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The best places to live in the UK
The best places to live in the UK
Posted on: Friday, March 21, 2025
Saffron Walden in Essex tops a list of 72 locations in this year’s Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, released online on Friday 21st March. Judges at The Sunday Times visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.
The Essex market town was praised for its "knockout" good looks. Saffron Walden's appeal, according to the judges, lies in its blend of convenient commuter access to both London and Cambridge, high-performing state schools, and a thriving cultural scene. Find properties for sale in Saffron Walden.
Find out the regional winners below;
East: Chelmsford, Essex
Judges praised its schools and transport connections. Find properties for sale in Chelmsford.
London: Walthamstow
Walthamstow was described by judges as diverse, vibrant and cool without being frosty. Find properties for sale in Walthamstow.
Midlands: Ilmington, Warwickshire
Perched on the edge of the Cotswolds, Ilmington was described by the judges as a blissful example of village life as it should be. Find properties for sale in Ilmington.
North and North East: Ilkley, West Yorkshire
The “get up and go” of the community and the sporting and cultural opportunities for young people impressed judges. Find properties for sale in Ilkley.
Northern Ireland: Dundrum, Co Down
The setting for Dundrum was described as magical, with a strong food scene and the buzz of Belfast not far away. Find properties for sale in County Down.
North West: Woolton, Liverpool
Judges described it as a gloriously family-friendly place to put down roots, with excellent schools, parks and even a patch of woodland. Find properties for sale near Woolton.
South East: Petersfield, Hampshire
Judges said there is always something happening in Petersfield’s historic streets, set against the backdrop of the South Downs countryside. Find properties for sale near Petersfield.
South West: The Chew Valley, Somerset
Judges said the area is a rural idyll and home to an impressive selection of forward-thinking, sustainable rural businesses. Find properties for sale in The Chew Valley.
Wales: Gower Peninsula, Swansea
Judges were impressed with cool, creative and sustainable independent businesses springing up in villages and hamlets in the “wilder corners of the peninsula”. Find properties for sale in Gower Peninsula.
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