Title

Is London becoming ‘child-free'? Politicians, policymakers and journalists seem fascinated by this question. But this line of enquiry often overlooks the reality families face within the capital. Our latest Centre for London report, Hollowing out London? Families and Neighbourhood Change in the Capital, digs into the census data to understand what's really happening. The reality is not a London without families, but a city becoming increasingly unequal for those raising children. Yes, the number of children in the capital is falling. But the number of families is rising – increasing by a third between 2001 and 2021. This shifts the story away from whether families still live in London, to where they are living and how conditions have changed. Almost every inner London borough has seen families make up a smaller share of households. In sharp contrast, outer London saw seen an increase in all but four boroughs. As the centre becomes more ‘child-free', outer London is absorbing the pressure.Families priced out of the centre, and unable to access social housing, are increasingly reliant on private renting in outer London. In the past two decades, private renting among families has doubled in these suburban boroughs. Notoriously, London's rental system fails too many. Mould, overcrowding and disproportionate rental hikes are all too common. Affordability is the driving force behind this shift. Londoners now spend an average of 42% of their salary on housing and families face childcare costs of around £319 per week in inner London. As these costs eat into household budgets, families are pushed towards the suburbs in search of cheaper rent, family-sized homes and green space. But the hollowing out of inner London isn't just unfortunate. It's reshaping children's everyday environments. The impacts of deprivation and insecure housing are falling disproportionately on families, giving many children a worse start in life. Housing sits at the centre of this crisis. Families are far more reliant on social housing than their child-free counterparts – especially in inner London, where 42% of families live in social homes. Where social housing once offered security, the system is now buckling, with over 342,000 London households stuck on waiting lists. Families priced out of the centre, and unable to access social housing, are increasingly reliant on private renting in outer London. In the past two decades, private renting among families has doubled in these suburban boroughs. Notoriously, London's rental system fails too many. Mould, overcrowding and disproportionate rental hikes are all too common. An oversubscribed social housing sector, twinned with reliance on private rentals, means London families are increasingly subjected to insecure, inadequate housing. This is most visible in temporary accommodation where families make up two-thirds of households – massively disproportionate to the number of families in the capital. That leaves almost 100,000 children growing up without a safe or stable place to call home. Unsurprisingly, these patterns overlap with poverty. While 31% of London households have children, this rises to 37% in the most deprived areas. Inner London is especially polarised: just 26% of households have children overall, but the share rises to 35% in the poorest neighbourhoods.Our research shows this has direct consequences for children's daily lives. Affluent areas filled with boutique shops, cafes and leisure centres are becoming less accessible to families. Instead, many children grow up in neighbourhoods dominated by betting shops, vape shops, empty units and a lack of amenities. Public services are struggling to keep pace. Primary school places have fallen in every inner London borough. Over the past five years, 90 schools have closed or merged. Schools face a £45 million funding drop over the next four years. A quarter of London schools already run budget deficits, forcing cuts to staff, specialist support and curriculum. In outer boroughs, demand is moving the other way. Seven outer London boroughs expect a rise in reception places, making planning harder for councils and schools. Maternity services mirror the inner-outer London split. Take North London. Several Inner London maternity wards have been closed and ‘consolidated', while outer boroughs such as Havering are seeing rising births and growing pressure on services. As maternity wards close, families are forced to travel further for care, increasing cost and risk. This is happening as complex births rise, and London faces the highest NHS vacancy rate in the country. London is undergoing a quiet but profound demographic shift. Focusing narrowly on a ‘child-free' inner London misses the reality facing too many families. To roll back London's trend of children having an increasingly unequal start in life, our public services and urban policy need to catch up with families' real experience of living in the capital.Indi Miller is researcher at Centre for London and Author of the report, Hollowing out London? Families and Neighbourhood Change in the Capital

Title

INEQUALITY

London is a city becoming increasingly unequal for those raising children

By Indi Miller | 09 April 2026

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING