Are you dreaming of a better work-life balance, access to educational opportunities, or cultural diversity not found in your home town or country? UK cities attract migrants for a variety of reasons, including job opportunities, free healthcare, and great schooling. Of course, uprooting your kids is not a decision to be taken lightly, especially if you are a single parent and rely on a support system of family and friends. It takes some careful planning to ensure you are moving to a place that works for both you and your children. To help you figure out where to live in the UK with kids, here are the best cities for families in Britain, with a little advice as a bonus:
Best Cities for Families in the UK
The country has countless wonderful cities full of character and charm, offering a good work life balance and excellent educational opportunities for children of all ages. Let’s start with a well-known city in the north of England:
Manchester
Starting strong with Manchester, or quite possibly Greater Manchester (if you are happy to move to the outskirts to save a few £££), which is widely known as the ‘capital of the North’ or ‘mini London’. It’s an excellent place to live for a variety of reasons:
There are plenty of small towns and villages around Manchester that offer reasonably priced housing, such as Middleton, Atherton, Worsley, Eccles, Sale, and so forth, with a median property price of £220k. While there are, of course, more expensive areas in and around Manchester, you can most definitely find a home within your budget. Nothing is more than a 20-30 minute drive away in Manchester, so while Manchester may feel big, it is extremely convenient in the sense that you can live in an area that feels rural and kid-friendly but are never too far from anywhere, with both a vibrant city centre and the beautiful Peak District on your doorstep.
Manchester is a very diverse and vibrant city, home to outstanding universities and colleges, a thriving art and music scene, famous sports grounds, and a multicultural population. With all that in mind, make sure you check that the area you wish to move to has a low crime rate and good infrastructure. This can be particularly important to single parents who might rely on safe public transport for work, school, etc.
Liverpool
The Liverpudlians are known for being super friendly and welcoming. I would even say that Liverpool is more friendly than Manchester as ‘Scousers’ are known to look after their own. While this city in England has its not-so-pretty spots in the city centre, there are some absolute darling villages and spots to live in with kids, such as Bootle, Sefton, Otterspool, and even the Wirral just over the water.
In addition, Liverpool has no less than 130 parks and playgrounds dotted throughout the city, along with acres of lovely green spaces. Take Sefton Park, which is also great for a day out with kids and the family dog. There are also around 143 recreational facilities to be found here.
According to Rentaroof, the average monthly rent in Liverpool is £891, which is quite affordable compared to other cities in the UK. If you are looking to buy, the average house price was approx. £180k in March 2025. This is a very competitive rate in the current climate.
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle is yet another friendly northern city with an incredible accent and slang that is contagious. Often appearing on lists of the best cities for families in the UK, this kid-friendly place is a great starting point if you are looking to relocate. As may be expected, wages here are relatively low at £33,000 per annum, but this is matched with very much affordable house prices averaging at a stable £147,600 – a bargain compared to Manchester and the south of England.
One of the best parts of living in Newcastle with kids is that it’s considered safe, has good schools and universities, and offers plenty of things to do for families. The city centre itself is walkable and safe and has an array of cultural attractions. Regarding areas to live in with kids, check out Sandyford, Fenham, and leafy Jesmond, all of which are becoming increasingly popular with young families.
Aberdeen
Moving even further north to Scotland, Aberdeen has made a few appearances as one of the top 10 cities for families in the UK. Located on the breathtaking northeast coast of Scotland, this vibrant city is brimming with culture, history, and personality. At the same time, the surrounding mountains make it a great place to live for active and outdoorsy families with a sense of adventure and love of walking. This city really gives families the best of both worlds.
Like Newcastle, this unlikely candidate is where to live in the UK with kids if you are looking for a city with a low crime rate, top schools and colleges, and a close-knit community feel. Aberdeen also has the lowest property price-to-income ratio on our list so far, so you won’t have to pay more to take advantage of everything the city has to offer. While average incomes are much higher at £40,325 than in other cities across the UK, average house prices have stabilised at about £142,300, which is amazing.
Another great city to live in with kids is Sheffield, on the east side of the Peak District. Find out what it’s like to bring up children in Sheffield.
Legal Considerations
There is quite a lot to consider when moving abroad. First of all, you need to decide if you are going to stay temporarily or permanently. This will influence many decisions, for example, whether you move your belongings or put them into storage, rent or buy, etc. Here are some of the things you should take into consideration:
Immigration
If you currently don’t hold British citizenship and are seriously considering relocating to a city in the UK with your children, you need to find out how to obtain a permit to live and work. Depending on your country of origin, this process may be more or less difficult. It depends on your country of origin and your personal circumstances. Whilst some Commonwealth citizens may have a right to abode, others do not. EU citizens, for example, lost their right to live and work in the UK following Brexit. They now need a visa.
Emigrating to the UK, especially in 2025, is likely to pose a few challenges, but it can be done. To smooth the process, immigration solicitors can advise on the process in your specific situation and will be able to help you apply for British citizenship when the time comes. Be sure to start the legal process early, as visas and work permits can take some time to be processed and approved.
Finding a Home
As of today, there are no restrictions on renting or buying a home in the UK if you aren’t a British citizen, so that’s great news. There are very few exceptions, such as the Channel Islands. However, ensure you keep up to date in case of any policy changes.
Taxes
One of the first things you need to find out is how much you will earn after taxes. The best place to get informed is the government’s HMRC website. Moving to the UK doesn’t necessarily mean that your home country won’t expect you to pay taxes. It’s therefore wise to check if you still have tax liabilities in your home country. You might need to see a financial advisor with experience in this field.
Conclusion
Whether you are a single parent looking to relocate from another part of the UK, a family wishing to immigrate, or a parent wanting to settle down after a period of nomadic parenting, we hope our introduction to some of the best cities for families has given you an idea of where to live in the UK with kids, what life in Britain is like, and – most of all -whether it’s for you!
