Yup, it's mad! I pay £2,500 a month for nursery for my son in zone 2. So... to send your kid to nursery you need £40k of spare gross income before paying the mortgage, and everything else.

I'm fed up and moving up north!

That’s crap. Means a parent can’t work really.

And thats why women generally make less. Losing 5-11 (or more) years of experience really puts you behind a man that didn't (stereotypes w/e) stop working to raise a kid(s) until they could go to school.

There are cheaper options though - my nursery in zone 3 North London is "only" £1500 a month.

For one child? My nursery in zone 3 is £1500 a month.

Where is this nursery? Even my brother in Newcastle is paying £75 per day. Or is this for over 3's with both parents on <100k.

North London, near Turnpike Lane. I think all the nurseries I enquired at in the area charge somewhere between £1200 and £1700 a month full time. Our previous nursery in Brixton was £1625 a week for a full time place. It probably helps that those are cheaper parts of the city.