So where *is* the best place to bring up children?

[BananaSkin]

Following on from the thread on Parenting about bringing up children in London, where do you think would be a good place to bring them up? Is there anywhere that is safer, interesting, has cultural richness, good schools etc?

[notasheep]

daftpunk-I have never been up north either!

I lived in Surrey for 17 years!!!!

However i will agree that the schools are excellent and great for nights out in London

[ruth32]

does anyone live in Scotland???? In Glasgow West End and trying to decide where to move to for schools/more space/garden etc etc..any ideas....

[daftpunk]

notasheep, guessed you had lived here! ..... hope you prefer where you live now.

[ScottishMummy]

Hyndland G12 VVNice, mostly tenement flats some houses also Broomhill and Partick.or Gt Western Road Area. or Bearsden, Milngavie, Lenzie (all East Dunabartonshire council) all got good schools slightly more suburban.But Glasgow has VG transport

Glasgow is a good city. i love it

some links glasgow non denominational primary schools

RC primary schools glasgow

Education Services link page

schools are usually organised by catchment but you can complete placement request if any places left over, can be competitive though

[Tamlin]

Entertained to see that people would want to bring up children in Oxford, since we moved out of there once I got pregnant - crime rate too high, many of the schools far too dodgy, impossible to get a doctor's appointment.

We moved to a large village in Wiltshire twenty minutes from Marlborough, and have been happy so far - it feels a lot safer than Oxford, Reading and London. No waiting list at the local doctor, and everybody's friendly and interested in the baby - the pharmacist remembers his name, the librarian likes to play with him. I don't know what there is for teenagers to do locally, but given what the teenagers in Littlemore (where we lived in Oxford) used to get up to, it's got to be better than that...

[Littleminky]

I'm a real northern lass, not in the least posh or obsessed with money but would still have to say Surrey. I love Leeds for it's honesty and it'll always be my 'home' but with two young children, 4 and 17 mnths there is sooooooooo much more to do here (in Guildford) with them, playgroups galore, brilliant free activities, brilliant paid for activities, great parks with fantastic playgrounds and paddling pools, amazing leisure centre, singalong groups, free play sessions and there is a real friendliness if you look. Yes, it is blummin' expensive and you do get some miserable people obsessed with themselves and their money, but hey we thought that if the kids can have a better quality of life both in the early years and in their education, we had to do it. Leeds has grown loads and for university plus age it's great for socialising - by that I mean clubbing, drinking and shopping (which is what you do at that age but hopefully grow out of!). There just really, really isn't enough for young kids to do, c'mon Leeds, sort it out.

[Trini81]

I live in South-East London, in one of the worst areas around!
EVERYDAY- there is more violence, whether it be a killing, knife crime, gunshot etc...
(I am serious when i say EVERYDAY!!!)

I bring my son up to be respectful, kind, considerate and helpful to others but i know im just dangling my little lamb to this crazed wolfpack!
They cant possibly be beaten, so the only way to keep safer, is to join them! (with horrible consequences!) This is something i DO NOT want for my son!

Just yesturday a group of approximately 15 boys, (aged about 13 years) was badly beating up 1 boy- of the same age! It was so bad that they were actually stamping on his head.
He was able to get up and make a run for it- screaming towards my partners car, who was shouting 'Get in, get in!'
The boy dived through the car window and my partner sped of and took him home!

I just keep thinking about my son growing up in this. He's only 8 and has already asked if i can go to America to buy him a bullet proof vest!
I cant possibly bring my child up in this!

But, because i am socialised into the 'London' way of life, going totally suburban, is not for me!
I'd like a mixture. Somewhere very similar to London but MUCH NICER!!!

Any suggestions????? PLEASE!

[Umlellala]

ew, Surrey...

We like it here, in Stoke Newington

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

I live on the Weald (Sussex end), which anna8888 has already described as immensely affluent.

Crime is low, neighbours are friendly, lots of community stuff going on. The primary schools are excellent, not sure about senior schools yet. There are grammar schools over the Kent border and very good private schools too. There are heaps of sports & activity clubs, the Ashdown Forest plus plenty of other green spaces, excellent adventure playgrounds and it's about 40 minutes drive to the coast.

AND... it's only 20 minutes to Lapland UK (though much, much longer if you travel by The Snowman).

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

argh no suffolk is where poeple go to die! sorry but all my grandparents moved there upon retirement and all i think of is old people in places like woodbridge and second homers in alburgh...

I live in and love London but would like to live in a nicer area (am in streatham and it's a bit rubbish), primrose hill i love but it's a bit trendy and expensive, if I won the lottery I'd live off hapstead heath or clapham common or in richmond...would love the countryside somewhere but frankly I'd get hideously bored, and I can't and don't drive so that would be a pain...also my work means other than Manchester and Edinburgh, and maybe Brighton, I wouldn't get work that would put me on my professional map and keep me interested. Edinburgh would be lush actually...

My parents live in the south of france and the weather is not always better than here, the drivers are insane and you pay a fortune for healthcare

Canada I would consider if it weren't a bit boring and so damn cold

[Celery]

The Isle of Wight, as long as it's not the summer holidays.

[Weegiemum]

Glasgow Southside!

Pollok Park, Bellahouton Park, Maxwell Park ....

Good train and bus connections, good schools, lots of space, more rooms for your money!

