Choosing where to raise a family isn’t just about finding a nice house; it’s about creating a lifestyle that works for everyone under your roof. You want access to good schools, places for your kids to explore, and a local community you can feel part of.
Nottingham
The city offers a smart mix of affordable housing, well-rated schools and green, open spaces where children can play and explore safely. Unlike many southern cities where house prices can stretch your budget to breaking point, Nottingham gives you more space for your money, particularly in areas like Wollaton, Sherwood, and Mapperley. If you're thinking about new build homes, you'll find a number of modern developments across the city and its suburbs, with improved energy efficiency and proximity to schools, tram routes and local parks.
Wollaton Park, a 500-acre deer park with a historic hall at its centre, gives families a genuine escape without leaving the city. School choices are strong, too. Bluecoat Aspley Academy and Nottingham High School both receive excellent feedback from parents and nurseries and primaries around West Bridgford and Arnold regularly outperform national averages. Transport links are steadily improving, and with projects backed by the Child Friendly Nottingham strategy, the city is focusing more and more on young people’s futures.
Norfolk
If you’re looking to step away from city bustle and raise your children in a calmer, more rural setting, this region has plenty to offer. Coastal towns like Wells-next-the-Sea and Holt bring you closer to wide, sandy beaches and long countryside walks, while still giving you access to good schools and local facilities.
Outstanding-rated primaries like Sheringham Community Primary and Gresham Village School give younger children a supportive start, while the area also benefits from catchment access to top secondary options in and around Norwich. You can still get into the city in under an hour, and with Norwich’s growing arts scene and solid rail links to Cambridge and London, you’re not cut off from career opportunities either.
Ilkley (Yorkshire)
Ilkley, recently crowned the best place to live in the North by The Times in 2025, offers families a rare combination: top academic standards, a vibrant local culture, and jaw- dropping scenery. It sits on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, meaning you can finish school or work and be out on a family hike or bike ride within minutes. There’s a genuine sense of community here, helped by regular family events like the Ilkley Literature Festival, summer fairs and local sports days.
The town’s schools are another major draw. Ilkley Grammar is regularly among the top- performing secondaries in the region, and nearby primaries such as All Saints C of E get consistently strong reviews. Whether you’re grabbing fresh bread from the local bakery, joining a toddler group at the community centre, or relaxing in Riverside Gardens, you’ll often bump into familiar faces.
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