If you’re reading this at 9 pm while the rain hammers the window, wondering “Can we actually do this?” the answer is yes. And this is the exact roadmap we wish existed when we started planning leaving the UK with kids.
We sold everything, deregistered our kids from school and nursery, and left the UK for good! No trust fund. No remote six-figure job. Just two little boys and a burning desire for a different life.
Download Your Free “Escape the UK with Kids” Checklist (PDF)
Who we are (and why you should listen)
We’re Lauren & Roy; completely normal British parents who were drowning in school runs, nursery fees and the same four grey walls. In under 12 months we went from a new-build detached in Suffolk to full-time worldschooling nomads across Asia with our boys (now 4 and 7). This page is the unfiltered truth about leaving the UK with kids: the scary bits, the real numbers, the paperwork, and the life-changing wins.
Leaving the UK with Kids: Our Exact 10-Step Timeline
| Step | What We Did | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decided we were done with UK life | 1 evening | £0 |
| 2 | Researched Homeschooling legality in the UK | 2 weeks | £0 |
| 3 | Wrote & sent deregistration letter to school | 1 day | £0 |
| 4 | Decluttered & sold 95% of possessions including cars | 3 months | +£20,000 profit |
| 5 | Rented out our house (would have sold but the UK market was pants) | 1 month | +£varies |
| 6 | Worked out Visa options and opted for the Thai Tourist Visa to start | 2 weeks | £0 |
| 7 | Bought one-way tickets | 1 hour | £1000 family |
| 8 | Left the UK | 1 morning | Priceless |
| 9 | Started worldschooling on the road | Ongoing | £2,800–£3,500/month |
| 10 | Never looked back | Every day | — |
How to Deregister Your Child from School When Leaving the UK with Kids (Free Template)
It’s 100 % legal under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 (official GOV.UK guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/home-education). One polite letter is all it takes.
Download the exact template we used accepted first time, no questions asked:
→ Get the deregistration letter template + follow-up script (free)
Best Visas Right Now for British Families Leaving the UK with Kids We move slowly (3–6 months per spot).
Current favourites:
- Thailand DTV 5-year visa (details here: https://www.thaievisa.go.th)
- Portugal D7 / Spain Non-Lucrative
- Georgia, Albania, Türkiye – 90+ day visa-free loops
The Money: Real Costs of Leaving the UK with Kids (Family of 4, Slow Travel Asia)
- Rent (nice 2-bed with pool & gym): £500–£900
- Food (local + treats): £600
- Health insurance (SafetyWing Nomad): £90 (link: https://safetywing.com)
- Flights & everything else: £800
- Total: £2,000–£3,500/month – still cheaper than our old UK life with nursery fees and council tax.
The Hard Parts of Leaving the UK with Kids Nobody Talks About
- Saying goodbye to grandparents (tears every time)
- Toddler meltdowns at 35 °C
- First-month guilt (“Are we ruining their lives?”)
- But also: the joy when your 4-year-old orders dinner in Thai better than you
Frequently Asked Questions Leaving the UK with Kids
Is it legal to deregister your child from school in the UK to travel?
Yes – 100 % legal. Just notify the school in writing (GOV.UK link above).
How much money do you need to leave the UK with kids?
Most families we know started with a £30k–£80k buffer plus some income/savings.
What’s the best first country after leaving the UK with kids?
Thailand, every time. English widely spoken, world-class healthcare, low cost, total kid heaven.
Next Steps: Keep Exploring Our Journey
Want to see exactly how we make this life work day-to-day? Here are the resources most families read next:
- See the weekly worldschooling rhythm we actually follow with a 4- and 7-year-old (no rigid homeschooling – just real life learning)
- Our latest family nomad income & expense report (how we pay for everything without a “proper” job)
- The full Thailand with kids slow-travel guide (our exact itinerary, costs, favourite beaches and hotels)
- Free worldschooling printables and toddler packing lists we use every week
Ready to write your own escape story?
You’ve seen the timeline, the real costs, the letter that worked first time when we were leaving the UK with kids.
Now take the same first step every family who successfully left the UK took:
Send Me the Complete Escape Bundle – It’s Free!
Inside the free bundle you get instantly:
- Exact deregistration letter template (copy-paste-send)
- 12-month “Leave the UK with Kids” checklist
- Real family budget spreadsheet (editable)
- Current best visa options for British families
- Toddler carry-on packing list
- Bonus “First 30 Days Abroad” survival guide
You’re not alone. Thousands of British families are researching leaving the UK with kids right now. Some will still be dreaming in five years. Others will be watching their kids build sandcastles instead of sitting in registration.
The rain doesn’t have to be permanent. The school run doesn’t have to be permanent. The “maybe one day” doesn’t have to be permanent.
Come say hi and see the real (messy, joyful) day-to-day:
→ Instagram @lifealongsidelauren – daily Reels of the boys “worldschooling” in markets, temples and random hotel lobbies
→ TikTok @lifealongsidelauren – 60-second slices of nomad life (tantrums, triumphs)
→ Pinterest – save our itineraries, packing lists and worldschooling printables
We post what actually happens – the good mornings, the bad flights, and everything in between. If you’re saving you a spot.
See you there, Lauren, Roy & the boys ✈️🌴