind my asking, where is it based specifically? (Town, not school)
 
based on accounts from Belgianese friends and colleagues with EU careers, I would advise against Brussels. apparently it's hard to establish roots there, so many are only there very temporarily
 
Barnacle said:
It looks beautiful. Small though. And I'd worry that it would be quite little England ish.
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Norwich is surprisingly vibrant, charming and not that small. It's cute but still very much a city. It often votes Labour (if that matters). That said it still has a market in the city centre and all the features you'd imagine for a city surrounded by countryside - it's kinda remote. I'd probably describe it as a less radical Bristol.
 
Barnacle said:
Rishworth.
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I don't know that village specifically but I see it's in Calderdale which is a lovely area, and yes, much more accessible from Leeds than Manchester.

I'd say Manchester is (obviously) busier and a touch more vibrant. Certainly has a superior gay scene. But Leeds is greener and much less of what I'd describe as a concrete jungle. Depends on your priorities really, but they're close enough (<1 hour between each on the train) that under normal circumstances it's totally possible to get the best of both.
 
I don’t know it specifically but Rishworth looks like it’s in a lovely bit of the country, rural but close to two big cities seems like it’d suit you quite well.
 
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