I was eleven years old when I first set foot in Florida. It was 1991, a budget trip staying on Highway 192 in Kissimmee, and within about forty-eight hours I was absolutely convinced I wanted to live there forever. The sunshine, the warmth, the food, the people, the sheer scale of everything — it hit me like nothing had before. I never did move there, obviously. But the feeling never quite left.
So when Channel 4's Escape to Florida started airing in May 2026, showing British families packing up and chasing that same dream, I was glued to every episode. I completely understand why these people are doing it. I genuinely do. And yet, after thirty-five years of visiting, I found myself sitting on the sofa shouting at the telly more than once.
Not because the dream is wrong. But because television has a way of making Florida look effortless. And Florida living, for British families, is many things — wonderful, exciting, life-changing, even — but effortless it is not. Here's my honest take on what the show gets right, what it quietly skips over, and what you actually need to know whether you're dreaming of a move or just planning the holiday of a lifetime.
What Escape to Florida Gets Absolutely Right
Let's start with the good stuff, because there's plenty of it. The show captures Florida's appeal perfectly. The weather is as good as it looks. The lifestyle genuinely is more outdoors, more relaxed, more sun-soaked than anything we get in the UK. When I'm there, I feel healthier just by existing.
The space on offer is also real. Houses that would cost you £800,000 in the Home Counties go for the equivalent of £300,000–£400,000 in central Florida. Pools, big gardens, open-plan living — it's not an illusion. That part of the Florida dream is absolutely grounded in reality.
The show is also right that Florida has a genuinely large and welcoming British expat community. Around the Kissimmee, Clermont and Lake Nona areas especially, you'll find British families who've made it work, built lives, and wouldn't swap it for anything. That's not television spin — I've met these people. They're real.
What the Show Doesn't Quite Tell You
Here's where I start shouting at the screen. Escape to Florida is entertainment, and entertainment needs to be aspirational. So the cameras tend to linger on the pool and the sunset and glide quickly past the less photogenic realities.
The healthcare system is the big one. The US has no NHS. None. If your child breaks their arm at the weekend, you're looking at an emergency room bill that could easily hit $10,000–$15,000 (roughly £8,000–£12,000) before anyone's even looked at the X-ray. Health insurance for a family of four can cost $1,500–$2,500 (£1,200–£2,000) per month. That's not a small line in the budget. That's a mortgage payment, every single month, just to stay healthy.
The visa situation is also far more complicated than thirty-minute property shows suggest. British nationals can visit Florida for up to ninety days on an ESTA, but actually moving there requires proper immigration status — a work visa, an investor visa, or sponsorship from a US employer. It's not impossible, but it's a long, expensive, legally complex process that deserves far more airtime than it usually gets.
The Cost of Living Reality Check
Florida is often sold as affordable compared to the UK, and in terms of property, it often is. But the overall cost of living has shifted significantly in recent years. Florida has seen some of the sharpest property price increases in the entire United States since 2020. What looked like a bargain in 2019 looks considerably less so now.
Add in homeowner's insurance — which has become eye-wateringly expensive in Florida due to hurricane risk — property taxes, HOA fees (many Florida communities have monthly Homeowners Association fees of $200–$600 / £160–£480), air conditioning bills during summer, and two or three cars (because almost nothing in Florida is walkable), and the monthly outgoings stack up faster than the programme implies.
I'm not saying it doesn't work financially for some families. Clearly it does. But I'd want anyone seriously considering a move to go in with eyes wide open, not squinting into the golden light of a sunset pool shot.
The Florida Holiday vs Florida Life Distinction
This is the thing I think about most when I watch these shows. I have absolutely loved Florida for thirty-five years. I visit as often as I possibly can. My family loves it. But there's a version of Florida I love as a visitor, and I think it's genuinely different from the one you'd experience as a resident.
When we're on holiday in Florida, everything feels magical. The theme parks, the food, the weather, the novelty. But novelty fades. The 95-degree heat that feels exciting in week one feels relentless by week six of summer. The daily afternoon thunderstorm that's charming on holiday becomes the reason your garden furniture is permanently soaking. The sprawling roads that feel like freedom on a hire car become an exhausting, expensive daily commute.
