The ‘finest saved secret in Essex’ and the opposite high 28 villages in Britain to boost a household: Use our interactive information to find property specialists’ picks for security, faculties and group spirit

Selecting the place to purchase a house and quiet down as a household could be one in every of life’s most vital choices.

The implications in your funds and household’s happiness are big.

From low crime charges to good faculties and native facilities, there are such a lot of containers to tick that it may be arduous to know the place to begin.

So, to assist sift by means of the choices, we have consulted property specialists and reviewed numerous surveys and statistics to deliver you a choice of the very best locations within the UK to settle as a household.

We spherical up their findings in a helpful interactive map under. 

Larkhall, Bathtub

This Georgian spa city enjoys famously low crime charges and in addition has state and personal faculties which rank properly above common. Positioned within the north east of Bathtub, Larkhall is a favorite for households due to its proximity to the town centre, lush inexperienced areas and broad selection of character-rich impartial retailers, cute cafes, and cosy pubs.

Faculties: The world is residence to quite a lot of thriving state-run main and secondary faculties, in addition to King Edward’s College, which has been recognised as the highest performing impartial college within the South West by The Sunday Occasions.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £269.74 per week and £287.41 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £554,309

Available on the market: This good-looking three-bed, three-storey Georgian Grade II-listed home is tucked away within the coronary heart of Larkhall only a brief stroll from retailers, main and secondary faculties. It additionally has a horny south-westerly backyard (£680,000, whiteleyhelyar.co.uk)

Heswall, Merseyside

Positioned on the west aspect of Merseyside’s Wirral Peninsula, Heswall presents a mix of semi-rural environment with all the fashionable facilities wanted for a rising household, says property agent Liam Gretton. The city bustles with bars and eating places, shops and occasional retailers, creating a beautiful ambiance that is typical of a close-knit group.

Faculties: Heswall Major is a thriving college near the centre of the city and bordering on the gorgeous Barnston fields. Close by Pensby Excessive College claims to be the very best performing non-selective college within the Wirral.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two is £269 per week and £287 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £219,081

Available on the market: This three-bed semi-detached home in Heswall is £275,000 and has off-road parking and a big rear backyard (hewittadams.com)

Cofton Hackett, Worcestershire

Sitting slap bang on the dividing line between Birmingham and Worcestershire, Cofton Hackett is flooded with open inexperienced area, and is just some minutes’ drive from the Lickey Hills Nation Park and in addition has easy accessibility to bigger cities comparable to Birmingham and Worcester.

Faculties: 9 out of ten of Worcestershire’s state faculties are rated ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. It’s also residence to extremely rated impartial faculties together with Malvern School.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £261.44 per week and £269 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £410,930

Available on the market: This five-bed conventional indifferent household residence has three reception rooms, a surprising southerly side rear backyard with views throughout to the Lickey Hills (£660,000, oulsnam.internet)

Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales

The River Teifi runs by means of the centre of this thriving market city, which has an abundance of vigorous eating places, bakeries and cafes, and is in shut proximity to a few of Wales’ finest seashores, together with Mwnt and Penbryn, each of that are managed and guarded by the Nationwide Belief and excellent for households. 

There’s tradition aplenty, together with Mwldan, an impartial arts centre and cinema screening Hollywood movies and reside touring exhibits.

Faculties: The city has a number of highly-rated main faculties, in addition to Preseli College, a Welsh language secondary college which has a superb fame and repeatedly tops the tables of the very best faculties in Wales.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £249.28 per week and £268.22 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £248,451

Available on the market: This conventional and characterful three-bedroom home is located inside strolling distance of Cardigan City and encompasses a courtyard backyard with raised decking (£199,950, jjmorris.com)

Sandbach, Cheshire

This beautiful Cheshire market city has quaint retailers and half-timbered Tudor pubs in addition to a cluster of fine faculties. The cobbled city centre presents numerous purchasing alternatives and there’s a thriving weekly market. The variety of households residing in Sandbach is greater than the nationwide common prompted by the number of good training on provide within the city’s faculties.

