AIBU to think that the UK is no longer an attractive place to live

[Elloduckie]

NC here for this one. DH to be and I are getting married next year and we were looking to set up and be based here. But with everything going on, the UK does not seem that attractive to live.

Currently London based, we want/need to be somewhere that is diverse, have no patience bigotry etc. Though living in London doesn't make you immune from that!!

But to raise kids and work, it just doesn't seem like the UK is the place to be anymore. Does anyone else feel like this?
Thing is, we would we move to? Both are very mobile career wise and speak a few languages so that will not be an issue. Money wise should be fine too. Its literally a question of where else is good, diverse to raise kids and not colder than the UK (ruling out the Scandinavian countries).

Suggestions please..

I'm in London too. If I wanted to move somewhere diverse I'd probably move to Bristol or a posh suburb of Birmingham, or I heard that Swansea is nice. Or i would move to a town just outside London, Kent or Surrey. How about Whitstaple?

Palma in Mallorca is meant to have a great quality of life. I fantasise about moving there when my DS finishes secondary school.

Immigration rules are very strict in Canada. And yes, the winters are hell. Think -40 celcius with no heating or water because the power has gone out.
And unfortunately people there are becoming more openly racist, in my opinion. Have been on a few visits to see family there in recent years and was very disappointed to see that.

I agree that UK is one of the less racist countries, but what about Spain; I don't hear of the Spanish being racist? (I'm not saying they're not btw, am asking a question).

You can do a questionnaire on the Canadian government website to see if you would qualify for emigration—it's a points system. It's quite tough. I wouldn't be allowed back if I hadn't been born there!

I’ve just come back from Palma, my friends moved there just over a year ago. It’s quite international, I really like it. Sort of like Berlin but better climate and more expensive.

That was to Charley50

Lucky friends! Are they enjoying living there?

Bristol is fantastic...and diverse. If i was moving away to a new city it would be Nyc, Berlin, Madrid or Grenada...or an island like Tobago. Love island life.
Racism is everywhere unfortunately.

DC will be black so USA is off the table on that front

For black/mixed race children, the US is really good, contrary to popular opinion. Very diverse and a lot of upwardly mobile/creative black communities in Southern cities like Atlanta and New Orleans. Not sure why you’d rule it out entirely unless you don’t have the ability to live there.

In fact, the UK is a nice mix of diversity and tolerance, not many other places like it. Many other extremely diverse countries like Brazil/UAE/South Africa/Singapore have a real racism problem (that no one seems to really give a shit about) that would disillusion you I’m afraid.

They love it! One is Brazilian and the other British, they both seem very at home already.

Spain

And unfortunately people there are becoming more openly racist, in my opinion.

The Chinese have ruined the housing markets in Toronto and Vancouver and it has become socially acceptable to talk about it now. That’s what I’ve discovered anyway.

As a black woman myself, I’m not sure I would recommend NZ. Huge problems with racism and pretty insular thinking. A friend emigrated there last year and has struggled to settle in.

We live in UAE. It is ace! If I wrote a list of my kid's friends' names it would read like UN delegation list.
Such a safe, child friendly, diverse place.

Look at Galicia. Such a beautiful place and family friendly

You’ve lived in Paris, why not other parts of France with access to big cities; Bordeaux, Toulouse? But still in the countryside and with better weather

Canada definitely diverse and welcoming. Liberal. Good healthcare (available to all). Gun crime not a thing like in the US. But the winters are long and very cold (in most of the country)! Just saying ...

I suspect the cold is the reason that Canada's population is so low. Look at a population density map, you'll see everyone is as far south as they can be! I believe Toronto and Vancouver have become very expensive but there are plenty of other great cities to consider.

Seville or Madrid or the Caribbean? Or north London if you're currently south!

I know a Portugese family who have come over here as there isn't any work in Portugal.

We live in UAE. It is ace! If I wrote a list of my kid's friends' names it would read like UN delegation list.
Such a safe, child friendly, diverse place

Oh yes UAE that wonderfully inclusive country.

User - OP's said she and her DH's work go where they go.. they will need good internet though I think.

We live in UAE. It is ace! If I wrote a list of my kid's friends' names it would read like UN delegation list.
Such a safe, child friendly, diverse place

It’s diverse, but black people face tons of discrimination. Don’t even start with the migrant labor abuses or the maltreatment of domestic maids...

UAE - wonderfully diverse if you do not want to have sex outside marriage, are not gay, have not conceived a child outside marriage, not interested in alcohol.....and do not care about the rule of law!

Just take a look at the FCO travel advice

I've heard great things about Budapest.

What? The capital of the country run by Victor Orban, who is famous for his anti-migrant and frankly racist rhetoric? Yes, sounds like a fabulous place for a black or mixed race family to move to

Lisbon is pretty diverse - I was there at new year and I guess there are plenty of people there from Brazil or from former Portuguese colonies, because there were plenty of non-white faces around. It's really touristy though and I'm not sure what the outer areas are like (where presumably most people live). Brexit though might curtail your plans to move overseas OP and quite honestly, I've travelled a lot around Europe and I don't anywhere more diverse or more tolerant than the UK. There are lots of non-white people in France and Italy, but they're both really racist and opportunities there are limited if you're not white. Spain isn't very diverse, from what I've seen, and both it and Portugal suffer from high levels of unemployment. I'd stay in London, if I were you, or maybe check out some other big cities in the UK.

I live in Wales ihave been born and bred here and my husband my kids all born in the same ex industrial town that has seen some tough periods along the way. I love it and when away from it it's calls for me and I return. I holiday in Wales and buy local as much as possible i spend my money lin local shops. I love the Beauty of the beaches the valleys and the Forrest's , the rivers that are a haven for fish and wildlife. I was born here and I would happily die here. I love the uk in general but especially Wales and it's so sad that people think that things are better over the water. Mostly you would be disappointed. Problems are usually worldwide and sometimes worst.