I also think about the things I'd genuinely miss. The NHS. Decent pubs. Proper sarcasm. Cricket on the radio. The seasons — proper ones, not just "hot" and "less hot". This isn't me being down on Florida. It's me being honest that the UK has things worth missing, and not everyone accounts for that emotionally before they go.
What UK Families Considering the Move Should Actually Do First
If Escape to Florida has lit a fire under you — brilliant, genuinely. But before you sell the house and book the shipping container, here's what I'd actually do first.
- Spend at least three to four weeks in Florida, not two. Two weeks is holiday mode. Three or four weeks starts to show you what everyday life actually looks like.
- Rent in Florida before you buy. Many expat communities have long-term rental options. Live there for six months before committing to a purchase.
- Get proper immigration legal advice early. Not a forum post. An actual US immigration lawyer. The visa landscape changes and it's too important to guess.
- Price up health insurance properly — not a quick Google, but actual quotes for your family, your ages, your needs. It will likely be higher than you expect.
- Research hurricane insurance separately from your home insurance. In many parts of Florida these are different policies and both are required by mortgage lenders.
- Talk to British families who've already moved. Not just the happy ones on television. Seek out the honest ones in Facebook groups and expat forums who'll tell you about the hard first year.
- Visit during August. Not just in May. August in central Florida is seriously hot, seriously humid, and seriously rainy. If you still love it, you might be ready.
Why Florida Is Still Brilliant — Even If You Stay in the UK
Here's the thing. You don't have to move to Florida to have Florida in your life. I never moved there, and it's been one of the defining parts of my life for thirty-five years anyway. I know that sounds dramatic. But it's true.
As a holiday destination for UK families, Florida remains genuinely world-class. The theme parks, the beaches, the wildlife, the food, the sheer variety of experiences you can pack into two weeks — nothing else comes close. I've taken my three kids there repeatedly and it never gets old. Even the twenty-year-old still acts like he's ten the minute we walk through the gates at Universal.
If the show has made you want to visit rather than move, I'd say that's equally valid — and honestly, probably easier to arrange. For a deeper look at what a Florida family holiday actually costs from the UK, my full breakdown of Florida holiday costs in 2026 covers everything from flights to theme park tickets to spending money, in proper British pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Escape to Florida on Channel 4 still airing in 2026?
Yes — Escape to Florida is currently airing on Channel 4 in May 2026, following British families exploring the possibility of moving to Florida. Episodes are also available to stream on Channel 4's streaming platform. It's worth a watch, just with a slightly critical eye alongside the enthusiasm.
Can British families actually move to Florida permanently?
Yes, but it requires the right immigration status — typically a work visa, an E-2 investor visa, or family-based sponsorship. The ESTA that most British visitors use for holidays only allows stays of up to ninety days and strictly prohibits working. Anyone seriously considering a move should consult a US immigration lawyer before making any commitments.
Is Florida cheaper to live in than the UK?
It depends heavily on your situation. Property can be significantly cheaper than in the south of England. But when you factor in health insurance, homeowner's insurance (which is expensive in Florida), HOA fees, multiple cars, and no equivalent of the NHS, the total monthly cost of living is often higher than people expect. It's not a given that you'll save money by moving.
What's the best way to experience Florida before committing to a move?
Visit for longer than a standard fortnight holiday — ideally three to four weeks — and try to experience it as a resident rather than a tourist. Rent a house or villa rather than staying in a hotel, do a supermarket shop, sit in rush-hour traffic, and be there during the peak summer heat and humidity. If you still love it after all that, you're probably ready to take the next step.
Whether Escape to Florida has you reaching for estate agent websites or just dreaming about your next holiday in the sunshine, the fact that Florida still does this to people — still sparks that feeling of possibility — says everything about why I've been going back for thirty-five years. The dream is real. The sunshine is real. The life-changing potential is real. Just go in with your eyes open, do your research, and — if you're planning a visit rather than a move — get your spending money sorted properly before you fly. Florida rewards the well-prepared. And it is absolutely, completely, one hundred percent worth it.
