The 20 best places to live in the UK

Is your town among the 20 most desirable places to live in Britain?

Have you ever wondered which towns are the best places to live in the UK?

Perhaps you think your own town should be among them?

Estate agent Savills was commissioned by the Telegraph newspaper to find the most desirable places to live in Britain, based on the number of residents holding managerial positions, highest qualifications, the cost of purchasing property and the residents' health.

Putting together this data, they came up with this list of the 20 most affluent towns in the UK. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, most are in the South East and close to London, such as Harpenden, which is in the top slot, Cobham and St Albans.

However, a number of other towns around the country feature in the top 20, including Hale and Altrincham near Manchester. 

"It's worth noting these locations are not second-home hotspots," Lucian Cook, head of residential research for Savills, told the Telegraph.

"They're aspirational, affluent places that attract incoming wealth with good schools and a strong quality of housing stock."

Here are the top 10 best towns to live in in Britain, according to the research:

1.    Harpenden, Hertfordshire, average price £913,000

With fast trains to London, the affluent market town also has good links to the rest of the UK, given its proximity to the A1 and M1. 

It boasts 'every club imaginable' according to local estate agents and 60% of its residents hold degrees. 

2.    Cobham, Surrey, average price £1.4 million 

Situated on the River Mole in Surrey in London’s commuter belt, Cobham has beautiful green spaces and a ‘café culture’. 

One of two towns in Surrey in the top 10, it is also the most expensive in terms of house prices on the list. 

3.    Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, average price £1.17 million

The home counties town has good schools and boasts easy access to London and Heathrow airport.

Home working has boosted its booming High Street, according to local estate agents. 

4.    Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire, average price £1.1 million

Chorley Wood is near the M25 and is on the Metropolitan line, but boasts a beautiful common and is near good schools. Local estate agents say it has the feel of a 'rural idyll'. 

5.    Amersham, Buckinghamshire, average price £717,000

In Zone 9 of the Underground, this attractive town has a thriving market and is surrounded by countryside, despite its proximity to London. It is popular for the combination of the green spaces and bustling high street. 

6.    Hale, Trafford, average price £857,300 

With easy access to Manchester City Centre, the pretty town has grammar schools and good independent shops. Estate agents compare it to Chiswick in London. 

7.    Esher, Surrey, average price £1.37 million

Another home counties town on the list, Esher has lots of green space, a cinema and a flourishing high street, although unlike some of its competitors it isn't 'quaint'. 

8.    Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, average price £1.28 million

Home to Pinewood and Elstree studios, 'GX' as it's called locally, is known for its picturesque countryside and 20-minute commute into London Marylebone Station.

Its landscape is said to be the most filmed in the UK

9.    Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, average price £774,000 

City workers can commute from this pretty canal-side town to Euston in just 30-40 minutes, while there are good local restaurants and pleasurable walks in the Chilterns countryside.

So-called 'Berko' is popular with those working in Central and North London. 

10.    St Albans, Hertfordshire, average price £660,100

With its Roman ruins, St Albans has much going for it, including Verulamium Park, a vibrant town centre and what is said to be England’s oldest pub.

The small city, which boasts a beautiful cathedral, is also said to be more diverse than neighbouring towns. 

Here’s the full list of the top 20 best places to live in the UK:

(Source: Savills)