Faculties: Close by Holmes Chapel Major College is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, whereas Sandbach Excessive College and Sixth Kind School has Academy standing.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £269.74 per week and £287.41 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £278,631

Available on the market: This three-bed indifferent home has a sweeping drive with ample parking in addition to a non-public and spacious backyard to the rear (£425,000, bridgfords.co.uk)

Manningtree, Essex

A really outstanding location for households, Manningtree is ‘the best-kept secret on the Essex/Suffolk border’, in line with Michael Burt, head of gross sales at Metropolis & Nation. 

‘Not solely is it the gateway to Constable nation, with shut entry to water meadows, mills and inexperienced area, however you should purchase a new-build residence for noticeably lower than its Suffolk counterpart,’ he provides. There is a small family-friendly seashore which frequently hosts a spread of actions so loads for youngsters to get pleasure from.

Faculties: Close by Highfields Major College is rated ‘excellent’ by Ofsted, as is Dedham Church of England college.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £307.81 per week and £333.33 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £466,341

Available on the market: This four-bedroom indifferent household residence comes with a double storage and parking, open-plan kitchen and eating space, and separate front room with bi-folding doorways resulting in the again backyard (£650,000, hopkinshomes.co.uk)

Lengthy Marston, Warwickshire

Simply south west of Stratford-upon-Avon, Lengthy Marston village exudes tranquility due to its stunning pure landscapes and luxurious greenery. Crime charges in Lengthy Marston are notably low, making it an incredible location for youngsters and oldsters to thrive in a protected and calm setting.

Faculties: Close by Ilmington CofE Major College is rated ‘good’ in all areas by Ofsted, whereas Stratford Women’ Grammar College is judged ‘excellent’.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £261.44 per week and £269 for under-twos.

Available on the market: This model new high-spec indifferent five-bed residence simply exterior Lengthy Marston has three bogs, a double storage and huge parking (£800,000, hrestateagents.co)

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Identified for its stunning historic buildings, lush gardens, and pure springs, Harrogate can be very household pleasant due to good faculties and the very fact it was named the most secure place within the UK to boost youngsters, in line with analysis evaluating 200 main UK cities and cities.

Faculties: Western Major College within the city is rated ‘excellent’ by Ofsted, as is Harrogate Grammar College.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £261.02 per week and £267.81 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £404,553

Available on the market: This contemporary four-bedroom semi-detached household residence on Ribblehead Highway has a horny backyard with garden and patio (£340,000, verityfrearson.co.uk)

Abergavenny, Wales

Topped the very best place to reside in Wales by The Sunday Occasions, judges declared that few areas within the UK are as pleasant, sensible and picturesque as this market city on the sting of the Bannau Brycheiniog Nationwide Park. They added ‘group spirit is off the charts and there is a robust and diverse sporting scene’.

Faculties: King Henry VIII secondary college in Abergavenny was rated ‘inexperienced’ (the best score) by Estyn, the Welsh-equivalent of Ofsted, as was Llanfoist Fawr Major within the city.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £258.32 per week and £261.33 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £318,457

Available on the market: This indifferent four-bedroom interval cottage is ready simply exterior Abergavenny in a peaceable place within the rolling Monmouthshire countryside and has a bigger backyard (£499,950, christieresidential.co.uk)

Waltham Forest, London 

This London borough was named the very best place to boost a household after alarm methods firm ADT collected information to make a ‘household security rating’. The world was praised for its faculties, inexperienced areas and low crime charges.

Faculties: Walthamstow College for Women is state-run and rated ‘excellent’, as is South Grove Major College.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £430.75 per week and £428.26 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £555,786

Available on the market: This semi indifferent four-bed residence organized over two ranges has three reception rooms and is ready in one in every of Walthamstow’s most wanted areas (£1,150,000, amandaroberts.co.uk)

West Finish, Dundee

Scotland’s sunniest metropolis is a best choice for individuals seeking to elevate a household due to its enticing and reasonably priced housing, parks and inexperienced areas and a robust sense of group. West Finish is the extra prosperous space of Dundee and has a spread of high-quality main and secondary faculties, together with each private and non-private choices.

Faculties: Harris Academy is the state possibility, whereas the Excessive College of Dundee (junior charges from £11,310 a 12 months) is a ten-minute stroll from the West Finish and was ranked Seventeenth-best impartial college in Scotland.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £260.72 per week and £272.40 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £168,767

Available on the market: This six-bed Arts and Crafts residence on Craigiebarn Highway is organized over three ranges and has one acre of land (£619,000, verdala.co.uk)

St Albans, Hertfordshire

The world presents a mixture of nice faculties, says Helen Rhodes, companion at shopping for company Heaton & Companions, so is ideal for fogeys who need to give their youngsters the very best begin. 

