New survey of 2,747 UK adults reveals a nation reassessing its future - driven by climate, cost of living, and a quiet desire for something different.

A growing number of people in the UK are considering leaving the country for a new life overseas, according to our nationally representative survey conducted in March 2026. The findings paint a striking picture of shifting attitudes toward long-term residency, with lifestyle aspirations, climatic discomfort, and mounting economic pressure all contributing to a very modern restlessness.

The Headline Numbers

• 54% of UK adults would consider permanently moving to another country

• 19% are already actively planning or exploring a move abroad

• 73% of 35–44 year-olds would consider relocating - the highest of any age group

• 10% say they wouldn't miss a single thing about the UK

A Nation Open to Moving Abroad

The headline finding is unambiguous: 54% of UK adults say they would consider permanently moving to another country. Within this group, nearly one in five (19%) are already actively planning or exploring a move, while a further 31% describe it as something they may consider in the future.

What makes this figure especially significant is its breadth. This is not a fringe sentiment confined to a particular demographic or political group. It reflects a broad, cross-cutting openness to life outside the UK.

Interest in relocating is particularly pronounced among those aged 35 to 44, with a striking 73% of people in this age group saying they would consider moving abroad. This cohort - typically mid-career, often family-forming, and acutely aware of property costs and long-term economic prospects - represents a powerful signal about how middle-income, working-age Britain is feeling.

Where Brits Want to Go

When asked which countries they would most likely consider, four destinations stood out clearly, ranked in order of popularity:

1. Australia

2. United States

3. Spain

4. Canada

The dominance of English-speaking nations in this list is notable - language remains a powerful pull factor. But it also signals something about cultural familiarity and the kinds of lives Brits imagine for themselves elsewhere: not a radical break, but an upgrade.

Gender differences add further texture. Women are most drawn to Australia, making it their top choice by a clear margin, while men show a stronger preference for Spain and the United States. These divergent preferences suggest distinct lifestyle priorities - Australia's reputation for outdoor living, safety, and strong family infrastructure may resonate with women, while Spain's climate and affordability and America's economic opportunity may appeal more strongly to men.

Why People Want to Leave

Unsurprisingly, weather tops the list of reasons for wanting to leave the UK, cited by 40% of those considering a move. After years of grey skies, soaring energy bills, and a cultural conversation dominated by economic anxiety, the appeal of guaranteed sunshine carries a weight that goes beyond mere comfort.

But motivations differ markedly by age, offering a more nuanced picture than the weather-and-beaches cliché might suggest.

For those under 35, the key drivers are:

• Weather

• Political climate

• Cost of property and household bills

This is a generation that came of age through the financial crisis, Brexit, the pandemic, and a housing market that has placed ownership out of reach for many. Their reasons for considering a move are fundamentally structural - they don't feel the country is working for them.

For over-35s, while the above factors remain relevant, there is a greater emphasis on lifestyle - a desire for a different pace or quality of life, rather than purely financial or political grievances. This suggests a more reflective motivation: not fleeing problems, but actively seeking something better.

What Brits Would Miss

Despite the appeal of sunnier climates and new opportunities, many respondents acknowledged there are things about UK life they would find hard to leave behind. The results here are both predictable and revealing.

The most commonly cited things people would miss are:

• The NHS

• The British sense of humour

The NHS topping this list speaks to something deep in the British psyche. Despite its well-documented pressures, it remains a point of fierce cultural pride and genuine security - particularly for those who have relied on it or fear losing universal access to healthcare elsewhere.

The British sense of humour, meanwhile, is harder to quantify but no less real. It points to a sense of cultural belonging and social identity that no emigration checklist can fully account for.

Age, again, shapes sentiment. Under-35s are more likely to say they would miss:

• The changing seasons

• The countryside

• Hearing British accents

This is a generation more likely to romanticise what they'd leave behind - the England of rolling hills and autumn mornings - even as they feel most compelled to go. The contradiction is human, and it's commercially interesting.

In contrast, those over 35 overwhelmingly cite the NHS as what they would miss most. For this group, the stakes of leaving feel higher - they are more likely to be managing health conditions, caring for ageing parents, or thinking about long-term security for their families.

And then there is the 10% who say they wouldn't miss anything at all.

A Shift in Outlook - What It Means

Taken together, these findings highlight a significant and sustained shift in how people in the UK are thinking about their futures. While not everyone is ready to pack their bags, the idea of building a life abroad is no longer a niche fantasy held by gap-year graduates or retirees with sun-holiday habits. It is firmly in the mainstream.

More than half of respondents are open to leaving. One in five is actively exploring it. The question is no longer whether Brits are thinking about life elsewhere - it's what might ultimately persuade them to make the move.

About the Research

This survey was conducted in March 2026 among 2,747 UK adults. Respondents were sampled across age, gender, and region to reflect the adult population of the United Kingdom.

The findings were produced using our proprietary research panel - the TLF Panel - a carefully maintained, regularly refreshed community of engaged UK consumers, available for quantitative surveys, segmentation studies, brand tracking, and bespoke insight projects.

Our panel enables PR and marketing agencies to:

• Generate exclusive, ownable data for media campaigns and thought leadership

• Conduct rapid-turnaround surveys to capture the public mood on breaking topics

• Segment findings by age, gender, region, household income, and more

• Commission bespoke studies tailored to client briefs and campaign themes

• Access data that journalists want - surprising, human, and statistically robust