Wadhurst in East Sussex has been named the best place to live in the UK, with London’s Crouch End named the best location in the capital.
The recommendations come via the annual Best Places To Live guide published by the Sunday Times, which shines a light on some of the best places to reside in the UK.
To compile the guide, expert judges visited all the locations and made their decision based on things like quality of schools and transport links to broadband speeds, culture, access to green spaces and the health of the high street.
These are the best places to live in the UK
Wadhurst, East Sussex
Wadhurst in East Sussex was the top place to live overall, according to the judges.
They said that the small market town offers ‘pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature’.
The town, home to just 5,000 people, has been praised for its good schools, convenient transport links, variety of high street shops and ‘stunning scenery’.
Local residents were chuffed with the news and heartily agreed with the judges’ decision, praising the town’s community spirit.
‘What makes it really special is the community,’ a parish council spokesperson said. ‘We have lots of different village clubs and a really active community.
‘We are all helping each other out and during Covid that really came to the forefront, with lots of groups helping to get food and medicine to people.’
Below, here are the best places to live, according to the judges, set out by region.
Best place to live in the East: Saffron Walden, Essex
Saffron Walden was named the best place to live in the East of England.
Another market town, Saffron Walden was praised for its ‘excellent schools’ and ‘proper country feel’.
Plus, it’s commutable for those working in Cambridge and London.
Best place to live in London: Crouch End
Crouch End in London took its spot as the number one place to live in the capital.
It’s home to dozens of independent shops, cafés, bars and restaurants as well as some gorgeous Edwardian architecture.
Best place to live in the Midlands: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Leamington Spa in Warwickshire is smack bank in the centre of England, making it a fun choice for the Midlands.
Judges chose this regal town thanks to its ‘good schools, decent transport links and an attractive town centre with an impressive coffee game’.
Best place to live in Northern Ireland: Donaghadee, Co Down
Scenic and sociable, it’s no surprise Donaghadee was voted the best place to live in Northern Ireland.
It’s the ideal place for dog owners, with locals suggesting that anyone moving to the town should bring a four-legged furry friend with them.
Best place to live in the North and North East: Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
Whitley Bay has come on leaps and bounds in the past few years.
The seaside town is now home to a coworking hub, artisan bakery, microbrewery, wild swimming club and much more, affording it it’s place as the number one place to live in the North and North East of the country.
Best place to live in the North West: Liverpool
There’s no doubt this result will be contested by all the Mancunians who believe Manchester is the best place to live in the UK, let alone the North West.
However, thanks to its marvellous culture – propped up by hosting this year’s Eurovision contest – Liverpool is rising up the ranks of the North’s great towns and cities.
The Times cites new film studios and a new football stadium as some of the key innovations bringing the city back to life.
If you’re wondering where in Liverpool to nest, try the seaside town of Waterloo or the gorgeous suburb of Toxteth, which borders the city’s hip Baltic Triangle.
Best place to live in Scotland: Dunkeld, Perthshire
Hailed as ‘the most the most desirable rural village in the country,’ Dunkeld topped the list of places to live in Scotland.
This was thanks in part to its vibrant foodie scene and beautiful pine forests.
Best place to live in the South West: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Cirencester’s colourful high street is like something out of a story book.
A Cotswold town with way more to offer than a weekend getaway, Cirencester was called a ‘real living town’ in the Times, and is an ideal place to move if you want that Cotswold energy 24/7.
Best place to live in the South East: Chichester, West Sussex
Chichester, with its Roman roots, has the perfect mixture of modernity and history.
The perfect place for culture and quaintness, Chichester’s council is doing a lot to improve the town by improving pedestrian and cycling routes, restoring buildings, installing new public loos and constructing an artificial grass football pitch, according to the Times.
Best place to live in Wales: Ruthin, Denbighshire
Ruthin, with its plentiful rolling hills and gorgeous period architecture is the place to be in Wales, according to the judges.
But it’s not just about scenery: according to locals, Ruthin is nothing short of things to do, especially for children, and it’s great for nature and sports lovers alike.
The only downside is, there’s no train station.
The full list of the best places to live in the UK
Overall
Wadhurst, East Sussex was named as the overall Best Place to Live in the UK
East of England
Winner: Saffron Walden, Essex
Aylsham, Norfolk
Bourn, Cambridgeshire
Buckhurst Hill, Essex
Dedham Vale, Suffolk
Felixstowe, Suffolk
Norwich
London
Winner: Crouch End
Beckenham
Hackney borders N1 and E8
Earlsfield
King’s Cross
Notting Hill
Woolwich
Midlands
Winner: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Digbeth, Stirchley, Birmingham
Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire
Great Malvern, Worcestershire
Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Melbourne, Derbyshire
Rutland
Northern Ireland
Winner: Donaghadee, Co Down
Ormeau, Belfast
Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh
North and North East
Winner: Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Leeds
Ouseburn, Newcastle
Sheffield
Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Wooler, Northumberland
North West
Winner: Liverpool
Manchester
Penrith, Cumbria
Rawtenstall, Lancashire
Sale, Greater Manchester
Stockport, Greater Manchester
Tarporley, Cheshire
Scotland
Winner: Dunkeld, Perthshire
East Linton, East Lothian
Portobello, Edinburgh
Shawlands, Glasgow
Newport-on-Tay, Fife
Orkney
Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute
South East England
Winner: Chichester, West Sussex
Alresford, Hampshire
Brighton and Hove, Seven Dials
Folkestone, Kent
Guildford, Surrey
Lindfield, West Sussex
(East) Oxford
Reading, Berkshire
Reigate, Surrey
Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire
South West England
Winner: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Bishopsteignton, Devon
Bristol
Broad Chalke, Wiltshire
The Chew Valley, Somerset
Marlborough, Wiltshire
Penzance, Cornwall
Poundbury, Dorset
Wales
Winner: Ruthin, Denbighshire
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Barmouth, Gwynedd
Pontcanna, Cardiff
Gower Peninsula, Swansea
Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Solva, Pembrokeshire
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