The judges were impressed by its easy connections to Edinburgh and the way life revolves around the town’s two beaches as well as the wealth of activities whatever your age. They also highlighted the thriving independent shops as a sign of the positive effect that small businesses can have on a community.
The chosen locations come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny Scottish island of Kerrera and the remote Welsh village of Presteigne to big, lively cities such as Belfast, Liverpool and London.
There are more new entries than ever before in this year’s guide and no place for previous winners such as York and Bristol - the judges looked for improving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2024, from Dunkeld to Knutsford, Falmouth to Leeds. Wherever you are on the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.
“These are all places where you can feel grounded as well as upwardly mobile: they have a mature sense of community, lively, supportive high streets and an eye to the future, whether that is eco-friendly measures, transport and regeneration, or imaginative inclusion of new housing.”
The guide has again been sponsored by the mortgage lender Halifax, which has provided an average house price for each location.
Kim Kinnaird, Halifax’s homes and protection director, said: “Where you want to live is a very personal decision. We know it can be daunting whether it’s deciding where to buy your first home or making a move as your circumstances change.
“There can be lots to think about around what is right for you and your family. With a great range of locations suited for different budgets and family situations, alongside a great mix of both rural and urban locations, this is a great place to start.”
Regional winners
East: Wivenhoe, Essex
A welcoming community and a strong artistic tradition help this picturesque riverside town to stand out from its neighbours in the outer reaches of the Essex commuter belt. It has two art galleries, a high street full of independent shops and a choice of seven pubs (down from a peak of 21), as well as attractive architecture that’s worthy of its beautiful estuary location.
London: Clerkenwell
From a rich past of riot and ribaldry to its present status at the heart of the capital’s culinary and creative scenes, Clerkenwell embodies all that’s best about life in London. Culture is covered by the Barbican and Sadler’s Wells, there are cosy pubs, cool cafés, lively bars and some of the city’s best restaurants in a warren of streets and alleys full of fascinating history.
Midlands: Stirchley, Birmingham
Anyone lucky enough to live in this down-to-earth suburb of Birmingham has some of the city’s best bars, restaurants and cafés - Couch, Eat Vietnam, Caneat - within walking distance of their home, as well as good schools and easy rail connections to the city centre, especially when the new Pineapple Road station opens later this year.
North and northeast: Leeds
With the best-paying jobs outside London, Leeds has established itself as the true northern powerhouse and the place to enjoy a good life on a good salary. Five universities provide youthful energy and it’s the only UK city outside London to have its own opera, ballet and theatre companies. The markets, Victorian arcades and Trinity Leeds mega-mall make it one of the country’s top shopping destinations and there’s a great choice of places to live, from semi-rural suburbs such as Alwoodley and Horsforth to the new eco homes in the city-centre Climate Innovation District.
Northern Ireland: Portstewart, Co Londonderry
Year-round community spirit is the beating heart of Northern Ireland’s most graceful seaside town. Beach cleans, litter picks and the volunteers behind the annual Red Sails festival are just a few examples of the local pride that’s always on display. The two-mile sandy beach is at the centre of life here, but there are also decent shops, cafés and restaurants and an interesting cultural scene at the Flowerfield Arts Centre.
Northwest: Stockport, Greater Manchester
Stockport is in the throes of a mighty metamorphosis that’s turning it into one of the most exciting towns around. The conversion of the vast Weir Mill into a new neighbourhood is well underway. The new Interchange project will link buses and trains around a new park while the historic streets around the Market Hall and the Underbanks are filling up with a joyous collection of funky independent businesses. It’s functional and family-friendly, too, with unbeatable rail connections, parks, sports clubs and good-value houses up and down the property ladder.
Scotland: West End, Dundee
Our favourite place in Scotland - after North Berwick - is Dundee’s revitalised West End. It’s a lively, arty conservation area where you’ll find one of Scotland’s best little high streets, regular festivals and events and views across the Tay. The revitalised waterfront and fast-improving city centre are just a ten-minute walk away.
Southeast: Folkestone, Kent
Folkestone may have been transformed by its cultural regeneration, but it isn’t only the artists’ studios, the cool shops on the Old High Street or the chance to sip cocktails on the restored Harbour Arm that make this once-depressing resort our best place to live in the southeast. It also has impressive schools, state-of-the-art sports facilities and high-speed trains to London.
Southwest: Sherborne, Dorset
A busy high street and high-class education help to make this community-centred, cultured town our best address in the southwest. Sherborne is also handsome and historic, but it’s the friendly, energetic population that really makes it stand out. There are more than 200 community groups covering every conceivable interest, while the opening of Sherborne House as a high-end arts and community centre later this spring will add extra cachet to a town that already has a perceptible spring in its step.
Wales: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Few locations in the UK are as friendly, practical and picturesque as this friendly market town on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. There has been a market here since the 13th century and food remains a strong point, with the Abergavenny Food Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary last year. Community spirit is off the charts and there’s a strong and varied sporting scene.
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