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Original poster

Best place to live with children?

54 replies

car25 · 25/03/2006 20:56

Very fed up of high house prices in the south east.

So now considering relocating, but where is the nicest/safest place to live and bring up children? Looking for good schools, friendly local community, would prefer village location but would consider small town.

Any advice gratefully received. Thanks

OP posts:
georginarf · 27/03/2006 12:38

they all (kiwis) come over here for their 'OE' and to see the world, but then they all go back home to raise their kids!

I am a bit worried about the isolation after living in London all my life, but then at the same time I've had 32 years here, I don't feel I've missed out

CountessDracula · 27/03/2006 12:50

Really? I work with several who have settled down here and have kids (or kuds as they call them Grin)

Senoracod · 27/03/2006 12:52

god no no no no to new zealand or oz
bloody edge of the earth

Rhubarb · 27/03/2006 12:52

I'm watching this thread with great interest. You have no idea how this might affect our own life choices!

CarlyP · 27/03/2006 12:56

we live in a little viallge in herts. dont think you can just say a particular 'area; is good or bad, as diff streets are different iyswim.

we went to nz expo at the weekend and are considering moveing. better quality of life etc.

i think you need to spk toy our friends an ask their opinions on places THEY have lived etc.

cx

p.s. can def recommend NOT moving to harlow, essex.........lived there for 19yrs....never again!

kipper22 · 27/03/2006 13:00

can i hijack this thread with extra criteria?
'where is the nicest/safest place to live and bring up children? Looking for good schools, friendly local community' AND LOWISH HOUSING PRICES?

Rhubarb · 27/03/2006 13:03

Ballamory?

foxinsocks · 27/03/2006 13:04

London

Rhubarb · 27/03/2006 13:07

Iraq is quite cheap atm!

MrsBadger · 27/03/2006 13:09

loving Oxfordhsire but is v expensive.

Wiltshire much more affordable, but pick yr location carefully

2ManyPimms · 27/03/2006 13:58

For the time being we are o.k. as the tots are small but I worry about any location once they are older and into the "teen years". Rural would bore them stiff, cities would worry me to bits, towns are patchy and each have their own issues.

We are in St. Albans (no, it isn't a leafy surburbian dream either) and what has me concerned is the drinking culture which seems to be all pervasive. Friends assure me that this is the case anywhere in the UK. I am from the States and have never encountered anything like this - with the exception of "University towns" - and you never got the fights you get here. Jeez!

We don't know where to go. DH wants to move to France but I nipped that in the bud! Finding the ideal location in the UK is going to be a serious ongoing issue.

georginarf · 27/03/2006 17:32

ah CountessDracula, yes some kiwis stay, but most that I've known go back eventually...but I agree there are an awful lot about - lots still think of here as the 'homeland'. my parents are about to go back after 44 years!

I'm not a london basher at all though, I love it but we can't live how we want to here any more. NZ is happening mainly because my family are there. I'd live in Richmond/Sheen/Teddington if I could but I can't

threebob · 27/03/2006 20:00

I don't think you can appreciate New Zealand unless you have lived somewhere else. The OP was "where is the nicest place to bring up children?"

Low house prices
Low cost of living
Fresh (ish) air
Sporty People
One woman one midwife
Low density housing
Don't start school until 5 (having read about all the 4 year olds with homework and spelling tests has convinced me this is good for children)
From next year 20 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.

Isolated how? We have broad band, telephones and airports you know.

Rhubarb · 27/03/2006 20:13

I'd live there, but they won't have us!

What's up with the South of France then? Lots of space, no school until they are 6 (but they can go to 'voluntary' school paid for by the government from the age of 2), low cost houses, fresh air, good culture, good food. We're only leaving because of employment issues, but if you are the kind that has a job you can take anywhere, you can't go far wrong with France.

georginarf · 27/03/2006 23:09

oh 3bob you have just remimded me why I can't wait to get to NZ. bliss

threebob · 28/03/2006 01:38

Apparently NZ is no good today

\link{http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11964-5581836,00.html\nz no good to raise children}

babyonboard · 28/03/2006 10:42

hmm..thats not too different fronm the u.k's omestic violnce murder rates..and n.z is much larger..

doesnt mean it's no good for rasing kids at all

personally i'd like to live in devizes in wiltshire..lovely place and people, and close to bristol and bath

but for the moment i'm loving london too much..

threebob · 28/03/2006 20:09

NZ has 4 million people and a land area the size of the UK.

However given that domestic violence by definition occurs in families - as long as you bring your own - you'll be okay Wink

babyonboard · 29/03/2006 08:29

heehee..no wonder i failed geography..i thought n .z was much bigger than the u.k Blush

i'm not as bad as my friend though..she was genuinly convinced that france is to the west of the u.k

expatinscotland · 29/03/2006 08:40

What's wrong w/France, 2ManyPimms?

I'm an American expat married to a Scotsman myself. I lived in France for two years before I married and can't recommend it enough.

Is it the language thing?

It's just a motor skill, not rocket science, to learn a new language.

Kids pick it up quickly. My dad never spoke English till he went to primary 1 - they didn't have nursery school back in his day! - and picked it up no bother.

FioFio · 29/03/2006 08:43

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WideWebWitch · 29/03/2006 08:44

Ooh I could cope with living in NZ, what do you have to do to qualify then?

WideWebWitch · 29/03/2006 08:44

not that we would, have an ex husband to consider! Just being nosy.

DaddyCool · 29/03/2006 11:31

skills migration. points system based on profession and age.

if you are a professional (and I don't mean just doctors and lawyers, loads of trades and specific professions are considered) and you are under 30, you've got a pretty damn good chance.

when you hit 30 the points go down a bit but there are ways around it by agreeing to live in rural areas or investing some money in the country.

2ManyPimms · 29/03/2006 14:08

Expat - I struggled with Swiss-German. It really knocked my confidence for a loop. Besides I am the woman who was in Year 1 Spanish for two years before I finally passed it! Language is not my long suit. I need to be "plugged in" from day one or I can't seem to get a grip on a new culture. I'd need to be fluent before leaving England to even contemplate a move to France.

I'd go to Australia but DH is too old! :o