Located in Warwickshire close to River Avon, Rugby is one of the best places to live and work in the United Kingdom. The area is a world-renowned home of Rugby football with a wide range of good amenities, rich local heritage, an attractive town centre, and strong transport links. With a population of slightly over 70,000, it becomes the second largest town in Warwickshire County. The city lies approximately 83 miles north of the capital.
Is Rugby a good place to live? Not many bad things can be said of this beautiful town. Although it has never attracted architectural plaudits, Rugby has managed to develop a unique and robust vigour in the last few years, and it buzzes with bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and modern flats. The old industrial centre was recently replaced with a modern-looking commercial centre to attract more investors to the area. Rugby is best known to offer high quality education and it is among the few cities in the UK with a lot of excellent primary and secondary schools. The quality of life is generally good, and there is nothing that you won’t get here. With a strong transport link, commuting to and from Rugby is much easier and highly affordable.
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If you are thinking of moving to Rugby or you just want to learn more about the area, you came to the right place.
This relocation guide provides you with helpful information that gives you an excellent introduction to Rugby. You will learn about the various opportunities within the city, the cost of living, education, transport, and even the major attractions in the area. If you are a foreigner thinking of moving to the UK and you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered as well. Read on to find out everything that you need to know about Rugby.
Is Rugby a Good Place to Live?
The truth is that Rugby has moved away from its industrial history and it is now a great place for both young and older people to live and work offering a wide range of exciting opportunities. In 2017, Rugby was named in the top 20 places to live in the UK. The town claimed the 20th spot beating some of its luxurious neighbours such as Warwick District and Harborough District.
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These rankings also put Rugby above some of the world-renowned destinations such as Vale of the White Horse, Harrogate, and Reigate. Rugby had to score well across a wide range of factors that determine the quality of life in any given town to claim that spot. The recent opening of World Rugby’s Hall of Fame has been a powerful statement of the city’s unique standing as the birthplace of industrialization and rugby as a game.
Ruby offers quality education, and it remains home to some of the finest schools in the UK. The town has over ten primary schools including Bilton Infant School, Bilton Junior School, Henry Hinde Junior School, Oakfield Primary Academy, Cawston Grange Primary School, and St Maries RC Junior School.
There is also a good number of outstanding secondary schools such as Avon Valley School, Bilton School, Ashlawn School, and Harris Church of England Academy. The two grammar schools located in Rugby are Lawrence Sheriff Grammar School for boys and the Rugby High School for girls. Rugby College is part of the Warwickshire College Group that serves the area.
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When it comes to transport, the town is served by a road and railway system. Rugby is located near several trunk routes including M21, M6, and M45 Motorways. A5, A14, and A45 roads also serve the town. Several years ago, a short local bypass which is part of the Rugby Western Road was opened to run from road A248 to road A4071 that connects Rugby to Cawston and Bilton.
Buses run from Rugby to Southam, Coventry, Leicester, Northampton, Leamington Spa, and Daventry. The Rugby railway station is usually served by the West Coast Main Line and offers commuter services to Stafford, Birmingham New Street, London, and Crewe. Rugby offers home-going commuters the fastest journey from the capital to any destination within the county. The 83-mile trip takes approximately 45 minutes if you are driving at an average speed of 105mph.
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The crime levels in this town are relatively low compared to the national average and the average crime level of the other neighbouring cities. In fact, Rugby is widely considered as the safest town within Warwickshire County and in the UK. If you are looking for the best way of living London life without paying a hefty price tag, then Rugby is the place to be.
Living to the south of the town is thought to be slightly better than living to the north. The town’s most luxurious neighbourhood is Dunchurch located approximately two miles from the city centre.
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The second best neighbourhood is Clifton upon Dunsmore that is located north of the city centre. The other neighbourhoods in the Rugby include Ashby St Ledgers to the south-east, Birdingbury to the south-west, Kilsby, and Barby.
Is Rugby a Good Place to Work?
If you are looking for a job opportunity, you will be glad to learn that Rugby is an excellent place to stay and work. There are lots of opportunities for both young and experienced professionals looking to advance their careers. There are lots of companies that offer a wide range of exciting job opportunities in the transport, finance, and construction sectors. Read Also: Is Portsmouth a Good Place to Live?
If you don’t like the idea of staying where you work, you can find a job opportunity in London and commute daily. Out of all the towns in Warwickshire, Rugby has the fastest growing creative and cultural industries attracting highly talented people from across the world.
These people feel welcome and happy working here. Rugby is home to high-profile companies such as Alstom, Gap, Rolls Royce, and GE Power Conversion. The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is one of the leading employers in the area that employs thousands of residents.
Salaries offered by some of the leading employers in Rugby and the larger Warwickshire county are slightly higher compared to the national average.
The average salary of an employee working in Rugby is £33,000 although highly skilled employees earn much more.
The unemployment rate in Rugby is slightly below three per cent which is quite low compared to the national average. With over 100 companies and businesses, Rugby provides exciting work opportunities for both locals and non-locals.
Is Rugby a Good Place to Buy a House?
Living in Rugby is such an exciting experience, but it comes at a price. With so many modern flats, apartments, and townhomes, the average cost of a property in this town is slightly above the national average. Tiny houses for first-time homebuyers within the town centre sell at approximately £100,000.
However, instead of wasting your money on a small house just because it is close to the city centre, you can move to Brownsover that is a few miles away from the town centre and get yourself a two-bedroom semi for anything between £130,000 and £200,000.
Property prices in the more uptown areas of Bilton and Hillmorton are relatively high with a two-bedroom house going for anything between £250,000 and £300,000.
A new three-bedroom house in Dunchurch will cost anything between £400,000 and £500,000. There are also some two-up-two-down cottages in Dunchurch that go for £180,000. If you are thinking of moving to Rugby as a renter, you should also be prepared to dig deep into your pocket with the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom house standing at £1088.
Is Rugby a Good Place to Retire?
Situated in the outskirts of the capital city away from the busy city life, Rugby also serves as an ideal destination for retirees looking to enjoy their retirement life in a calm, relaxed, and serene environment. This town boasts of highly desirable neighbourhoods that provide that village feel complimented with a wide range of amenities. The education system is almost perfect to ensure that your children or grandchildren get access to high-quality education.
The healthcare system is also top-class offering a wide range of exclusive healthcare services to residents. There are also lots of retirement homes for sale. These homes are designed to suit the unique needs of older individuals who are over 60 years old, and they are relatively affordable.
A standard one-bedroom retirement home in the uptown neighbourhoods will cost approximately £200,000 while a three-bedroom house in the same area will cost anything between £380,000 and £450,000.
Is Rugby a Good Place to Visit?
If you are thinking of moving to the UK and you don’t know where to settle, Rugby is the place to be. This town holds the unique position as the birthplace of rugby football and most of the city’s attractions stir passions of renowned sporting enthusiasts. The town provides pilgrimage to anyone who wants to immerse himself/herself in the rich history, culture, and overall development of the game.
The World Rugby Hall of Fame was built in celebration of rugby football’s greatest players and some of the sport’s defining moments. The Hall of Fame utilises HD touch-screens to display essential facts and figures about a game that is loved by many and played by over eight million people around the world. The Rugby Art Gallery Museum is another top attraction in the town.
The museum houses a library and a museum that was officially opened in 2000. The museum houses various pieces of pottery and glassware, coins, and even sketches from excavations. You can also spend your day at the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum and take a walk in the Caldecott Park.