Moving out of London

Published Apr 19, 2019

4 mins read

Leaving London doesn’t always mean you want to leave city life, away from the capital there are many excellent places to live and work across the UK which offer a different type of city life.

If you’re thinking about moving out of London and moving to another city in England, here are some cities we’d suggest you include on your list of considerations.

Moving from London to Manchester

Over 200 miles away from London, Manchester has seen its popularity increase significantly in recent years as a place to live.

Where historically Manchester previously expected to lose skilled workers who would move to London to find jobs, some individuals are now choosing to live in Manchester over London.

Many companies are starting up or moving to the northern powerhouse meaning there are more jobs available in the area.

Home buyers can expect to get a larger property for their budget, looking in the wider area of Greater Manchester, Salford and Stockport are popular places for those migrating north.

Whilst Manchester is many, many miles from London the fast train takes around 2 hours from Manchester Piccadilly into London Euston meaning if you’re really missing an aspect of the city it’s not too far a journey to visit.

Life after London in Cambridge

The Cambridge property market can easily be compared to London so in many instances it is not property prices which attract individuals to move from London to Cambridge.

The Cambridge lifestyle is a big draw; the historic buildings, extensive greenery and bicycle friendly layout appeals greatly to many.

Cambridge is also one of Europe’s most important centres for life science and technology, with a growing workforce and many companies reporting continued increases in turnover.

Relocate to Birmingham

Over the past two decades Birmingham has seen extensive regeneration, its skyline has altered dramatically and with it there has been a surge in demand for property with many new people moving to the city.

Birmingham has some of the UK’s finest shopping facilities, many excellent places to eat and drink, multiple green spaces including Botanical Gardens.

Many families are drawn to the area for the exemplary schooling options, from exceptional grammar schools to well-regarded private schools.

Chelmsford – good access to the City

Chelmsford appeals to those who don’t want to live in London but still need to commute there for work. The mainline station runs a fast train in to London Liverpool Street. Chelmsford is largely a commercial centre which employs around 80,000 people, most of the larger companies are based in the Chelmsford Business Park.

The city has seen much regeneration in recent years, the centre and Bond Street in particular has been redeveloped, it is now a popular shopping destination.

For families the area is attractive due to the abundance of good schools, both state run and independent including two popular grammar schools; King Edward VI and Chelmsford County High School for Girls.

Still commutable to London – St Albans

St Albans is a successful business centre in its own right with companies such as Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers having offices in the area, whilst also being a haven for London commuters – the direct train from St Albans into St Pancras International takes just 21 minutes.

Property prices are not too dissimilar to London in this small cathedral city. Homebuyers are attracted to the area for the sense of community, access to green space, lower crime rates and cleaner air amongst a long list of other positives about the city.

Move to Brighton for life by the sea

Many dream of living by the beach, Brighton is a popular city offering residents a idyllic combination of seaside and city life.

A popular destination for those leaving London, especially since there are regular trains taking under an hour to Victoria or London Bridge should you need to commute back to the capital.

Homebuyers can choose from property built in varying eras, some of the most sought after roads boasting homes with sea views.

As with most seaside locations when the weather is warm you have to share your hometown with tourists.

Brighton is popular with families for its excellent schools, large period homes and access to excellent green spaces such as the South Downs.

Nottingham

Nottingham is a central hub in the East Midlands, many large companies have their headquarters located in the area such as Experian, Game Workshop and Alliance Boots.

Nottingham centre is a hive of activity with many shops both chain and independent as well as the exclusive outlets at Bridlesmith’s Gate along with many great places to eat.

Many of the most exclusive properties are located in the suburbs of Nottingham and the villages on the fringes of the city in locations such as Edwalton.

Reading – well connected for working London

Reading is known as an IT centre and is the home of Microsoft, many, many companies have established offices in the area creating an ever increasing demand for employees.

Whilst Reading draws people to the area who will be working locally it is also an established commuter city for London with excellent rail links to the capital.

These are set to be improved even further with the opening of the Elizabeth Line.

Residents benefit from Reading being located aside two major rivers meaning there are many water sports on offer locally along with riverside pubs and green spaces to enjoy.

Just outside of the city are several desirable villages, such as Pangbourne, if you wish to live near to a city but not in the thick of it.

Moving from London to Bristol

Bristol is a popular place to live in the west country, it has a thriving economy, two universities, and many popular shopping centres amongst its attributes.

Clifton is filled with beautiful period homes not far from the city centre, the area also boasts many independent shops and popular places to eat and drink.

There are also newer developments dotted across the city for those who want to live in a modern home.

Located near to several motorways Bristol is well placed for reaching other locations easily such as Birmingham, Bath, Exeter, Reading and London.