St Bees in Cumbria is named the best place to raise a family in the UK

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The small village of St Bees in Cumbria has been named as the best place in the UK to raise a family.

The study, from the annual Family Hotspots Report by finance specialist Family Investment, examined a range of factors, such as exam results, crime rates and the cost of living.

The picturesque village came first as it was deemed to have a close knit community, a low crime rate, as well as being home to a private boarding school which dates back to 1583. With salaries averaging at £27,200 per year, and an average two-bedroom home costing just £139,000, the coastal village was hard to beat on prices.

The private school boasts an 100 per cent pass rate for its GCSE and A-Level results last year, and Rowan Atkinson is a former pupil.

Six out of the ten locations were also in the North of the UK.

Wokingham, in Berkshire placed second due to its above average salary levels and its diverse number of both private and state schools, as well as its thriving community spirit.

The historic town of Faringdon in Oxfordshire came third due to its abundance of clubs and its high number of pre-schools and preparatory schools. Elsewhere on the list were Lower Earley in Berkshire and Swanland in East Yorkshire.