Spain tops the list of dream international moves

More and more Brits are dreaming of a new life in the Spanish sun, according to new research by AnyVan.com.

Results from the home moving company’s survey reveal Spain as the most popular destination for UK residents fantasising of moving overseas, with 13% of respondents picking it as their number one choice.

The destination is so popular, that those dreaming of living in the Spanish sun would join nearly 300,000 British citizens already living in the country.

With 19-hour non-stop flights to Australia now available from the UK, it’s easy to see why many Brits dream of moving to the land down under and New Zealand, which came joint second in the dream move table (12% each).

Other popular moves on the wish list included USA (10%), Canada (9%), Italy (7%) and France (6%).

The study shows age is a major factor in determining the popularity of a dream move abroad, with young adults preferring countries with more opportunities for lucrative career prospects and lavish lifestyles.

The USA came out top choice for under 34s, with 16% listing America as their favourite, followed by Australia and then Spain. Dubai was also a popular option among younger adults, with 4% dreaming of a move to the Middle East. New Zealand, on the other hand, was more popular for adults over 55, with 14% claiming it as their dream move.

Brits living on the south coast of England seem keener to maintain their coastal lifestyle, with Italy being more popular with people living in Southampton (12%) and Brighton (15%) than the UK average of 7%.

New Zealand was the top pick for Londoners (13%), followed by USA and Canada (11%) and then Australia at 10%.

Angus Elphinstone, chief executive officer of AnyVan.com, commented: “It’s nearly a national sport in the UK to dream about moving. From flicking through property prices and listings on Rightmove to sitting down to watch one of the vast numbers of primetime TV shows offering advice to those looking to change homes for a place in the sun.”

“Our research highlighted where people dream to move to, but there were still 16% of residents that didn’t want to move anywhere,” he continued. “With such a vast number of different landscapes, coastal views and green spaces, it’s easy to see why so many are living their dream in the UK and don’t feel they need to move elsewhere.”