From London to Setúbal: Ben Lambert’s Expat Story of Community, Nature, and Intentional Living in Portugal

For many expats, moving abroad is about more than changing countries. It is about changing pace, priorities, and perspective. For Ben Lambert, a British entrepreneur and long-term resident of Portugal, relocating was not an escape from ambition but a conscious decision to design a life that aligned with his values.

After nearly eight years in Portugal, Ben now lives in Setúbal with his wife and young daughter, surrounded by nature, animals, and a diverse international community. His story reflects a growing trend among families and entrepreneurs who choose Portugal not only for its lifestyle but also for its sense of belonging.

This is Ben’s story. A story about community, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and finding balance in a world that rarely slows down.

A British Entrepreneur Who Chose a Different Path

“I’m originally British,” Ben says simply. But that short statement carries decades of experiences shaped by life in large, fast-paced cities.

Before settling in Setúbal, Ben lived in London and later in a small apartment in the north of Lisbon. Like many expats, his early years in Portugal were defined by exploration, adjustment, and learning how to live differently.

What began as a move abroad gradually became a long-term commitment. Nearly eight years later, Portugal is no longer a destination. It is home.

Ben is an entrepreneur by nature. Growth, curiosity, and learning have always been part of his mindset. What changed was his understanding of what growth could look like.

Discovering Daily Life Through Local Markets

One of the clearest windows into Ben’s life in Portugal is the way he describes everyday routines. Not through grand gestures, but through simple, meaningful moments.

He talks about his local market with genuine affection. A place where produce comes directly from family farms that have existed for generations. Where meals are freshly prepared and shared in the same space.

“You can eat here for around ten euros,” he explains. “The food is local, fresh, and prepared by the same people who serve it.”

In Azeitão, Setúbal, Ben highlights how affordability and quality still coexist. Coffee for one euro. Cakes for one euro. Local wine, local produce, and family-run businesses that have been operating for decades.

These small details are not incidental. They are central to why Portugal works for so many expats. Daily life remains accessible. Human. Grounded.


Building Community as a Foreigner

Community is a recurring theme in Ben’s story. Not as an abstract concept, but as something actively built and maintained. 

“There are around forty dads in a WhatsApp group,” he explains. “From all over the world. Some Portuguese, some not.”

These informal networks become the backbone of expat integration. Parents organising hikes. Playing padel together. Going to the beach. Sharing advice, support, and friendship.

For Ben, technology does not replace community. It enables it. Digital platforms allow real-world connections to flourish, especially among families navigating life in a new country.

This sense of shared purpose and openness is one of the things Ben values most about Portugal.

“People who come here often share a similar mentality,” he says. “They are looking to grow. To learn. To help each other.”

Raising a Child in Portugal

Ben is the father of a three-year-old daughter, and parenthood has deeply influenced his experience of Portugal.

From the beginning, questions about schooling naturally arose. Like many expat parents, Ben and his wife explored different educational approaches before finding what felt right.

Setúbal and the surrounding region offer access to several forest schools and alternative education models, making it easier for families seeking non-traditional paths.

“People worry a lot about schooling,” Ben reflects. “But if it makes sense, you find a way.”

For his family, Portugal offered not only educational options but a healthier childhood environment. Less screen time. More outdoor play. More freedom to explore.

A Home Surrounded by Nature and Responsibility

Today, Ben lives in the mountains near Setúbal. The shift from apartment living to a rural lifestyle was intentional, but not without challenges.

“Living in the mountains is not easy,” he admits. “Everything needs doing, every single day.”

The rewards, however, are tangible. Fresh air. Quiet mornings. A deeper connection to the natural environment.

Ben and his family have rescued animals, including a dog that weighed just two and a half kilos when they found him, goats with a newborn baby, and chickens that now provide fresh eggs.

This lifestyle requires responsibility and resilience. It is not romanticised. It is lived.

“Every day is a journey,” Ben says. “But most days, it’s amazing.”

A Family Decision That Changed Everything

Ben’s wife brings another international layer to their story. Iranian by origin, she moved to London at the age of three and spent most of her life there.

For her, leaving London initially felt unimaginable.

“She moved here for one month,” Ben recalls. “And she felt like she was breathing.”

Portugal offered a different rhythm. A slower, more intentional pace of life that prioritised wellbeing without eliminating opportunity.

The contrast was not about ambition versus simplicity. It was about choice.

Portugal allows people to opt into intensity when they want it and step away when they do not.

Growth Without Burnout

One of the most powerful aspects of Ben’s story is his rejection of the false binary between ambition and peace.

“You can make life as fast-paced as you want,” he explains. “You can still find growth. You can still connect with people pushing boundaries in technology, science, biology.”

Portugal does not limit potential. It reframes it.

For entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers, the country offers space to build meaningful careers without sacrificing personal wellbeing.

Ben’s experience reflects a broader shift among expats who no longer equate success with constant acceleration.

Why Portugal Attracts a Certain Kind of Person

According to Ben, Portugal attracts people with a particular mindset.

“They’re looking to grow. To learn. To help each other.”

This collective attitude creates an ecosystem where collaboration feels natural rather than forced. Where newcomers are welcomed, and community is actively nurtured.

It is this cultural openness that transforms relocation into integration.

How moviinn® Supports Stories Like Ben’s

Behind every successful relocation story is structure, guidance, and informed decision-making.

At moviinn®, the focus goes beyond visas and logistics. The goal is long-term integration. Helping individuals and families understand not just how to move, but how to live well after they arrive.

Ben’s journey reflects what is possible when relocation is approached as a holistic process. From choosing the right location to building community and settling into daily life.

Redefining Quality of Life

Ben Lambert’s expat story is not about escaping something. It is about choosing something.

Choosing presence over pressure. Community over isolation. Growth without burnout.

Setúbal offered him space to raise a family, build meaningful connections, and live intentionally, without stepping away from ambition or purpose.

For those considering a move to Portugal, Ben’s experience offers a grounded, honest perspective on what life can look like when values lead the way.

Portugal continues to attract expats from around the world, but stories like Ben’s remind us that the true value lies in how life is lived once you arrive.

This is not just an expat success story. It is a blueprint for intentional living.

Thinking About Your Own Move Abroad?

Every relocation story starts with a conversation.

Whether you are at the early research stage, actively planning a move, or looking to understand what life abroad could realistically look like for you and your family, a structured approach makes all the difference.

At moviinn®, we help you move beyond assumptions and into clarity, combining legal guidance, relocation strategy, and local insight so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

If you are curious about what your move abroad could look like, book a call with our team and start building a plan that fits your life, your goals, and your timeline.

Book your consultation with moviinn® here  and take the first step towards your move abroad.


Watch Ben’s Full Story and Explore More Expat Journeys

Ben’s story is just one of many real-life expat experiences shared by the moviinn® community.

You can watch Ben Lambert’s full video testimonial on moviinn®’s YouTube channel, where he goes deeper into his journey, daily life in Setúbal, and the choices that shaped his move to Portugal.

Watch the full video here


On the channel, you will also find other expat stories from individuals and families who have relocated to Portugal and Spain, each with different backgrounds, motivations, and lifestyles, but all connected by one thing: intentional relocation.