Birmingham is more than just the other end of the HS2 railway — it’s a vibrant city in its own right, and a jewel in the West Midlands crown. It’s not just that property is more affordable than London — though it is — but the cost of living, too, is much lower, and it’s easier for residents to find good schools. The West Midlands is an urbanised county, but the green belt that separates Coventry from the rest of the county has retained a rural character, and there are numerous villages to choose from, as well as many urban parks and nature reserves. Across the region, the Office for National Statistics reports that ratings of personal well-being have improved for all measures, and the West Midlands also reports the lowest average anxiety rating in England for the financial year ending in 2015.