Worcester named among best places for families to live in the UK

Research by MoneySuperMarket has revealed the best places for families in the UK with the study considering housing affordability, the cost of childcare, safety, schooling, and general quality of life factors such as the number of family-friendly restaurants and days out.

Locations were scored on their relative performance in each category and scores were totalled to create an overall family-friendly score.

In the study by MoneySuperMarket, Worcester was named among the best places for families to live in the UK in 2023, coming in at third place.

Worcester was named among the best places to live for families in the UK in 2023 (Image: Getty Images)

Worcester finished in the top 5 for childcare costs and the percentage of local schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Top 10 family friendly towns and cities in the UK in 2023

Here’s the top 10 family friendly towns and cities in the UK in 2023 according to the research. Each place is listed below with its Family Friendly Index Score.

1. Preston - 90.3
2. Oldham - 89.6
3. Worcester - 89.3
4. Southampton - 89.0
5. Hastings - 86.3
6. Bedford - 85.4
7. Salford - 85.0
8. Shrewsbury - 84.5
9. Maidstone - 84.1
10. Barnsley - 81.5

Ashton Berkhauer, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “While affordability is likely the overriding factor when it comes to buying your first home, there are other considerations that come into play when deciding where to raise a family - or where to retire for that matter.

“While house prices will still play a key role, being close to good schools and local amenities will likely have more of a sway when deciding on a location, as well other things such as proximity to family and friends who might be able to help with reducing the reliance on professional childcare.

“No matter what your house-hunting priorities are, it’s always a good idea to shop around and compare mortgage deals to make sure you’re getting the best deal for you and your individual needs.”