London or NY?

[AnnamumofHelena]

Hello! I am a mum from Barcelona.
We are planning a family gap year, for the sake of my daughters' studies and English improvement. Also, as an enriching family cultural experience.
Our initial choice was London, as we love and admire this city, its huge cultural possibilities, and its proximity to home. Some friends, though, strongly recommend NY instead. They say New Yorkers are much friendlier, and that we will feel quite alone during our London year. They say New York offers many more social opportunities - they lived 3 years in Manhattan.
Moreover, my daughter will not be too fluent in English at first.
There are 3 of us: my daughter, my husband and me, plus our pet dog.
This would happen in the school term 2022-2023, and the girl will be 12 years old. For schools, visas etc, we will hire professional advice.
But first we must decide where to go!
Can you please give us any insight? Thank you very much!

At my DDs private boarding/day school there were always a few Spanish girls there for 1 year. I’m not sure lasting friendships were formed but it definitely was a thing for the girls to come over. This school was in Hertfordshire. You might find getting a place in a decent school challenging. I’m also not sure you will make friends. You might have more chance just outside London, but within commutable distance.

My DD2 was very friendly with a Spanish girl who she met when she moved for 6th form. Her parents lived in London. This was a boarding school. You will find they are more used to dc joining from abroad and many are weekly boarding so you pick up dc. Far greater opportunity to make friends. DD2 also went to a prep school where an Australian family came for a year.

Look at summer camps too. Heathfield school do one at Ascot. Always had international girls there. DD1 loved it and kept in touch with girls from Japan, USA and Poland for years!

New York will also have great fee paying schools. I would consider New York State. Not Manhattan. I think you would find Americans very friendly. But so are the Brits.

Thank you so much for all the advice! We are looking forward very much to this experience, it will be very enriching!

NYC without a doubt. I've lived in both and Nee Yorkers are much friendlier and open.

Primrose Hill would be an ideal area, very international, walking distance to Regent's Park, Hampstead and Camden. Also Francis Holland School (Regent's Park) is on your doorstep.

Potential schools for your daughter:
Channing (girls) in Highgate
Francis Holland (girls) Baker Street (not to be confused with FH Sloane Squ)
Highgate (co-ed) Highgate (very competitive)
Northbridge House (co-ed) Hampstead
South Hampstead High School (girls)

Do these highly desirable schools have places? Most parents scrabble to get places at London day schools.

If OP's DD is going into Year 8 there is often movement.

NYC has more movement than London and more likely to take a child for just a year in my experience.

NY is definitely more friendly. I've lived in both places (and am not from either) and you'll find it easier to make friends in NY with people other than just the expat community. I have loads of English friends and an English husband having lived in London now for more than a decade but for a 1 year move, you'll feel more integrated with the local population in NY.

If you were talking about a permanent move then I'd recommend London hands down but for a year, definitely NY.

Thank you all for the advice!
Seems that Brexit will decide for us. Being from Spain, I am not allowed to remain in the UK for more than 6 months, even if we have enough funds to support ourselves during our stay.
My daughter can apply for a student visa by all means, but not her parents, if she is older than 11.
I think this prohibition is ridiculous. Currently, people from the EU that simply wish to stay in the UK for a year, that can afford to pay for all the expenses that this implies (schools, housing, consumer goods, cultural activities...), are not allowed to do it. Isn't it a loss for the country?
It seems that we'll spend a year in New York, and that will be fine!