Where to settle in UK? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Where to settle in UK?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 14:02

I know this is a very broad question but we are thinking of moving to the UK permanently. I have no clue where to start looking for a suitable place to settle.

I need to live in an area that is fairly close to an airport, not very expensive to buy a home, has primary and secondary schools with a bus service and a nice friendly environment? I would like a place I can walk around with parks and restaurants too.

Any suggestions? Or ideas on where to start?

TIA
<em>edited by TurkishDervish on 21/01/2011</em>

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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:51
Turkish Delight - sorry, this was the site I meant to put up for you to search on: http://www.houseprices.co.uk/e.php?q=Ewell+and+Epsom&n=10 @ Basil - don't know what you call "that expensive". A small one bedroomed flat in London SW4 in a terraced conversion from a Victorian house (quite a nice area, near Clapham Common, reasonably central, on tube and bus routes, expensive on-street parking if you can find a meter) will rent for around GBP 900 pm in the present market. I don't know how that compares to Australia, but it's the equivalent of about UAE 280,000 pa. edited by simpleasabc on 21/01/2011 SIMP your calculations are way off 900 pounds per month is about 63, 500 AED. No way do rents compare to Dubai unless you are in the centre of London which SW4 is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even renting at 1000 sterling a month which would be quite high for the suburbs is 70,500 AED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blushes - I calculated at GBP 900 per week, not per month :( As you were! Sorry, that makes it around AED 65,000 pa for a one bed flat in SW4 (which isn't exactly central London, though it's not exactly the suburbs, either!). I've no idea how much a v small one bed flat goes for here? House rental for even a small house in SW4 is more like GBP 1000 a week, not a month, b.t.w!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:37
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/parentpower/league_tables.php?t=state_primary_schools If you are looking for state education try to get a house in a good catchment area it will be a little more expensive but well worth it.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:33
Turkish Delight - sorry, this was the site I meant to put up for you to search on: http://www.houseprices.co.uk/e.php?q=Ewell+and+Epsom&n=10 @ Basil - don't know what you call "that expensive". A small one bedroomed flat in London SW4 in a terraced conversion from a Victorian house (quite a nice area, near Clapham Common, reasonably central, on tube and bus routes, expensive on-street parking if you can find a meter) will rent for around GBP 900 pm in the present market. I don't know how that compares to Australia, but it's the equivalent of about UAE 280,000 pa. edited by simpleasabc on 21/01/2011 SIMP your calculations are way off 900 pounds per month is about 63, 500 AED. No way do rents compare to Dubai unless you are in the centre of London which SW4 is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even renting at 1000 sterling a month which would be quite high for the suburbs is 70,500 AED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:28
This website is really useful for house prices, schools, other amenities. So once you know roughly where you will go you can put the town in and check out all the info http://www.upmystreet.com/ edited by Clairehdp on 21/01/2011 Oooh, thanks, Claire, I like it! Bookmarked for future reference!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:27
We're all from different places so you'll get lots of info and opinions. Like I lived near Epsom and worked 'IN' Epsom and hated it. Yet the posts here are pro Epsom. I hated it because I was bored out of my mind. It didn't suit me or my partner and that might be because we are young and Epsom seemed more 'mature'. But was very pretty and schools are good etc etc. I lived in North London too and loved it. I lived in a very nice suburb (Cockfosters) but it is quite expensive. My sisters 4 bedroom cost her £500,000 but its only 10 mins from the Tube. I used to rent a 2 bedroom flat and it was a 1930's build so quite big and it cost me £1100 a month. Schools in this area are very good, the tube is great (25 mins into Kings Cross) and the most important bit - it's soooo safe! you actually don't feel like you are in London. Alas, my big bold 'Birmingham' print. I loved Birmingham, again lived in the suburb so was about 25 min commute to the city. But its so alive, the houses are huge compared to what you get for your money. City Centre has everything and more. Jobs are good, schools are good. But again, it suited us and our needs are/were probably different to yours. Hope that helps, I personally would probably never move permanantly back to the UK but I wish you good luck :)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:22
This website is really useful for house prices, schools, other amenities. So once you know roughly where you will go you can put the town in and check out all the info http://www.upmystreet.com/ <em>edited by Clairehdp on 21/01/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:09
