Is family life better in or out of London?

[curiouscat]

Has anyone moved out of London to give the kids more space? Is it boring and lonely? Do you have to drive to get a pint of milk? Or is it all fresh air and glowing cheeks? What do you do for company? If we move dh might stay a night or two in London weekly, this isn't my idea of a good marriage situation. We endlessly toy with the idea and am curious how anyone found it, positive or negative.

wow that's encouraging. Any experience of schools yet?

Smallwhitecat, I've heard the mums in the countryside are still Sloaney ... yes I'm working but not clear about how to work elsewhere. DH now works from home hence the moving debate, he can do his work anywhere. But are your kids happier or healthier for the move? Is it worth it for more space?

I'm sure not ALL mums in the countryside are sloaney

(plus there are millions of the buggers in london still!)

I think one consideration you need to take into account is how much time you spend 'doing' things in London now.

We spend an enormous amount of time tootling round London, going to football, taking the kids to museums, art galleries etc. etc. and being in London forms a part of our lives. I don't think we could ever move that far away from it because of that (also dh's job is tied to being here anyway).

I think if you are that type of family then moving out may not be the best idea.

Hatrick - do you mind me asking where in Sussex you are - we have no DCs yet but I am getting a bit fed up of London yes, yes I know tired of London, tired of life.
I just rather wish we had more room and a garden and neighbours who we could say hi to.
I live in a fiarly villagey bit of NW London as it is.
Curiouscat I am worreid about the boring/lonely/driving for milk problems too.

I must admit that like foxinsocks our family is always availing itself of London's cultural and entertainment opportunities, so such a move would be wrong for us too.
I am so pleased it's working out well for you hatrick

yes! Sometimes it gets a little "quiet" but I arrange nights in London now & then to compensate. Kids definitely more rosy-cheeked, company much more limited. Dont' necessarily need to drvie to get basics - choose a good vilalge or market town and you'll still have them on yr doorstep.

"Out of London" is a big place. Quality of family life will depend on where you choose to live.

We moved from Wimbledon to Warwickshire last year, and overall it is better. More space outside, bigger house etc etc BUT.. I have found it really hard to make friends, and found that some villagey toddler groups etc are very very cliquey. Everyone is very set in their ways and I have found (ridiculous as this sounds) a certain suspicion when I say that we have just moved from London. I think a lot depends on how old your dcs are (mine are nearly 2 and just 3), as the network you get from being in school seems to be quite helpful in making friends. Also, we opted to buy rather than rent, because we didn't want to unsettle the children, but actually in retrospect I would definately recommend renting, as I do slightly regret where we have bought.

And yes I have to drive to get a pint of milk, and have driven miles at 9pm on a sunday to do so because everywhere was shut. A big culture shop after all hours Wimbledon!

yes NFK obviously the world is London or Out
Of London
honestly, i have lived in London and Paris and would no way move back there with kids. ( this is reall just for me and my family, i do not judge either way) and feel very very smug that where we are we have a huge choice of great schools both state and independent, loads of green space, huge garden, community, safety, freedom, chickens, the whole lot. and mates good and bad! i really dont feel deprived of culture - we are an hour north of Manchester nad Liverpool , 3 from London and 10 mins from the wildest countryside with nobody in it.. consider all the options, look at all possibilities that give you all the best quality of life, whatever that is for you.

but moddlum's right, v cliquey at times and a little anti ex-Londoners

For instance, many mums (esp those newer to the area) are v friendly but a couple of others - playgroup/pre-school organisers etc etc still, deliberately, choose not to say hello unless there's no-one else to speak to at the time, wtf?!! Such positions are taken very seriously here! I sometimes would like to see them getting by in London!

think it depends where you go. i have not found that here, some people are cliquey wherever you are. am a bit about 'like to see them getting by in London.' are you suggesting people in london are more capable socially? certainly not in my experience! my attitude is not to worry what others think of me, some will like me some not, in my social circle we have people from all round the world not just all round the country!

moopy, it's just my opinion- to you too!

To clarify, if I must, it's bloody hard when you move somewehre new and it helps when the locals are welcoming. I think people who have lievd somewhere all their lives don't appreciate this and would struggle with the unfriendliness of much of London, coupled with commuting pressures etc etc.

think quite funny that this is in travel. passport control outside M25 of course.

oh and yeah , thansk speccy! didn't realise we weren't meant to air our views honestly on this forum, I'll bear that it mind. FGS!

sorry ranto, thought you were implying that people were more welcoming in london and that that sort of attitude wouldnt be tolerated. thats what made me shall we joust s?

DON'T worry, no offence taken! Definitely don't see londoners as more capable in any way.

(shall we start a clique speccy)