Crime & Safety
Oxford named among top 10 places in UK to raise a family
The ranking comes from a new study by outdoor play specialists Outdoortoys, which considered factors including childcare costs, school performance, safety, access to green space and the number of child-friendly attractions per 100,000 people.
Oxford came sixth overall, offering 42 attractions, 575 square metres of green space, and an impressive 71 per cent of schools rated outstanding or good.
Alex Price, product manager at Outdoortoys, said: “Where children grow up has a lasting impact on how they spend their time.
“When there’s somewhere nearby to play, 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.”
Sheffield topped the list thanks to its abundance of green space, while Milton Keynes and Swindon placed second and third respectively.
The study is available in full at outdoortoys.com.