If you are starting fresh, the way to go is to install Ubuntu-Gnome. Ubuntu and Ubuntu-Gnome will be merging anyway. Get that here.

If you are like me - using my ubuntu machine daily and super impatient - you can just install gnome and switch to it from the login screen.

Add PPA’s

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3

Update

sudo apt update

Go for gnome

sudo apt install gnome gnome-shell

You will be prompted at this point to choose between GDM and LightDM. I chose GDM at first, which I read was fine if Gnome was going to be used solely (sharks don’t look back!). I understood that LightDM is the option to choose if you are going to flip between the two. GDM caused me some graphic driver issues that left me unable to boot. I ended up in recovery and ran the above again, this time choosing LightDM. All good after that.

To get the better looking gnome login screen, run:

sudo update-alternatives --config gdm3.css