The findings are based on schools, childcare costs, child-friendly attractions and more
A town near Manchester has been listed among the top 10 places to raise a family in England.
The Cheshire borough of Warrington ranks seventh in the study, which looks at key factors such as safety, childcare costs, school performance, and access to outdoor space.
Aimed at highlighting where family life feels easier to manage, and where it can feel more stretched, research from the outdoor play equipment manufacturer and specialists outdoortoys, shows that in Warrington, the average cost of childcare comes to £1,096 a month and around 81% of schools are rated outstanding or good, making it ‘an ideal place to start a family’.
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Additionally families in the area benefit from around 20 child-friendly attractions per 100,000 people and 810 square metres of green space per person.
In practice, that means more local parks, more room to play after school, and fewer limits on how often children can get outside.
Those behind the study say: “Having more options nearby means less repetition and more chances to find activities that suit different ages as children grow. It also makes spontaneous plans easier, without needing to travel far.”
Among Warrington’s many family friendly attractions is Walton Hall and Gardens – a lovingly restored hall set within acres of parkland which has been a popular visitor destination for generations.
It’s home to some well equipped play areas, adventure golf, high ropes, woodland walks and even has its own free Children’s Zoo where little ones can see a host of animals including rabbits, alpacas, pigs, African pygmy goats and its colourful peacocks.
There’s also a land train that runs at weekends and in the school holidays.
Warrington is also lucky to have some award-winning farms on the doorstep, including the popular Kenyon Hall Farm, where its fruit picking season will soon be in full swing, as well as Grange Farm and Bates Farm.
There’s lots of family fun to be had at Apple Jacks Adventure Farm, Woodlands Alpaca Farm, and Partridge Lakes, which recently opened a new lakeside walk with a sandy beach and pedalos, along with extra food and drink huts.
The borough is also lucky to have its very own theme park, with Gulliver’s World based in Old Hall. Offering more than 30 rides and 20 attractions, the place has just been ranked among the best value theme parks in the UK. Day tickets cost from £15.75 or for £99 you can get an annual pass for a whole year.
At the top of outdoortoys’ list is Sheffield, largely due to the amount of outdoor space available to families. With 1,686 square metres per person, it offers almost double the study average of 873 square metres.
Childcare costs remain relatively steady at £918 a month. For many families, that makes it easier to plan ahead without regular adjustments to household spending.
Milton Keynes takes second place, offering one of the widest ranges of child-friendly attractions in the study, with 31 per 100,000 people, 11 above the study average. That gives families more flexibility when it comes to filling weekends, school holidays, or shorter pockets of free time.
Swindon rounds out the top three, with the lowest crime rate in the study at 68 per 1,000 people – meaning children can spend more time outdoors, walking short distances with friends, or using local spaces with greater independence.
It’s not as good news for Manchester itself however, as the city ranks last overall, with safety emerging as the biggest challenge due to crime levels reaching 145 incidents per 1,000 people, significantly above the study average.
Alex Price, product manager at outdoortoys, said: “Where children grow up has a lasting impact on how they spend their time. In areas with milder weather and lower rainfall, like Southampton or Cambridge, it’s simply easier to get outside more often without needing to plan around the conditions.
“When there’s somewhere nearby to play – a garden with swings, climbing frames or playhouses, a local park, or a safe open space – children tend to spend more time being active and independent. Over time, that builds confidence, social skills, and a sense of freedom that’s much harder to develop when outdoor time is limited or heavily planned.
“It’s not about having perfect surroundings. It’s about making the most of what’s available and creating simple opportunities for outdoor play as part of everyday routines.”
Top 10 places to raise a family in England
- Sheffield
- Milton Keynes
- Swindon
- Cambridge
- Peterborough
- Oxford
- Warrington
- Sunderland
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Portsmouth
What do you think about the findings? Would you recommend your area as a good place to raise a family? Let us know your views in the comments here.
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