Germany is a popular location for British expatriates. It’s easy to see why: it’s the powerhouse of the European Union, with a booming economy, excellent schools and healthcare, a typically efficient German infrastructure, and strong opportunities for career progression. We recently chose it as one of the top expat destinations to consider, and the country ranks as 10th overall in the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey, with high scores across all key categories.
When it comes to picking the right place to live in the vast and beautiful country, Frankfurt is high on the list. It’s the fifth largest city in Germany, offering an ethnically and culturally diverse lifestyle, due to the high migrant community – it’s thought that a quarter of the population are foreign nationals, including expats.
It’s a sprawling metropolis with tremendous architecture, making it an attractive proposition, but it’s not all play and no work. Frankfurt is a world city and global hub, renowned for its strong links in finance, education, culture and tourism. Many major banks are headquartered in the city, as well as large automotive, technology, research, media and business corporations.

The Frankfurt lifestyle

Frankfurt is a good option for those moving with families. It offers a striking program of events throughout the year, including festivals, fairs and sporting events, meaning that there is always something new to discover. There are plenty of museums and attractions, as well as wide open spaces for weekend trips and picnics.
Frankfurt is known for its focus on living a healthy lifestyle. It is very cyclist friendly, with urban bike paths to help with commutes, as well as mountain trails for longer weekend rides. The many parks are perfect for walking and running, and some have additional facilities such as sports courts. Open-air swimming pools prove popular with locals and expats alike come the warmer summer months.
There are plenty of good restaurants to sample, which reflect the multicultural vibe of the city, and there is the opportunity to sample traditional German street food. There is also a vibrant nightlife, with a varied choice of bars, jazz clubs, music venues and more.

Practicalities

Finding a good place to live as a family is a key step in any relocation. Many expats in Frankfurt choose one of the neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city, where it’s easy to commute into the centre, but it is less bustling and hectic. The Westend is popular, though expensive, with universities, museums and close proximity to the city itself. Sachsenhausen is the largest neighbourhood, described as a ‘city within the city’, and is famed for its museums and its covetable riverside location.
Germany is known for its exceptional education, and Frankfurt is no exception. Its home to some of Germany’s top universities, but for younger children, it offers a range of international schools that follow the UK curriculum, though not as many in some of the bigger cities, like Berlin. The quality of the schooling, however, is excellent. Another option worth considering is public bilingual schools, which have lower fees and offer a broader education that may suit those who will be staying in the country long-term to get to grips with the German language.
Healthcare is always another top concern when moving to another country and not having the protection of the UK’s NHS services at your fingertips. In Germany, health insurance is obligatory so it is often offered as part of an employment relocation package as it is a requirement of being able to work in the country. Facilities and services are excellent in both the public and private sectors.