Shortlist
The United Kingdom may maybe a small country, but it has so much to offer when it comes to variety. It is made up of four nations; England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Island. However, with over 76 places across the UK to choose from, deciding where to live can be a challenge. How do you find the perfect place to enjoy an amazing experience? Thus, this blog covers the best places to live in UK, top cities, and factors to consider while choosing a place in the UK.
Table of Contents
The United Kingdom (UK) is one of the top destinations to live and work. The areas in UK are separated with four countries making up its borders. The UK has beautiful countryside and historic cities such as London with so much life and people from across the globe. It is filled with both opportunities and beauty. Furthermore, this section will let you know the top reasons to live and work in the UK.
Free healthcare and education
Culture
Career Opportunities
Location
Friendly People
Let’s understand these reasons in detail for you to have a better understanding.
The UK offers everyone within its borders access to healthcare and education for free, to a certain extent. Living in UK would mean that migrants would also have access to top-quality healthcare services during emergencies. Furthermore, the UK is home to some of the best universities worldwide: Cambridge and Oxford.
The cultural diversity of the UK is the backbone of British life with the workplaces and communities enfolding diversity. It has some of the great museums, art galleries, music venues, sporting events and theatres that the world has to offer. Thus, British culture has its roots in its people living across the four major countries.
Along with the best places to live in UK, the country also offers many opportunities to find a desired job. The UK is considered a hub of many international companies, that has a huge range of jobs to offer. However, the demand for skilled workers is increasing every year in the UK.
The UK is a perfect place for short trips if you want to explore Europe. Many ceremonies and events in this city happen during the year. All the events that take place are for fun and entertainment. Thus, London is home to the royal family of Britain.
The UK is considered to be one of the few places with polite and friendly people. The people in the UK are well-known globally for their hospitality. Thus, it is worth to live in UK as it makes you meet and connect with new people which leads to great friendships and relations.
These are some of the reasons that make it worthwhile for people to live in the UK. In the next section, we will cover some of the best cities to live in the UK.
Also Read: Student Life in London
The UK is known for its fabulous cities. From historical cities like Oxford and Cambridge to upcoming cultural hotspots like Coventry and Bradford, there’s so much to decide when it comes to finding the best city to live in UK. Thus, in this section, we will explore the top 10 UK cities to live in, based on the key livability criteria.
Great for: Community, job opportunities, public transport, things to do
Drawbacks: Expensive housing, traffic, pollution
As the UK’s capital, London is one of the most recommendable city to live in UK. This city consists of several neighborhoods, so you can easily find a community you relate to. However, London has a great job market, excellent public transport links, and a range of education opportunities. Also, student accommodation in London is easily approachable.
Great for: Affordability, community, public transport
Drawbacks: Less safe than other cities, poor health systems
One of the best places to live in UK, Manchester is home to one of the largest Asian communities in the UK, making this a popular destination. The city is famous for its music scene, museums, art galleries, world-class football, and fantastic nightlife. Thus, Manchester is one of the UK’s most popular student cities with a population of 99,000.
Great for: Cultural events, LGBT+friendly, safety
Drawbacks: Expensive, limited diversity
Based on the south coast of England, Brighton and Hove are one of the places in UK to live. It is a well-known destination for those who want to take benefit of the job opportunities and salary, without any hustle and bustle. However, Brighton is one of the safest cities in the UK, known for the LGBT community throughout the city.
Great for: Literacy, theatre, location, community, transport
Drawbacks: Less safe than other cities, weather conditions
The UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham often ranks as one of the best places to live in UK. It attracts students, citizens, and expats from all over the world, making it one of the most diverse cities in Europe. There are several neighbourhoods for internationals looking to settle down in. However, it is a more affordable city to live in than others, specifically in the South of England.
Great for: Community, things to do, public transport, art galleries
Drawbacks: Location
Liverpool is a great moving destination for the UK students. It has lower house prices and has a unique identity. However, Liverpool is the fifth largest city in the UK, with its rich cultural heritage, music scene, and stunning waterfront. Liverpool’s unique harbourside location can make it difficult to travel directly to other cities.
Great for: Affordability, housing, job opportunities
Drawbacks: Community
Cardiff is one of the best UK places to live. It has a low cost of living, and finding student housing in Cardiff is easy. The city of Cardiff is one of the UK’s best cities for jobs, with creative industries, and financial services of some of the biggest growing sectors. Thus, Cardiff City makes student life accessible.
Great for: Things to do, stunning architecture, ancient traditions
Drawbacks: Dark winters, limited diversity
The Scottish capital, Edinburgh, is one of the best city to live in UK. It has a special place in the tourist’s hearts because of its range of attractions and activities. However, Edinburgh continues to attract thousands of visitors every year, who come to enjoy a mix of art, music, drama, and comedy.
Great for: Things to do, safety
Drawbacks: Expensive, traffic congestion
The harbour city of Bristol is one of the best city to live in UK, in southern England. It is the only major metropolitan area in the southwest, with high house prices, and a lack of diversity. Furthermore, Bristol is home to plenty of schools and colleges. It is also one of the safest UK cities.
Great for: Community, public transport, location
Drawbacks: Job opportunities
Nottingham is one of the well-known places in UK to move. It is a multicultural city, with greater diversity than Edinburgh and Bristol. The good transport facilities are around the city to get to other cities including London, Leicester, and Sheffield. However, this city lacks job opportunities.
