19 Sep All the Best Places to Be a Nurse in the UK
Have you thought about moving to a new area in the UK? It might be for career progression opportunities, to make friends and experience culture, or to spend less.
The UK has one of the largest healthcare systems in the world. The NHS runs across Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England, so you’re spoilt for choice when choosing a location to begin your next adventure.
We’ve put together a guide on the best places to be a nurse in the UK. It’s organised by the best locations for band and leadership progression, culture and friendliness, and low cost of living. London takes the cake for being rich in culture and career progression opportunities. Wales wins the cost of living battle.
Let’s discuss what UK area you should consider by career progression opportunities, people, and cost of living.
Career Progression
Generally, progression opportunities vary by speciality. For instance, it may take 5 or more years for an RGN to progress to Band 6, but as little as 2 to 3 for a community or HEMONC nurse. The rarer your speciality, the more likely you are to progress quickly.
Usually, trusts and hospitals with high staff turnover hire for new posts more often. Hospitals and trusts like these are usually small hospitals with large populations– think London, the East Midlands, and Ireland. London in particular is renowned for its progression speed.
Try Wales if you want to make more money. Fair Pay for Nursing successfully campaigned for pay rises in line with England’s. Wales is cheaper than England, too, so expect to get a lot more bang for your buck. Scotland’s government has also discussed increasing nurse wages.
If you’d like to progress as quickly as possible, find a trust that often has open opportunities. Once you’re settled in the trust, it will be easier to move between roles, cross-train, and shadow other nurses.
People and Culture
If you feel that you are in a close-knit community where it’s impossible to make friends, moving might be a good idea. It’s important to have friends and a support network as a nurse, lest you develop compassion fatigue or suffer emotional burnout.
Some of the UK’s most culturally rich and diverse cities include:
London
According to The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford’s 2024 Migrant Policy Briefing, 40% of Londoners are born out of the UK, with 27.9% born in a non-European country. Of London’s demographic, most immigrants are black (West African) or Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Chinese).
London is a great place to meet international nurses. Most people are cited as friendly, too.
Dublin
Dublin city’s general population is made up of 21% non-nationals– predominantly from Poland, China, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe– writes The Council of Europe. It’s home to a vast array of art galleries, pubs, festivals, cinemas, and communities.
Manchester
Multicultural Manchester is recognised for its cultural diversity. The city boasts almost 200 languages. Its Chinatown is the largest in the UK besides its London sibling, alongside vibrant Indian and South Asian communities, while also boasting a large African community. The city is also home to Buddhist centres, Jewish synagogues, and facilities for Sikh and Hindu worship.
Some liken it to a mini London because of the city’s recent infrastructure and architectural investments.
Cambridge
A small but vibrant city, Cambridge houses the famous University of Cambridge. Besides its predominantly white ethnic group, most of its students are from abroad. Its people are friendly, welcoming, and kind.
Low Cost of Living
The UK faces a worsening cost of living and accommodation crisis, making affordable housing difficult to find.
Let’s discuss locations with comparatively low costs of living in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Generally, the further North you go, the lower the cost of living is.
Ireland
Ireland is a relatively expensive area to live in, especially when considering major cities like Dublin, Cork and Galway. Here are some of its more affordable locations.
Maynooth
Maynooth is in the North and has a population of around 17,000. It’s located on the Dublin railway line. Visit its castles, cathedral, expansive park, and canal.
Waterford
Waterford is the 5th most populace location in Ireland. According to a 2022 census, its population sits at just under 83,000. It was originally a Viking city, which explains its Viking city quarter and medieval architecture. It boasts a host of museums, parks, and gardens. Plus, it’s on the coast– perfect for summer.
Kinsale
Kinsale is a quaint and colourful seaside town in the Cork region. It has a Michelin-starred restaurant and is home to various food festivals. Tourists are often captivated by its medieval and rainbow architecture.
Kinsale’s accessibility to the water makes it a popular marine activities hub with deep sea angling, scuba diving, boat hire, fishing, kayaking, climbing and abseiling.
Scotland
Scotland is cheaper than most UK locations.
Bellshill
Bellshille is only 16 km away from Glasgow’s city centre. It has a large lake in the park, a culture centre, and a theme park. The town is perfect for paying low rent and a short commute to Galway.
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a quaint town in East Ayrshire and the home of the largest Burns monument in Scotland. It has cobbled streets and classic Victorian architecture. The Dick Institute and Palace Theatre are prime examples of its colourful culture.
Dalmeny
Dalmeny is a short commute away from Edinburgh. It offers glimpses of the breathtaking Forth Bridge, a creative cafe, the coastline, and gorgeous cottages set amid greenery.
Wales
Wales is also heaps cheaper than England and Ireland.
Cardiff
The capital of Wales is a major centre for television and film production (Doctor Who, Sherlock). There are 7 NHS hospitals in the city. Besides English and Welsh, Cardiff’s most spoken foreign languages are Somali, Urdu, Bengali and Arabic.
It’s a culturally diverse hub studded with breathtaking Edwardian architecture: cathedrals, castles, and museums. In 2010, it was named Europe’s most musical city by major British label PRS for Music.
Newport
Newport lies 19 km northeast of Cardiff and is famous for its cathedral, castle, Victorian market, museum and art gallery. You’ll feel comfortable and safe nestled in its cosy suburbs and among the friendly Welsh people.
Swansea
Swansea is located on the south coast and boasts numerous critically acclaimed beaches, almost 20 nature reserves, an indoor waterpark, and the charming Mumbles district.
England
Lastly, let’s outline England’s most low-cost areas and cities.
East Midlands
The East Midlands consists of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland.
Its most recognised cities include Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and Northampton.
Birmingham
Colourful Brum (Birmingham) is set in the West Midlands, the second biggest city in England. It has many canals, Georgian architecture, museums and galleries. It’s home to a large NHS network that it shares with its neighbouring area, Solihill.
Newcastle
Newcastle is England’s northernmost borough in the city of Tyne and Wear and includes castles, cathedrals, and a beautiful arcade, voted the best city in the UK for food, fashion and nightlife in 2023 and is a welcoming city.
It’s known for being a poetry and literature hub.
An Adventure to Remember
Now that you have a good idea of the cheapest, most welcoming, and most viable career progression locations, it’s time to decide where you would like to go.
Not sure yet? Why not try out a location for a few months and move if you don’t like it?
With Proximity Healthcare, you can do just that. We’re a healthcare recruitment and employment agency that helps nurses work wherever they would like, whenever they would like. Plus, we negotiate nurse agency rates of pay, flexible working hours, and growth opportunities.
Contact us today and start your UK travelling adventure.