Most of the time when you migrate to a new country you do not have much choice about where to go. You typically go where your friends or family are. We first lived in a small town few miles from Leeds. Luckily there was a lot of work there back then and it was not too far from Leeds which is a big city. I was quickly drawn to Leeds. I especially liked the diversity there, the cosmopolitan feel to it and also the huge student population which made it feel very energetic to me. However, as I chatted to locals in the small town, I realised that the young people had no ambition or dreams. Most of them were very happy in their factory jobs. (Nothing wrong with that if you have had a thought about it and decided that that is what you want to do). I got the sense that they were doing this because they did not know any better. I soon realised that I had to move from this small town to Leeds to be near the University I wanted to go to. As soon as I moved to Leeds I started seeing a lot of more seemingly intelligent students walking around everyday as I worked at the supermarket. It kept me focused, on applying and getting into university. Some of my work colleagues were university students working part time. 

My point is that, once you move to the UK. Have a look around and decide whether you like where you are living. There is usually no reason for you to stay where you are. Pay attention to the people around you. Also make an effort to meet other people from another part of town or another City and look at the difference. I know people who have stayed in the small town I first lived. They are raising their kids there. What surprises me when I visit them is how they are closed minded, they teach their children to speak about at the same way their neighbours or community speak. What worries me is that they have lived in this small community and have not explored what the rest of the UK is like. They have not questioned if they want to be in the socio-demographic area they are in, what is that going to do to their children’s success in this country. Be aware of the influence of the society you are in, it might not be the best place for you and your family, you might be picking up bad habits and cultural behaviours that are not necessarily accepted by the other part of the society. I hope I did not sound like a snob. 

• If choosing a town or city to migrate to, look at the employment levels and the size of the City. This is because bigger Cities usually provide more opportunities for work and are typically more diverse
• If choosing a neighbourhood. I would say get on a bus that goes through the neighbourhood and observe.
• Ask locals for suggestions. They often tell you the places to avoid.
• Personally, I would avoid high rise social housing. They are usually not well maintained and anti-social behaviour is usually very common.
• Do not commit to a long contract, if possible, find a room to rent in a shared house. This can be a good way of making friends and also gives you time to know the area