After the turbulence that many people have experienced during the pandemic, coming together as a family is more important than ever. With so many parents working from home, as well as children across the country attending school online, quality time has taken on a whole new meaning. Now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, it’s time to find our way to a new version of family time.
Now that we have a bit more freedom to define what family time means to us, we can step back into the wider world and start thinking about the next chapter. With relocation on many people’s minds after so long stuck in one place, parents everywhere are on the lookout for the best places to raise their children.
Thanks to data gathered by Lil-Lets, those very places can now be revealed. Topping the charts with the number of schools, cost of living, family restaurants, things to do for fun family days out, and more, certain UK cities are racing ahead and proving to be the perfect places to bring up your little ones.
5th place: Bradford
It’s official: Bradford is the fifth-best place to bring up a family in the UK in 2021! Not only does Bradford have the seventh-highest number of schools to choose from, but it is a great place to choose if you’re looking to save money when raising a family. Bradford boasts the seventh cheapest childcare costs on average out of every city in the UK, and it also ranks as number four in terms of cheapest average rent per month. In Bradford, you can make some great choices for your little ones without big expenses making those choices for you.
4th place: London
It’s no surprise that the UK’s capital city has plenty of things to do and places for your kids to learn and thrive. For the widest options of schooling, the highest number of things to do and places to eat, not to mention the highest average monthly net salary in the UK (at £3,105), London is a great place to be to raise a family.
After topping the charts in so many categories, you might be wondering how London missed out on the top spot. There’s got to be a catch, right? Well, as you might have guessed, London’s expensive living costs and high average monthly rent mean that this exciting city falls short of the big top three.
Joint 2nd place: Birmingham
Next on the list, we have the fantastic family-focused city of Birmingham. With plenty to do and a wide variety of choices when it comes to childcare and education, Birmingham has a lot to offer young families. This Midlands city is home to the second-highest number of schools in the UK (630), coming second only to London. What’s more, Birmingham came in as the sixth-best place in the UK both for family-friendly restaurants (there are 901 to choose from) and fun things to do for a family day out (100). From the Legoland Discovery Centre to Cadbury World, there are plenty of ways to keep your kids entertained in this thriving city.
Joint 2nd place: Belfast
Also in second place, we have Northern Ireland’s capital, Belfast. There are plenty of things to do here, and with so many of Northern Ireland’s intriguing attractions (such as the Giant’s Causeway) close by, you’ll never run out of family day trips. Not only is this city full of culture and adventure, but it is the fourth cheapest place in the UK when it comes to the overall cost of living. After all, it’s no secret that raising a family can be expensive, from buying those extra necessities, such as nursing pads, maternity pads and baby bottles when you’ve just had your baby, to forking out for toys, day-care and after-school activities when your little one gets a bit older. In Belfast, it’s much easier to keep your essential costs to a minimum! For an inspiring place to live which isn’t too expensive, Belfast offers the best of both worlds.
1st place: Glasgow
If you’re looking for somewhere with plenty of activities to do as a family, great schooling options, and a wide variety of family restaurants to choose from, Glasgow is your best option. Even better? This city offers the best family experience without breaking the bank. With fun activities to rival even London (103 different options, to be precise), a lower cost of living, average monthly rent, and reasonable childcare costs, this vibrant Scottish city is a fantastic place to raise a family.
Of course, family time means something different to each family – every parent has their own priorities when raising their kids. However, if you’re considering moving to a new city and you want to find somewhere that is perfectly suited to happy family life, these places have a lot to offer!
