A mother is leaving the United Kingdom to travel the world with her young son, claiming the country makes her feel 'miserable' and that 'most people are soulless.'
Why She's Leaving
Melanie Bentley-Moore, 33, is selling all her possessions and relocating to Asia with her five-year-old son, Antares Moore. She described England's energy as 'heavy' and 'dark,' adding that there is 'no room to grow.'
'The majority of people are miserable because of all the stuff that's going on, the cost of living, everything's rising,' she said. 'I just don't feel alive here, and I think that's not just a me problem either. Everyone that I'm speaking to just feels soulless.'
A Second Departure
This is not Melanie's first time leaving the UK. She first moved to Asia in 2017, intending to stay for three months, but ended up traveling for two years, basing herself in Vietnam. She returned home only because she craved British food like fish and chips and Nando's.
After having her son in 2023, she settled in the UK, but the urge to leave never faded. In April 2026, her landlord decided to sell her flat, prompting her to take the leap again.
Education and Lifestyle
Melanie has taken her son out of school, preferring the Scandinavian education system where children start school at age six or seven, rather than the UK's age of four. 'In Scandinavia, there's a reason why their children are the happiest and more successful because they don't start school till they're seven,' she said.
She plans to travel to Indonesia and possibly Vietnam, embracing a slower pace of life. 'With the values and stuff, life's just better over there. It's slower, it's sunny, the scenes are beautiful, and you realise there is so much more to life than what I'm used to,' she added.
Inspiring Others
Melanie shares her journey on TikTok, hoping to inspire others to follow their dreams. 'I'm here to inspire people to follow their heart, go after what they want, and that there's more to life,' she said. 'It's no good talking, there's a lot of talkers out there – I do.'
She wants to show her son 'real life' through charity work and volunteering. 'There is no better learning than real life,' she concluded.
