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The Best Cities to Move to In Portugal
The warm climate, low crime rate, rich history and the excellent cuisine all mean that Portugal has long been one of the most popular countries to move to, particularly from the UK. Here Hamiltons Removals, who can help if you are considering moving house to Portugal, identify the attractions of some of the country’s biggest cities.
Lisbon
The country’s capital always was a trade hub, as it’s situated at the mouth of the River Tagus, and it has a sheltered and spacious natural harbour. Its history can still be seen today, with the 11th century Sao Jorge castle (which offers a great view over the rest of the city, above) and the 16th century Belem Tower, which acts as a ceremonial gateway into the city.
Many people are interested in removals to Lisbon for work reasons. The year-round tourist industry, coupled with the number of students based in the city, mean there will usually be a demand for English speakers, although to fully integrate you are advised to learn Portuguese. There are currently vacancies in certain employment sectors, including medical and healthcare, IT and service industries such as call centres. Holiday jobs can be a good stepping-stone to more permanent employment.
Porto
It’s famous for its fortified wine (although port is made throughout the Douro region, and not just the city itself). Porto, or Oporto as it is known to the natives, was named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996; this is due in no small part to the Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar and other historic features in the city centre.
The cost of living is lower than Lisbon or London, and there should be plenty of green spaces and beaches to enjoy (the city is on the mouth of the Douro River). However, the weather tends to be wetter than in many other parts of Portugal.
Albufeira
If you want somewhere warm to move to, then Albufeira, in the heart of the Algarve, is a better bet. Here, temperatures regularly hit 30C in the summer months, and the winters are relatively mild too.
Albufeira, along with many other places in southern Portugal, has a thriving expat community, and English is widely spoken. It’s particularly popular with people looking for somewhere to retire to; if you are looking for work, many of the jobs rely on the region’s summer tourist industry.
Aveiro
This city is just to the north of Lisbon, and it is a good base from which to explore the rest of the country. It’s also not a tourist trap, which can be good news if you want to settle down; this particularly applies if you are looking for a family-friendly environment with little traffic, even in the summer months.
Aveiro is also popular with retirees; this may be partly due to its Blue Flag beach. However, due to the cold temperatures and the waves rolling in from the Atlantic, the water’s more suitable for paddling in than swimming. The city is also relatively flat, so it’s much easier to get around on foot or by bike than many other Portuguese places.
Evora
This is in the capital of Portugal’s Alentejo region, and it is in the heart of the country. This city boasts a population of just over 50,000 residents, but only around 4% of these are expats. So many people who move here are looking for some peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the western ports and resorts.
Other reasons to move here include its cuisine – many of the restaurants serve traditional Portuguese dishes which aren’t often made elsewhere – and its history. Like Porto, Evora is a UNESCO World Heritage site (it received the designation in 1986). The city’s rich past dates back to Roman times and includes a Roman temple, a 13th century cathedral, and a bone chapel in Saint Francis Church (warning – this is not for the squeamish!).
Moving House to Portugal with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help if you are considering removals to Lisbon, Porto, Albufeira, Aveiro, Evora – or any other destination in Portugal. We can pack and unpack your items and send them in a dedicated container, on include them as part of a shared consignment. Don’t worry if you have any large or unusual items, as we have usually packed them before.
If you’d like to know more, call us on 01379 855203 or follow this link for an online quotation.
Five Key Reasons to Move to Scotland
Up until the turn of the century, many Scots left their home country to move somewhere else in the UK. In the past 20 years, that trend has been reversed; Scotland’s population has increased by almost 150,000 as more and more people move there from the rest of the UK.
Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer high-end removals to Scotland and all parts of the UK, provide a few practical reasons why the country is currently an extremely attractive proposition when it comes to moving house.
There are No Barriers
Even though the Scottish people voted in favour of remaining in the European Union, the overall ‘no’ vote means that the country is still part of the UK. This means there are no barriers to immigration, as there are no powers which have been devolved to the Scottish Assembly Parliament.
So, there are no extra forms to fill in as long as you are a UK citizen, and you (and your immediate family) are automatically entitled to free NHS care if you live in the country. As well as there being no language barrier (although the Scots do have their own slang), the people are usually very welcoming – although it’s best to keep off the subject of politics!
It Should be Cheaper
The cost of living is usually quite a bit cheaper north of the border – 10% cheaper if you are comparing English cities with Scottish cities, and 30% if you are comparing Scottish cities with London. A lot of this is down to Scotland’s housing costs, which are (on average) the lowest across the whole of the UK.
There are other financial benefits too – the starter rate of income tax is 19% (compared to 20% in England) which is good news for the lower-paid; and tuition fees are lower too. If your son or daughter is off to college or university, the fees you’ll have to pay have been capped by the Scottish Government at £1,820 for the 2022/23 academic year. In England, the cap has been set at £9,250.
There’s an Extra Bank Holiday
Although the picture has been complicated in recent years by the Royal bank holidays (the Queen’s platinum jubilee last year, and King Charles’ coronation this year) Scotland generally has an extra bank holiday a year – nine compared to eight.
The English and Scottish Bank Holidays are mostly the same, but the Scots don’t treat Easter Monday as a public holiday; and the August bank holiday is usually earlier in the month. However, the Scots don’t usually work on January 2 (the Scots’ New Year or Hogmanay celebrations last for an extra day) nor on November 30 (St Andrew’s Day, in honour of the country’s patron saint).
The Natural Advantages
There are plenty of other, non-financial reasons to move to Scotland as well – for instance, there’s the stunning scenery of highlands and islands. Inland, there are two national parks, both with plenty of wildlife; Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park was created in 2002, and the Cairngorms National Park the following year.
Nature-lovers may be able to spot red, roe and sika deer, as well as pine martens and Scottish wildcats. Offshore whales, dolphins, seals puffins and many other species can be found in Scottish waters.
And, if you fancy a mountaineering challenge, then the Grampian range includes the UK’s two highest peaks, Ben Nevis (1,345 m or 4,413 ft above sea level) and Ben Macdui (1,309 m or 4,295 ft).
The Transport Network
You might think that parts of Scotland are inaccessible. However, the country has an excellent network of roads (there are 10 motorways) and a comprehensive public transport system. In addition to the four main commercial airports (there are two in Glasgow, plus one apiece in Edinburgh and Aberdeen) there is also a network of smaller facilities covering the more remote areas, run by the Highland and Island Airports Limited. There are regular ferry services to the outlying islands as well.
Removals to Scotland with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help with removals to Scotland – not just if you are considering moving house to one of the major cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, but the more remote areas as well. Whichever part of the country you are considering moving to, call us on 01379 855203. Remember we offer free online quotations and video surveys, and can also help with your packing and unpacking too.