To ask where in the world would you move to?

[Changesarecoming]

Hi mumsnetters,

Just sat watching the news this evening and the UK stories were dominated by the unemployment rate among young people and violent crimes, deaths, assaults.

We have 2 children, one a teen, one at primary and in all honesty, I don't think this country has much to offer the school age generation, and it's worrying. We are lucky that we have good jobs that are fairly secure, so I am not concerned about our situation.

I haven't made any secret that I want to move overseas but obviously brexit, work opportunities make me question whether it's wise to move.

So, my question, if you could move anywhere in the world, where would you go?

In my fantasies or in reality in terms of where would give us residency?

We’ve done it. We moved to Australia a very long time ago, pre kids. Absolutely no regrets and the only downside is how far away from family. Trips home are expensive and onerous! But life is good here and our kids are surfers, swimmers, soccer players…. We live a lot of our lives outside, we are an 8 minute drive to our favourite beach, we have an amazing community around us, good schools, good health care, superannuation ….

Its not perfect, nowhere is, but I’m so glad we’re here.

Not again. Look, as someone who has moved around a lot internationally, including twenty happy years in different parts of England, the way to approach it is not a kneejerk ‘My country is hideous and doomed — I must move somewhere else!’

I’m very happy here. I moved to the UK from abroad. In my lifetime, I’ve lived in the US, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka. I would not want to move to and raise my children in any of those countries (though I do love Sri Lanka, it doesn’t offer the same opportunities as here). Do not be fooled that the rest of the world is not also struggling with cost of living and unemployment and high fuel prices and political unrest, tack on high rates of violence and poor access to affordable healthcare depending on where you are thinking. The grass is not greener.

having grown up in a country that wasn't 'home' to my parents, I can say that it is not always easy to integrate into a new country or school system or life. even if the place you move to speaks English, there will be subtle little cultural differences that act as barriers to having deeper friendships. it is common to end up with mostly other expats / internationals as friends and it is hard to fully integrate into a local community.

So don't assume that a move will make life easier or happier - it needs to be a job that you work at to integrate and make the new place work.

On the other hand, if we are talking about fantasy moves where I can magically speak the right language and get the culture, then Iceland or Japan would appeal!

I do think most of those problems are an issue in many other parts of the world. I've lived in the UK, the US, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Trinidad and New Zealand. Everywhere has it's benefits and drawbacks. Tbh the best lifestyle for our family would be central California. We love the beaches and the mountains. DH could get a job pretty easily and probably earn 2-3x what he does in the UK but then he'd get 2 weeks off a year if he was lucky so we'd be really limited on family time. Also, I don't like their politics so there's that.

I'd probably give Scandinavia a whirl for a few years, I'd go back to New Zealand with young kids too but I'm not sure I'd permanently settle elsewhere. I think the UK has massively lost its way, but it's still home.

Malaysia or Oman (not currently though obviously)

Home - NZ, but realistically it’d be Oz for work. Unlikely either way as H won’t move unless his job moves him

Scandinavia in an ideal world but seeing as I’m not fluent in any any Scandinavian languages, it’ll never happen.

That leaves me with the English speaking countries and I’d probably go Ireland, or failing that the US.

Southern California. I love Los Angeles and Orange County. Somewhere like Newport Beach (complete with sea view and pool) is the dream.

I've lived in HK, Singapore, Philippines, Caribbean, Africa, UK and Australia. There is no perfect place.

Don't underestimate the pain of the distance from home, culture and missing family and friends.

I was born in the UK and had the most horrendous childhood and early adulthood

I have lived in many towns and cities in the UK. Moved hundreds of miles away to a different part of the UK where I live now.

Here I have never been able to move forward.
I always seem to be fighting fines issued erroneously

Eg parking in a free staff car park. Even though I am working for the company who say I am entitled to park there. Company have asked for the fine to be cancelled which it eventually was (Was told fine was cancelled in an email)
But apparently cancelled doesn’t mean cancelled and I still owe the fine

Fined for not doing my tax return even though I had an email saying “Thank you for your tax return” dated prior to 31st January

Electric company who say I owe nearly £1000

Ombudsman and I can see their mistake. Ombudsman and I have told them I don’t owe it.
They say I do but won’t show how they think I owe it
They also say that just because ombudsman says I don’t owe this amount doesn’t mean anything.
The list goes on.

