For all the parents who think that raising children in an urban environment such as the capital will give them an incomparably stimulating, exciting and sociable upbringing, there are just as many who feel strongly that a rural or village childhood cannot be beaten when it comes to safety, space, clean air and plenty of time outdoors. Often, it comes down to what kind of childhood you yourself had. If you live in London but were actually raised in, say, Herefordshire, then you may be eager to ensure that your own offspring have the same formative experiences. But if you’re a lifelong city dweller, then it’s hard to imagine anything better than giving your family a bustling city childhood. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to this decision, but if you moved to the capital in your twenties and are now planning, children in tow, to go back whence you came, it’s worth bearing in mind what uprooting your little ones could involve.

Moving To A Village

Sometimes, opting for a village rather than something drastically remote is the sensible option. It’s less of a rude shock to all concerned. Your chosen village may have everything from a school to a post office, a corner shop and a pub. It may even have a restaurant. A village is a different way of life to a town. It can mean a lifestyle overhaul, allowing you to inhabit a property with a big garden. If your kids are teenagers, then take into account proximity to pubic transport. Otherwise, you’ll be spending years as a free taxi service. And whatever age your children are, research transport to local schools.

Is Moving To The Country A Good Idea?

Obviously, the main lure is the difference in property and living space. A move to the country means room and greenery. Some families are happy with the halfway house that is the suburbs but for others, suburbia is pure anathema. Wrenching children out of established friendships and schools is not a decision to be taken lightly. On the other hand, the younger they are, the more likely they are to be quickly adaptive, forming new links so speedily that before long life in London is practically forgotten.

Other considerations to remember include broadband and high speed internet. Although it’s improving all the time, some remote areas are not well served at all. And if any householders are either working from home or undertaking school projects in the house, then fast internet is near-vital. And don’t forget mobile phone reception, either. If you’re taking young ones out of the capital, then at the very least some good connectivity will soften the blow.

Living In The Countryside

There are all kinds of benefits to a move that takes you to the depths of the countryside. There’s the roominess, the wildlife, the peace and solitude. The complications, when it comes to bringing your children along, vary depending on their ages. If they’re tiny, then you’ll want to make sure you have access to babysitters. And if you still want to them to be able to sample the pleasures associated with city living, then determine in advance how near things like theatres and concert halls are. And, thinking ahead to fun days out, find out how near activities like soft play areas are located. What about after-school childcare? And what’s the area set up like for pedestrians in terms of public footpaths? Are there other young families nearby?

Regret Moving Out Of London?

If you make the move and then find yourself longing for life back in the city, it can be the pits. No one wants to dwell in a place of profound regret. If you’re at all unsure, it’s better not to make the move until you have the conviction you can build a life in the countryside. Because of the way the housing market works in London, moving back can leave you cleaned out financially. It’s hard to head off regret in advance, unless you hold on to a pied a terre, alloying you to keep one foot in the capital. Before you make the move, really take a hard look at whether you’re children are happy. If they are, then in moving to the countryside, you are mending something that isn’t broken and possibly projecting your own love of rural life on to your children in order to justify the upheaval. Examining your own motives in an unflinching, clear-eyed fashion can save a lot of angst later on.