So so agree with Maxey! London has so so so much to offer small children & big alike, plus very importantly Mums & Dads too!
However, main reason for coming back to this thread again was to try to reply to private message which I got. Really hope private message person to me has subscribed to this thread so reads this: apologies taken so long to reply but a bit too much on recently to work out how to reply to you via private message system. Consequently, replying via medium initially came across one another....
I really hope someone has bought your house by now & you are on your way back. Yes, the move back was traumatic but that was just our circumstances - husband went on ahead to start new job & we unexpectedly got tenants for our house instantly so I had to move out with the children to my Mums (with whom I hadn't lived with since I was 18) whilst I worked out exactly where we wanted to live in London, based primarily on schools. The children seemed completely unphased by the experience - even with my oldest notching up 3 schools within his first year of schooling. Both children love London & the wealth of activities on offer, I have found myself again & husband & I both feel as though we are back where we belong. Truly "at home". I have lived in numerous parts of the world & didn't grow up in London but I just love this place!

I agree!! It is the anonymity of London I miss.....

Loads of people say they want to move out but why? Driving all day to keep the kids happy, fortunes on petrol, snobby neighbours who think they are better than you cos they have an extra quarter acre. Having to be polite to the people in the village even though you can't stand them! London's much nicer

thank you for that reply. I don't feel happy where we are and have become very depressed. I miss my old London life but the children were 11 and under when we were there and I know it would not be the same. Moving back may not be the answer.

We didn't move back with teenagers but will be very very happy to be here with them as they become teenagers. We were so glad to get back to London. Real friends you stay in touch with wherever you are. Finances wise we lost a fortune in our move out & back again, but then some people spend what we lost on very expensive therapy to find out what they want from their lives & what their priorities are personally, professionally & for their family. We found all that out in 4 and a half years of not being where we wanted to be. The most important thing is to be happy where you are. If you want to move back for yourself as well as for the children I would suggest that it makes sense financially in order to be happy, but if it is just for the children when they are so old you probably need a big list of pros & cons then weight each pro & con & add it up. I hope that whatever you decide it's the right decision & wish you all the very best.

We left London - Balham - 10 years ago and moved west. Four children now range from university down to 13 years - boys and girls.
They want to be in London a lot and feel it would be good to have a family base there for them. Younger three are at boarding school so sort of have friends all over but would miss prep school friends maybe. Main obstacle is the cost. Don't think we can afford the flat in London, country house scenario plus I like to be in one place.