Gone are the days of the daily commute and cramped city offices, you can be as free as a bird and work anywhere as a remote worker in the UK. With working from home now a permanent fixture for many, people across the country are rethinking where, and how, they want to live. Now, you can work from a bustling city, a quiet village, or even the countryside, whatever it is that floats your boat!

You do need to first understand what you like and dislike about where you currently live, and factor this into your potential options. Just remember, the cheaper places are more remote and disconnected, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be close to somewhere with everything else.

Just to add, in 2003 I made the step to move from London to Brighton and have not regretted it a single moment. So whether you’re escaping high rent and cost of living, craving more space, or looking for a spot that blends community and productivity, remote working offers flexible options to live better and work smarter.

Below, we explore the best UK places for remote workers, looking at broadband speed, affordability, wellbeing, and access to co-working hubs.

Connectivity & Broadband Infrastructure

Key factor: Fast, stable internet

If you’re relying on a steady internet connection to do your job (which, well, we assume you do), it’s crucial to choose a location that supports this first and foremost.

Before anything else, check local broadband speeds, especially if you’re hosting video calls, uploading files, or collaborating via cloud-based workspaces. Solid internet is essential at home, don’t rely on a coworking hub or a quiet corner in local coffee shops or a café.

Some areas in the UK have seen significant upgrades in broadband infrastructure already, thanks to the government’s Project Gigabit, making them ideal for remote work.

Regions like rural Wales and parts of Scotland are improving, and cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol also offer excellent broadband speeds and infrastructure, so you can seamlessly connect with your team and clients.

Look for areas that are investing in high-speed fibre-optic broadband, as this will make a real difference in the speed and reliability of your work.

Top picks with excellent digital infrastructure:

• Bristol – a tech hub with wide full-fibre coverage
• Manchester – great for hybrid workers who want big-city convenience
• South Cambridgeshire – strong fibre rollout with village charm

Tip: Use Ofcom’s broadband checker to confirm speeds in specific postcodes.

Housing Affordability & Lifestyle Value

Key factor: Space, flexibility, and value for money

High rents and small flats don’t pair well with home offices. Many digital nomads and remote professionals are are heading north or out of city centres for cheaper accommodation options and more space without compromising on quality of life.

Areas like the North East of England, including Newcastle and Durham, offer affordable housing and excellent amenities. You’ll also find plenty of new build homes there, which are energy-efficient and perfect for families. They are built with modern needs in mind, offering great insulation and high-tech features that can make your remote work setup even easier.

Most affordable & family-friendly options:

• Durham & Newcastle – low average house prices, new builds, and university-town amenities
• Yorkshire market towns (e.g. Skipton, Beverley) – great schools, walkable centres
• East Midlands – access to Leicester or Nottingham without the premium price tag

Look for modern developments with high EPC ratings, ideal for energy efficiency and remote working.

Quality of Life & Green Space

Key factor: Health, balance, and recreation

Living somewhere with good access to parks, healthcare, and cultural amenities can greatly enhance your life outside of work. Cities like Edinburgh and Brighton strike a great balance, offering green spaces, constant things going on, and plenty to do in your downtime.

The right town offers a healthy blend of peace, history, culture, and connectivity. If you’re raising a family, consider towns like Harrogate or St Albans, which are known for their safe environments and welcoming amenities.

You probably think I’m contradicting the affordable housing section, but I write this over-looking the green of the South Downs, a 30 minute bus ride from Brighton town centre. The point being, you don’t need to be in the expensive centre to get the benefits.

Top picks for remote life balance:

• Brighton – seaside calm, creativity, and commuter rail if needed
• Edinburgh – a cultural gem with huge parks and historic architecture
• Harrogate – voted one of the UK’s happiest places to live

Bonus: many of these locations offer excellent healthcare access and family amenities too.

Networking & Community

Key factor: Connection and collaboration (even remotely)

Isolation is a real risk in remote working. Being close to other remote workers, freelancers, or start-ups can make a huge difference in your mental health. These coworking communities hubs create opportunities to network, collaborate, and swap industry news over coffee.

Top remote-friendly cities with co-working culture:

• Leeds – a growing start-up scene with multiple co-working hubs
• Bristol – friendly creative scene and remote tech community
• Glasgow – innovation-driven and increasingly remote-capable

Tools like Workfrom or Desana can help find shared spaces wherever you are.

Sustainability & Long-Term Growth

Key factor: Ethical living, clean air, and economic potential

If you value green living and care about environmental impact, choose areas that combine sustainability with entrepreneurial edge. Plenty of places are prioritising eco-friendly development, clean transport, and renewable energy, which is attracting flexible businesses, digital nomads, and remote-first start-ups.

Top ethical and future-ready regions:

• Cornwall & Devon – great for remote digital professionals who want coastline and community
• Stroud & Totnes – leaders in eco-housing and grassroots sustainability
• Milton Keynes – UK smart city with green infrastructure and high innovation employment

Many of these locations are also seeing growth in green and tech industries, ideal if your career might evolve over time.

Remote-Ready UK Towns at a Glance

Everyone wants different things. My younger brother has his eye on Yorkshire for affordability and green space. I like the idea of the West Country as I want beaches and the better weather. There is no right and wrong as people value different things.

Ultimately, your choice of location will impact your work-life balance, and that’s something that can’t be overlooked, so take your time exploring. And remember, you can live in the countryside and still land a tech job, or raise a family and stay professionally connected.

Research. Use broadband maps, check local housing portals, and, if possible, trial living somewhere new before you commit by taking a holiday there.