A UK mortgage broker claims Britain has gone “so downhill” that she moved her family to Spain to avoid becoming a couch potato with a son who “wanders the streets in tracksuits”.
Megan Hall and her partner Chris Cousins moved to Sotogrande, Spain, in August believing they would become more sociable and encourage their three children to have a “play-based lifestyle.”
The 32-year-old has caused a stir on TikTok by criticizing the UK as “going downhill” and has since explained that relying on screens and feeling less safe means she won’t be returning.
Megan says she thought adults in the UK would prefer to sit at home and watch TV rather than socialize, while in Spain they visit a park or go out to eat.
She claims her son Archie Hall, 11, began wanting to “wander the streets in a Nike tracksuit” while in his hometown of Skipton, North Yorkshire, and was also focusing too much on screen time.
However, since moving in, the “previously isolated” mother said she and the family are much more sociable and that Arthur doesn’t rely on technology for fun.
Megan also feared for her children’s safety amid a rise in knife crime in the UK this year, but says she doesn’t have the same fears in Spain.
The mother-of-three, who helps house-hunters find a home in the UK, insists people should try living abroad for a few months as “the thought is scarier than the reality”.
Megan Hall (pictured) and her partner Chris Cousins moved to Sotogrande, Spain, in August believing they would become more sociable.
The 32-year-old has caused a stir on TikTok by criticizing the UK as “going downhill” and has since explained that relying on screens and feeling less safe means she won’t be returning.
Megan, from Skipton, North Yorkshire, said: “My son wanted to start walking the streets with his friends wearing black Nike tracksuits, but I wanted to avoid that. “That was the main thing.
‘In the UK it’s all about screens and social media, so we decided we wanted to find an environment where parents had the same morals and values as us.
‘People didn’t seem to want to socialize as much (in the UK). They came home from work and turned on the television, but in Spain people want to go to the park or have lunch together.
‘I can’t speak for everyone, but that was just our experience with the people. We feel quite isolated.
‘We wanted children to have limited screen time, no social media until, hopefully, age 16 and a healthy outdoor lifestyle in a play-based childhood.
‘I think people would be more sociable if they were in a different environment. The climate does not allow them to be so sociable.
‘There is also the cost of living because in Spain everything seems to be cheaper.
‘Arthur didn’t want to leave, but when he looked at the schools in Spain he understood why we wanted to do that for him.
Megan said she didn’t want to be someone who “wanders the streets in a tracksuit.”
He said he became convinced of the country after visiting friends who emigrated before the pandemic.
He said children in Spain often spend their time in public parks after school.
“He’s realized that things that were important to his friends here, like wearing Nike clothes, aren’t important there and that he’s less materialistic. He loves it.
“When you were a child, in England they rejected you if you didn’t have a phone, but in Spain they rejected you if you had a phone.
“In the last five years I’ve seen six-year-olds playing Fortnite and I thought, ‘I can’t do this.’
“I think children would also be less safe in the UK because when we moved in the summer it seemed like everyone was being stabbed in London.”
Megan, who lives with Chris, 40, and their children Seth Cousins, six, and Pearl Cousins, four, decided Spain was her new dream home when they visited and met friends who had emigrated before Covid.
Megan said: ‘When we went to Spain we spent a full day with friends who lived there and they showed us around. At that point we were sold.
‘There is a huge community here where everyone wants to go out to eat and drink coffee in the morning. It seems to be much more social.
‘In Spain it’s scorching hot, so when the kids finish school you can go to the park until six and sit and chat with a friend.
He encouraged UK residents to try living abroad for a few months and ignore the fear of the unknown.
The family bought a house there in 2019, but returned to the UK in 2020 to care for relatives.
“They’re in an international school and 75 percent of it is outdoors.”
The couple bought a house there in 2019, but returned to the UK in 2020 to care for relatives before rekindling their dream in August.
Mum-of-three Megan, who is taking Spanish lessons, says her parents have decided to retire in Spain, but her sisters are still happy living in the UK.
He encouraged UK residents to try living abroad for a few months and ignore the fear of the unknown.
Megan said: “People say there’s nothing you can get in Spain that you can’t get in the UK, but that’s not the experience I’ve had.”
‘I would tell anyone thinking about moving that the idea is scarier than the reality.
‘Just go out and try it in an AirBnb for a few months to see if it’s something you’d like to do because some people freak out just thinking about it.
‘Now that I’ve lived somewhere other than England, I don’t think I’ll ever go back.
“I’m sure you can be happy anywhere because it’s a mentality more than a place, but life seems easier and nicer when it’s a little warmer.”
Megan’s TikTok post, which has more than 8,000 views, said: “You’re watching the UK go downhill so you’re trying to change your children’s experience of childhood.”
Users commented that they also shared his dream of fleeing the UK and even asked for advice on how to do it.
One user commented: ‘Wow, amazing. I’d love to do this one day!’
A second agreed, saying: “This is the best thing you can do for little kids.”
A third said: ‘My dream. I hope it’s everything you expected. Your children will be very grateful to you.’