We love it here.

[SmallShips]

Agree with the Isle of Wight. Lived here for 15 years but in that time Ive lived in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bradford and Plymouth too. I love it here.

[decaffeinated]

Suffolk's great once you get beneath the surface!

There is definitely an element of old dodderiness, and some funny old traditions, plus a bit of small-town attitude in some places, but there are also some very cool, creative people up here, loads of open space, the beach, farms, gorgeous food, lovely schools, and it's peaceful. You can also get alot of property for your money.

Little bit lacking on the culture front but you can always go down to London for that, and Norwich is pretty buzzy, and occasionally there are good things going on in Ipswich.

Basically in Suffolk there's plenty of opportunity to create rather than consume, and I like that alot! Loads of great community spirit and family support networks too.

I'm originally from Surrey, and love it there for it's proximity to London, and things going on, but it's sooooo expensive to buy a house there. Having moved out to Suffolk (via 7 years in town), I'd say it's definitely worth a look, and actually a pretty underrated county.

[Celery]

Love the IoW because it has a real island vibe, but is still very accessible to the mainland.

[saramoon]

Loads of drug use among young people everywhere - def Cirencester!

Live in Cheltenham and love it, just depends on the area you live in within the town. Makes all the difference.

[expatinscotland]

just about anywhere if you are rich

[MrsMattie]

There is no perfect place. Children thrive in all sorts of different environments. I loved growing up in London and couldn't imagine bringing my kids up anywhere else.

[AbbeyA]

I think the age of the DC makes a great difference. Lovely countryside places can be great for young children but there needs to be activities for teenagers. I know that there is a real drug problem in Cumbrian villages for example.
Nothing to do =boredom=drugs.
Somewhere like Surrey offers something for everyone. Someone mentioned Sheffield, which isn't attractive but has a lot going on and is right on the edge of the Peak District.

[LittleMyDancingForJoy]

My front room seems to work quite well.

[Ana1]

Hello

Message for Trini81. I try to give the same educational moral and values to my son as you too, I agree with you but the only thing I don't agree is " How can you like London and see yourselve no other place?" (Schock)
Are you crazy, with so may violence of any shape or form as you pointed out.

And we should not alter our values and morals and always should give good life examples to our sons and daughters.

Ideias.......I live in Devon and from what I read from other people in here as well it's a pretty good life in here.

Lady, is not a Much Nicer place, IS WHAT IS BETTER FOR YOU KIDS, RIGHT AWAY.I SAY GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING BACK TWICE. ANYWHERE AROUND THE GLOBE, THAT'S BETTER AND SAFER.

THAT'S IS OUR MORAL RESPONSABILITY UNTIL THE DAY WE DIE, WE CHOOSE BY PREGANCY.

But the problem with most Parents in Britain is that they are very very selfish.

Lady, You Have to Go here is Better and Safe and Healthier For YOUR SON, if you are so much worried about the morals and values clash.

Not losing time writing in these blogs, (but asking, talking to your son)thinking if not, if yes or What You like but yes doing what is right for your family.

How can you even think of still staying in London, after telling us the truth about London's life. (Shock).

Because when you consciently and psychocologicaly make the choice of having a baby, you are not alone anymore, ISN'T ABOUT YOU ANYMORE and THAT IS the problem with THE PARENTS SOCIETY IN THIS COUNTRY NOW plus the disrespect for moral and educational values and discard of emotional ties.

That's for having CHILDREN HAVING CHILDREN, PEOPLE THAT CANT STOP THE UGLY ITCH FROM DOWN BELOW AND BEHAVE LIKE WOORES INSTEAD OF BEING HOME WITH THE CHILDREN, END UP HAVING CHILDREN LIKE RABBITS FROM DIFFERENT FATHERS, WHAT'S THIS!!!SCHOCK,
AND THE DRINK, OH LORD, DRINK WATER AND GO TO WORK, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
THAT'S ALL OVER UK.
UK, BRITAIN WAKE UP, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT NOBODY LEARNS AND WATCHES (SCHOCK), (ANGRY)

JEREMY KYLE.

There are more poorer countries and the Third World countries that HAVE ALL OF THAT and Make sure their future (kids) are better, more educated, morally better and ARE HAPPIER.

So for everyone is not the neighbourhood, city that you live BUT WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, MORAL, EDUCATIONAL, VALUES, HEALTHY AND HAPPIER WORLD YOU GIVE TO YOUR CHILD AND CHOOSE A BETTER COUNTRY, IF YOU CAN, WE ALL HAVE TOO, FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NEW FUTURE WORLD.

ANA BARROSO

[Tambajam]

This is incredibly tough. I grew up in Somerset. Beautiful area, not far from the sea, edge of Exmoor. But drug problems were off the charts, teenage years can be excruciating, school options are non-existent and quality is poor.
Because of my own experiences I am very wary of rural childhoods. Massive generalization I know.

[MrsMattie]

God, I could never leave London. I loved being a kid in London. It's like one giant playground - so much to see and do. I'm hoping my kids will have the same experience me and DH had.

[IDidntRaiseAThief]

ana, thanks so for making me read this thread again , and wasting my time, before seeing it was an old one and that i'd posted on it last year.

I NEED to be LOOKING after my child and getting her off to school, not sitting here wasting my time on an internet forum.

jeeez