Fed up with everyone leaving London

[Arlington45]

My partner and I are both from London, both sets of parents are in fairly near areas to us. We have no intention of leaving London.

But so many people are. My son (6) keeps having to say goodbye to school friends. Is this going to mess him up, having no sense of security with friends sticking around? I hope at some point it will settle down but at the moment it feels like a mass exodus.

I don't feel pissed off with the people leaving, I get it. But I do feel fed up. AIBU?

London has so much to offer children.
I don’t get why people move away.

The answer is house prices, and secondary school options, which are intertwined

Let's not forget that lots of people moving from London moved there from elsewhere around the country in the first place

The answer is house prices, and secondary school options, which are intertwined

I would add congestion & air pollution, the traffic is 🤯

Yep, lots of people who moved out when we did in early 30s also only moved to London in their early 20s from other parts of the country. They never planned it as a long term location, even if there careers are long term London based.

@MargosKaftan

Yep, lots of people who moved out when we did in early 30s also only moved to London in their early 20s from other parts of the country. They never planned it as a long term location, even if there careers are long term London based.

This was true for me and the vast majority of friends. I went to London in my 20s for work and never had any intention of staying once I had children. I love London (to visit!), but wanted to return to the rural county I grew up in. Having grandparents locally was a big draw and the familiarity of friends and places from childhood. I wonder how many people leaving London return to the area in which they grew up?

RedIce

The ones I know who moved out didn’t go because of house prices and secondary school. It was the lure of green fields that lasted a few years. Or the promise of parents and grandparents offering free childcare that lasted all of 0 -5 minutes once they were moved.
Some returned to London after a very expensive few years others are now abroad a couple in areas that make London look an incredibly cheap area.

@RedIce

*London has so much to offer children. I don’t get why people move away.*

The answer is house prices, and secondary school options, which are intertwined

I get both points of view.

London is marvellous but expensive. We were lucky to buy our house when there was a slump, albeit on the outskirts. I wouldn't live anywhere else. However I understand why people move for more space at less cost.

@catspider

This is the Governments fault. The only people who can afford to live in London are the very rich and those who get their rent paid for by benefits or have a council home. Everyone else has to leave if they want any kind of security.

I agree 100% with this. I'm a teacher and I would like to leave London as I will never be able to buy a house here. Lots of our students are on benefits and they live in houses that can't afford. At least I'm "lucky" because I can share rent with my partner but some of my colleagues have to rent a room. Very sad, I know many people who works for NHS are in the same situation.