Three reminders why Spain is Europe’s top emigration destination for Brits

The one week that arrives every year has been and gone. You know the one: the one where temperatures in the UK are higher than in Spain for a few days, prompting the same old, tired headlines among the British tabloid press: Kent to be hotter than the Costas! Staycation Brits Smug as Spain Holidays a Washout!

Well, with temperatures in the UK back down to the norm for this time of year (think 12-17ºC), and Spain’s week of wet weather almost behind it, the status quo has been resumed, and with it, millions of soon-to-be-sodden Brits will start dreaming once more of a life in the sunshine…

Which makes a new report by relocation specialists MoveHub rather timely. MoveHub has found that Spain is the third most popular destination for Brits looking for assistance and advice on emigrating, coming behind Australia and the USA.

However, those two destinations are decidedly long-haul, so it pays to enlist the help of a platform like MoveHub before making any rash decisions. Locations closer to home, however, are easier to plan alone, and Spain has proven once again to be the destination of choice for sun-starved Brits who want to move away but still be close enough to hop back now and then.

So here are three timely reminders of just why Spain is perennially popular with Brits who wish to move abroad…

1. Guaranteed sunshine

Whether it’s those surprisingly warm December days when the mercury tops 25ºC; the early onset of Spring in mid-March; the balmy summer evenings of June, or the scorching mornings that welcome the day during July and August, Spain guarantees you one thing: sunshine, and plenty of it.

The UK is one of the darkest countries in the world, so it isn’t hard, really, to move somewhere a bit sunnier. But Spain takes things to another level, sending down rays of UV delight all-year round, with the heat and laidback lifestyle that goes with it included as standard.

2. A similar culture

Sure, traditional Spain – think flamenco, bullfighting and the languid siesta – is pretty far removed from country pubs, Sunday roasts and the hectic 9-5 lifestyle, but beyond that Spain and the UK actually have pretty similar cultures.

Granted, much of that has to do with the fact that Brits have been making Spain their home from home for around half a century now, but everything from bar culture to a love of football, family and outdoorsy fun is shared by the two nations – and those ties are growing stronger.

3. Excellent property opportunities

British buyers accounted for 20% of every home sold in Spain to a non-national last year. That alone is an impressive statistic, but it also builds upon decades of steady investment into Spain’s property market by savvy, sun-hungry and Spain-friendly Brits.

Today, developers know exactly what British buyers want and have built their homes accordingly, from functional urbanisations to stylish villas and cute townhouses. And with the strong pound and stronger British economy, Spanish property has rarely been more affordable, or represented such superb value.