Is it closer to London a little Scottish town, far from any airport or major communications hub, than Paris or Barcelona?
http://jorgepratscher.com/commuting-from-barcelona-to-brackn...
http://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/extreme-commutes-to-londo...
(The first link isn't very encouraging! "As a consequence I had to visit my dear friend the physiotherapist to check my displaced vertebrae and super swollen trapezius muscles that didn’t let me get off my bed after travelling nonstop for 6 months"!)
I once had to visit a customer a Friday and a Monday (so there was no big point on staying the whole weekend in a hotel), having to drive each day 5 hours each direction. That was without leaving the UK. Apparently this guy makes it quicker from Barcelona to Bracknell (not even London, which would take less time IMHO).
I too have heard good things about Liverpool these days.
And I've lived and worked in Berlin too, it's nice, but by no means the perfect solution. And y'know... it means I can live close to family by being in the UK.