And with the average house price in the UK now £357,255, according to Rightmove, finding somewhere affordable but with good schools, low crime rates and a friendly community is becoming increasingly difficult.
Read MoreEXCLUSIVE The best places to downsize - and the ones you'd be mad to move to There’s plenty of green spaces for families to enjoy, with the jewel in the crown being the 60-acre Hanley Park, improved thanks to £45million of National Lottery funding. The Forest of Bowland nature reserve, with its hiking trails and mountain biking routes, is a 45-minute drive away while, more locally, families can enjoy a walk along the towpath next to the Leeds and Liverpool canal, which flows through the town.Schools: Nelson is home to several good state-run primary schools and the Pendle Community High School and College was rated ‘outstanding’ at its last Ofsted inspection.
The town, population 27,000, proudly puts local produce front and centre with the Melton Borough food market on the third Friday of every month. It also hosts the annual East Midlands Food Festival and, as you might guess, Pie Fest. On the doorstep of the Lincolnshire Wolds, there is much greenery to be enjoyed including the much beloved People’s Park in the centre of Grimsby. The Scartho area is a top choice for families with a good selection of local schools.
Childcare: Nursery fees for the week for children up to three years starts from £250 and £240 for three to five years. Rated the UK’s third best city for green space, Southampton offers good schools, work opportunities and affordable housing, making it the ‘perfect place to raise a family,’ according to estate agent Tom Bennett.
‘Work opportunity in the city is fantastic, the schools are excellent, and the general well-being of the city and suburban towns present a really welcoming feel-good factor. The historic Scottish coastal town of Irvine was once the home of the poet Robert Burns and is a great option for families who enjoy the great outdoors.
For those seeking culture, the Harbour Arts Centre in the town hosts theatre, comedy, music and visual art exhibitions as well as a family film club and workshops for all ages. On the market: This four-bedroomed townhouse is spread over three floors and has two en-suites, four bathrooms, a garage, balcony and rear garden. It’s close to local schools and the town centre and is on the market for £200,000.There has been regeneration of this area in recent years but house prices remain lowA bustling market town, Bishop Aukland has a wonderful mix of history, culture and green space.
The spectacular outdoor show Kynren, with its 1,000-strong cast of volunteers, runs every Saturday throughout the summer and dazzles visitors with its imagining of the last 2,000 years of English history.On the market: This beautiful stone-built Victorian terrace has three bedrooms, original features and countryside views. There is a covered utility space to the back and potential to create an off-road parking space in the garden. It’s near to local schools and is for sale for £210,000.
Schools: There’s a huge selection of schools in Plymouth – mainly state but also including three single-sex three grammars. Devonport High School for Boys and Devonport High School for Girls are both located in the Stoke catchment area. And the Brook Green Centre for Learning is an ‘outstanding’ secondary school for children with special educational needs.On the market: This three-bedroom terrace in Stoke offers original fireplaces, wooden floors, a garden and a garage.
Childcare: Full-time nursery fees per week for babies to two-year-olds is around £197 and £187 for two to five-year-olds. For shopping, there is the Victorian shopping arcade Craven Court and its independent retailers and an outdoor market, four days a week. The retail park, Marshalls Yard, has plenty of well-known chains such as a Costa, Marks & Spencer and Next.
Four-bedroom detached family homes go for around £200,000 to £240,000 and three-bed semis are £130,000. Childcare: Nursery fees for ten hours a day for a week start from £270 for two to three-year-olds and £260 for three to five-year-olds.