Blog
The Top Five Countries to Move to With Children
One of the most important factors to consider when moving abroad is your children, because if they are happy, then the chances are you will be too.
Hamiltons Removals are specialists in removals to Europe and many countries further afield, and have been helping families move abroad for more than a quarter of a century. Here is our guide to the top five countries to move to with a family.
Sweden
This Scandinavian country ranks consistently highly in expat surveys as an excellent place to bring up children. Three out of every four families who moved here said that their sons and daughters enjoyed a better quality of life than before, according to an HSBC report.
The country’s childcare provision is one of the most generous anywhere in the world, and new mums and dads are entitled to 480 days (16 months) of parental leave. Many people say that Sweden’s schools are better than those on offer in their home countries. The downside is the high levels of taxation – so if you want quality, you have to pay for it.
Switzerland
This European country has a lot in common with Sweden, with high-quality healthcare and education systems. However, you may need to take out some form of health insurance when you arrive, and while state-funded schools offer free tuition, the best international schools have long waiting lists and high fees.
Switzerland does, though, score highly in many other respects. The crime rate is extremely low, and while the country is famous for chocolate and cheese, the Swiss set great store by a healthy diet. Muesli was invented here, and youngsters are encouraged to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables rather than unhealthy snacks.
If you add into that a culture which encourages walking and cycling rather than driving, then it should come as little surprise that the country has one of the highest life expectancies in the world (82-83 years old).
Belgium
A survey by respected expat organisation InterNations showed that Belgium is fast becoming one of the best places to move to with a family. Almost three quarters of all parents say it is easy to get a place in a school of their choice for their sons and daughters. And more than 80% of mums and dads are happy with what their children learn once they are on the school roll. Childcare is also considered to be affordable and accessible.
New Zealand
Surveys show this is also one of the best places to bring up a family. One of the main factors is the healthy lifestyle – there are plenty of sports to play, and outdoor activities such as camping and hiking are also part of the country’s DNA.
New Zealand’s air is among the least polluted in the world, and the quality of the country’s water is also extremely high. In the event of your son or daughter falling ill, then the country offers free GP healthcare to enrolled children under the age of 13. And, if you’re English, you don’t need to worry about learning a foreign language either!
Canada
This is also considered one of the best places to bring up a family, because the locals are so friendly – more than two out of every three people who moved there said it was more welcoming than their home country. Canadians are well known for being tolerant and open-minded, with the result that many different cultures, including from Europe, Asia and South America, have all set up home in Canada.
Like New Zealand, children in Canada can enjoy a whole host of outdoor activities, particularly during the summer months. And even in winter there’s plenty of sports to take up, including snowboarding, ice hockey and skiing.
Removals to Europe and Worldwide with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals offer excellent, individually-tailored packages if you are considering removals to Europe, including Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium. We can also help you with international removals to Canada, New Zealand, and many other worldwide destinations, including the USA, South Africa, Australia, the UAE and Dubai.
If you would like to know more, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203. You can also email us at info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk.
Five Popular Places to Move to in Norfolk
Norfolk is one of England’s largest counties, and it is also one of the most popular. Its population is forecast to hit the 1million mark within the next five years. As one of the top Norfolk removal companies, at Hamiltons we know all about the county – and here we spotlight five of the most popular places to move to.
Norwich
‘A Fine City’, according to the signs which welcome you on the way in, Norfolk’s county town is consistently ranked highly in the Sunday Times’ annual Best Places to Live list. It boasts two cathedrals (one Anglican, one Catholic), a Norman castle with a famous museum, and a host of narrow city centre streets which are rich in historical interest.
There are plenty of more modern attractions, too – a huge outdoor market and the biggest city centre Marks & Spencer outside London, plus new shopping and public exhibition hubs in Chapelfield and The Forum. Food-lovers visit the city’s Tombland area for a spot of alfresco dining, while beer-lovers should find one of the city’s many microbreweries has something to their taste.
Wymondham
This south Norfolk market town might not seem an obvious candidate as one of the most popular places in the county to move to, but it has plenty going for it. ‘Windham’, as it’s pronounced, benefits from good transport links – Norwich, around 10 miles to the north, is a short drive up the A11, while the town is also on the Cambridge-Norwich rail line. Wymondham station featured in the classic BBC TV comedy series ‘Dad’s Army’.
The town also has a 900-year-old abbey and a 15th century pub (The Green Dragon). Much of central Wymondham dates back to the 17th century, following a huge fire which destroyed large parts of the town. Shoppers come from far and wide for the weekly market, and Wymondham was one of the first towns in England to hold a regular farmers’ market as well.
Aylsham
This small town is just under 10 miles to the north of Norwich, meaning the north Norfolk coast is less than half an hour’s drive away. Aylsham boasts a good mix of independent shops and big-name stores, and the market operates every Monday and Friday. There isn’t a mainline railway station, but visitors can enjoy a trip on the Bure Valley Railway, a narrow-gauge steam railway which runs through to the Norfolk Broads.
The town’s marketplace is owned by the National Trust, and forms part of the Blickling Hall estate. This fine Jacobean home and its gardens are less than two miles from the town and are regularly open to the public. Aylsham is also one of five Cittaslow towns in the UK, which means it is internationally recognised for its high quality of life and community spirit.
Blakeney
When it put Blakeney on its list of popular places to move to, the Sunday Times pointed to its busy village hall as a good indicator of a thriving community. But this north Norfolk resort has plenty more going for it too. It’s in the heart of a national nature reserve and makes an ideal base from which to explore the rest of the county’s coastline. You can take a boat trip out to see the nearby seal colonies, or just enjoy a brisk walk along the seafront.
The village itself has lots of picture-postcard flint cottages, and there are plenty of pubs, gift shops and art galleries to visit.
Wells-next-the-Sea
This is just under 10 miles west of Blakeney, and it is also a great place for wildlife-spotters as bitterns, avocets, winter geese and marsh harriers can all be seen here. Its award-winning beach stretches for miles and miles, and the town is big enough to sustain its own fishing industry, with crabbing and commercial angling vessels operating out of the Quay and Harbour. You can always have a go at catching your own crabs, too.
The town has plenty of independent and traditional shops, most of which are located in Staithe Street. And every summer there’s a carnival, with a poetry festival in the autumn, while the North Norfolk triathlon also starts and finishes on in the town.
Moving to Norfolk with Hamiltons Removals
If you are thinking of moving to Norfolk, Hamiltons Removals can help. We are based in Harleston, and we have helped businesses as well as people relocate to all parts of the county, including Norwich, Diss, Wells-next-the-Sea, Blakeney, Aylsham and Wymondham. If you prefer, we can pack and unpack all your items for you. Also, if you need to transport any pets, horses, and large items such as vehicles, tractors and machinery, then we can come up with a competitively-priced removals package which will include them.
For more information about one of the leading Norfolk removal companies, follow this link and fill in the online form, or call us on 01379 855203.
(Photos: PIXABAY/TIM DRURY/AGENDUM/SUMMONEDBY FELLS/CHRIS WOOD)