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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Any lone parents living in London and loving it?

13 replies

toptramp · 13/04/2012 20:16

I have an inclination to resume city life one day and I would like to try out London.
It just appeals to me; the buz, the museums, the multiculturalism etc.

However, I worry that dd will end up in a shit school and about the cost of living. I'd probably be mad to move from my idyllic rural setting wouldn't I? I'm just bored here and the public transport is shite.

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Original poster

toptramp · 13/04/2012 20:16

Conversly mabe there are single parents living in London who hate it?

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akaemmafrost · 13/04/2012 20:42

Yes, i live in London and am a lone parent.

I love being a lone parent here about 70% of the time. There is ALWAYS something to do that is not too expensive, big beautiful parks etc. Because it is such a massive place you will always see other lone parent families out and about too so you don't feel so out of place as you might in a smaller place.

However

I don't have any friends or family here. The dc's Dad is here and he comes to see the dc almost daily so I get out to the gym etc and has an overnighter about once a fortnight and when my kids are on their overnighter I am hotfooting it back to the Midlands where I come from to see my friends and family.

So in summary as a single parent WITH the dc its fab. When my kids are not with me I feel very, very lonely sometimes and will always try to leave London to be with friends and family elsewhere.

FannyBazaar · 13/04/2012 21:31

I'm in London and love it! I have a cousin here but that's about it as far as family goes. I've lived here for 20 years though and have lived in my home for longer than I've ever lived anywhere else. I have never lived anywhere else in this country (apart from a very short period in childhood).

I love the multiculturalism, the public transport (we don't have a car), the variety and the fact that there is always something to do! In fact, there is sometimes too many things going on to choose from so we often have a back up plan!

The cost of living is higher in general but things like buses are cheaper than anywhere else. The salaries are higher in London than elsewhere to make up for this. It does depend a lot on where you choose to live though.

The area I live in is classed as 'deprived'. I never really though about this until I had a child, but because it is classed as deprived there are loads of opportunities for young children, big investments in schools, free school meals for everyone, free musical instruments, courses for parents etc. In some boroughs only certain postcodes are classed as deprived and receive extra support but in some boroughs the whole area is classed as deprived and the extra support is available to all. Because of this, schools in the worst areas often have the best investment! If you can find a nice part of a deprived area - mad as it sounds - you get the best of both.

alwayshappytolisten · 13/04/2012 21:35

I was a single parent in the Midlands and have been in London for 5 years now and wouldn't change a thing. Yes, it's expensive to live but there are so many free things to do with kids that we never get bored. I also never feel 'different'. When I was in the Midlands I felt like an outsider amongst my DS' friends parents as they were all coupled up. I've never felt like that in London. Oh and there are plenty good schools.

Desmonderelda · 13/04/2012 23:00

I've been a LP in London for 10 years. My family live here, which is why I moved back to the area, so I don't have the disadvantages that akaemmafrost mentions. I got lots of free babysitting when DD was younger which meant I had a lot of opportunities to explore the city and retrain. DD is a teenager now and there are amazing opportunities for her here - sporting courses linked to the Olympics, theatre projects at the NT, art classes at the Tate. Schools have a bad rep in our borough but I'm very happy with her school and it's had good results in the past few years.

I don't find it too expensive - agree with Fanny that there are so many free and subsidised opportunities (am also in an officially deprived area, but right next to expensive yuppie flats, so plenty of interesting things to do for adults too). But I managed to get cheap housing partly due to family connections - think it is much harder now, but doable.

I did live in an anonymous suburban town when she was younger, which probably was better for schools and certain things like GP services, which are very stretched here. But overall, I love it. I would get bored and frustrated in a rural location, and I love the freedom of jumping on the tube or bus rather than driving!

poinsetta · 14/04/2012 12:13

I totally agree with ajkaemmafrost, I am a LP living in London. When DD with me there is loads of free stuff to do, easy to get around, schools are fine. however, on weekends when dd is with her Dad I am very very lonely. I don't think it is as easy to meet people as it is out of London.

jumpingstar · 14/04/2012 12:49

@toptramp: I'm thinking to move to London this year, lets say in July, i'm now looking for another single parent to share the flat with , so if you are interested inbox me and we can discuss it further, will be a good idea living with another single parent to share the flat with :-)

acrunchieandacupoftea · 15/04/2012 17:25

I agree with akaemmafrost. With DS I am always busy, always doing something different. But it's meeting other like minded adults that is difficult.

Could a group of us lone parents in London organise a meet up with the kids one weekend? E.g. In Hyde park.

akaemmafrost · 16/04/2012 16:30

Have PM'd you acrunchieandacupoftea

EmeraldRacer · 16/04/2012 17:31

Another one here's who really likes it but don't have any comparison. Also have the benefit of an ex around to give me time off and contributes

Would like to meet other lone parents either with the kids or would also love to meet up on my days/evenings off.

zonedout · 17/04/2012 21:54

Another London based LP up for meeting up.

strawberriesandmelon · 19/04/2012 23:35

We currently live in central/NW London and love it, but before used to live in West and SW London and I found it a nightmare (too dull for us). Also, commuting distances are huge compared to smaller cities, so my advice would be to invest a bit more if you can in finding somewhere in an area you like (or that at least has good transport links). Areas that I like for children, apart form central London are Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park, Chalk Farm, Kentish Town, Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Angel, Islington, Stoke Newington, some parts of Homerton, Hackney village... it's just a matter of finding a place that you love (and can afford... London is sooo expensive!)

jumpingstar · 23/04/2012 17:44

Hello, do you know if there is any way to send a private message here or should we post on the forum all the time? I was trying to send private messages as we are looking to share a flat with another single parent but i can not find a way to do it, only just posting on the forum, if anyone knows about sending pm pls let me know :-)

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