I regret moving to London for my career - our rent was £2,350 a month

For decades, moving to London has been seen as the next step for young professionals. But for some young people from the North, London is no longer the obvious route to career success.  

When Ben Copeland,  28,  moved to London in 2023,  it seemed like an obvious choice. Originally from Yorkshire, he had first moved to the capital in  2018 when he had the opportunity to intern at a record label for the summer. “Trying to get a [full-time] job was impossible,” he said, so he moved back to York when the internship ended. Despite not having a paid role, he loved the city. Back then, Copeland  says, living in London felt like a long holiday. He met new people, loved the nightlife, and had financial help from his grandparents. “The second time, I definitely regret going down; it wasn’t the same,” he says. 

The company he worked for was opening a restaurant in London and offered Copeland the role of manager, which he gladly accepted. He moved into a flat in Crouch End with his then-partner and best friend. Living in London was not such a carefree experience the second time round and money soon became a problem. 

“The flat was run-down, but it was enough. It was £2,350 a month in total for the three of us just for rent, and I was paying for my ex, so it was a stupid amount. After rent, I was left with very little,” he says. “It affected a few aspects of my life, like the relationship ended, I ended up getting very poorly from not looking after myself living there, I was skint.”

The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.

Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it. 

Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.

This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.

Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?

By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.

Leon Poultney, a writer who specialises in cars, gives his EV recommendations, and the ones that should be avoided.

Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery

Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.

The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars. 

It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.

It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.

Priced from £37,400

It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.

The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.

The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.

With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.

MG IM6

It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion. 

All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.

It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.

For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice. 

Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.

Pyrex jug

It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.

Salter scales

“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”

It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match. 

It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce. 

As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.

Oxo peeler

What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.

Falcon pie dish

Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe. 

Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book Attached, explains why we behave the way we do in love.

Start with your own behaviours

The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.

Express your needs

People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.

If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.

You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong. 

Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.

When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one. 

If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’

When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.

A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice

More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.

Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.

These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.

It is mostly carbohydrate and without protein or fibre, it is digested quickly, leaving you feeling hungry.

Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.

On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.

Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.

Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.

They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.

A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.

On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.

Will Harlow, a physiotherapist
for the over-50s and author of Independence for Life, shares
the key signs you’re ageing
badly – and what to do about it.

Ageing well is maintaining the ability to do what you want you want for as long as you want without needing help. Everyone is talking about longevity but what’s the point in living longer if the last decade is painful and you’re [totally] reliant on people?”

When people retire, they often put their feet up and stop. Your body really is use it or lose it.

Throughout our entire lives, Harlow says we need between seven and nine hours of sleep.

The lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death by
as much as 29 per cent.

It really is the proxy for
overall independence.

The more muscle mass you have, the less chance of heart disease, diabetes, falls and even anxiety, depression and dementia. 

The brain can be linked to muscle mass too, Harlow says. It’s not just about being able to lift things. It gives you more energy, better sleep and you’ll look and feel better.

Do short bursts of exercise, between 30 and 60 seconds, in otherwise dead time during the day.

Take joints through a full range of motion for five minutes to loosen it before getting up.

It can increase the decline of muscle mass and bone density, which needs to be avoided. 

Harlow advises 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight to stop muscle loss alongside resistance training.

Harlow finds that many patients put off making a change to their lifestyle until their lives are consumed by pain. 

For most people, it’s about reducing the number of times per week you’re exercising, not reducing intensity. 

But you should be prepared to keep an open mind.

We’ve compiled the sectors hiring graduate roles, what degree is required, and what they pay.

of employers offered entry-level
positions from July.

That is up nearly 15 per cent from the same period last year.

But graduate unemployment rose to six per cent in 2025 and 700,000 jobless graduates were claiming benefits.

Portman graduates start on £36,000 for the two-year programme and the education you need to apply is a minimum “ABB” of A-levels, and a 2:1 or above university degree. But not in a specific subject.

What makes it particularly rewarding is that there’s always something to learn.

Nearly half (47 per cent) of trade and logistics companies will be giving graduates a go this year.

Salaries start at £30,000 with an uncapped bonus, rising to £50,000 plus a company car as a senior account partner.

More than half (52 per cent) of UK tech and IT firms are actively looking for graduates. 

Successful entry-level candidates can earn a basic salary of up to £35,000, with the opportunity to triple that within their first three years of working.

46 per cent of public sector, health and social services organisations are also ready to take graduates, according to a survey by Manpower. 

According to Waitrose, a dinner party revival is underway led by younger people trying to reduce the cost of getting together.

The i Paper food writer Sophie Morris [below] asks chefs for their best ideas for hosting at home.

People will feast on the
bread, and then need less fish/steak/expensive whatever. All small plates restaurants know this: this is why the first thing on the menu is always artisan bread and butter.

Chef and food writer Helen Graham turns vegetables into centrepieces to cut down on meat and fish expenses.

