Thanks all for the thoughts. It's always good to see things through several other people's points of view.

We have had some scary encounters in London - one on a bus with a drugged up person in my daughter's face in her pushchair. This was when my husband was with me because the busses were so bad I would walk miles rather than take them. Anyway, I'm sure the redlight district has lots of character, and I can see value for older children seeing the realities of that aspect of life/society, but for us, now that's not really what is right for our family. So good to know where that is and to plan accordingly.

Initially my husband will rent something like a studio or one bedroom, and once the house has sold and we've organized a move then the rest of us will join him and we'll start looking in earnest for a longer-term location for our family.

All this, provided that the process continues to move forward with the prospects he is pursuing.

Thanks again!