She provides: ‘London St Pancras is only a 20-minute prepare journey away and there is an abundance of countryside on the doorstep’. St Albans, she says, is basically an extension of prime north London with quite a lot of the identical eating places and occasional retailers on the Excessive Road – the likes of Gail’s, Knoops and lately opened Black Sheep Espresso.

Faculties: St Albans College and St Albans Excessive College for Women are each high-achieving personal faculties. Loreto School is a state secondary rated ‘excellent’ by Ofsted.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over £283.33 per week and £326.07 for under-twos

Common home worth: £622,405

Available on the market: Located throughout the standard village of Park Road, this finish of terrace household house is in want of refurbishment however has three bedrooms, in addition to a considerable personal rear backyard with brick-built storage shed, double size storage and driveway parking to the rear (£550,000, frosts.co.uk)

Finchampstead, Berkshire

This peaceable village in Berkshire was beforehand voted as top-of-the-line locations to reside in Britain – not least due to its personal nation park and a Nationwide Belief woodland. 

‘Its additionally ideally situated for commuters and households, with fast entry to Studying, Wokingham, and common direct trains to London Paddington,’ says Alex Dowling, head of gross sales and advertising at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties.

Faculties: The village is surrounded by nice state faculties (together with The Holt and Evendons Major) and impartial faculties (together with Reddam Home and Waverley Prep).

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £307.81 per week and £333.33 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £658,650

Available on the market: This well introduced four-bedroom indifferent household residence is ready in standard Carolina Place which is near native faculties, retailers and woodland walks. It has 4 bedrooms, a double storage and a rear backyard (£715,000, michael-hardy.co.uk)

Plymouth, Devon

The town is famend for its maritime heritage and presents a picturesque waterfront, ample parks, and proximity to Dartmoor Nationwide Park and the Devon and Cornwall coastlines, offering ample out of doors actions for households. 

Plymouth’s relaxed ambiance and comparatively reasonably priced home costs make it simply what many households are on the lookout for.

Faculties: Non-public Plymouth School is revered for its extracurricular providing and famed for its swimming coaching. Devonport Excessive College for Women and Devonport Excessive College for Boys are each highly-rated grammar faculties within the metropolis.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £269.74 per week and £287.41 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £243,885

Available on the market: This spacious three-bedroom semi-detached home is nestled within the nook of a quiet cul-de-sac and has a paved and lawned rear backyard (£260,000, mayerestateagents.co.uk)

York, Yorkshire

This historic metropolis scores properly in a number of surveys about finest locations to boost a household. There’s a nice vary of high flight training from main faculties to college. 

It’s a compact metropolis that is sufficiently small to be walkable and have sense of group, however giant sufficient to have loads occurring. You will not be wanting one thing to do, with or with out youngsters. You can even be within the open countryside in minutes.

Faculties: 5 faculties within the metropolis have been lately ranked within the high ten state and impartial faculties within the North for tutorial efficiency by The Sunday Occasions, so there’s an enormous quantity of selection.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £249.28 per week and £268.22 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £353,928

Available on the market: This deceptively spacious four-bed household residence is ready in a extremely fascinating a part of York with a indifferent double storage and aspect and entrance backyard (£475,000, rmenglish.co.uk)

Timperley, Cheshire

Located to the east of Altrincham, Timperley presents residents the very best of each worlds. This family-friendly space advantages from a spread of well-regarded faculties, together with main and secondary choices, making it notably engaging for rising households. 

Inexperienced areas like John Leigh Park present ample alternatives for out of doors actions, whereas the thriving local people centre hosts numerous occasions and lessons all year long.

Faculties: Pictor Academy within the village is rated ‘excellent’, as is close by St Hugh’s Catholic Major College.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over £269.74 per week and £287.41 for under-twos

Common home worth: £395,054

Available on the market: This charming property is ready behind a gated entrance and presents over 1500 sq ft of lodging, together with 4 bedrooms, three reception rooms and two bogs (£600,000, bridgfords.co.uk)

Milngavie, Glasgow

This East Dunbartonshire city is a suburb of Glasgow and has an exquisite open countryside on the doorstep, wonderful native faculties, a wealthy and diverse social and cultural scene and really lively golf equipment and associations. There are greater than 90 group teams in Milngavie.

