by Alexandra Lind

Created on: January 21, 2007   Last Updated: March 29, 2011

Europe is extremely diverse; from the bitterly cold north to the pleasantly warm (and sometimes very hot) south, from the exotic east to the cosmopolitan west, it has everything. And in these days of EU/EEA nothing is stopping Europeans from leaving their home countries and starting a new life in a new country. But how do you chose where to go, which country is the best to live in?

 This is of course a very subjective question, it all depends on what you wants. Do you want to move because you want higher wages, better education, more choices or to be safe? The list of reasons could go on for ever, but if you think in general terms there is one country which clearly stands out, the United Kingdom.

 The first thing which makes the UK stand out among other major European countries is the language. English might not have the elegance of French or the charm of Italian, but it remains the most  widespread language in the world. English is taught in almost every country in the work, more often than not it is compulsory in school curriculums. Therefore most people should be able to make themselves understood there and be able to integrate with UK society.

 Another is the education on offer; the UK is of course home to the famous Oxford and Cambridge universities, but there are hundreds more universities and colleges offering an excellent education which will be highly rated in other counties. It is of course becoming more expensive to study at UK universities, but people can usually get some support from their native countries and there are of course thousands of scholarships/sponsorships to apply for. The value of a UK education more than outweighs the cost.

 The third reason why the United Kingdom is the best county to live in is the culture. The history is impressive, so many great artists emerged from British society, writers, painters, musicians and more. And perhaps more importantly these people are valued, their works are given excellent care, their old dwellings kept up so people can visit and get a glimpse of what their heroes or  idols everyday life would be like, to see what shaped them. But British culture isn’t just about looking back and appreciating the past, it’s current. Cities like Liverpool and Manchester are brimming with musicians, new up and coming artists. Go to the Tate Modern and see some of the finest contemporary art in the world. See a show in the West End and you can choose from old classics to brand new ones. There seems to be no limit to the experiences on offer.

 The fourth and final reason why the UK is a great country to live in is the people. There is such a variety of people living there that you should have no problem finding someone to connect with, make friends with. The variety of religions mean that while you might be a minority you are certainly not alone, several others are in minority too. There are even a couple of Jedi knights lurking about. Every ethnicity can be found there, so if you feel like you need a reminder of home it won’t be difficult to find. And the British people themselves are welcoming and friendly, providing you are friendly and ready to be part of society yourself.

 In many ways the UK is as diverse as Europe, all contained within it self. You have the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, you have the relative warmth of Cornwall and rest of the South (sometimes surprisingly hot), the cosmopolitan big cities like London and Manchester, and quirky traditions such as cheese rolling, Guy Fawkes night and Morris dancing.

What ever you are looking for you will be able to find it.

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