To move or not to move back to uk

[CrappedOut]

We are a couple of years into leaving London to return 'home' with kids in tow, both born in the uk. Kids have not settled to the move, made much worse by covid and schools here not being as good as the ones we'd left. Family is here as are long term friends, though we've hardly seen them due to covid.
Thinking about moving back to UK. Fear of mucking up another move is as bad as the fear of things here remaining crap, kids remaining unhappy and us having messed them up.
No family in UK, and no close friends. We would struggle to buy where we lived before, so likely buying in a new area, and would mean starting over with making friends etc. Need schools to work out from the start with older DC turning 11 this year.
Help me think this through!

@CrappedOut

I would be cautious returning. You haven't had a good time to really experience where you are with Covid etc. you are returning to a place you have no ties to and it may not be any better. I can tell you that the U.K. isn't great currently. Covid aside I have had two sets of friends return from living in Aus and bitterly regret it. They are both now planning to return. Was all about quality of life, weather schools etc...

Where are you currently?

Have you told the kids that you might come back ?

How is the cost of living where you are now? Life in the UK is very expensive now. Will staying where you are mean a better quality of life and better ability to save for your children’s future?

Depends entirely where you are! Are you able to say?
I don't think now would be a great time to move without strong reasons. Everything feels very unsettled.

Thanks all. I know that going back is not going to fix everything and maybe it's about changing what we can here and reassessing in a year, post covid.
We're in aus, so cost of living is high here too. I guess one of the things that has struck me (esp with lockdowns etc) is the sense of isolation, it's much harder to travel anywhere and I wonder if the kids would appreciate being somewhere more connected as they get older. But- our family ties are very much here as are our long term friendships.

No mention of work situation?

Can work in either place, so not a huge factor.

How long were you in the UK before moving back “home”

@implantreplace

How long were you in the UK before moving back “home”

15 years, so a long time. Had talked about moving for ages, but ended up staying...and then decided to do it as felt like make or break time.

How come no friends at all in UK then?

Friends, yes- plenty of social networks through work, kids, schools, etc. People who we'd known via one of us/pre-kids and who we'd then stayed in touch with. One or two who I'd met at baby group etc and stayed in touch with, seeing occasionally as we'd then moved out to different areas. But it felt a bit as though we didn't have close friends who we were near to, those who would be a family substitute, if you see what I mean. And a fair few were from overseas, various countries, so also had moved on over the years. Sorry to drip feed- I am trying to clear my thoughts but being a bit rambly!

What is about Aus that you and the children don't like/isn't as good?
My brother is looking at emigrating there as he thinks life will be so much better, he's only visited for a holiday.

We have also thought about moving but actually is Aus didn't have the weather, I think the UK has much more to offer. We also felt very isolated there, especially in their winter as everything closed so early. I suppose the uk as well equipped for the poorer weather. I guess it a case of pros/cons and if your children were happier in the UK, then they can be again.

Crap, deleted my drafted post! The short of it though is that I will chat through with the family and see what we can do. What can be changed, what can't, then evaluating where we are at, rather than making panicked decisions. Thanks everyone.