Faculties: Milngavie Major College is a well-established college courting again almost 150 years and was named within the high 30 of The Sunday Occasions Major College League Desk 2023, together with close by Craigdhu.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £260.72 per week and £272.40 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £376,460

Available on the market: Located throughout the wanted Mains Property improvement, this five-bed indifferent household residence has a non-public driveway and landscaped gardens to each entrance and rear (£525,000, corumproperty.co.uk)

Ripon, North Yorkshire

Nestled between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, this tiny cathedral metropolis constantly ranks as one of many UK’s high ten most secure cities. North Yorkshire County Council’s training authority ranks extremely within the UK for GCSE and A-level outcomes.

Faculties: The town has a wealth of extremely regarded main and secondary faculties, together with Ripon Grammar College and Outwood Academy Ripon, which is rated ‘excellent’ by Ofsted.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £249.28 per week and £268.22 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £333,130

Available on the market: This three-bedroom semi-detached household residence overlooks Williamson Gardens to the entrance, whereas a conservatory overlooks the rear backyard. The property is near pretty woodland and riverside walks and the town centre (£335,000, davislund.co.uk)

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Well-known for its prestigious college, the town additionally boasts wonderful faculties and a excessive lifestyle. The gorgeous inexperienced areas and sense of educational pursuit creates a robust sense of group.

Faculties: The town has a wealth of high-performing state and impartial main and secondary faculties, together with Chesterton Neighborhood School (academy) and Cambridge Worldwide College (personal).

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £283.33 per week and £326.07 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £606,823

Available on the market: This two-bedroom semi-detached residence constructed within the Fifties and additional prolonged within the Nineteen Eighties, is located inside Fen Ditton village, a preferred space of Cambridge near native facilities and transport hyperlinks into the town (£425,000, hockeys.co.uk)

Helensburgh, Highlands

Thought to be the gateway to the Highlands, Helensburgh has been standard for properly over a century since rich Glasgow retailers first started to construct homes right here. The coastal city was final 12 months named within the ‘finest 25 locations to boost a household’ by the Every day Telegraph. The city is properly linked, with common trains to Glasgow, in addition to being a cease on the Caledonian Sleeper route.

Faculties: There’s a choice of native main faculties, a neighborhood secondary and the personal Lomond College.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £260.72 per week and £272.40 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £257,659

Available on the market: This indifferent three-bedroom home is located in a quiet cul-de-sac within the standard Glade Property. The home is ready amidst wonderful gardens and, from its barely elevated place, enjoys sweeping views in direction of the Firth of Clyde (£260,000, clydeproperty.co.uk)

St Davids, Pembrokeshire

Well-known for being the smallest metropolis in Wales, St Davids presents the last word in coastal household residing. The cathedral metropolis, situated in Britain’s solely coastal nationwide park, is only a mile away from sweeping Whitesands Bay, whereas the centre is residence to quite a lot of thriving eating places, pubs and an award-winning ice cream parlour.

Faculties: The town has each a main and secondary college (as much as 16 years outdated) with robust native reputations.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £258.32 per week and £261.33 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £318,457

Available on the market: This three-bed terraced home is just some minutes from St Davids centre and has a non-public, enclosed backyard (£369,950, jjmorris.com)

Hampstead, north-west London

Admittedly, you want deep pockets to reside in Hampstead. However this sensible London suburb has a lot to supply households, together with one of many highest concentrations of faculties within the nation. The meadows, swimming ponds and enjoying fields of Hampstead Heath in addition to retailers, libraries, museums and eating places are additionally a draw.

Faculties: The world has a wealth of high-performing state and impartial faculties, together with Christ Church Major College (state) and Highgate College (fee-charging, personal day college for 4-18 12 months olds).

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £430.75 per week and £428.26 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £1,392,016

Available on the market: This four-bed terraced home simply off Finchley Highway has been comprehensively refurbished all through, combining interval options with fashionable comfort (£1,275,000, ashtonchase.com)

Oakham, Leicestershire

This conventional English market city and holder of a Britain in Bloom award has an all-important low crime fee. Based in 1584, the city bustles with exercise, retailers and cafes and is near Rutland Water, set in additional than 4,000 acres of open countryside and excellent for household adventures.