In the 80s I visited a rather rough and dangerous part of the world
There was a gunfight going on just across the road from our hotel

In the midst of all the violence , I have never felt so at home somewhere.
I have visited this city many times over the years and that feeling of coming home hits me every single time.
Never anywhere else.

A couple of years ago I was messing around looking at astrology on line and found a branch called Astrocartography.
Guess where isnt great for me to live. Where I would have a horrendous childhood
and where everything is blocked

Guess where is a great place for me to live.

I doubt the UK is that much less safe than other Western countries tbh.

I emigrated in 2024 due to stagnant wages. That’s it. I loved everything else about living in the UK and felt perfectly safe in London. 🤷‍♀️

Perth Australia

I have moved around a fair bit and have ended up in Perth, Australia. It’s not perfect, nowhere is, but it’s pretty close if you like the sunshine, and you were able to buy a house before the prices went crazy. I also loved living in London, and very much enjoyed a recent visit there, but it’s too busy and expensive for me now. Living in Ireland was good too, but the weather really got to me in the end.

Denmark. I lived there for 2 years and I felt the safest and most respected as a woman more than anywhere else I have travelled and I’ve travelled a lot.

Scandinavia is one of the places you don’t need to be fluent. I live in Copenhagen and although I'm learning Danish, as long as you can speak English it’s fine. I work here, have friends and a kid all without being a good speaker.

Australia. The weather makes everything ok.

Same here.

i miss the people but life here is much nicer.

I've always fancied Australia for the outdoor life,.wildlife, and beaches. But i have close relatives there whose children are now young adults. They can't get jobs, racism is getting worse, house prices are horrendous and they rarely spend time outdoors because it's too hot.

I love the UK, I don’t think I’d live anywhere else. I have friends from European countries who report the same issues we face here in (poor employment market, corruption, high cost of living, poor healthcare etc) so what’s the difference? I wouldn’t/couldn’t leave my lovely family and dear friends. Australia, New Zealand seem so far from home.

Maybe living in the north west helps. Cost of living is generally cheaper so majority own their own homes. Easy access to cities and countryside alike. Schools are good to excellent. Plenty for the kids to do (dance, cricket, tennis, youth zone). Close to 3 airports so cheap flights generally available somewhere.

Maybe consider the area you’re living in.

Admittedly the weather is shit.

I think it's important to note that the news will be dominated by same things wherever ypu move to really.
Doom sells.

Prague. It has everything. Culture, food, beer, fun, history, 4 seasons weather, lots of nature around.

Not much to offer children? Do you live very rural?
Within 10 minutes of our house my teens have access to a gym/astro courts/paddle/golf/climbing/cinema/ swimming pools/tennis courts, I could go on. Public transport is excellent and plentiful. They have very full lives as teens in the UK, I never see them..
One is finishing school this year, likely done v well and onto Uni in September. I am poor by MN standards but most of these activities are included in the council leisure membership for £25 per month.
So no I wouldn't leave where I live but then I do live in Edinburgh which often pops up on favourite cities to live in.
Bloody expensive though!

I honestly like where we live. It works for our family, and our DS is happy here.
We are very fortunate. 🙃

The UK has changed but it depends on what part you want to live in maybe?
Another poster said about living in the Northwest helps. I completely agree 👍
Maybe relocating to a different part of the UK, instead of relocating to a completely different country could be the answer?
And yes the weathercan be naff 😂
@Changesarecoming

OP I think there is a strong element of 'the grass is greener' here. Many countries have issues with youth unemployment and/or the cost of living being out of line with incomes. Plus unless you go to an English speaking country or work for an international company where English is the default, you a have language barrier.

Plus I don't think most people in the UK are at significant risk of violent crime. As to where to move, I'd say near to a city in northern England, possibly also Wales or Scotland. Work available in many industries and housing much more affordable.