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One Scottish city was previously named the best in the world to raise a family(Image: Carlos G. Lopez / Getty Images)
Choosing where to raise a family can be a difficult decision. From the quality of nearby schools to affordability, there are many different factors to weigh up.
Many people choose to move to a city thanks to the sheer number of amenities on offer. Despite costs typically being higher than in smaller settlements, in terms of convenience cities cannot be beaten.
One city in Scotland that was previously named the “best in the world” to raise a family is Edinburgh. The Scottish capital topped a list put together by language learning platform italki.
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To put together their list, italki considered a range of factors. These included safety, amenities, affordability, maternity leave, and schooling.
According to the experts, Edinburgh has an overall quality of life index score of 187.7. The experts also revealed that the Scottish city benefits from the most maternity leave on the list, with 39 weeks.
The results also revealed that there are 32.8 things to do per 10,000 people in Edinburgh. The city boasts a huge variety of attractions and beauty spots that can keep families entertained endlessly.
Edinburgh Zoo is one of many iconic attractions dotted around Edinburgh(Image: Serge Cornu / Getty Images)
One of the top family attractions in the Scottish capital is Edinburgh Zoo, which is the largest zoo in Scotland. The zoo comprises 80 acres, and is home to more than 2,500 animals.
Elsewhere, as we enter the peak of summer, another popular destination for families in the city is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Highlights of the world-renowned attraction include its Rock Garden, the peaceful Woodland Garden, the Chinese Hillside, and the Rhododendron Collection.
Other popular attractions in Edinburgh include Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle. The former is an ancient extinct volcano that offers spectacular views out over the city, while Edinburgh Castle includes standouts such as the Great Hall, St Margaret’s Chapel, and the One o’clock Gun.
Edinburgh is also home to many renowned schools, both state and private. Boroughmuir High School and James Gillespie’s High School are considered among the best state schools in the city, while top private schools include Fettes College and Merchiston Castle School.
Fettes College is one of Edinburgh’s most renowned schools(Image: Daily Record)
In terms of food, Edinburgh has no shortage of restaurants for the whole family to enjoy. Popular eateries include Mums Great Comfort Food on Forrest Road, Duck and Waffle in the city’s acclaimed St James Quarter, and Bertie’s Proper Fish and Chips on Victoria Street.
Elsewhere, Amsterdam in the Netherlands followed behind at number two on italki’s roundup. According to the experts, the cost of living in Amsterdam is lower than other cities in the top 10.
Completing the top five on italki’s list of the best cities in the world to raise a family were Seville in Spain, Helsinki in Finland, and Copenhagen in Denmark. Rounding out the top 10 were Munich, Madrid, Tokyo, Wellington, and Vienna.
Read on for the full list of the 10 destinations that appeared on the experts’ list of the best cities to raise a family. Additional information can be found on the italki website.
The 10 best cities in the world to raise a family
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Seville, Spain
- Helsinki, Finland
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Munich, Germany
- Madrid, Spain
- Tokyo, Japan
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Vienna, Austria