Faculties: Oakham College (personal) is very regarded, as is Catmose School academy.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £283.33 per week and £326.07 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £338,404

Available on the market: This three-bed indifferent property has a non-public driveway and rear backyard with decked terrace (£400,000, expressestateagency.co.uk)

Burscough, West Lancashire

This thriving village wedged between Ormskirk and Southport has the very best of each city and rural residing. There is a vigorous sense of group and no scarcity of inexperienced areas and household actions such because the Martin Mere Wetland Centre. As of 2024, the crime fee in Burscough is 26 per cent decrease than the North West common and 54 per cent decrease than the England common.

Faculties: Westhead Lathom St James’ CE Major College is rated ‘excellent’ by Ofsted, whereas ‘good’ Burscough Priory Academy is close by.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £269.74 per week and £287.41 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £247,225

Available on the market: This spacious four-bed indifferent property in Lathom has rear and entrance gardens, off-road parking and a single storage (£350,000, iananthonyestates.co.uk)

Telford, Shropshire

Thought to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and established as a brand new city within the Nineteen Sixties, mockingly Telford boasts one of many largest city parks within the nation. The Shropshire city has a wealth of family-friendly actions scattered throughout the city.

Faculties: Greater than £800million has been invested lately to rebuild and rework each secondary college within the borough

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £261.44 per week and £269 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £233,369

Available on the market: This charming, interval, three-bed semi-detached property presents off-road parking, gardens and outbuildings. The property wants renovation however is brimming with potential (£150,000, pattison.co.uk)

Lytham St Annes, Lancashire

Simply two miles from the brilliant lights of Blackpool and shut commuting distance to Manchester, the quaint city on the Fylde coast presents a haven of seaside household residing. With sights comparable to St Annes Seaside, Fairhaven Lake and Ashton Gardens, in addition to group occasions all year long, it is a vigorous place for a household residence.

Faculties: The city is residence to the distinguished King Edward VII College, whereas Rossall public college is in close by Cleveleys.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £269.74 per week and £287.41 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £164,813

Available on the market: This semi-detached household residence, nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac in strolling distance to Lytham, has three bedrooms, a big backyard and front room with a log burner (£275,000, martinco.com)

Jesmond, Newcastle

This prosperous space of Newcastle has numerous sights for younger households, from native museums to riverside walks. Since 2005 the Jesmond Neighborhood Competition has showcased the broad vary of actions going down within the space. Jesmond Dene is a slim wooded valley park that follows the river Ouseburn.

Faculties: Newcastle is thought for its good state faculties of which many have been awarded an impressive rating on their newest Ofsted inspections.

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £249.28 per week and £268.22 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £370,246

Available on the market: This semi-detached 4 bed room residence has views over Jesmond Dene and presents off-road parking and gardens to the entrance and rear (£475,000, sandersonyoung.co.uk)

Didsbury, Manchester

In accordance with native property brokers, faculties are the important thing and oldsters who need to get their baby into the very best primaries love this fashionable Manchester suburb. The excessive road has numerous bars and eating places, whereas the group really feel springs from the abundance of inexperienced area and parks, in addition to numerous household pleasant venues like The Parrs Wooden.

Faculties: Beaver Highway Major College is rated ‘excellent’, as is Didsbury Excessive College

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £269.74 per week and £287.41 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £370,987

Available on the market: This characterful 5 bed room mid-terrace interval townhouse within the fascinating location of Withington, near Didsbury. There’s a entrance backyard and good sized rear backyard (£392,000, hammerpricehomes.co.uk)

Darlington, County Durham 

This market city has a few of the most cost-effective homes within the UK, but it is brimming with historic character and the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District and North Pennines are all on its doorstep – so good for household outings. The city is residence to some top-ranking main faculties.

Faculties: Carmel School is rated ‘excellent’ by Ofsted, as is St John’s Church of England Academy

Childcare: Full-time nursery for youngsters aged two and over is £249.28 per week and £268.22 for under-twos.

Common home worth: £166,197

Available on the market: This contemporary four-bed property is ideal for households, with open-plan kitchen/residing and bi-fold doorways out to the rear backyard (£264,995, smith-and-friends.co.uk/darlington)