Reply to: Good place to live for contracting

[scooterscot]

Moving house - but can't decide where exactly...

Currently contracting in Birmingham, but want to move further down 'Sarf to move within commuting range of Oxford / Reading etc. - but still be within reach of Brum as Mrs Muttley works there. Been looking at villages round Warwick etc...but can't find anything nice at moment.

Any ideas of good places, poss with good rail links to London?

It's only when you really look, you realise how crap rail links are in this country....

Well I'm working in and around Europe and was thinking of living in France... What kine of contractors are you?!

[chicane]

Good work, Dim. I keep mine under the stairs.

You might consider partitioning that area into two floors to double your rental income.

[wendigo100]

I have 12 immigrants living in my garden shed. Certainly pays the bills and it's what the government wants for the future of Britain.

Good work, Dim. I keep mine under the stairs.

[DimPrawn]

I have 12 immigrants living in my garden shed. Certainly pays the bills and it's what the government wants for the future of Britain.

[Andy2]

Slough is also ideal location, nestled between thames valley and London.
Plus you can earn extra by putting up immigrants in your back garden

[wendigo100]

On examination of a map, you'll see the full horror of Milton Keynes busting out from the pages as fitting the requirements of the discerning contractor perfectly.

Plus you can watch Franchise FC in our spanking new stadium.

[oracleslave]

That's the great thing about Swindon, no one wants to live there.

No traffic, no crime, big houses are almost free and a million £600/day contracts on your doorstep.

Yes, stay away.

Don't worry your safe. I don't venture outside the M25 too readily

[NoddY]

On examination of a map, you'll see the full horror of Milton Keynes busting out from the pages as fitting the requirements of the discerning contractor perfectly.

[DimPrawn]

That's the great thing about Swindon, no one wants to live there.

No traffic, no crime, big houses are almost free and a million £600/day contracts on your doorstep.

Yes, stay away.

[oracleslave]

Swindon (or preferably a nice posh village just outside).

Train links

Oxford 30 mins
Reading 30 mins
London 1hr
Bath 30 mins
Bristol 40 mins
Cardiff 1hr

M4 links (as above) plus
Bracknell
Newbury
Basingstoke


Good links to M5 and Cheltenham and Birmingham.

Perfect IT contractor location

Swindon belongs in the worst places to live thread

[DimPrawn]

Swindon (or preferably a nice posh village just outside).

Train links

Oxford 30 mins
Reading 30 mins
London 1hr
Bath 30 mins
Bristol 40 mins
Cardiff 1hr

M4 links (as above) plus
Bracknell
Newbury
Basingstoke


Good links to M5 and Cheltenham and Birmingham.

Perfect IT contractor location

[Muttley08]

It's not a bad place, as long as you can handle the bizarre characteristics of a city that has possibly the most extreme rich/poor divide outside London.

That was it - you had the fashion victim Harvey Nics crows walking down Briggate next to the South Leeds shirt off, beer belly out crowd (and that was just the women).

Thought about moving up near Harrogate or North Yorks Moors National Park - but the rates in Leeds are just way lower. I managed to get a good rate for the gig as the previous PM had backed out, and they were desperate, but some of the other contract developers were on really low rates (albeit partly due to the agency)

[BoredBloke]

My next one is in Leeds. Looking forward to the short commute. I might even consider going green and using the train.

[chicane]

Did a gig in Leeds last year, and the place seemed worse than I remember (went to uni there and it seemed quite nice at the time)

It's not a bad place, as long as you can handle the bizarre characteristics of a city that has possibly the most extreme rich/poor divide outside London.

[Muttley08]

It's the rates that are pushing me down 'sarf...at least £100 a day difference.

Did a gig in Leeds last year, and the place seemed worse than I remember (went to uni there and it seemed quite nice at the time) - perhaps my standards have gone up - or were low to start with??

I looked at Banbury - but the town centre seems a bit cr@p....some nice areas nearby - but going into the Cotswolds you lose the communication links...

More hunting near Leamington / Warwick I think. Thanks for the comments so far everyone