Moving back to London/UK or wider Europe from Aus?

[aplamp]

My husband and I are dual UK / Australian citizens, currently living in Aus. I spent many years in London and still have family and friends there. We now have 8 & 6-year old sons and we're getting the itch to head back for a while. What neighbourhoods for schooling / specific schools would you recommend? I know London well but have no idea about London with kids. I also haven't lived there for the last 11 years and know things have changed. Our kids are chilled out, friendly and very, very soft. Don't want to crush their spirits by messing this up!! 😂

Alternatively we're happy to look at other UK cities. In a perfect world we'd love something further afield in Europe, but post-Brexit obviously that's a lot more complex. We work in tech though so not impossible... but obviously cities with a strong tech scene would be ideal.

I know that budget is massively important, we can afford nice but not corporate lawyer nice. Happy to spend more than is sensible in rent for a good area as it'll only be for a year or two (keeping our place here to come back to).

Open to any suggestions / recommendations / warnings! Apologies for the ridiculously broad question - we're at the very beginning of planning. Thanks so much 😊

Iirc in Aus you get in to the school you are in the catchment for? maybe varies by state

But since you only get what has space here it changes what people do and the bustle of getting a good state place - if you don’t go for private

Also agree that moving once in primary is not so bad but teens like to stay with their friends ime

The vast majority of London primary schools are decent. Secondary schools are what causes the major stress for parents. Also at around year 5, some schools lose pupils as people relocate for secondary. It can be a bit of a headache finding schools with places for both, but you might get lucky. There is a transient population so spaces do come up. If you choose somewhere with reasonable public transport options (or run a car if further out) it makes things easier.

Thanks again for all your advice! Yes should have explained - we're looking at making the trip as we're keen to spend a proper chunk of time with family based in London & surrounds and do a bit of euro travel, and have a different kind of family life experience. VERY early stages of thinking about this, may just be pandemic cabin fever? Whatever happens we do want to come back home, with an eye on that time frame before the boys enter that life phase where their friends are EVERYTHING (realise we're already cutting it fine, maybe too fine). We're happy and settled here for the long haul. Originally just thinking a year but open to seeing how life pans out as you never really know what's around the corner, how everyone in the family will be feeling etc... anyway it is really interesting to read all your perspectives, so thanks again.

I think it's a great idea & actually in London you probably would get spaces in good primary schools. Would home schooling, online tutors be possible?

Having brought up 3 kids in London, I can't readily think of a better place to be as a family. There is just so much to do, and much of it free. The museums - Natural History, Science, Imperial War, Horniman......, theatre (National, Unicorn, Peacock, Polka....., parks and adventure playgrounds (too numerous to mention).

Just taking a bus to an unfamiliar area is an adventure! On a Sunday we'd often go to a market in the East End or Hackney or Hampstead or Blackheath etc, have lunch in a local restaurant (such as jellied eel or shish kebab...), and take them to a park. Or venture out into the countryside or down to the south coast. Holidays on the continent. We were never bored. And all this on two mid-level salaries.

But why are you set on north of the river? Loads of lovely neighbourhoods once you cross to the other side: Putney, Wimbledon, Sheen, Richmond...... Good schools too!

We currently live in Sydney and if we were moving back to London, my favourite area is SW London, around Wimbledon. Lots of lovely shops, wide open spaces, pretty easy to get into London centre plus easy to get to places like Heathrow and Gatwick and onto the roads around London.
Greenwich is also nice and it’s probably easier to get into central London but I like the south west personally.

As I say though, monetarily, it depends on where you’re from in Sydney and how much you earn here as to whether you’ll find London super pricy. I know people say Sydney is expensive but we have a 5 bed house with a big garden on the bush only 45 minutes out of the centre on the upper north shore and an equivalent in space and distance in London would be significantly more expensive.

The cost of housing has increased rapidly in Amsterdam too, although I doubt it's reached London prices yet. However, if you want to live fairly central you're probably looking at £2k/month for a 2-bedroom apartment.

I'd suggest looking at Stockholm too. There's a big tech sector. Again, housing is pricy, but other costs tend to be more managable and fantastic work-life balance. Better summer weather than the UK, although the winters can be dark and gloomy (but with much better insulation than UK properties!).

I live in North East London and the primary schools here are massively undersubscribed- there are so many unused places. These are good schools too. You wouldn't have any problems getting a place here.

Wanstead is great. 30 mins to centre of London, surrounded by green spaces, very family friendly and lots of community spirit.

That said, the UK has changed a lot in the past few years. We have moved to the EU for work and I have to say I’m loving it. The kids here seem less ‘mature’ in a good way and outdoor life seems much more valued.

With a choice, I’d opt for Netherlands or France. Or, go north to Edinburgh.

I'm on the edge of Z4 and there is a huge amount of movement of kids from private into state at the moment, as you won't be bale to apply until you have an address, but it could potentially be difficult to find places.