What @ShittyFingers said
Yabu to push to stay in London really it seems just for the sake of it.
We are honestly just at the START of the cost of living increases, read business journals etc don't just rely on msm and govt. The people that really DO know about this stuff are predicting 2 more energy price rises at least, price hikes in other utilities and general cost of living rises (groceries etc) of between 20-40% (calculations vary but most seem to think there will be significant increases). If you haven't much spare money now it's going to be getting a lot worse in the next 12-18 months
Be very interesting for you I think yo sit and do a "prospective soa" for living in Manchester - so not only the mortgage free aspect but also look at council tax rates, average home running costs (prices do vary around the country), transport costs (even if you drive it'll be handy to know for when the kids are teens), entertainment costs, even grocery priced can vary MASSIVELY In different areas. My friends in London and other parts of the south east pay much higher prices on groceries than I do - at the same shops! (You can change address on online accounts and do a "dummy run" or I'm sure a friendly mner living in the area could give you a run down)
Your desire to live at "home" doesn't trump your husbands to do the same, and he has sound, valid reasons why a move north would be good for your family.
Be less rigid and more open minded, London really isn't the be all and end all.
I've lived in London I've also lived all over uk and in other european countries, trust me London is not the only nice place to live!
I had a great childhood, went to school on the tube by 13. Went to museums most weekends. As a teenager, I was NEVER BORED. Always something new to explore.
The same is/would be true of any large city. I'm not very familiar with Manchester but based on pps and some googling where his parents house is isn't particularly central but you could move to a more "Manchester proper" place for considerably less money than getting a place in London
My "home city" is arguably Glasgow (long story didn't grow up there but family originally from there and still have family there now), it's a fantastic city with tons to see and do.
I've also lived in/near other big cities in uk (which I won't name as the combination of all the info would be too outing) and they were perfectly good too in terms of plenty to see and do especially for kids but also adults.
London doesn't have the preserve on this or on many other things it's just another big city.
And with having more spare money in Manchester you'd be ABLE to do a lot more and so would dc!
No point staying in London but too skint to do stuff!
I find the narrow minded attitudes of a certain type of Londoner at the very thought of living elsewhere quite odd! And prejudiced and usually based on incorrect beliefs/information
I still have friends in London or who've recently moved away from there and from living there myself (as a young single woman albeit almost 30 years ago) I wouldn't want to live there I certainly wouldn't want to raise kids there. My friends the ones that are still fans don't have dc, the ones with dc want out! Or have already left. They're telling me it's much worse there now for raising dc than when I lived there.
I find it really odd that you haven't discussed where you want to raise your children in the last 10 years,
I get the feeling op has just always assumed they'd stay in London and the dh hasn't felt they had the...power? To raise elsewhere as a possibility until now
Or...the dh has raised it and op has repeatedly dismissed and now dh feels more able to be a bit more pushy on the subject?
I don't know wythenshawe but I sort of know Hackney and I find it hard to believe wythenshawe is worse than Hackney! - but people familiar with both would be better placed to comment
Have you ever NOT lived in London?
I was wondering this, also getting the sense the op isn't exactly...well travelled?
So possibly has a limited perspective on life outside London generally?
I think if you don't do this op, you'll regret it and dh could feel resentful.
@SarahAndQuack that's an attitude certain types of Londoners have and always have had certainly in my experience and not always the older ones either. As if modern life doesn't EXIST outside of London. It's very strange
Glasgow eg has tons of museums, art galleries, theatres etc always stuff to see and do, much of it free/very cheap.
So your family aren't even in London any more? Then sorry but you're mad to stay then!
You could probably get a VERY nice house somewhere between Birmingham and Manchester.
I prefer Manchester to Birmingham myself but admittedly don't have loads of experience with either. There are also a number of other lovely cities and towns from the area of the midlands upwards.
Honestly don't be SO set on London that you fail to even consider somewhere that you and your family could potentially love living in and would mean you are geographically near to relatives.
With all the info you've given I really don't understand why you're so set on staying in London.
And I don't hate London I had a great time generally while living there but I just don't think it's the ONLY great city to live in within the uk!