Which is a better location: Basildon, Reading, Cambridge, Canary Wharf, Hatfield?

Question

I am from the USA and have the opportunity to work in all these locations. I'd like to know about the safety, things to do, type of community, and how close and accessible they are to London. Any other information you'd like to share would be appreciated, as well.

Answer 1

Cambrige first, then Reading and Canary Wharf. Forget Basildon and Hatfield, soulless places devoid of character. Cambridge because of the opportunity to immerse yourself in intellectual history and architecture, Reading because it is a business powerhouse for upmarket companies, on the river Thames, and while expensive means you can take in dinner and a show in central London and be home in no time. Canary Wharf is all about drive, winning, champagne every evening and serious money. In my opinion this eventually becomes boring, but some of the properties are nice. Hatfield was built to take the overflow of people from London. I lived their a long time ago and it was OK. The home of De Havilland, the aircraft designers and builders. It has now lost it's way and is a total dump. Good luck, and expect to pay 10 bucks a gallon for gas.....

Answer 2

I don't really know too much about Basildon, Reading and Hatfield.  

Canary Wharf is part of London and has many of the big international banks.  It is fairly modern has some great restaurants and is a very short tube journey to the rest of London i.e. The City, the West End (restaurants and theaters) It is right on the river Thames and not too far from Tower Bridge and The Tower of London (I would work here if you want to enjoy the proximity to the rest of London)

Cambridge is very picturesque and beautiful.  It is just over an hour from London by train and has the famous university there.  It is fairly small with some good restaurants, bars and old English pubs.  

They are both safe.

I wish I could help you on the other 3.  They are all outside of London, so you would need to take a train into the city.  

For reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading%2C_...

For Basildon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basildon

Good Luck.  Have fun in England.  

(For what it's worth I would work in Canary Wharf, just such a good location to the rest of London, which is such a great and varied city)

Answer 3

Cambridge.  By far, the jobs being equivalent.

Cambridge has fast trains to London: 50 minutes to Kings Cross, 70 minutes to Liverpool Street.

With a job in Cambridge you have a chance of living in town (for preference), or having a short commute, though there is a sharp rush hour from some directions.

Canary Wharf, while that's very close to The City, and everything central London has to offer, is going to mean much more in the way of commuting time, cost and hassle: people commute in from Cambridge and further, because of the cost of housing in central London. (unless you're being offered a flat there as well, in which case I'd grab it!)  

But of the other three out-of-London locations, Cambridge: absolutely no contest.  With the university you've got a lot of young, lively, intelligent people around.  Plus history and architecture.

Basildon and Hatfield are of little interest in themselves, and are largely overspill and dormitory towns for London.

Reading has a better history and some character.

(And is better placed for Heathrow, while Cambridge is better placed for Stanstead and cheap flights to Europe)