What You Can Learn from the ‘Parenting Hell’ Podcast with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe on Moving House with Children – PART 1

In the recent September episode “The Secret House Move Tapes Part 1” of the hit podcast Parenting Hell, comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe chat about Josh’s big decision to move his family out of London – a surprise to many, including himself! Much to Rob’s amusement, Josh admits he has finally given in to the family home hunt beyond the M25!

 

As the duo laugh about the ups and downs of family life, it’s their relatability that keeps listeners coming back. And when it comes to moving house with children, Josh’s experience highlights things to consider and the challenges that many families face. Here are some of the key lessons you can take away if you’re planning your own family move.

Josh discusses waying up the timing of the move.

• Deciding when to move house is tricky – should you wait until the end of the school year, or go sooner?
• Josh and his wife considered when their children would make new friends and how best to tell their existing ones.
• The reality is that you often can’t control timings, as house sales and completion dates are unpredictable.
• To help, they involved their children in the moving process, so it felt exciting rather than daunting.
• To ensure their children could start school in September, they moved into a rental property before their house sale completed. This “in-between stage” is common, and many families use secure storage facilities to bridge the gap.
• We find this is very common and why the end of August is the busiest time of year for us as a house removals and storage company.

Josh also discusses with Rob how he wants his children to grow up.

• After 20+ years, Josh felt London no longer suited his new family life.
• Like many parents, he wanted more space at home and outdoors for his children to play freely and safely.
• He valued new priorities such as local parks, family-friendly activities, and community facilities over nightlife and city buzz.
• Peace, privacy, and a slower pace of life became more appealing.
• Moving away from the city can also mean joining a community with more families and younger children, which helps children settle in.

Choosing where to raise children is a huge decision. Josh weighed up factors such as:

• Safety – would he feel comfortable letting his children play outside as they grow older?
• Schools – how close would the best schools be, and how would they travel there?
• Work-life balance – would he manage commuting and career demands from a new base?

• One of the biggest attractions of leaving London was the opportunity to get more house for your money.
• For a growing family, extra bedrooms, a garden, or simply more breathing space can make a huge difference.

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Whether you’re a comedian on a hit podcast or a parent juggling everyday life, moving house with children comes with challenges but also huge opportunities. By thinking carefully about timing, lifestyle, location, and space, you can make the move as smooth as possible for the whole family.

And if you do find yourself in that “in-between” stage like Josh, remember that Britannia Alan Cook Removals offers expert removal services in Norfolk and Suffolk along with secure storage solutions to help make your family move easier and less stressful.

Contact our friendly team!