Regional differences in the UK

England (about 57 million) is the largest nation, with London as capital.

• Scotland (5.5 million) has Edinburgh as capital and its own parliament and laws (an independent legal system), its Gaelic language and distinctive culture, and university education is free for Scottish residents, and prescriptions are free.
• Wales (3.2 million) has Cardiff as capital and a Senedd (parliament) and a recognised Welsh language which is taught and bilingual signs, and prescriptions are free there.
• Northern Ireland (1.9 million) has Belfast as capital and an Assembly and a complex political history and a land border with the Republic of Ireland.
• Fees, benefits and local laws (such as education, renting and taxes) differ between nations, so check the rules of the place where you live.
• And most immigration, defence and foreign policy are managed centrally from London.

London (9 million) is the financial and cultural capital, with the highest wages and highest housing and transport costs, and enormous population diversity (over 300 languages), and large Arab communities, huge job opportunities and excellent transport.

• But it is crowded and expensive.
• The other big cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff) are cheaper and have their identity, universities, industries and communities.
• Manchester and Birmingham for example have large Arab and Pakistani communities, and many mosques and halal shops.
• And small towns and villages are calmer, cheaper and more closely knit, but less varied in jobs and transport and you may need a car there.
• And coastal areas depend on tourism and seasonal services.
• Choose according to your work, family and budget, and visit the place before moving.

The south-east and London are the richest regions of the country, with financial and tech services, media and education.

• The north and Midlands have industries, services, universities and expansion in tech and health, with lower wages but much lower costs.
• Scotland has energy, tourism, tech and financial services (Edinburgh), Wales industries and public services, and Northern Ireland tech and services.
• The health sector (NHS), care and the construction, hospitality, agriculture and transport sectors employ many migrants in all regions.
• Rent in London is more than double that of others: a room at about 800 to 1300 pounds a month in London against 400 to 600 in other cities.
• And average wages vary by about a third.
• And remotely some jobs can be done from anywhere.
• Search for jobs via regional sites and Indeed, and check the cost of transport and housing before accepting an offer in London.

Health, education and housing are the responsibility of each nation: NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, HSC in Northern Ireland and NHS England each with its policies (prescriptions are free in the first three and paid in England).

• Education: Scotland has different qualifications (National 5 and Higher) and four-year universities and free for Scottish residents, and England and Wales GCSE and A-level.
• Renting: different laws in Scotland (Private Residential Tenancy) and Wales (Occupation Contract).
• Income tax in Scotland has different bands (Scottish Income Tax).
• Local councils differ in quality of services, waste, libraries and support.
• And waiting for health services varies between regions.
• And note that immigration is unified across the UK, so your visa permits residence and work in all four nations.
• Always check the local council site, GOV.UK and the Scottish or Welsh government site.

Each region has its cuisine: the Full English breakfast, fish and chips and roast dinner in England, haggis, Scotch broth and shortbread in Scotland, Welsh rarebit, bara brith and cawl in Wales, the Ulster fry and soda bread in Northern Ireland, the Cornish pasty in Cornwall, Yorkshire pudding in Yorkshire, and curry (chicken tikka masala) an unofficial national dish thanks to Asian communities.

• And festivals and celebrations vary: Hogmanay and Burns in Scotland, the Eisteddfod in Wales, and colourful Christmas in London.
• When choosing think of: job opportunities, then housing and cost, then transport, then the community, mosque and halal shops, then schools and health, then climate (the north and west are rainier and colder).
• Visit the region before moving and speak to those living there, and do not fear moving later, since internal movement is free and relatively easy.

How many nations in the UK?