Why are families disappearing from London?
BBC London
513,298 views
For many people, having children isn't just a personal decision anymore - it's becoming an economic one.
On average, women in Islington have fewer than one child over their lifetime, one of the lowest fertility rates in England and Wales. But behind the statistic are real stories of people delaying parenthood, leaving London or questioning whether they can ever afford to start a family.
The consequences are already being felt, with schools and maternity units closing, key workers moving away, and experts warning the trend could reshape the city for generations.
From soaring housing costs and expensive childcare to career pressures and changing priorities, we explore why fewer babies are being born in the capital and what that means for London's future.
Could London become a place where families can no longer afford to put down roots?
00:22 The borough with one of England's lowest birth rates
01:09 Why parents are leaving the capital
02:31 Do young Londoners even want children?
03:39 The real reasons behind the decline
04:21 What happens when a city has fewer children?
05:04 Can London reverse the trend?
#London #CostOfLiving #HousingCrisis #Families #Parenting #Childcare #BBCNews
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20 Comments
Why is this a question???!!!!!
I grew up in North London and I’m a primary school teacher, while my husband works full-time. I was really sad about leaving London, but we simply had no choice. As a family of four, we could only afford a tiny flat in our area, and the cost of renting was becoming impossible. We also felt very worried about pollution.
We moved to Cornwall, and we now have a beautiful house with a sea view and a really lovely community. We’re so pleased we were brave enough to make the change.
But I’m also really sad to see this happening. Schools that were once thriving in London are rapidly losing families because people simply can’t afford to live there anymore. It feels like such a huge loss for these communities and a place that I loved growing up in. I still miss Kenwood & the Heath.
Why are families disappearing from London?
BBC London
513,298 views
For many people, having children isn't just a personal decision anymore - it's becoming an economic one.
On average, women in Islington have fewer than one child over their lifetime, one of the lowest fertility rates in England and Wales. But behind the statistic are real stories of people delaying parenthood, leaving London or questioning whether they can ever afford to start a family.
The consequences are already being felt, with schools and maternity units closing, key workers moving away, and experts warning the trend could reshape the city for generations.
From soaring housing costs and expensive childcare to career pressures and changing priorities, we explore why fewer babies are being born in the capital and what that means for London's future.
Could London become a place where families can no longer afford to put down roots?
00:22 The borough with one of England's lowest birth rates
01:09 Why parents are leaving the capital
02:31 Do young Londoners even want children?
03:39 The real reasons behind the decline
04:21 What happens when a city has fewer children?
05:04 Can London reverse the trend?
#London #CostOfLiving #HousingCrisis #Families #Parenting #Childcare #BBCNews
Subscribe here: https://bbc.in/LondonSubscribe
The latest from BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/london
Instagram: Instagram: bbclondon
Facebook: https://acebook.com/bbclondon
X: https://x.com/bbclondonnews