wow, so much information. I am trying to keep up but please keep posting, I am writing all of this down and it will be a very, very informed decision x
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 18:02
[u'>[b'>Birmingham!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/b'>[/u'>
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 17:54
Turkish Delight - sorry, this was the site I meant to put up for you to search on: http://www.houseprices.co.uk/e.php?q=Ewell+and+Epsom&n=10 @ Basil - don't know what you call "that expensive". A small one bedroomed flat in London SW4 in a terraced conversion from a Victorian house (quite a nice area, near Clapham Common, reasonably central, on tube and bus routes, expensive on-street parking if you can find a meter) will rent for around GBP 900 pm in the present market. I don't know how that compares to Australia, but it's the equivalent of about UAE 280,000 pa. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 21/01/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 17:41
Have a look at Right Move.co.uk, I would suggest anywhere around the M25 which is a huge area covering all the Home Counties.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 17:38
Actually the development we lived in had high ceilings and triple aspect living rooms - hardly boxy, they also managed to keep out the undesirables, as you call them, despite an uproar. Sorry, didn't mean to offend you! I was just generalising on my experience of looking round new builds when I was helping my brother house hunt in summer! What kind of monthly prices are these ones going for? That's ok :-) We lived in Clarendon Park, it's a mix of apartments, town houses and detached houses. The rents I believe range from about £1300 for the town houses, 2 bedroom with ensuite and very spacious to £2,500 + for the larger properties. Just do a search with the usual estate agents in the UK. It is set in woodland and we had deer running around and lots of wildlife. That's what, 5 times the price of something the same size in Dubai?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 17:27
Actually the development we lived in had high ceilings and triple aspect living rooms - hardly boxy, they also managed to keep out the undesirables, as you call them, despite an uproar. Sorry, didn't mean to offend you! I was just generalising on my experience of looking round new builds when I was helping my brother house hunt in summer! What kind of monthly prices are these ones going for? That's ok :-) We lived in Clarendon Park, it's a mix of apartments, town houses and detached houses. The rents I believe range from about £1300 for the town houses, 2 bedroom with ensuite and very spacious to £2,500 + for the larger properties. Just do a search with the usual estate agents in the UK. It is set in woodland and we had deer running around and lots of wildlife.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 17:17
OK then.. why not London.. Is it that expensive? As an Aussie and our $ so high at the moment we can sell back home and buy an investment property in London..good area. Would u do this?
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 17:13
Bear in mind you get an awful lot more for your money here than anywhere in England and in England it really is location, location, location, which counts. I agree, you can get such a lovely place here in Dubai now in so many areas rents are cheap, if you go back to the UK anywhere nice is going to be really pricey, especially when you add up all the bills, council tax, petrol - 70 pounds to fill a tank! Bear in mind any new developments are usually quite boxey and they have a quota where a certain percentage have to be filled with council tenants so you could find yourself living next to real undesirables! lol! However food is like half the price of here and clothes etc That's true, but I always end up spending a fortune on food at supermarkets back home due to the amazing choice, I probably spend less here because I only buy what is necessary and not tempted by all the offers etc...! <em>edited by jwal on 21/01/2011</em>
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 17:11
Actually the development we lived in had high ceilings and triple aspect living rooms - hardly boxy, they also managed to keep out the undesirables, as you call them, despite an uproar. Sorry, didn't mean to offend you! I was just generalising on my experience of looking round new builds when I was helping my brother house hunt in summer! What kind of monthly prices are these ones going for?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:56
Actually the development we lived in had high ceilings and triple aspect living rooms - hardly boxy, they also managed to keep out the undesirables, as you call them, despite an uproar.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:55
Bear in mind you get an awful lot more for your money here than anywhere in England and in England it really is location, location, location, which counts. I agree, you can get such a lovely place here in Dubai now in so many areas rents are cheap, if you go back to the UK anywhere nice is going to be really pricey, especially when you add up all the bills, council tax, petrol - 70 pounds to fill a tank! Bear in mind any new developments are usually quite boxey and they have a quota where a certain percentage have to be filled with council tenants so you could find yourself living next to real undesirables! lol! However food is like half the price of here and clothes etc