Great for: Community, affordability, vibrant nightlife
Drawbacks: Weather, location, less safer than other cities
Glasgow is one of the largest cities in Scotland, with a modern vibe and diversity. The student housing is cheaper in Glasgow as compared to Edinburgh and other cities. Furthermore, Glasgow has good transport links to the other parts of Scotland and is known as one of the world’s friendliest cities.
Overall, these are some of the best cities to live in UK for anyone who is planning to move there. The next section will talk about the places in the UK to live as per the category.
The best place to live in UK generally depends on your needs and preferences. However, before finding a perfect place to move you need to consider factors like where to live, with whom to live, and for how much time you have to live. Thus, the following section has places to live in the UK according to the different categories. Have a look below.
The places to live in the UK with family are as follows:
1 Great Massingham, Norfolk
2 Hoole, Chester
3 Skipton, North Yorkshire
4 St Albans, Hertfordshire
5 Solihull, West Midlands
6 Guildford, Surrey
7 Bath, Somerset
8 Harrogate, North Yorkshire
9 Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
10 Winchester, Hampshire
The areas in UK to live when you are single are as follows:
1 London (Shoreditch)
2 Brighton, East Sussex
3 Manchester (Northern Quarter)
4 Bristol (Clifton)
5 Edinburgh (Leith)
6 Liverpool (Baltic Triangle)
7 Birmingham (Jewellery Quarter)
8 Glasgow (West End)
9 Newcastle (Ouseburn)
10 Leeds (City Centre)
The best places to live in UK when you are on a budget are mentioned below.
1 Sheffield, South Yorkshire
2 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
3 Hull, East Yorkshire
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
5 Dundee, Scotland
6 Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
7 Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
8 Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
9 Wolverhampton, West Midlands
10 Derby, Derbyshire
The areas in UK where you can easily find a job while living are listed below.
1 London
2 Manchester
3 Birmingham
4 Reading, Berkshire
5 Cambridge
6 Edinburgh
7 Leeds
8 Bristol
9 Glasgow
10 Milton Keynes
Overall, these are the best places to live in UK as per the category. The next section will talk about the factors to select when finding a right city or place for you to live.
There are several factors to consider when looking for the best cities to live in the UK for immigrants. Thus, in this section, you will find some deciding factors or components that need to be considered before moving to any city in the UK.
One of the most important or deciding factors while moving to the UK is learning how to manage your money and finances well. The cost of living is higher in the UK, as compared to India, so you must plan your budget accordingly. Also, to find student housing you must keep track of how much it costs to rent and buy food.
You can’t sit alone or be idle all the time. Thus, before moving to a city in the UK you must look out whether there any job opportunities are available or not. If not, then find another area to live in the UK. Earning money while studying can prove beneficial in the future.
One of the important factors to choose for UK students, is to evaluate the quality of life that each area offers. Factors such as access to healthcare facilities, safety, supermarkets, transport, and recreational activities. Thus, this can be the deciding factor before moving to any city.
Education is the most essential factor in deciding when moving to a city in the UK. Look for colleges and universities that have high-quality education, experienced professors, and good teaching facilities. Along, with the best place to live in the UK this is also mandatory.
Transportation is an important factor to consider forUK students when looking at where to live. Look for which type of transport is available where you are planning to move. And check the distance from your university to your house. Thus, access to public transportation is much more important.
Look for the culture and lifestyle where you are planning to move. See whether there is to explore or not like museums, art galleries, shops, theatres, and everything that has to offer. Thus, the culture and lifestyle can be the deciding factor to live in the UK country.
These are the factors to consider while choosing the best city to live in the UK for you. Our last section will talk about the comparison of the cost of living between the UK cities.
Knowing about the cost of living in UK cities is essential for immigrants. Thus, the table will let you know the comparison of the cost of living between the cities in the UK.
This is the cost of living in the UK for the different cities.
City
Cost of Living
London
£89.55/INR 9,797
Manchester
£77.63/INR 8,493
Brighton
£76.26/INR 8,343
Birmingham
£72.86/INR 7,971
Liverpool
£70.77/INR 7,743
Cardiff
£69.88/INR 7,645
Edinburgh
£79.39/INR 8,686
Bristol
£77.17/INR 8,443
Nottingham
£73.94/INR 8,090
Glasgow
£74.19/INR 8,117
Sheffield
£71.57/INR 7,830
Leeds
£75.37/INR 8,246
Coventry
£76.14/INR 8,330
Oxford
£81.27/INR 8,891
Cambridge
£82.46/INR 9,022
To sum up, we discussed the best places to live in UK, along with the best cities. Further, we also had a brief look at the factors to consider while choosing a city in the UK and the cost of living comparison. Now if you are a study abroad aspirant who is willing to study in the UK but not able to find the right place to live then we’re here for you. Gradding.com provides the best and most affordable student accommodation in UK, which makes your stay stress-free and easy.
Plymouth is rated as one of the top cities to live and work in. It was once ranked as the best city in Britain for economic performance and quality of life.
Here are some of the best places to live in UK that are as follows:
The best city to live in UK is London both as an Indian or a foreign national.
Many Indians in the UK find that better prospects for career advancement, education, and a higher standard of living make the move worthwhile. However, it is important to consider the costs and benefits based on your budget.
Some of the major safest cities in UK are as follows:
1 Woking
2 City of York
3 Swansea
4 Swindon
5 Exeter
6 Worthing
7 Warrington
8 Chelmsford
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