Yahoo News 'Lush' Bath suburb named as one of the best places in the UK to raise a family
A leafy green suburb of Bath has been named as one of the best places to raise a family, thanks to its lush outdoor spaces and quirky independent shops and cafés. Situated just a couple of miles outside of Bath city centre - approximately 40 minutes walk from Bath Spa Railway Station, Larkhall has been listed among the top 30 spots for families to settle down, according to the Daily Mail.
In fact, the charming district was the first to be mentioned on the list, which claims that Larkhall is a favourite for families due to its "proximity to the city centre, lush green spaces, and broad choice of character-rich independent shops, cute cafés, and cosy pubs."
According to the Daily Mail: "Choosing where to buy a home and settle down as a family can be one of life's most important decisions. The implications on your finances and family's happiness are huge. From low crime rates to good schools and local amenities, there are so many boxes to tick that it can be hard to know where to start."
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Thankfully, Larkhall in Bath makes such decisions easier in many regards, with its friendly community spirit. Indeed, visitors could be mistaken for feeling like the neighbourhood is a tiny hamlet, miles from anywhere.
When it comes to amenities, Larkhall has everything locals could want, within just a few square meters, from a farm shop and award-winning butchers, to a home hardware store and independent bookshop, and even French bistro called Ma Cuisine.
In fact, just a couple of years ago during the Covid-19 lockdown, Larkhall became the "breadbasket of Bath", with shoppers flocking to the cosy suburb to get their groceries when larger supermarkets were out of stock.
When it comes to keeping the kids entertained, Larkhall is surrounded by open green spaces and playgrounds, with Alice Park, Bathampton Meadows, and Kensington Meadows all just a few minutes walk away, as well as being just a short drive from National Trust site, Dyrham Park.
And Larkhall is also on the doorstep of King Edward's School, which teaches pupils from the ages of three to 18 - and was last year named as one of the top schools in the country by The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools.
Meanwhile, the area also offers a range of nursery and primary schools well-rated by Ofsted, including St Mark's School, and St Saviour's Infant and Junior Schools.
Full-time childcare costs in nurseries around Larkhall is slightly above national average, costing £287.41 a week for under-twos - with the national average being £263 a week - or £269.74 a week for youngsters aged two and over.
And property prices in Larkhall are also notably above the national average, with the typical sold price in this area over the last 12 months coming in at just under £496,000, compared to just £265,000 nationally, according to Zoopla.
However, this is perhaps unsurprising, as Bath is well-known as a pricey area in which to live, with the average property prices in the city as a whole costing as much as £588,000, according to Zoopla - while in the neighbouring Cotswolds area, average prices are similarly over £500,000.
For those who have always wanted to relocate to the south-west, and are keen to start house-hunting around Larkhall now, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom property, with a rear decked patio offering panoramic views over Bath, has recently been reduced in price on Zoopla, and is available for £475,000.