Anonymous (not verified)
0
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:46
Bear in mind you get an awful lot more for your money here than anywhere in England and in England it really is location, location, location, which counts. I agree, you can get such a lovely place here in Dubai now in so many areas rents are cheap, if you go back to the UK anywhere nice is going to be really pricey, especially when you add up all the bills, council tax, petrol - 70 pounds to fill a tank! Bear in mind any new developments are usually quite boxey and they have a quota where a certain percentage have to be filled with council tenants so you could find yourself living next to real undesirables! lol!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:34
Bear in mind you get an awful lot more for your money here than anywhere in England and in England it really is location, location, location, which counts.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:31
Hi TurkishDervish, we were in Epsom before moving to Dubai. Yes it can be expensive but has all the things you are looking for. There are a couple of new developments just outside the town that have some lovely apartments and houses, set in acres of woodland, prices have come down in the last couple of years. Feel free to email me, s y b a r r s @ g m a i l d o t c o m
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:26
Cheshire gets my vote ;) Beautiful country side, close to Wales & other big cities, houses not too expensive & good schools. Also Emirates fly Manchester to Dubai 2 times a day. If I could choose a place to tlive in the UK Chester would be my choice. I currently live in Cheshire, 4 miles from Manchester airport, and agree it's a lovely part of the world, however, house prices for anything nice are silly money as is renting, (as we are doing) - tons of money straight down the drain. :( But I guess it depends on your idea of 'expensive' and 'nice'... There aren't many jobs in this area but it isn't far to Manchester where things might be better. Some parts of West Yorkshire (Huddersfield / Halifax) are only an hour or so away, straight up the M60/M62, but it really depends on the job situation. There isn't much in the UK at all at the moment. I guess it depends on your DH's field of work? Maybe if you mention that someone may know where there is a good chance of getting work.
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:14
The plan is for DH to remain in Dubai for a while and I move over the summer with the children, hence the close to airport bit. So no job hunting for me, I am studying Interior Design through a uni in the UK so may consider working from home but that is still months away. Read something about Epsom and Ewell, Surrey. Any good? Surrey is the most expensive place in the UK to live! It's cheaper up north so maybe find a district near to Manchester airport? Cheshire is also really expensive, well the nice parts anyway!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:09
Cheshire gets my vote ;) Beautiful country side, close to Wales & other big cities, houses not too expensive & good schools. Also Emirates fly Manchester to Dubai 2 times a day. If I could choose a place to tlive in the UK Chester would be my choice.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:09
train links straight into London, Airports Gatwick, LHR & London City all quite easy to get to withing an hour. The train to London is on the very slow line. Or was, when I were a lass. Depends which line you are taking from which station.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:07
train links straight into London, Airports Gatwick, LHR & London City all quite easy to get to withing an hour. The train to London is on the very slow line. Or was, when I were a lass.
476
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:03
train links straight into London, Airports Gatwick, LHR & London City all quite easy to get to withing an hour.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 16:01
Epsom and Ewell fine. Not that easy transport, except by car - M25 to Gatwick, I think. Expensive, as commuterland for London.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 15:55
The plan is for DH to remain in Dubai for a while and I move over the summer with the children, hence the close to airport bit. So no job hunting for me, I am studying Interior Design through a uni in the UK so may consider working from home but that is still months away. Read something about Epsom and Ewell, Surrey. Any good?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 14:47
Do you have jobs ready to go to ? Or will you be looking in the UK as that will make a difference as well
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 January 2011 - 14:44
Leicestershire or Derbyshire. Both beautiful countryside with cities close by. Birmingham and East Midlands airports. Leicester train station one hour from London. Great football team lol , but then I am biased! If you need to find a job first then do that, then sort out where to live within a certain mile radius and I am sure you will be able to find schools, parks, good restaurants etc. vebra.com is a good housing website <em>edited by lcfcfem on 21/01/2011</em>
 
 

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