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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

If you had a chance to leave the UK would you?

86 replies

GypsyQueeen · 16/08/2025 22:30

Hey,

Considering a move to the Channel Islands (probably Jersey).

Although rent/ living costs are high it will put us in the best possible financial position (mainly thinking about the kids futures - money wise).
Kids are 8, 11 and 14.

Feel like the UK doesn't have much to offer now and will only get worse when the kids are older.

Just interested in what other people think? Would you leave if you had a good opportunity for a life somewhere else?

OP posts:
CarpetKnees · 17/08/2025 00:14

No. I wouldn't want to leave my family, friends, and wider community, if the question is 'would you want to leave the UK?'

I guess if there were a fantastic opportunity for you to move to somewhere specific (dream job, or moving to where your true love lives, etc) that would be different, but I'm not looking to find somewhere, just to be away from home, no.

swissrollisntswiss · 17/08/2025 19:28

We live in Switzerland and one of the main reasons we’re unlikely to return to the UK is that we feel our children have a better lifestyle here. We are also financially better off but the opportunities for our DC is our main driver. We’re close enough that we see our families every few months and we do a long trip back every year. It’s also close enough that we can do a weekend trip for big events

However, what does Jersey have to offer your kids? Sure it’s a pretty place with low crime but I imagine it’s pretty boring for teenagers with limited career opportunities. I think it would be an idyllic place with young DC but I’m not sure I’d want to be there with teenagers.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 17/08/2025 22:52

I left the UK twice. Once with just husband to live in the USA for 3 years, (came back with firstborn). Once with husband and 2 early teens to live in Europe for 18 years. Now back in the UK. An experience I would not have wanted to miss.

NoKidsSendDogs · 26/08/2025 17:23

Yes

StarDolphins · 26/08/2025 17:24

I wouldn’t but only because of friends. If I had no friends and no DD, I would.

Ddakji · 26/08/2025 17:25

I think I would for the experience,
not because I think that UK is crap or anything.

GreenAndWhiteStripes · 26/08/2025 17:25

No, I like to visit other countries on holiday but there's nowhere I'd rather live than the UK.

Trentdarkmore · 26/08/2025 17:26

I think I would have too much hiraeth for the West Wales landscape.

TaborlinTheGreat · 26/08/2025 17:27

No. We have elderly parents here. Otherwise I would maybe consider it for a change, but tbh we have a perfectly nice life here (rural-ish NW England).

Dozer · 26/08/2025 17:27

Not unless DC were small, it was practical and affordable to live there and visit UK friends and family sometimes, DH and I both had excellent paid work opportunities with reasonable annual leave, schools and healthcare were good. Also that in the event of divorce I could return to the UK with the DC.

Dozer · 26/08/2025 17:29

I’d not move somewhere with a smaller economy as would prefer more job opportunities for DH, me and (later) the DC.

Mathsbabe · 26/08/2025 23:19

I was born in NZ so can easily move there but my home is the UK and I’ve lived here since I was 18 months old

Cornishclio · 26/08/2025 23:23

We have had a few opportunities over the years but never took them up and now retired we would not. We live in a nice part of the UK though and our children and grandchildren live nearby. Whether their chances abroad would be better I hesitate to say as I think every country has its problems in the global economy we now have. It is family that keeps us rooted here and the fact we love our area and town.

DahliaJug · 26/08/2025 23:27

I lived outside my home country in different places for almost 30 years. But I chose places that excited me, and, bluntly, the Channel Islands wouldn’t.

icantwaitforsummer · 26/08/2025 23:28

No I love the UK.

Love having family and friends nearby. My job, my house, the beaches, the fields (live in Kent), get to dip into the London craziness when I want to.

Love the food, the weather (I genuinely do) the safety (no gun crime) love the NHS.

I travel a lot I have seen many many countries and experienced their cultures, seen the poverty, the hygiene standards, the sexism, the undrinkable water, extreme weather and poor health care.

I love to see the world but I love coming home.

Crispynoodle · 26/08/2025 23:29

I left the mainland for Northern Ireland and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else

Jk987 · 26/08/2025 23:30

No, I think that despite its problems it’s a privilege to live here.

30Plants · 26/08/2025 23:31

We have lived overseas - but chose to come home, we mostly like the UK but it has felt less inviting of late with the Fatsge style of politics. I get the feeling it’s not much better elsewhere though. If we felt things could be better elsewhere we’d give it a go.

30Plants · 26/08/2025 23:31

Duplicate post!

reversegear · 26/08/2025 23:31

I’ve lived overseas and would live overseas again for a few years but never permanently, it really is same shit different pile and really depends on your driving force and own reasons.

My sister moved to Australia 20 years ago and will never be Uk based again. Thank god she was insufferable during covid before it hit them. She has residency and has said UK is not her home.

SabrinaThwaite · 26/08/2025 23:32

Yes, and have moved overseas for a while, really enjoyed the opportunity.

I don’t think moving to the Channel Islands is going to create big issues with keeping up with people in the UK - it’s a short hop to get there.

Still thinking about getting a bolt hole in Europe with a view to moving there.

researchers3 · 26/08/2025 23:35

I cant due to ties but yes, otherwise I'd be off for the experience. I've lived and worked overseas before and loved it.

I do feel the uk is in decline, however still feel fond of it and know there are far far worse places to live.

Ga66le · 26/08/2025 23:36

Not with children those ages.

VivienneDelacroix · 26/08/2025 23:38

Absolutely. I have lived abroad and works so again. Unfortunately Brexit has made it much harder - something the Brexiters don't seem to understand when they say "if you hate it hear so much, go and live somewhere else". Id love to, but they took that from me.

NoKidsSendDogs · 26/08/2025 23:48

VivienneDelacroix · 26/08/2025 23:38

Absolutely. I have lived abroad and works so again. Unfortunately Brexit has made it much harder - something the Brexiters don't seem to understand when they say "if you hate it hear so much, go and live somewhere else". Id love to, but they took that from me.

What do you for work? We are in the process of trying to leave the UK atm and doing a lot of research. There are a lot of digital nomad options if that's something you can look into.