OUTDOOR play equipment specialists outdoortoys analysed UK government data to create an overall child safety score, revealing where families can feel most, and least confident letting children play outside.
You can find the research in full on outdoortoys’s website.
| Rank | Area | Children aged 3-14 per km² | Parks and playgrounds per 10,000 children | Reported pedestrian road casualties per 1,000 km | Zebra crossings per 1,000 km | Bicycle theft rate per 1,000 people | Monthly antisocial behaviour offences per 1,000 people | Urban roads with 20mph speed limits | Child safbbety score /10 |
| 1 | Vale of Glamorgan | 58.1 | 100.4 | 17.9 | 1,947.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 90.9% | 8.33 |
| 2 | Monmouthshire | 13.5 | 167.0 | 9.8 | 257.0 | 0.2 | – | 94.1% | 8.21 |
| 3 | Ceredigion | 4.4 | 130.4 | 6.6 | 207.9 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 85.1% | 8.19 |
| 4 | Powys | 3.1 | 143.0 | 3.5 | 138.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 86.9% | 8.15 |
| 5 | Pembrokeshire | 9.9 | 128.5 | 11.5 | 199.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 86.7% | 7.89 |
| 6 | Carmarthenshire | 10.5 | 106.2 | 7.8 | 106.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 93.2% | 7.74 |
| 7 | Isle of Anglesey | 12.5 | 130.2 | 12.3 | 156.0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 94.6% | 7.60 |
| 8 | Bridgend | 78.5 | 91.9 | 14.7 | 698.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 84.4% | 7.48 |
| 9 | Westmorland and Furness | 7.0 | 117.9 | 17.2 | 434.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 17.5% | 7.47 |
| 10 | Flintshire | 47.0 | 132.0 | 18.5 | 663.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 94.9% | 7.45 |
With a score of 7.89, Pembrokeshire is the 5th safest region in the of whole the UK for outdoor play.
Welsh local authorities dominate the top 10, with nine of the safest areas for outdoor play located in Wales. The Vale of Glamorgan ranks as the safest overall, scoring 8.33/10, thanks to its high park provision and over 90% of urban roads being set at 20mph.
With just 58 children aged 3-14 per km², the area benefits from lower crowding than many urban centres. Low bicycle theft (0.3 per 1,000 people) and relatively low antisocial behaviour rates further strengthen its safety profile.
Monmouthshire follows closely behind in second place (8.21/10), standing out for its exceptional access to green play spaces. There are 167 parks and playgrounds per 10,000 children in this South Wales region, and the area also benefits from low pedestrian casualty rates, and almost all urban roads are set at 20mph.
Ceredigion secures third place with a Child Safety Score of 8.19/10, thanks to its incredibly low child population density, just 4.4 per km² (the second-lowest in the study), as well as strong park provision.
Further insights:
- Urban areas dominate the bottom rankings, with higher child population density, pedestrian casualties, and antisocial behaviour contributing to lower safety scores.
- Stoke-on-Trent poses the highest risk of unsafe play for children, with the lowest safety score in the study. Just 31% of urban roads have a 20mph speed limit, far below the national average of 40%.
- Gwynedd in North Wales has the most parks for children, with almost 200 parks and playgrounds per 10,000 children, the highest in the study by far.
Alex Price, Product Expert at outdoortoys, on the importance of a safe outdoor space for children, commented: “Unsafe streets and a lack of accessible play spaces are forcing children indoors.
“When parents don’t feel confident letting their kids outside, it strips them of the freedom to play, explore and develop independence, something every child deserves.
“Outdoor play isn’t just fun, it’s crucial for physical health, social skills, confidence, creativity and overall development.
“Without safe spaces to run, climb, cycle and interact with others, children miss out on essential experiences that shape confidence, resilience and wellbeing.
Alex adds that parents can still encourage outdoor play at home by creating safe, engaging spaces in their own gardens: “Even small outdoor spaces can be transformed into safe play zones with the right setup.
“Simple additions like soft landing surfaces, such as grass or rubber mulch under play equipment, can help reduce bumps and falls, while choosing age-appropriate climbing frames or activity sets helps ensure children are playing safely.
“It’s also worth thinking about shaded areas so children can stay cool while they play, particularly during warmer months. Surfaces like slides, metal bars or artificial grass can heat up quickly in direct sun, so positioning equipment in partial shade can make a big difference.
“Parents should also check that play equipment is securely anchored and spaced out properly to avoid collisions during active play.
“Creating clearly defined play zones for activities like climbing, ball games, or imaginative play can help children stay active outdoors while giving parents greater peace of mind.”