Graham’s recipes include a braised cabbage with a preserved lemon sauce, a roast cauliflower with saffron, and harrisa roast carrots with mango labneh.

Guests will always appreciate a stellar interpretation of the ordinary. Think lasagna or curry.

Cooking dinner for your guests is spoiling them – you’re being generous with your time, your effort, and your home. So don’t feel the need to go overboard elsewhere.

Ask friends to bring a contribution, be it a nibble or a pudding.

[Presentation] can be the key to elevating something . Spaghetti and tomato sauce suddenly looks like a feast when tumbled on a lovely big plate, dressed with olive oil and parmesan and placed in the middle of the table.

Have one expensive filling, like shredded chicken, and two cheaper options, like refried beans, says Ella Risbridger.

Shop-bought ice cream is so easily zhuzhed up with the help of handy toppings, says Eleanor Steafel.

“It felt a bit bleak,” he says, when he realised how hard it was to live in the capital. “On one hand, it was fun because we had everything on our doorstep, but I also couldn’t do anything because London was so expensive. I had become like a zombie working just to cover the extreme rent.”

Eventually, the restaurant decided to shut up shop in London and return North due to high costs and competition in the capital. This decision worked for  Copeland, who was burnt out and broke. “I wanted to come back to York and continue with my career, which I was enjoying.”  Copeland now works as area manager for the business’s restaurants in York and Newcastle, where he is much happier.  

Would he reconsider returning to the capital? “It would have to be under very strict circumstances,” he says, such as an excellent job opportunity.  

Anna, 25, works in a public sector role in North West England.  When she was looking for jobs in public affairs and consulting, she found that most opportunities were in London.  “In the end, I did have a job offer for London, as well as the job I have now, which is based up North. Due to timing, I accepted the job up North. I think I would have had a big decision to make otherwise,” she says. 

While most of her friends were in London, staying in the North meant living at home. Though her starting salary would have enabled her to rent, it was not worthwhile to move out when her job was so close to home. Her parents agreed that she could live at home to save money, while paying a small amount of rent. “Even if I did move out, I wouldn’t be spending the same amount of money as I would in London,” she says. 

The difference in rental costs is stark once you leave the capital. In July 2026, the average monthly private rent in London was £2,317, compared with £965 in the Northwest, making average rents in the capital almost 2.5 times higher.

“One of the reasons I didn’t move to London was because of the financial challenges that would come with it. I wasn’t willing to not be saving when I’m in my twenties. I think it’s a really crucial time to save,” Anna says.  Unlike her Gen Z contemporaries in London, most of whom have just enough to live on after their rent is paid, Anna is in a position where buying a house is a possibility. 

Not only that,  the North offers her more than financial benefits. “If I want a day trip to a city like Manchester or Liverpool , it’s not too far on a train, but I’m also not far from the Lake District and nature. Within an hour, I can be somewhere new,” she says. 

She also enjoys the slower pace of her seaside town. “I can decide how I spend my time more freely, rather than feeling the social pressure of constantly having to be doing something - or seen to be doing something – in London.” 

Staying in the North has not been at the cost of ambition, either. Working in the public sector, Anna does not believe moving to London would equal faster career growth. “I think there are other industries in which going to London would benefit you to network and to get specific job opportunities. But in the career I am pursuing, there’s equal opportunity all over the country.” 

Ben Speakman, 25, is from Manchester. After completing an undergraduate degree, followed by a master’s in planning and development at Cambridge, he initially searched for jobs in London, where most of his friends were.  But when a commercial real estate development company offered him a job in Manchester after his master’s, he abandoned his plans to move to London, and instead moved back home.

“At the time, I felt like coming back to Manchester was a step backwards, whereas moving to London could have been a step forward,” he says. Now, he sees things differently. Since his girlfriend also moved to Manchester, the two are living together.

“It’s much more affordable as two young professionals to live comfortably in a nice modern apartment. I have friends in London in similar jobs and incomes living in less desirable places,” he says. “There isn’t much drawing me to London, bar my friends being there.”

Manchester has also been hugely beneficial for his career. “In the real estate development world, Manchester is outperforming London in development and investment, and is the most opportunistic place to be,” he says. 

And as part of Andy Burnham’s devolution plans, more than 22,500 jobs are forecast to move to Manchester and Liverpool by 2031. This is estimated to inject up to £2.25 billion into the North West’s economy.

On top of an employment boost in Northern cities, Speakman says Manchester offers more opportunity to take on senior work and accelerate through your early career. “Being in a regional city, you get exposed to bigger work and clients earlier on than you would in London.” 

Outside of work, Manchester increasingly offers what London can, just on a smaller scale. “I think the food and drink, and the nightlife scene is very good and is concentrated in a much more accessible area,” he says. 

Speakman and his girlfriend are settled in Manchester, and only a truly exceptional opportunity could tempt them to London.  In fact, he says, “I’m starting to get the sense from friends in London that the novelty has worn off, and they want to move fairly soon.”